Russia expects accord on Russian-Belarussian gas transportation firm
Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who is staying in Japan on a visit, told that an accord on establishing a
Russian-Belarussian gas-transportation company may be attained soon, and in this case Russia will resume the gas
supplies to Belarus at the prices of the Russian fifth belt.
"There is a chance that acceptable condition for setting up a company will be agreed upon before the end of the
year," he said. In this case gas will again go to Belarus at the domestic Russian prices, he added.
Kasyanov specially stressed that these two questions are directly interconnected. According to Kasyanov,
establishment of a single company is not a pressing necessity for Russia, since only a small part of Russian gas
transit goes through Belarus.
"It is not a critical component for us, but we are ready to control this system," the Russian Premier said.
