Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 13 April (BelTA) – The situation when Belarus has to pay twice as much for Russian natural gas to Russia at the border with Smolensk Oblast is abnormal. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko made the statement during the plenary session of the 15^th Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum on 13 April, the press service of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia told BelTA.

Vladimir Semashko remarked that the price for natural gas Belarus pays is open to debate. “We cannot recognize as normal the situation when we are part of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, yet, for instance, at the border with Smolensk Oblast Belarus has to pay more than twice as much for natural gas in comparison with the price inside Smolensk Oblast… We will continue this discussion no later than May,” said the deputy prime minister of Belarus.

Yet Vladimir Semashko stated that thanks to mutual support Belarus and Russia had reached a growth trajectory and had overcome a period of recession. “However, we have huge prospects in all spheres of the manufacturing sector,” stated the official. Among the most promising areas he mentioned agriculture and mechanical engineering. In particular, more than 30 mechanical engineering joint ventures have been opened.

Belarus is ready to take part in tenders to supply public transport vehicles to Krasnoyarsk Territory. “We’ve said we are ready to make competitive offers via tenders. Over 300 buses have already been shipped to Krasnoyarsk. We are ready to offer buses with any options — diesel engines, gas fuel engines, gas and diesel engines, trolleybuses, and electric buses in addition to electric trains. We are ready to work together on mutually beneficial terms,” added Vladimir Semashko.