Belarus, Russia to hold emergency talks

Reuters reports that Belarus is sending a delegation to Moscow for emergency talks on Monday with Gazprom.  The two parties failed over the weekend to resolve the issues between them relating to payments for deliveries and transit fees.

Russia has said that starting on Monday, it will cut 85 percent of gas supplies to Belarus if its neighbour fails to pay $192 million in debt to Gazprom.

The dispute may impact deliveries to other European nations; Reuters cited a source in the Belarussian government, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"The 80 percent area is a substantial reduction and of course it can affect transport issues," he told Reuters.

This impasse again brings up the issue of European energy security and dependence upon Russian sources of energy.

In early 2009,  gas supplies were halted for almost two weeks in the midst of winter while Moscow and Ukraine argued over prices and transit terms.

Alexei Miller, CEO of Gazprom, said on Saturday that Russian gas giant was investigating the possibility of re-routing gas deliveries as not to affect its European customers.

Deliveries to Poland and Germany could be made though Ukraine, with deliveries via Slovakia and the Czech Republic also being an option for Germany.

Source: Reuters