The failure by Belarus to pay for natural gas supplied by Russia may become a chronic problem, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Sunday.
"Perhaps, Belarus will find a possibility to repay the [current] debt. But we are worried over the fact that non-payments for the Russian natural gas may turn into a chronic problem owing to economic reasons," Miller said.
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has warned Belarus' pipeline firm Beltransgaz that it may cut gas supplies from June 21 over the country's debts, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said on Wednesday.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier this week Russia was giving Belarus five days to pay off its $200 million gas debt, or tough measures would be taken.
He ordered Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller to get in touch with Belarus authorities and urge them to pay off the debt as soon as possible.
Belarus refuses to pay the Russian gas price, set at $169 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first quarter of the year and $185 for the second quarter, and has been paying $150 since Jan. 1 instead.
Belarus has refused to acknowledge the debt. Instead, Belarusian First Deputy Energy Minister Eduard Tovpinets on Friday evening announced that Gazprom owed some $200 million to Belarus for gas transit fees to Europe, the same amount that Gazprom said Belarus owed for gas deliveries.
MOSCOW, June 20 (RIA Novosti)
