Russia and Belarus are currently involved in complex negotiations over the 2007 gas price for Minsk, which has been paying a discounted rate until now. The dispute is reminiscent of a gas spat with Ukraine early this year, when Russia briefly suspended gas supplies, affecting consumers in Europe.
"The talks are continuing in a tense atmosphere, but there is still a chance to reach a timely agreement," Sergei Kupriyanov said, adding that Russia and Belarus have stayed in permanent contact on the issue.
In the ongoing dispute between the ex-Soviet neighbors, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Wednesday the state-controlled Russian natural gas monopoly will cutoff supplies to Belarus January 1, 2007 if no new agreement is signed by that time.
A Russian government source said following Thursday's talks that Moscow does not intend to change the Gazprom-proposed contract terms on gas supplies to Belarus.
Gazprom has proposed that Belarus pay $75 per 1,000 cubic meters in cash, plus $30 in shares of the Belarusian government-owned pipeline company Beltransgaz.
Belarus said it was only ready to pay $75 in cash and, being a transit country, would not suffer gas shortages while abiding by the 2006 price of $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters until the new contract was signed.
Belarus, which is building a Union State with Russia, currently pays a discounted rate of $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters and charges Russia a transit rate of $0.75 per 1,000 cubic meters.