[GarySpFc]

You were one of the indiviudals who singled out Belarus as receiving favored treatment from Russia when Gazprom was raising gas rates for the Ukraine. Yet, in 2003 they shut off the gas to Belarus for nonpayment. Belarus agreed to allow Gazprom lower rates in exchange for 51% control of their pipeline, but failed to deliver, and now they are going to have to pay the same as everyone else.

Gazprom is setting the rate at $230 for everyone, which is half of the $461 we pay in the US. Actually this is a good thing, because Luckashencko will not have the gas at lower rates to sell to the EU at market prices, which keeps him in power. This is the real reason the Ukrainian was raising hell...their oligarchs were cut off.

[Grzegorz 246]

Eastern European ping list

---

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

[spanalot]

Are you saying that the Russians do not now own the pipeline is Belorus?



and what "market " price are you talking about? Russia pays only $50 for it in Kazakstan and when Ukraine did the same thing, Putin shut off the valve.