Belarus pays over $300mn to Russia's Gazprom
Belarus has paid over $300 million to the Russian monopoly Gazprom for the gas supplied over the past six month of this year, Belarus's National Bank Chairman Piotr Prakapovich said in a statement on Monday.
"Despite the huge payments made to Gazprom, the gold and currency reserve of this country will not be affected," he said. Presently, the national reserve amounts to over $3 billion, with $508 million added this year alone, the Belarus television channel ONT quoted Prakapovich as saying.
Since early 2007, Belarus has indebted $456 million for the Russian gas supplied in the first half of the year. Facing Gazprom's threat to cut supplies by 45 percent, Alexander Lukashenka said the debt would be paid off to the Russian gas giant. However, only $190 million were wired to Gazprom on August 3.
Belarus still owes around $150 million.
"Despite the huge payments made to Gazprom, the gold and currency reserve of this country will not be affected," he said. Presently, the national reserve amounts to over $3 billion, with $508 million added this year alone, the Belarus television channel ONT quoted Prakapovich as saying.
Since early 2007, Belarus has indebted $456 million for the Russian gas supplied in the first half of the year. Facing Gazprom's threat to cut supplies by 45 percent, Alexander Lukashenka said the debt would be paid off to the Russian gas giant. However, only $190 million were wired to Gazprom on August 3.
Belarus still owes around $150 million.
