Expert: We will exchange oil euros to pay for Russian gas
Belarus is likely to pay in Russian roubles for gas in 2009, after Russian PM Vladimir Putin recently said he was surprised that Russian gas is sold to Belarus for US dollars. Experts suggest that Moscow could take this decision due to weak dollar. Leanid Zaika, Director of the Minsk-based think-tank Strategy Center says we are witnessing the implementation of a strategic model of the Russian economic policy, and the Russian rouble can become the major currency in the post-Soviet space.
However, Leanid Zaika does not think that switching to the Russian rouble in gas payments could create new problems for the Belarusian economy:
"Life will not become harder. We sell petrochemical products to EU countries which pay in euros. We will exchange those euros or dollars (depending on contracts) for Russian roubles".
However, Leanid Zaika does not think that switching to the Russian rouble in gas payments could create new problems for the Belarusian economy:
"Life will not become harder. We sell petrochemical products to EU countries which pay in euros. We will exchange those euros or dollars (depending on contracts) for Russian roubles".
