Gazprom confirms Belarus has cleared gas bill

Belarus has fully paid for the Russian gas supplied in the first half of 2008, Gazprom deputy CEO Valery Golubev said in Moscow today after a meeting with Belarus deputy energy minister Rima Filimonava and Beltransgas CEO Uladzimir Mayorau. "The parties expressed a mutual satisfaction with how the long-term gas deal has been implemented this year", the Russian monopoly stressed in a statement.

In July, Gazprom even threatened to take Belarus to court for gas debts after Belarus was paying $119 per 1000 cubic meters instead of $128 under the deal signed by Gazprom and Beltransgaz on December 31, 2006.

Under the estimates of Russian experts, the debt of Belarus for the second quarter this year amounted to $45 million. But in late July, the Russian company saud it had no problems with Belarusian partners.