The Russian Acting Premier, who is in Almaty for a session of the CIS Eurasian Economic Community, met earlier today with Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky of Belarus. At the subsequent press conference, Khristenko said that the two countries were now ready to resume cooperation in the oil industry, and would before long resolve all outstanding issues, notably ones concerning pipeline operators.
The situation in the gas industry, however, looks less bright, Khristenko lamented. Negotiations on natural gas supplies are now underway between the companies Beltransgaz, Gazprom, ITERA, and Transneft, he reported. He said that only some short-term agreements had been reached so far and that there was a need for the sides to carry on with their talks.
