EU will not interfere in the gas dispute between Russia and Belarus

/IRBIS, June 23, 2010/ - The European Union does not intend to interfere in the gas dispute between Russia and Belarus. This was stated by Mr. Ezhy Buzek Chairman of the European Parliament on June 22 in an interview with RIA Novosti. "We do not interfere in relations between the two countries - the case of Russia and Belarus or Russia and Ukraine. The EU, of course, will not participate directly in resolving this conflict," - he said. But a spokesman for the EU does not exclude the possibility of sending observers to monitor the situation with gas supplies to European consumers via Belarus. "Such crises have happened before, with Ukraine and Belarus. And observers from the EU came to this country, and it was certainly useful because they can provide an objective assessment of what happens," - said Mr. Busek. Mr. Busek also expressed the hope that differences on gas between Moscow and Minsk would have no impact on fuel supply to European countries. Meanwhile, today will convene an urgent meeting of EU representatives with the Belarusian side on the gas conflict with Russia, BBC reported quoting the statement by Mrs. Marlin Holtsner representative of the European Commissioner for Energy. "We expect that the transit flow of gas would not be affected, and that Russia and Belarus will fulfill their contractual obligations", - she said. Restrictions on the supply of gas were introduced by the Russian side on 21 June. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said that from 10.00 on June 21 restricting the supply of gas to Belarus is 15% with a subsequent increase to 85%. On Tuesday, Council of Ministers of Belarus said that the republic will select the Russian gas transit in the event of continued restrictions on the supply, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at his meeting with Mr. Sergei Lavrov Foreign Minister said he ordered to block the transit of gas, as Gazprom did not pay off. [2010-06-23]