Lukashenka says Minsk negotiating with Tehran on oil supplies
RFE/RL based on reporting by BelTA, TASS, and Interfax
7 October 2016, 20:08
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country is negotiating with Iran about purchasing oil.
Speaking at a session of parliament in Minsk on October 7, Lukashenka said talks with Tehran are under way amid differences with Russia on the importing of oil and gas.
"We are holding talks with Iran, which is desperate to find [places] to deliver its oil and which will cut the price for us," Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka also said he ordered the government to restart looking into a Baltics oil pipeline project and to finish renovating an oil refinery in the nation's northern city of Navapolatsk.
Belarus has been at odds with Russia over the tariff on oil transit for several months.
Lukashenka added that Belarus is ready for dialogue with all of its neighbors, including the European Union and the United States, despite the fact that it "makes some in the East uneasy."
7 October 2016, 20:08
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka addresses a session of parliament in Minsk on October 7
Speaking at a session of parliament in Minsk on October 7, Lukashenka said talks with Tehran are under way amid differences with Russia on the importing of oil and gas.
"We are holding talks with Iran, which is desperate to find [places] to deliver its oil and which will cut the price for us," Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka also said he ordered the government to restart looking into a Baltics oil pipeline project and to finish renovating an oil refinery in the nation's northern city of Navapolatsk.
Belarus has been at odds with Russia over the tariff on oil transit for several months.
Lukashenka added that Belarus is ready for dialogue with all of its neighbors, including the European Union and the United States, despite the fact that it "makes some in the East uneasy."
