OREANDA-NEWS  On 15 September was announced, that Belarus’ draft republican budget for 2009 is based on the Russian gas price of U.S. USD 140 per 1,000 cubic meters, Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir said.

Asked about the possible consequences of higher gas prices, Amarin said, “we will find mechanisms to compensate.”

“We based the budget on the USD 140 gas price, and we keep negotiating the price with Russia. I would not like to comment on possible disagreements,” he said.

Earlier, Russia’s Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov said Belarus could have to pay as much as USD 200 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian natural gas in 2009.

Belarus paid USD 100 in 2007, USD 119 in the first quarter of 2008 and USD 127.9 since April 2008.