MOSCOW, 20 January (BelTA) – Russia, if necessary, is ready to provide state support to Belarus in matters of gas deliveries, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said after the talks with the chairman of the Belarusian government Mikhail Myasnikovich in Moscow, BelTA has learnt. “We agreed that, if need be, the Russian side will provide Belarus state support in matters of gas deliveries so that these deliveries are not burdensome for Belarus,” Vladimir Putin said. However, he reiterated the position of the Russian side that this year’s gas supplies to Belarus will be implemented in accordance with the contract. “At the same time we are ready now to start negotiations on the terms of Russian gas deliveries to Belarus in 2012,” the Prime Minister of Russia said. The Prime Minister of Belarus noted that during the negotiations the formula for calculating the gas prices in 2012 was practically defined. “There is a corresponding formula, there is a timetable for us switching to equal-income prices,” he said. Mikhail Myasnikovich also expressed hope that the position of the Russian side will allow to ensure the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy.

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