9 Jun 2011 13:06

Talks on Russia's buying remaining 50% stake in Beltransgaz should end in June - diplomat

MINSK. June 9 (Interfax) - Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov is confident that negotiations between Moscow and Minsk on selling the remaining 50% stake in the Belarusian gas transportation monopoly Beltransgaz to Russia will be completed at the end of June.

"I think they will end in June," Surikov said at a press conference in Minsk on Thursday.

Russia does not tie the talks on buying Beltransgaz to the transition to equally profitable prices starting from 2015, Surikov said. "The first issue is the purchase of Beltransgaz and the second issue, not related to this, is gradual transition to equally profitable prices," he said.

Russia does not question Beltransgaz's valuation, he said.