25 Jun 2010 13:54

Lukashenko threatens to stop gas, oil transit if Gazprom fails to pay off debt

MINSK. June 25 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has demanded that his government suspend the transit of Russian oil and gas, should Gazprom fail to pay off its debt for the transit services provided over the next 24 hours.

"I am warning the government once again: failure by Gazprom to pay for the services over the next 24 hours must lead to the suspension of any services for the Russian Federation, involving transportation of hydrocarbons - oil and gas," Lukashenko said at a government meeting on Friday.