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Belarus deputy PM pursuing gas talks in Moscow

A protocol should be signed in two days, through September 14

MINSK, September 13. /TASS/. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko is pursuing talks in the Russian government in Moscow on the issue of natural gas supplies to the Republic, a source in the Belarusian government told TASS Tuesday.

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Lukashenko: West and Russia need Belarus

"Vice-Premier is in Moscow where gas talks continue," the source said, adding that the sides expect to reach a compromise and get to signing of a respective protocol within the nearest two days.

"I received instructions from the president to discuss three options and choose the best one for the two countries," Semashko said on September 12 following his meeting with President Alexander Lukashenko.

"We must get to signing of the protocol in two days, through September 14," he said, adding that "it is impossible to further delay this process, because the delay has both political and economic costs."

Speaking about potential pricing options, Semashko said that the Belarusian side prefers the option of equal prices, which was included in the previously signed agreements. The second compromise option is to tie domestic Russian local prices with a number of conditions, he added. The third option involves certain subsidies.

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