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Moscow to sign gas papers with Minsk in nearest future — energy minister

In October, Belarus and Russia reached a compromise in the oil and gas dispute

MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. Moscow and Minsk may reach final agreements on the gas issue and sign documents in the nearest future, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Thursday.

"Principal agreements are in place… We expect final agreements and document execution in the nearest future," he said.

According to Novak, the issue may be resolved already this month while the details of the agreement will be clarified later.

In October, Belarus and Russia reached a compromise in the oil and gas dispute as they agreed an intergovernmental compensation for gas supplies to Belarus, which will ensure equal gas price conditions for energy producers by July 1, 2019 and for the rest of oil and gas consumers by January 1, 2015.

Earlier Energy Minister of Belarus Vladimir Potupchik said that Minsk would transfer the funds owing for the Russian gas on October 21. The amount owning is estimated at $281 mln.

Russia pledged to restore its oil supplies volumes to Belarus, which have been reduced more than by third since July.