Stanislau Husak: «Trans-Black Sea Pipeline would give Minsk bargaining chips on negotiations with Moscow»

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine signed the agreement on construction the Trans-Black Sea Pipeline on the Energy Security Conference in Vilnius. It is planned to spend $700 million on the extension of the pipeline from Brody to Plock and Gdansk. The idea of the pipeline construction with Belarus taking part was proposed by the Belarusian Popular Front Party in 1990-th. Stanislau Husak, economist, one of the idea initiators on the Trans-Black Sea Pipeline construction comments the signed without Belarus agreement.

“It’s very good, indeed, for these countries, as it extends the sales markets for ones and diversificates the energy supplies for others, and for all the participants it helps to strengthen their independences. It’s a pity that Belarus hasn’t yet joined the project, as it is interested in it. It could give Minsk bargaining chips on negotiations with Moscow on the energy supplies prices. As it is known, the negotiations on this issue between our officials and the Russian ones are being held literary at the moment”, - Mr. Husak said.

The expert thinks it is not late for Belarus to join the agreement of five countries. “I hope Belarus will join the agreement on the Trans-Black Sea Pipeline construction. It still has a chance. Moreover our country was discussing this idea 1.5 years ago. That Lukashenka asked Ukraine to prepare project documentation on the pipeline. It has calmed down now. Perhaps, Belarus don’t want to make Russia angry”, - the economist considers.

In his opinion, though the prices for alternative oil supplies are not favorable now, they will help to strengthen the energy and political independence of Belarus. “We shouldn’t search cheep oil and gas, because it will cost us great moral and political expenses. Belarus should declare it is an independent state. If we change freedom for sausages, the time will soon come when we won’t have both these things. And as the energy supplies prices will grow, it is already determined, we need an alternative to have the opportunity to choose among suppliers, not to buy oil only from Russia at the monopoly price”, - Stanislau Husak summed up.