Lukashenka still hopes for smuggling

Belarus wants to agree with Moscow upon “solvents”.

Belarus completely stopped exporting solvents and thinners in early August, but the country plans to continue talks with Russia on possible conditions of resuming exports of oil products.

Journalists learned the news on Friday from Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, Interfax information agency reports.

“Alyaksandr Lukashenka ordered to stop supplies if this [solvent exports – Interfax] worries our Russian partners. We did so. The last tank car with solvents left Belarus on August 4,” Myasnikovich said.

He says the issue was discussed by the two counties on the highest level. “It was a decision on the presidential level during Dmitry Medvedev’s visit [to Minsk – Interfax]. I, for my part, reported to Lukashenka,” the PM said.

Myasnikovich stressed Belarus was interested in resuming exports of solvents and offered Russia to use mechanisms that would allow avoiding rebukes over violations of two-lateral agreements. “We say let’s introduce duties [on solvents – Interfax], let’s set some quotas, but we cannot close this business,” the PM said.

Questions of exporting solvents from Belarus were considered by a Russian commission, he says. “It was a large commission, but they only looked into the current situation,” Myasnikovich added.

It should be reminded that Belarus labelled petrol as solvents to export it to Europe without paying duties.