War in Iraq to Shatter Belarus Economically 11:19, 19/02/2003
Looming military invasion of Iraq may seriously damage Belarus’ economic interests, said the head of the commission for economy, budget and finances of the Belarusian “parliament” Aleksei Vaganov, reports “Interfax”. According to the MP, the start of the military campaign is fraught with the rise of prices on energy resources.
The Belarusian “parliamentarian” noted that the cost of one barrel of oil might skyrocket to $50-60, which would “deliver a strong blow at the energy-dependent Belarus, as well as at the economy and budget, which is in critical state anyway.” In this connection Aleksei Vaganov called on the government to undertake steps, which may soften the negative impact of war on the national economy.
Moreover, the “deputy” underscored that the trade turnover between Belarus and Iraq is gradually going uphill, while there exist no real guarantees of the preservation of this tendency with the new regime coming to power in Baghdad. Estimated damage from the rupture of Belarusian-Iraqi economic ties, as stressed by the MP, may amount to no less that $200-300mln.
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