U.S. Department of State: Belarus’ Position Reveals “Rotten Core” of Lukashenka’s Regime :: Charter'97 :: News

U.S. State Department has commented on imposing oil duties for crude exported from Russia. On Thursday U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated that the position of Belarus reveals “the rotten core of this (Belarus) regime”. Mr McCormack reminded that in a lucrative scheme Belarusian oil refiners made up to $4 billion a year by buying duty-free Russian crude and exporting finished products.

Commenting on the statement that Belarus is set to introduce duty for crude imported from Russia. He criticized both sides, saying Belarus was "trying to keep their skim" by using the duty to maintain profit margins that prop up the Lukashenko regime and that Moscow was using energy "as a political lever" to bully its neighbour.

"It`s just another example (of) the rotten core of this (Belarus) regime, which they are using these resources for the personal profit of those around the leadership of the Lukashenko regime," McCormack told reporters in Washington.

As we have informed, on January 3 Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that Belarus could take adequate measures in response to the policies of Russia in energy supplies to Belarus. “We are 100% clear before the Russia. We have done everything we have been expected, and now the time has come to demand them to fulfil their promises,” Lukashenka said at consultations with members of his government.

“If it wouldn’t be done, we have a right for complete liberty. I mean the question about Russian oil transit through Belarus, about payment for this transit, about payment for the land under trunks, and Russian property here,” he said.

Lukashenka noted that he is miles from heating up tensions. “But when they are flooded with petrodollars and other money flows and decide to recover their losses from us, and offer us the terms worse than for Germany or other European countries, let us ask our rich Russia to pay for services we are providing to it,” the president said.

Belarus imposed a transit fee of $45 per tonne on crude pumped westward through the Druzhba (`Friendship`) pipeline system.

As informed by Russian Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, these measures have been taken by the Belarusian side without “consultations with the Russian side” and contradict current trade and economic agreements between Belarus and Russia. Russia’s Ministry of Trade and Economic Development said the new tax did not have “comparisons in international practice,” ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

Up to 20 % of Russian gas is transported to the EU, primarily to Poland, Germany and Lithuania, through Belarus.

Photo by NTV