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Price discount for Ukraine will not prompt Russia to review gas contracts with other countries, energy minister says

A decision to offer Ukraine a price discount will not prompt Russia to review its gas supply contracts with other countries, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told reporters on April 22.

"I don't think that our gas talks with Ukraine should be a reason to start reviewing the practice of our relations with other states," Russia's RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Shmatko as saying. "We won't react to such requests."

During talks held in Kharkiv on April 21, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yanukovych, agreed that Russia would give Ukraine a $100 discount for every 1000 cubic meters of gas if the price was $330 and a discount of 30 percent if the price was different.

Later in the day Mr. Medvedev signaled what appeared to be the Kremlin's discontent with Alyaksandr Lukashenka's decision to offer refuge to ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.// BelaPAN.