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Lukashenka says he is unafraid of Russia's possible refusal to pipe gas via Belarus

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at a meeting with a large group of Russian journalists in Minsk on Friday that he was not afraid of Russia's possible refusal to pipe natural gas via Belarus.

"We're being threatened with the termination of transit via Belarus," Mr. Lukashenka said. "Shut the pipelines down near Smolensk! Shut it down, but we'll feed gas liquefied in the Baltic [region] into those pipelines."

According to Mr. Lukashenka, talks are underway to build terminals in Baltic countries and Ukraine to liquefy natural gas for Belarus.

"Today Gazprom has flopped in Europe, with Qatar and Norway seizing the lead in the export of natural gas and charging between $150 and $160 [per 1000 cubic meters] in spot markets," he said. "Today we're getting [gas] for $184 at the border. Next year it will be $210. Who needs this gas? This is stupid loss of the market."

"So, will Russia allow Kazakh gas into this pipeline tomorrow?" Mr. Lukashenka said. "But without this agreement, there will be no common economic zone. That is why there is this foot-dragging, and we're waiting for Russia to agree with Kazakhstan. This would be beneficial to us because we're a transit country."

Mr. Lukashenka said that Belarus would diversify its import of crude oil. "This year we'll get between four million and five million of Venezuelan oil of the highest quality," he said. "Tomorrow we'll build a pipeline from the Baltic region."

The Belarusian leader accused Russia of using different methods to block the import of products from Belarus and recalled recent disputes with Russia over the import of Belarusian sugar and dairy products. "I'm not even talking about Russia's state purchases system, from which the Belarusians are barred," Mr. Lukashenka said. "Why? It's normal to have competition. You aren't allowing us into your markets, where we could earn and pay you for energy resources. We were patient, then Venezuela and Iran appeared. Would we have been so stupid as to look for good fortune God knows where? But our elder brother and ally, Russia, shut us out."

"With or without Lukashenka, Belarus won’t be a blank spot on the world map, this is the geographical center of Europe," Mr. Lukashenka said.

"We have no lack of proposals from other states," he said, describing Russia's reaction to those proposals as "pained."