Viktor Alksnis (Rodina faction) said that the level of economic relations must match the level of foreign-policy relations with our partners, while explaining the need to promptly invite the country's Economic Development and Trade Minister to the State Duma's plenary session. Alksnis mentioned a law on state regulation of Russia's foreign-economic activities (that had been passed by the State Duma in the fall of 2003).
Among other things, the document notes that the level of our foreign-economic relations should depend on the level of political relations with our partners, Alksnis added.
The Economic Development and Trade Ministry is responsible for state regulation of foreign-economic activity, Alksnis reminded his audience. He voiced dismay in connection with the fact that Europe charged an average of $140 per every 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas, whereas Latvia paid $80 per every 1,000 cubic meters of gas. Why are we supplying gas to Latvia in line with easy-term prices? Alksnis inquired. In his words, the same concerns Georgia, which behaves in a hostile manner toward Russia.
Georgia pays $51 for every 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas, or three times less than Europe does, Alksnis went on to say. However, any sanctions are out of the question, he stressed. Alksnis, who said that the situation on post-Soviet territory was very serious, suggested that Gref be promptly invited to attend a State Duma plenary session.
According to Alksnis, the Minister must inform the lower parliament house about his department's projected state-regulation measures aiming to ensure Russia's foreign-economic operations. We must tell our partners that any hostile attitude toward Russia would rule out easy-term fuel-and-energy deliveries, Alksnis said in conclusion.
