Russia and Belarus will continue discussions on Monday as they attempt to resolve differences over the supply and transit of oil in 2010, an aide to Russia's energy minister said on Sunday.
"The negotiation process is not finished. Negotiations will continue tomorrow," Irina Yesipova told RIA Novosti.
The dispute has raised fears in Germany and Poland that supplies may be affected, as they were during a similar dispute in 2007, but Yesipova earlier said that deliveries via Belarus were continuing without disruption while the negotiations were ongoing.
Mikhail Barkov, vice-president of Russia's Transneft oil pipeline monopoly, said on Sunday that oil transit via Belarus would not be reduced under any circumstances, but oil deliveries to the former Soviet republic depended on Minsk's position.
Belarus benefited from significant discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009, and is seeking a similar deal this year. Russia says it is willing to eliminate all duties on oil supplied to Belarus for domestic consumption, but wants oil bound for European markets to be subject to duty.
A Belarusian government source said on Saturday that Russia's position at negotiations on a 2010 agreement for oil deliveries to Belarus is seriously undermining the new Customs Union between Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Russian officials have said that until an agreement is reached, Belarus will have to pay the full duty on oil it receives.
MOSCOW, January 3 (RIA Novosti)
