The Belarusian government on Saturday reiterated its commitment to integrate into a customs union with Russia and Kazakhstan.
"Belarus reaffirms its desire for integration with our partners - Russia and Kazakhstan - in the framework of a customs union and a single economic space," the government press service said in a statement.
The Belarusian Cabinet of Ministers said it would continue working with its Russian and Kazakh partners to overcome their differences over a tripartite customs union agreement.
The Belarusian prime minister did not attend a meeting of the Russian and Kazakh heads of government on Friday to discuss the situation.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia and Kazakhstan will jointly enter the World Trade Organization if Belarus fails to approve agreements on the Customs Union the three former Soviet states are trying to build.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday his country was ready to hand over its Beltransgaz pipeline operator and Mozyr oil refinery in exchange for domestic Russian prices for oil and gas.
Belarus refuses to pay the Russian gas price, set at $169 per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter of the year and $185 in the second quarter, and has been paying $150 since January 1 instead. A Russian official said it "plucked this price out of thin air."
The country already owes Russian state-run gas monopoly Gazprom $192 million for gas supplies this year and this figure could reach $500-600 million by year-end if the situation is not resolved.
The Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan formally came into existence on January 1, but is unable to function until the Customs code is approved.
MINSK, May 29 (RIA Novosti)
