Belarus should speed up the privatization of Belaruskali, a major potash fertilizer producer, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
“I believe it is high time our Belarusian friends made the relevant decision,” he said.
His remarks come after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday Belarus has no intention of selling a controlling stake in Belaruskali, a key source of state budget revenues.
Last year, leading Russian fertilizer producer Uralkali wanted to buy Belaruskali for $14 billion, but the Belarusian government set the price at $30 billion and the deal failed to materialize.
Belarus has threatened to review its business relations with Russia’s Uralkali, a key shareholder in the Belarusian Potash Company, over sales.
