MINSK, Belarus, April 25 (UPI) -- Belarus and Russia have been discussing gas supplies and trade, Belarusian news agency Belapan reported Monday.
Aleksander Surikov, Russia's ambassador to Belarus, met with Uladzimir Kanaplyow, chairman of the Belarusian National Assembly's House of Representatives (the lower house of parliament) for energy-related talks.
Surikov warned that Beltranshaz, Belarus' state-controlled gas supply and transit company, may face difficulties in its gas transport capabilities to Europe once Russia implements its new gas transportation systems.
So, he said, Russia and Belarus need to "sit at the negotiating table and discuss this matter in a calm manner."
According to Surikov, deliveries of Russian natural gas to Belarus are "a strategic but not the main subject" of bilateral relations between the two countries. In order to boost trade, he said, the two countries must first strengthen their cooperation in the fields of industry, science and education.
His country -- and more specifically his embassy -- "would push for closer economic integration" in a range of fields, with a particular focus on agricultural engineering, electronics, petrochemicals and light industry.
Following the meeting Kanaplyow said that "objective and subjective preconditions" exist between Russia and Belarus that will boost bilateral trade by "up to $20 billion, and should not cease to strive for further achievements."
He too emphasized the need for stronger ties between the two countries, and said that Belarusian parliamentarians would endeavor to build a legal framework designed to strengthen bilateral relations.
