Zaika: Seriously, gas is nonsense but crude oil is everything

How can the ongoing gas dispute between Minsk and Moscow end? Are the cuts in Russian oil supplies to Belarus an attempt to put pressure on our country? Is integration processes with Russia in serious trouble, indeed? Euroradio asked Belarusian economist Leanid Zaika to share his take on these issues.

Listen to an interview with Leanid Zaika in full here:

Best quotes from the interview:

The cuts in crude oil supplies for Belarus are more serious than natural gas. Money are being made on crude.

Had we not have loss-making ineffective enterprises, nobody would have even discussed the price of natural gas.

[Russian tycoon and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman] Abramovich usually laughs over such a disputed amount ($200 million — Euroradio). His yacht alone costs two times more.

If I were Aliaksandr Ryhoravich [Lukashenka], I would bargain for gas at the level of $50 [per 1000 cubic meters]. In my view, this price is fair.

The Kremlin is very cynical. Everyone is sick and tired [of it]. One longs for a normal human attitude towards Belarus and our problems, you know.

Russia is changing. It is a "superpower." It dictates. I can understand the Belarusian president who does not feel ashamed to voice once again that we should be treated as partners in the first place.

We are the only country, which is Russia's friend. Can you name any other country? They are non-existent and will not be!

The Union State project can be closed down. Actually, they do not take it seriously. Absolutely.

We sell crude oil worth of around $1 billion to Germany. Do you think it is our own crude? No, it is Russian. In Belarus, they only discovered oil near Stoubcy and just abandoned it.

The Russians have lit a cigarette and are blowing smoke into our face braggingly. In the theory of negotiations, it is called an active phase. Well, we are just swallowing this smoke. 

In Belarus, these guys are funny. They draft the budget taking into account the cost of crude oil. [I would understad it], if it were United Arab Emirates or Quatar or even Russia... We do not have our own oil. Why do you plan your budget on the basis of your forecast on the oil price?

Guys, have you gone crazy about this Russian oil? Don't you have heads, hands? Why do you keep sitting on this oil pipeline? Go and develop your own business. The country has to be operational.