Russia shuts oil pipeline in trade dispute

By Alex Spillius
Last Updated: 2:22am GMT 09/01/2007

Russia halted oil exports to Europe via Belarus yesterday as a bitter trade dispute escalated, renewing concerns that Moscow is bent on pursuing aggressive energy diplomacy.

Taps were turned off on pipelines to Poland and Germany but the European Commission said there was no immediate risk of shortages in either country because of ample stocks in refineries.

Map of pipeline through Belarus

The commission was also investigating whether the supply was cut on another branch of the 2,500-mile pipeline feeding Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic


Telegraph | News | Russia shuts oil pipeline in trade dispute


A trade war looming?

__________________
STUPIDITY Is The Deliberate Cultivation Of Ignorance

TRUTH exist, only a falsehood has to be invented.

Please Visit My Blog http://studiesandobservations.blogspot.com/

Looks that way. But since Belarus and Russia have been at odds lately; mthere could be a move on Russia part. I guess this is one that would need to be watched to see if "the rest of the story" will come out.

__________________
STUPIDITY Is The Deliberate Cultivation Of Ignorance

TRUTH exist, only a falsehood has to be invented.

Please Visit My Blog http://studiesandobservations.blogspot.com/

An article on how this gas war could be more effective in bringing down the belarussian dictatorship than everything that has been tried before ( sanctions..)

Transitions Online: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

A news update


MOSCOW, Jan. 10 -- A standoff between Russia and Belarus that led to the shutdown of a pipeline that delivers crude oil to European Union countries ended Wednesday, after Belarus backed down and lifted a duty it had imposed on Russian fuel transiting the country.

The breakthrough came after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday afternoon to his Belarusan counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusan presidential press service said that the countries' prime ministers had been told "to propose ways of settling all problems and to submit them to the presidents by Friday."

Belarus's imposition of the duty led Russia to switch off the flow of oil, a move greeted with dismay in Western Europe. Leaders there wondered aloud about Russia's reliability as an energy supplier.

Oil began flowing again late Wednesday, the Associated Press reported from Minsk, the Belarusan capital, citing a senior pipeline official.


Russia-Belarus Standoff Over Oil Ends, Clearing Way for Accord - washingtonpost.com

__________________
STUPIDITY Is The Deliberate Cultivation Of Ignorance

TRUTH exist, only a falsehood has to be invented.

Please Visit My Blog http://studiesandobservations.blogspot.com/

It's kind of a pity. Cheap energy from Russia is the main way Lukashenko stays in power. Obviously the Belarussians dislike having a dictator, but they're not bothered enough to rebel much as long as living is cheap.

__________________
... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s

Have a look on this article:

The Blowback for Putin - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

It draws a pretty interesting scenario. Putin might make Pyhrrus victories currently. He is no Mr. Nice Guy anymore, but he might underestimate if the others could lay off their Nice Guy habit too.