Belarus prepares payment plan

  • 1999-03-04
VILNIUS (BNS) - The Lithuanian government has accepted the Belarusian payment plan for electricity bought from Lithuania, Economics Minister Vincas Babilius said Feb. 24.

Lithuania will not cut electricity exports to Belarus as long as it keeps its promise to repay its huge debts to the neighboring country, he said.

The government plans to resume discussions on whether to continue electricity exports to Belarus March 3.

The Belarusian prime minister has signed documents requested by Vilnius and Lithuania's officials were shown them during their visit to Minsk last week, Babilius said.

Belarus has set a fixed U.S. dollar exchange rate to be applied in evaluating both power exports from Lithuania and Belarusian goods used as a means to settle electricity payments.

Since Belarus has no money to pay for electricity imports, Lithuania has agreed that it settle up in goods which are sold for cash.

From now on, Belarusian companies will be provided with government orders to produce goods to be used for settlements with Lithuania.

The Belarusian committee for resources and Lithuanian representatives were due to discuss on Thursday the possibility of making settlements in construction materials.

Belarus now owes around $100 million for electricity imported from Lithuania.