Belarus To Charge Millions For Land Under Pipelines

Belarus plans to charge foreign states $5 million per year to rent the land under oil and gas pipelines transiting through Belarus.

The deputy head of Belarus's State Property Committee, Heorhiy Kuznyatsou, made the announcement today at a news conference in Minsk.

Russia recently raised energy tariffs for Belarus, sparking a bitter standoff.

Minsk retaliated by slapping a transit fee on Russian oil pumped through Belarus, but was later forced to back down.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org