A subsidiary of Russia's state-run Gazprom gas giant confirmed on Friday reports that it is considering building a big oil refinery in Armenia that would process crude from neighboring Iran.

In 2006, Gazprom came under fire internationally for its tactics of bumping up the prices its neighbors must pay for gas.

The price for the Russian gas Belarus will buy will be agreed by the new year, Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sidorskiy told the press while paying a working visit to Mogilev oblast.

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka today said Belarus will not give in to what he called "blackmail" by Russia's state-run gas monopoly Gazprom.

Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom says it will dramatically increase natural gas prices for Belarus. In this report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera discusses the ramifications of this move for the two countries.

"Azerbaijan's giving no answer to Gazprom in negotiations on Russian gas imports to Azerbaijan means refusing Russian gas supplies," Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev said. In his words, bilateral talks between Azerbaijani and Russian energy officials held in Moscow proved fruitless.

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs today urged Russia and Belarus to end their gas-price dispute, which could affect supplies to EU member states.

Russia's state-run natural gas monopoly, Gazprom, has warned again of a cut-off of supplies to Belarus, unless the country signs a new price agreement.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has said Belarus could be risking its gas supplies in January if it refuses to agree to conditions on a price increase.

Talks between Belarus and Russia's state-owned energy provider Gazprom ended Tuesday without agreement, raising the possibility of a natural gas cut-off next week if Belarus does not agree to a sharp price hike.

Georgia has still to rely mostly on import of Russian Gazprom's expensive gas in the beginning of 2007 as launch of gas supply from Shah-Deniz field is delayed, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said.

Gazprom announced today that it has concluded a deal with Georgia to supply natural gas at the price of $235 for 1,000 cubic meters beginning January 1.