Duma Committee Approves Oil Agreement with Belarus

The State Duma's energy committee has approved the ratification of a Russian-Belarus agreement on exports of oil and oil products.

The document, signed in Moscow on January 12, 2007, introduces lower duties on crude oil exports to Belarus. Also according to the agreement, Belarusian customs duties are to be equal to Russia's duties on exports of crude oil and oil products to other countries.

If Belarus violates the obligation, Russia will impose full exports duties on it in accordance with Russian laws.