Officials from Russia and Belarus held a...
A source in Minsk"s delegation said the sides had agreed to take a break from discussions to allow for "further consultations."
The dispute between Moscow and Minsk has raised fears in Germany and Poland that supplies may be affected, as they were during a similar dispute in 2007, but so far there has been no disruptions to oil transit via Belarus, and deliveries are occurring to both Belarus"s oil refineries.
Belarus benefited from significant discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009, and is again seeking preferential treatment this year. Russia says it is willing to eliminate all duties on oil supplied to Belarus for domestic consumption, but wants oil bound for European markets to be subject to duty.
An earlier set of talks ended on New Year"s Eve without agreement, picking up again on Wednesday. Russia has warned Belarus that it will have to pay full duty on all oil delivered while no agreement is in place.