Belarus, Venezuela, Azerbaijan to cooperate on oil transport

President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that Belarus, Venezuela and Azerbaijan would launch a joint logistic venture to transport oil and other freight.

Lukashenko earlier pledged to provide Azerbaijan with oil transported from Venezuela, in exchange for Azeri oil supplies to Belorussian refineries.

Venezuela and Belarus agreed on an annual oil delivery of some 10 tons starting from 2011. Currently, the oil form Venezuela was transported to some Ukrainian and Baltic ports.

Lukashenko, meanwhile, said Azerbaijan has also shown interest in the issue of gas supplies.

The move followed Russia's recent decision to introduce oil export duties for Belarus. Moscow and Minsk have been at odds over the issue, as Belarus has insisted on duty-free oil supplies.

Source: Xinhua