Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is planning to switch to market relations with Belarus on 1 January 2007.

Alexei Miller, the company’s president, said in an interview to ORT, “Gazprom is changing to the market principles of cooperation with all the former republics of the Soviet Union. The basis of this conversion is the international conjuncture of hydrocarbon costs. What we are saying is that the mechanism of setting up prices for Russian gas in Belarus will be decided by the global experience of gas business. We have duly started negotiations to avoid unwanted Christmas surprises. The talks will continue in the end of April.”

Lukashenka doesn’t seem to be pretty much worried about that. The message from the Belarus’ government is clear – “There shouldn’t be much ado about nothing. The discussions will continue and the agreement will be reached.” It would be nice if the Belarus’ society could find out how. What will the tradeoffs be? Hopefully, not the Belarus’ independence.