News

The Secretary General of the Energy Charter, Ambassador André Mernier, today expressed his concern about recent developments with regard to the gas dispute between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. This dispute over payments for gas supplies and transit is a commercial matter. Still it is important to draw attention to the principle of uninterrupted transit, which is a core element of the Energy Charter Treaty.

In accordance with Article 7(6) of the Treaty, a Contracting Party through whose Area Energy Materials and Products transit shall not, in the event of a dispute over any matter arising from that Transit, interrupt or reduce, permit any entity subject to its control to interrupt or reduce, or require any entity subject to its jurisdiction to interrupt or reduce the existing flow of Energy Materials and Products. The Treaty foresees a special dispute resolution procedure involving a conciliator. Throughout this procedure the parties are to keep energy transit flows unchanged.

The Secretary General hopes that a prompt solution will be found, so that the unresolved issues will not have a negative impact on transit volumes.