双语新闻：俄罗斯减少向白俄罗斯供应天然气

Russia Cuts Gas To Belarus Over Debt

俄罗斯减少向白俄罗斯供应天然气

Russia reduced natural gas supplies to neighboring Belarus by 15 percent on Monday, because of what it claims is a debt of nearly $200 million for gas already provided.

星期一，俄罗斯对邻国白俄罗斯的天然气供应减少了15%。原因是俄罗斯宣称的白俄罗斯所欠近两亿美元的款项。

Russian natural gas company Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said supplies to Belarus will be cut gradually. Russian media report that talks will continue between Minsk and Moscow despite the gas cuts.

俄罗斯天然气工业股份公司总裁米勒说，将会逐渐减少对白俄罗斯的天然气供应。俄罗斯媒体报导说，尽管减少天然气供应，明斯克与莫斯科之间的谈判将继续进行。

Moscow had threatened to cut 85 percent of its gas flow to Belarus if Russia did not receive the money by Monday. Belarus denies it owes the money.

莫斯科威胁说，如果俄罗斯在星期一之前收不到欠款，就将把向白俄罗斯供应的天然气削减85%。白俄罗斯否认有任何欠款。

The two sides failed to reconcile their differences in talks Saturday, after which Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said there is a chance the issue will be resolved in court.

双方星期六的谈判未能就分歧达成妥协。此后，俄罗斯副总理谢钦说，目前存在着将这个问题诉诸法庭解决的可能性。

Belarus has warned that gas flow to Western Europe could be affected if a deal is not reached.

白俄罗斯警告说，如果不能达成一项协议，向西欧输送的天然气也可能受影响。