* Russia's Gazprom energy giant concluded agreement with Belarus on Russian natural gas deliveries to the ex-Soviet state at $100 per 1,000 cubic meters

// Jan. 01, 2007 - 06:53 GMT

Russia and Belarus have narrowly escaped a new winter energy crisis last night after a last-minute gas price deal was signed two minutes prior to midnight. Belarus will now pay $100 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas, which Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom will pay a higher transit price and will buy 50 percent of Beltransgaz for $2.5 billion in cash.

// Jan. 01, 2007 - 07:17 GMT

MOSCOW, January 1 (RIA Novosti) – Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] signed a five-year contract on Russia's natural gas deliveries to Belarus at $100 per 1,000 cubic meters, company's head said Sunday.

// Jan. 01, 2007 - 07:57 GMT

WARSAW, January 1 (RIA Novosti) – Poland has been receiving Russian natural gas, transited via Belarus, in full volume since January 1, Poland's minister of economy said.

// Jan. 01, 2007 - 12:49 GMT

BRUSSELS, January 1 (RIA Novosti) – The European Union hails an agreement on Russian natural gas deliveries to Belarus reached late Sunday night, a EU spokeswoman said Monday.

// Jan. 01, 2007 - 13:10 GMT