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Potash tensions should not harm Belarus-Russia relations: Lukashenko

12 October 2013 02:13 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday that the "potash case" should not harm the Belarusian-Russian partnership, APA reports quoting Xinhua,

Lukashenko made the remarks at a press conference in Minsk for Russian regional mass media.

"When I met with Russian President Vladimir Putin I said that no Kerimov or Baumgertner are worthy to fight over and damage our relations at the state level or personal relationships. He agreed with me 100 percent," he said.

According to the Belarusian leader, Russia's damage from the potash case is incommensurable with that of Belarus. "The shares of our company have not collapsed. Yes, our budget has lost up to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. Russia has lost twice as much," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko accused top managers of Uralkali, a Russian potash fertilizer company, of fraud. "They sold the stock at the brink of the company's breakdown, when the stock quotes were more or less high. Then they started to buy shares when they plunged. That is fraud. Why does Russia not see that? That must be punished."

The Belarusian President stressed that his country is ready to restore relations with Uralkali. "We are ready for this, even after everything that has happened. But this is for your state to decide. If I were to decide I would make sure these assets are in the hands of trusted people overnight," he added.

On Aug. 26, Belarusian authorities detained Uralkali General Director Vladislav Baumgertner in Minsk, on suspicion of abusing his power. Baumgertner was chairman of the Belarusian Potash Company, a now-defunct joint venture between Uralkali and a Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali.

Uralkali announced on July 30 it would end output restrictions that underpin world prices and halt exports through Belarusian Potash Company, which controlled 40 percent of global exports. Baumgertner's detention has drawn a fierce rebuke from Moscow.