Russia and Belarus will continue discussions...

"The negotiation process is not finished. Negotiations will continue tomorrow," Irina Yesipova told RIA Novosti.

The dispute has raised fears in Germany and Poland that supplies may be affected, as they were during a similar dispute in 2007, but Yesipova earlier said that deliveries via Belarus were continuing without disruption while the negotiations were ongoing.

Mikhail Barkov, vice-president of Russia"s Transneft oil pipeline monopoly, said on Sunday that oil transit via Belarus would not be reduced under any circumstances, but oil deliveries to the former Soviet republic depended on Minsk"s position.

Belarus benefited from significant discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009, and is seeking a similar deal this year. Russia says it is willing to eliminate all duties on oil supplied to Belarus for domestic consumption, but wants oil bound for European markets to be subject to duty.

A Belarusian government source said on Saturday that Russia"s position

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