In Brief: Boosting trade with the Balkans; Gazprom say yes; Iraqi debt for oil?

Polish companies will take part in the National Exhibition in Belgrade, which will take place between September 16-20. The fair is being organized by Polexpo Exibitions. The war in Yugoslavia cut the trade from $900 million to $70 million. (Gazeta Finansowa, 29 March - 4 April, p. 4) ... According to sources Gazprom has accepted the agreement about the planned reduction of gas deliveries from Russia which was earlier signed between the Prime Ministers of Poland and Russia. Poland will import 143 billion cubic meters from Russia instead of 217 billion cubic meters between 2003 and 2020. (Gazeta Finansowa, 29 March - 4 April, p. 2) ... The Finance Ministry is looking for ways of getting back the $560 million that Iraq owes Poland. One option is to settle the debt in oil deliveries. Under a draft strongly supported by Ukraine, the oil would be delivered by two pipelines, an alternative to transport by supertankers which are too big to enter the Baltic Sea. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 24) M.M./J.K.