Slovakia to declare emergency after a 70 pc gas delivery drop
BRATISLAVA - SLOVAKIA will declare a state of emergency on Tuesday after Russian gas supplies to the country fell by 70 per cent overnight, Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said at a press conference in Bratislava.
'Gas supplies to selected wholesale buyers may fall, but we will do our best to spare households, hospitals and schools,' the minister added.
Russian gas giant Gazprom drastically cut gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine last night following a dispute over gas prices with Ukraine.
Slovakia, which depends for 98 per cent on Russia for natural gas, 'will send a protest to Russia and Ukraine, asking them to resolve their commercial dispute and not to take Europe hostage,' said Mr Jahnatek. -- AFP
