Brussels, 21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - A further gas dispute between Russia and Belarus caused the European Commission to convene a crisis meeting of European and Russian experts on Monday 21 June to assess the consequences for supplies to the EU. On Monday, Russia carried out its threat to reduce its gas exports to Belarus following a trade dispute over non-payment of supplies, while continuing to negotiate an agreement. A number of highly placed Belarusian officials had warned over the last few days that any serious reduction in Russian supplies could have repercussions for the EU. 20% of the EU's imports of Russian gas pass through Belarus, with the other 80% going through Ukraine. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin informed European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger on Monday that Russia was reducing supplies of gas to Belarus. In late morning, the Belarusian energy minister gave assurances that the transit of gas to Europe would not be affected. “We are keeping a close eye on the situation and believe that Russian gas supplies passing through Belarus will not be disrupted by the conflict,” Oettinger's spokeswoman Marlene Holzer told press at lunchtime on Monday. EU and Russian experts met shortly afterwards to assess the possible risks country by country. The Commission says that, if Belarus stops supplies to Europe, Lithuania, which depends totally on gas passing through Belarus for its supplies (gas which has only one point of entry to the country), would be the EU member state most affected, but Latvia could deliver Russian gas to it. Poland and Germany would also be affected, but only indirectly. (E.H./transl.rt)