MOSCOW, Dec. 27 ??“ Gazprom, Russia??™s state-controlled gas giant, warned on Wednesday that its escalating natural gas price dispute with Belarus could disrupt supplies to Poland, Germany and Lithuania.

Gazprom sent telegrams to its partners in Europe warning of the possible gas supply disruptions after Belarus had threatened to stop the transit of Russian gas due to the dispute.

???Unfortunately, it??™s practically impossible to provide a complete compensation of gas supplies if Belarus will be taking gas for its domestic consumption,??? Alexander Medvedev, deputy chairman of Gazprom, said, told investors.

The warning from Gazprom reverses earlier statements assuring consumers that it has accumulated extra gas in underground gas tanks in Europe in order to compensate for the gas supply disruptions.

Gazprom has been also considering increasing supplies of gas to Europe via gas pipelines in Ukraine in order to offset supply disruptions via Belarus.

Russia has been moving about 25% of its European gas exports via Belarus this year, while sending the remaining 75% via Ukrainian gas pipelines.

Belarus threatened to stop Russian gas exports after Russia had threatened to suspend supplies of gas to Belarus for its disagreement to accept a major price hike.

Gazprom originally suggested Belarus to pay $230 per 1,000 cubic meters starting from Jan. 1, 2007, up from $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters this year.

Later, Russia reduced the price to $105 per 1,000 cu m under condition that Belarus will pay for gas in cash and in shares of Beltransgaz, the state-owned gas shipment company.

Gazprom wanted to get 50% of shares in the Belarussian gas company in order to strengthen its position in Europe, Belarus rejected the proposal triggering a wave of mutual threats that may effect European gas shipments.

Gazprom believes that the pressure on Belarus will force the country to accept its proposal within days.

???I am convinced that such situation may continue for no longer than three days because it will be a suicide for the Belarussian economy,??? Medvedev said. ???That??™s why I hope that the dispute will be over by the end of the year, or maximum, early next year.??? (jp/ez)