Mass Media about Belarusian-Russian Relations

After the meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council and the Supreme Body of the Customs Union which was held on October 18th-19th in St. Petersburg, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin touched upon, among others, various aspects of Belarusian-Russian relations.

After the meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council and the Supreme Body of the Customs Union which was held on October 18^th-19^th in St. Petersburg, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin touched upon, among others, various aspects of Belarusian-Russian relations.

“Russia and Belarus do not abandon the idea of ??adopting a single currency, but believe that certain economic conditions should mature for that,” said Putin. “We had been discussing this issue with Belarus for a long time, we had some plans, but we moved them, and today we believe that the single currency should grow on prepared economic ground” (“Interfax-Zapad”, 19.10.2011). As Putin said, “life will dot the i’s by itself and will show what’s cheaper. In general, we are ready for this, but we don’t want the situation like in the eurozone, where they have to think whom to expel from the eurozone, and whom to keep,” said Russian Prime Minister” (“Belorusskie Novosti”, 19.10.2011).

Putin also noted that Belarus and Russia have nearly completed the negotiations on a new gas contract and the sale of “Beltransgaz” shares. “The management of “Gazprom” has informed me that the talks on “Beltransgaz” are practically over,” Putin said. “De facto we are reaching new agreements with Belarus on energy cooperation”. According to Vladimir Putin, the gas price for Belarus will be even lower than equally profitable prices in the customs union area. “When forming these prices we will apply the so-called integration downward factor,” reminded the Prime Minister of Russia” (“BelTA”, 19.10.2011).

The merger with the Belarusian “MAZ” will help the JSC “KAMAZ” to compete successfully in the world markets, believes Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. “Both “MAZ” and “KAMAZ” are good companies, promising ones, but they will have to work hard to compete successfully in the world markets. They need to develop further, to upgrade,” said Russian Prime Minister (“Interfax-Zapad”, 19.10.2011).

Media reported that deputies of the House of Representatives are planning to ratify an intergovernmental agreement on certain measures aimed to ensure simultaneous operation of the consolidated power system of Belarus and the united energy system of Russia. “This step will enable the Belarusian side to carry out interstate transmission of electric power through Russia’s grid within the framework of the CES,” informs “BelTA” (19.10.2011).