Medvedev waits for Lukashenka in Sochi on August 19
- 14.08.2008, 14:43
Dmitry Medvedev and Alyaksandr Lukashenka are expected to meet in Sochi on August 19. “As far as I know, on August 19 in Sochi a meeting of the two presidents is to take place. Dmitry Anatolyevich is waiting,” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski in Moscow on Thursday.
The head of the Russian government noted that the presidents of the two countries are to “continue talks on the whole range of issues; and today Prime Ministers of Russia and Belarus are to discuss economic cooperation and social sphere today”.
Putin has also said that in the end of September – beginning of October a meeting of Russian-Belarusian intergovernmental commission is planned.
The Russian Prime Minister has stated that the relations of the two countries in the sphere of economy are expanding. He admitted that “the problem which had been discussed many times and namely cutting of difference in export and import tariffs exists, though the difference is reducing both in import and in export”.
During the meeting the issue of the single currency of Belarus and Russia could be brought up as well, Russian Ambassador to Belarus A. Surikov said at a press-conference in Minsk.
“Belarus’ credit balance deficit in the first half of the year is more than 6 bn dollars. It could nudge to start talks on single currency to zero out this balance,” A. Surikov said, Interfax informs.
He also emphasized that he sees no “reasons for not introducing a single currency, related to the Constitution”. “The EU lives with a single currency without Constitution,” he said.
Besides, Putin and Sidorski are to discuss gas cost for Belarus. As the Charter’97 press-centre has informed, Belarus demands to change price formula for gas sold by Gazprom to Belarus. The First Vice Prime Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Syamashka has stated that the government of the country finds it necessary to change the agreement with Russia on prices for gas delivered to Belarus in connection with the oil prices increase worldwide. Cost of gas for Belarus is to become 200 per cubic metre next year.