Putin insists on introducing common currency with Belarus

• 27.01.2012, 13:01

The Russian Prime Minister said regarding the common currency in Russia and Belarus that ball is in Belarus’s court.

“To be frank, we failed to reach the desired degree of economic integration with Belarus. For example, our Belarusian friends and we failed to reach an agreement on introducing common currency,” Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with veterans in St Petersburg, RIA Novosti informs.

He preferred not to analyze the reasons and added: “As for this issue, I think the ball is in the court of Belarus.” He added the Belarusian party set unacceptable conditions for Russia. “We cannot have two issuing centres, two banks that issue currency here and there,” Putin said.

Putin was asked during the meeting if veterans would be able to see the Union State of Russia and Belarus during their lifetime. The Russian PM stressed the development of relations between Russian and Belarus was among the most important directions of the country’s foreign policy.

“Revival of the Soviet Union is impossible and unnecessary, unfortunately,” the PM noted adding preserving all good that the contemporaries inherited from past generations was the historical mission.

Putin emphasized Russia was ready for deep cooperation with Belarus and noted the Customs Union was the first real step in this direction in the post-Soviet years. “Much of what have been made by Russia and Belarus can and should be used for promoting deep economic integration,” the PM noted.