Prime Ministers of Russia, Belarus Discuss Economic Relations at Meeting in Moscow

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and his Belarusian counterpart, Syarhey Sidorski, discussed economic relations between the two countries next year at a meeting held in Moscow on December 26 at the level of the Council of Ministers of the Belarusian-Russian Union State.

The governments of Russia and Belarus reached a full agreement on the distribution of fuel and energy resources within the Union State in 2008, Mr. Sidorski told reporters following the meeting.

In addition, according to him, an agreement was reached on a forecast for the supply-demand balance for key products in the Union State.

“We considered 16 issues today,” Mr. Sidorski said. “The most important thing was to actualize issues of cooperation in the trade, economic, fuel, energy, industrial, and social spheres.”

The meeting also resulted in a decision to start two new Union State programs: the production of components for optical fiber systems, and the development of technologies for the production of polymeric materials. “These two high-tech programs will create a basis for the further development of cooperation in the industrial sphere,” Mr. Sidorski commented.

The work of the Council of Ministers of the Union State in the expiring year was very strenuous but yielded results, said Russian Prime Minister Zubkov. According to him, the year for the first time saw “very high results of economic relations.” He noted that trade between Belarus and Russia increased by almost 25 percent year-on year in the first 10 months and might reach $25 billion this year.

“This is not just trade,” he said. “As a matter of fact, this is increasing cooperation in industry, agriculture, the scientific and technical sphere, and at the provincial level. This means the practical integration of Russia and Belarus.”

The governments of the two countries put an emphasis on ensuring equal rights for the citizens of Russia and Belarus in using the results of social ad economic cooperation, Mr. Zubkov added.

According to him, participants at the meeting also discussed issues concerning the creation of a common economic zone and the removal of the remaining barriers to mutual trade. “We’ll continue to work on these issues,” he said. “We have a constructive approach. We, in fact, have no disagreement on all issues.” //BelaPAN