(27 Jun 2000) Russian/Nat
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the possibility of introducing a common currency for their two nations.
Ever since he and former President Boris Yeltsin signed the Russian-Belarusian union agreement in 1996, Lukashenko has been striving to put some substance into the largely symbolic union.
The union brings the two Slavic former Soviet republics closer, but stops short of the full merger that Lukashenko advocates.
Beginning this year, union affairs are to be handled by the Supreme State Council of the Union of Russia and Belarus.
The body has only weak powers over the internal affairs of each country.
In addition to their currency talks, Lukashenko and Putin also discussed a budget for the union.
Among the government officials that Lukashenko met before his talks with Putin, was former Kremlin property manager Pavel Borodin, a key suspect in a corruption scandal unfolding in Swiss courts.
Russian prosecutors said on Tuesday that they lack evidence to charge Borodin and another suspect, former Kremlin contractor Behgjet Pacolli.
Borodin, now holds a largely ceremonial government post and has dismissed charges against him.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We really did discuss vital questions, key questions related to the formation of a joint government. That means the establishment of the first stages of a joint economic system. We talked about what powers and means could be used to meet concrete goals for the establishment of a united customs territory. We talked about the harmonisation of tax laws. We talked about time tables and financial means available to realise these goals. Discussions were concrete and for this reason I can say they were very constructive. "
SUPERCAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Russian President
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