Prospects of integration collaboration as well as strategic cooperation between Belarus and Russia in various avenues were discussed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Sochi on February 3 during Alexander Lukashenko’s working visit to Russia. During the meeting the sides discussed the expansion of trade and economic ties, contacts in the defence industry, transit via Belarus, accomplishment of the external border infrastructure,...

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Russia Vladimir Putin may meet in the next few days, Alexander Surikov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus, told reporters on February 1. “The meeting may be arranged soon. Insofar as the agenda is concerned, both the leaders will decide on their own what issues to consider,” said the diplomat. The administration of the President of Belarus confirmed the information.

In Q2 2008, the gas price for Belarus will be increased slightly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Belarus Alexander Surikov told reporters in Minsk on February 1. According to him, the price will grow by around 10%. At present, the price for gas for Belarus is $119 per 1.000 cubic metres.

The programme of coordinated foreign policy actions for the Union State member-nations for 2008-2009 is based on national interests of Belarus and Russia, Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov said in Minsk on January 30 after a joint session of the boards of the Belarusian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The programme has no narrow geographic focus, stressed Sergei Martynov. In his words, the document determines coordination of the two countries’ positions in many foreign...

The OSCE should work out unified and understandable guidelines for the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The statement was made by Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov and Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov in Minsk on January 30 after a joint session of the boards of the two ministries. “We would like to see unified and understandable guidelines for ODIHR developed,” stressed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov. He...

President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez may visit Belarus this spring. Charge d'affaires Ad Hoc Americo Diaz Nunez told BelTA, Hugo Chavez may visit Belarus in March. According to the diplomat, the intention to visit Belarus confirms huge interest of Venezuela’s leadership in the bilateral cooperation. Hugo Chavez has been to Belarus twice — in July 2006 and June 2007. In December 2007 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited Venezuela. During the visit Belarusian-Venezuelan joint...

Over three weeks of January inflation in Belarus was at the level of 0.8%, Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko told BelTA. According to him, the main reason was an increase in tariffs on utilities services in January. On January 1, 2008, the tariff on technical maintenance of houses increased by 6% up to Br240.3 a month per 1 sq.m of the net floor area. The tariff on heating energy remained at the same level which was Br36355,5 per 1Gcal. The tariffs on cold water supply is Br321,4 per 1...

Belarus has the capacity to increase the amount of natural gas pumped in transit to the European Union, Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during consultations with a delegation of the European Commission in Minsk on January 29. He stressed, transit through Belarus is the shortest route for Europe and the fact positively influences the economy of supplies. “At present we have the available capacity to start additional transit via OAO Beltransgaz. The reliability and safety of...

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov may visit Belarus. A statement to this effect was made on January 27 at a session of the intergovernmental Belarusian-Turkmen commission for trade and economic cooperation. According to Alexander Kosinets, a co-chairman of the commission and the Belarusian Vice-premier, all key issues of the cooperation between Belarus and Turkmenistan will be discussed during the session. Belarus and Turkmenistan will do everything to prepare the...

Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov will be in Minsk on January 29-30 on a working visit. During the visit Sergei Lavrov will attend the joint session of the foreign ministries of Belarus and Russia, official of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin informed. “The visit of Sergei Lavrov to Minsk and the joint session will undoubtedly promote all-round cooperation between Belarus and Russia, Mikhail Kamynin said. The foreign political interaction of the two countries is...