Russia Demands from Belarus Introduction of Common Currency in January 2005 :: Charter'97 :: News

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that on January 1, 2005 Russian ruble must turn into a common means of payment on the territory of Russia and Belarus. RIA “Novosti” correspondent reports that the president of Russia said at the final press-conference that the issue had been discussed at the session of the Supreme State Council. At the same time the Russian leader underscored that this requires serious preparatory activities.

“I assume that we will coordinate our further activities this spring, – said Putin: If this doesn’t happen, he added, we will fail to make Russian ruble the only means of payment beginning with January 1, 2005”.
Vladimir Putin also confirmed that the new Russian migration law doesn’t spread onto the Belarusian nationals. The president of Russia said that Belarusian citizens “won’t have to fill out any immigration cards”. Putin also called on everyone “not to mix up registration in the large towns of Russia with the migration cards”.
Alexander Lukashenko, in his turn, declared that the joint venture on the transportation of Russian gas into Europe would be set up before deadline. “By July 2003 we must launch a joint Russian-Belarusian gas transportation company,” – underscored Lukashenko in particular.
According to him, there exist no obstacles in Belarus for creating such company. All legal documentation has been put in compliance with legislation and they already signed the concomitant agreement.