Lukashenko to discuss “Beltransgas” privatization only with Putin :: Charter'97 :: News

As it was expected the trip of the ‘Gasprom” deputy president Alexander Riazanov to Minsk didn’t lead to the rapprochement of the contracting parties’ positions without mentioning any agreements. He took with him to Moscow only the protocol where the differences of the parties over “Beltransgas” privatization are officially fixed. As “Vremia novostey” reported, the talks failed because of the Belarusian president’s position who wants to decide these questions with Vladimir Putin personally.

This aspiration can be easily explained: Lukashenko wants Russian president to make some concessions. In exchange of the imposed position the Belarusian president hopes to obtain by bargaining the compromise over the text of constitutional act of the “union state” as well over the issue on Minsk’s right to emit independently the common currency of the future union state. However the Kremlin cannot accept this state of things. Vladimir Putin is not going to turn business talks with Lukashenko into idle talks.

“Vremia novostey” was told in “Gasprom”: “Visiting we didn’t expect any positive results. The delegation visited Minsk as there exist an agreement about the regular talks on the matter.» The representatives of the concern didn’t make up their mind to predict how the events will develop.