Finance Minister confused speeches. Still “deputies” said “yes” :: Charter'97 :: News

Yesterday finance Minister Mikalay Korbut presented two bills on taxation of the country’s trade with Russia, to the “parliament”. When the Minister was reading the report on the first bill, the “parliament’s” speaker asked if he had confused issues. Nevertheless, imperturbable M.Korbut kept on reading the report. Having asked several questions after the speech, the “deputies” voted to accept the bill. That was only after the presentation of the bills when the mistake became evident: the “deputies” voted on the first issue, while the Minister had presented the second one. - Mr Korbut, I have asked you to be more accurate! - the Speaker claimed.

- These documents were placed together, - the finance Minister tried to prove his innocence.

Thus, the voting was annulled and the “deputies” again pressed buttons “FOR”, as “KP v Belarusi” reports.

The following bills were “considered”: “On the bill of the Republic of Belarus on ratifying of the protocol of the Government of Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the order of indirect taxation for services rendered” and “On the bill on ratifying of the protocol of the Government of Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the alterations accepted for the agreement between the Government of Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on the principles of indirect taxation for exports and imports, services rendered, of September 15, 2004”.