MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE UNION STATE

Russia aims at constructive cooperation with Belarus in oil sphere, Viktor Zubkov says

Russia aims at the constructive cooperation with Belarus in the oil sphere, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Viktor Zubkov stated at a meeting with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky in the narrow format on October 19 in Minsk.

Viktor Zubkov said that Russia was ready to meet Belarus’ increased demand for oil if the pipeline system capacities permitted that.

Russia fulfils its natural gas obligations to Belarus in full

Russia fulfils its natural gas obligations to Belarus in full measure, Russian Federation Premier Viktor Zubkov said as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky on October 19.

Viktor Zubkov remarked, Russia believes it is important to implement all the agreements Belarus and Russia have reached in this area. OAO Gazprom fulfils and will fulfil its obligations in full measure, he stressed.

Russia would like to take part in construction of nuclear plant in Belarus

Russia would like to take part in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus, Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Zubkov said during a meeting with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky.

Viktor Zubkov showed interest in the prospects of constructing a nuclear power plant in Belarus and noted that Russia, who has a wide experience in this sphere and potential, is ready to offer the most efficient variant of building a plant meeting all international safety standards.

Belarus and Russia manage to settle economic problems, Sergei Sidorsky says

Belarus and Russia manage to settle economic problems, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky stated at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Viktor Zubkov on October 19 in Minsk.

The Belarusian Prime Minister noted the progress made in implementing the instruction of the Union State Government pertaining to the intergovernmental agreement on the development of the trade-economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia signed in March 2007 in Minsk. “Today we will discuss the course of implementation of the agreement,” Sergei Sidorsky stressed.

He also reported that the agenda of the session of the Union State Council of Ministers included 16 items. The most significant of them were Union State draft budget for 2008. The Belarusian Prime Minister also noted than in 2008 some 12 Union State programmes will be implemented. Among them are programmes on the development of outer space exploration, trade in medicines.

The 2008 Union State budget is estimated at RUB 4 billion, the Russian contribution will be RUB 2.6 billion, that of Belarus – RUB 1.4 billion.

Viktor Zubkov to give new impetus to Union State Government

The chairmanship of Viktor Zubkov in the Union State government will give it a new impetus, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said during a meeting with chairman of the Russian government Viktor Zubkov.

“We see the first session of the Union State government under your chairmanship in Minsk as recognition of the importance of the Union State tasks,” the Prime Minister of Belarus said. He expressed confidence that the meeting will promote Union State integration.

Belarus and Russia settle VAT levying, transport and customs issues, Sergei Sidorsky reports

Belarus and Russia have settled the VAT levying, transport and customs issues, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky stated at the session of the Union State Council of Ministers on October 19 in Minsk.

This year the commission for tariff and non-tariff regulations under the Council of Ministers of the Union Sate and other state agencies of the two countries have done a great work on settling problems in the trade between Belarus and Russia.

The Prime Ministers stated that the parties have been making progress in implementing the intergovernmental agreement on measures to develop the bilateral trade-economic cooperation. “We managed to remove the hurdles in trade in goods listed in the agreement. The VAT levying, transport and customs issues were settled,” he stressed. Now there are virtually no queues on the Union State border. “The issue on free passage of trucks via the border requires solution, but I believe that it will be settled in the nearest possible time,” Sergei Sidorsky said.

Belarus will announce tender for nuclear power plant construction in 2008, Sergei Sidorsky says

Belarus will announce a tender for a nuclear power plant construction in 2008, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told reporters after a session of the Union State Council of Ministers on October 19.

He noted that the Belarusian Government had drafted a clear strategy of a nuclear power plant construction and all the necessary documents were submitted for consideration of the head of state. The nuclear power plant should be constructed by 2020. Now the research is underway regarding the prospective site of the nuclear plant.

Sergei Sidorsky noted that Belarus had received several offers from Western and Russian companies who were ready to implement the project. The Belarusian party will examine the Russian offers in detail. A tender for the nuclear power plant construction is planned to be announced in 2008.

In turn, Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov stressed that Russia was interested in participating in the construction.

Belarus, Russia to tackle border-crossing problem of truck traffic

Belarus and Russia will address the border-crossing problem of truck traffic at the joint border, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told media after a session of the Union State Cabinet on October 19.

He admitted, there are problems with truck traffic at the Belarusian-Russian border. A working party has been set up to address the situation and report the measures undertaken. The problem is monitored by the Union government at present, stressed Viktor Zubkov.

Sergei Sidorsky: Yamal-Europe second line construction to claim $2.5-3 billion

The cost of the construction of the second line of the Yamal-Europe gas main will make up $2.5-3 billion, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky told at a press conference after the Union State Council of Ministers’ session in Minsk October 19.

Sergei Sidorsky reminded that during the construction of the first line of the gas pipeline the Belarusian side granted privileges on customs duties for imported equipment, on land tax and other preferences to Gazprom. Transfer stations and the management and control system were constructed with the expectation of the second line.

Gazprom will own 50% of Beltransgaz shares and, according to Sergei Sidorsky, while creating a joint venture, it would be wrong to neglect the task of its better efficiency in the future. Bearing in mind a rise in prices for energy resources, their delivery to consumers with minimal losses becomes the most important issue. In this respect the construction of Yamal-Europe second line is the most saving and expedient project. According to the Prime Minister, the sides agreed on Belarus to present its proposals and estimates to Russia for the second time.

No more problems with certification of Belarusian medications in Russia

The problem of certifying Belarusian medications in Russia will be resolved, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told media after a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State on October 19.

He said, the problem is topical for both the sides and had been discussed at the Union Cabinet session. At present Russia imports expensive medications while Belarus can offer its own medications at lower prices. The certification of Belarusian medications is supposed to fix the problem.

The sides will soon sign an intergovernmental agreement on promoting cooperation for the production and mutual trade in medications, said the Prime Minister. The Union government is considering a draft agreement now.

Union State Government to strengthen control over implementation of decisions

The Union State Government will strengthen control over implementation of their decisions, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told reporters on October 19 after a session of the Union State Council of Ministers in Minsk.

He noted that the parties agreed to set up four working groups responsible for fuel and energy sector, transport infrastructure, industrial and customs cooperation. They will be headed by the Prime Ministers of Belarus and Russia. The working groups will control implementation of decisions of the Prime Ministers and the Union State Government. According to Sergei Sidorsky, such a system will strengthen control over the implementation of instructions of the Union State Government.

In turn, Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Zubkov noted that “today many right decisions are taken but their implementation often delayed”. In this connection it is necessary to establish control over and tighten the accountability for their implementation, he stressed.

Union State budget 2008 will be socially-oriented, Sergei Sidorsky claims

The 2008 Union State budget will be socially-oriented, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told reporters on October 19 after a session of the Union State Council of Ministers in Minsk.

He noted that the budget for 2008 “is filled with good economic contents”. The budget is estimated at RUB 4 billion, which is 10% more than in 2007. Some 33% will be channeled into economic programmes, 24% - into social programmes (medicine, education, social infrastructure), 13% - into law enforcement and defence. Next year seven new programmes will be launched.

According to Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, the budget funds will be used to support cooperation processes between Belarus and Russia. He believes that the relations between the two countries have been recently gathering momentum.

Viktor Zubkov also hopes that the decisions of the Union State Government will have a positive impact on the development of relations between Belarus and Russia.

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