CURRENCY UNION WITH RUSSIA HINGES ON POLITICAL BARGAIN
Published:
14 August 2003 y., Thursday
Economist Valery Dashkevich, an independent consultant for the Belarusian National Bank, told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service on 12 August that Russian President Vladimir Putin's call on 11 August for a final decision on a common currency stems from pressure exerted on the Kremlin by Russian oligarchs and businessmen.
According to Dashkevich, Russian businessmen are dissatisfied with the lack of progress in Russian-Belarusian integration, and primarily with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's reluctance to sell major Belarusian state-run enterprises to Russians. Dashkevich believes that Lukashenka will bend to Putin's model of the single currency only after Putin guarantees his support for Lukashenka remaining in power for a third term and makes concessions regarding the future constitution of the Russia-Belarus Union. Dashkevich said Lukashenka might delay his decision on the introduction of the Russian ruble in Belarus until after Russian parliamentary and presidential elections slated for December 2003 and March 2004, respectively.
Šaltinis:
RFE/RL
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
President Dalia Grybauskaitė sent a letter to the participants of the ceremony of unveiling a commemorative plaque in Washington Square in Vilnius to mark the seventieth anniversary of the US Department of State Declaration on the Non-Recognition of the Annexation of the Baltic States.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė on behalf of herself and the people of Lithuania extended congratulations to His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, on the occasion of Independence Day.
more »
On 20 July at the international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis affirmed that Lithuania would continue fulfilling commitments and contributing to the stabilization and development of Ghor Province.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė presented letters of credence to Žygimantas Pavilionis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to the United States of America.
more »
Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis welcomed the official launch of European Union-Georgia talks on Association Agreement.
more »
Lithuania’s honorary consuls are expected to contribute consolidated efforts to achieving today’s key tasks of Lithuania’s economic diplomacy – the promotion of Lithuanian exports and attraction of foreign direct investments.
more »
Victory in the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris) stands as a symbol signifying the hope of the Lithuanian people to seek freedom and independence, President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined at the celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Grunwald Battle.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė, together with Polish President-elect Bronisław Komorowski and prominent Polish state and public figures, took part in the festive celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald (Žalgiris).
more »
Yesterday evening, after the wreath-laying ceremony at the Grunwald Monument and the opening of a special exhibition at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, President D. Grybauskaitė of Lithuania and President-elect B. Komorowski of Poland had a working dinner together.
more »
Wednesday, 14 July, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, is to meet with her Romanian counterpart, Traian Băsescu, who is to pay an official visit to Lithuania.
more »