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
The Prime Ministers have discussed the latest developments in Georgia as well as the September European Council dedicated for the matter.
more »
On 19 August, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas attended an extraordinary North Atlantic Council meeting, where he and other NATO Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Georgia.
more »
Today, August 20, Wednesday, President Valdas Adamkus and President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia observe the Balts Will international coastal exercises of special operations forces.
more »
President Valdas Adamkus says that in the face of aggression against Georgia hasty calls are being made to change Lithuania’s defense strategy and return to its earlier conscription system.
more »
Aircraft of Lithuanian Air Force (LAF) C–27J Spartan took off from Tbilisi Airfield to evacuate 39 citizens of Lithuania from Georgia crisis region
more »
Today President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus participated in the meeting of presidents of the Lithuanian World Community and the World Lithuanian Youth Union.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus has condemned the acts of vandalism committed against Lithuania‘s and Vilnius‘s Jewish community headquarters, and calls on law-and-order and special services of the country to identify the organisers and the perpetrators of these acts immediately.
more »
With deep concern and anxiety, we are observing the events in Georgia which at this moment is under intensive attacks by the army of the Russian Federation.
more »
According to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, the international community should be worried about the military tension that has sparkled in Georgia.
more »