BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
2006-01-20
Russia-Belarus union approves 2006 budget
MOSCOW, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- More than 3 billion rubles (about 110 million U.S. dollars) have been allocated to the Russia-Belarus union's 2006 budget for an array of projects ranging from computer technology development to Chernobyl disaster support.
Russia will contribute 1.76 billion rubles (about 62.4 million dollars) to the budget totaling 3.1 billion rubles, while Belarus will pay 948 million rubles (33.6 million dollars).
The figure was agreed by the union's parliament on Friday. The remaining significant chunk will come from Minsk's budget liability for the 2000-2003 period, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
It was decided that 82 percent of the budget is designed to fund 40 joint programs, including the development of computer technologies and diesel car manufacturing, said the report.
The budget will also finance aid to children affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl catastrophe, as well as holidays of invalids and participants of World War II.
Money will also be allocated to industry, energy sectors and military cooperation.
Russia and Belarus signed a union treaty in 1997, aiming at setting long-term principles in relations between the two states.
Under the pact, the two states retain sovereignty and national identity but form a confederation, governed by a Supreme State Council made up of leaders from both countries.
The union created a mechanism by which the two countries could devise joint foreign and economic policies while preserving each state's full sovereignty.
Source:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/20/content_4080069.htm
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