BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/03/2007

Fradkov to discuss trade differences with Belarus

MOSCOW, March 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov is leaving for Belarus on Friday to chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Allied State of Russia and Belarus, and observers believe he would focus on trade and economic contradictions between the two countries.

The Belarussian government said Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky will participate in the meeting.

However Fradkov is also expected to meet President Alexander Lukashenko.

On Tuesday the signing of a Russian-Belarussian agreement eliminating obstacles and hindrances in bilateral trade was postponed in Moscow. Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Vitaly Savelyev said "the Belarussian side unexpectedly introduced into the text of the agreement some amendments, which demand examination and new talks, which contradicts earlier agreements."

If a compromise is reached at the meeting of the Council of Ministers, it may result in the signing of an agreement on bilateral trade, including the long-awaited deal on Belarussian sugar exports to Russia.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11364046&PageNum=0