BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/06/2007

Russia, Belarus to increase union budget contributions

MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Belarus plan to increase contributions to their union budget in 2008 by 10%, the Russian prime minister said at a Union Council session marking the 15th anniversary of bilateral relations Friday.

Mikhail Fradkov said the increase would help improve the implementation of the two countries' joint programs.

Today's session of the Council of the Russia-Belarus Union addressed the basic framework for the Union's 2008 budget, issues related to establishing a common transport and education system, a common labor market, and the implementation of the Union's social development program.

Among other things the two countries plan to develop an Earth remote sensing satellite in two years.

"Belarus has already adopted a similar program, and we have been maintaining active ties with Russia in this high-tech sphere," said the Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky. "As a result we should develop a satellite with the highest definition characteristics unrivaled in the world."

Sidorsky said there was also a number of other programs for which "governmental decisions needed to be made as part of the two countries' innovation projects."

In support of the Belarusian premier's idea Fradkov cited high-cost programs to develop a border infrastructure and IT solutions for customs authorities and urged "a drastic reduction in bureaucracy."

The Russian premier also said Russia was considering granting Belarus a loan for gas supplies with a view to promoting market relations in the area of energy supplies.

"We are considering issuing a loan [to Belarus]," Fradkov said. "Experts are working, and negotiations are underway between Belarusian officials and [Russian energy giant] Gazprom on terms of supplies, but this will take time.

Source:

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070629/68063688.html