BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/12/2007

EU to Strive for Union State Membership in 7 Years, Borodin Said

"We are striving for [joining] the European Union, but I tell you, the EU will be striving for joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus in five to seven years," Pavel Borodin, the state secretary of the Union State, told reporters Wednesday.

"What do they have apart from beer and sausages?" the state secretary posed a rhetorical question. "Nothing. But we have everything: vast territory, national projects, working places and the demand."

Russia and Belarus united far back in 1997, Borodin said, specifying that the process doesn't run smoothly. "Even the homeless understand why it goes on with such difficulty. You buy oil at $80 and sell it at $600," the top-ranked bureaucrat explained. According to Borodin, the swindlers, and there are big numbers of them both in Russia and Belarus, won't be able to do anything once the countries have single customs, common economy and currency.

In addition to making odious statements, Borodin gave details of forthcoming visit of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to Belarus slated for December 13 to 14. Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko will mull over elaboration of Constitutional Act for Russia-Belarus Union State, the state secretary specified.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p-11761/EU_Union_State/