BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/12/2007

Trade between Russia, Belarus to exceed $24 bln in 2007 - Putin

MINSK. Dec 14 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia and Belarus can achieve greater heights in their mutual relations by resolving their socio-economic issues.

"By successfully resolving their socio-economic issues, Russia and Belarus will achieve greater results in their mutual relations,"

"This year we will reach a high level of trade which will amount to more than $24 billion," Putin said at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday.

"Given the extent of our cooperation, all formalities and ceremonies play a secondary role but formal issues will still have to be discussed one day," Putin said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11929993