BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/12/2007

Russia tipped to swallow Belarus

By Moscow correspondent Scott Bevan

There has been growing speculation in Russia that the country is about to merge with neighbouring Belarus, and that President Vladimir Putin would head the new state.

Russian media has been reporting that sources within the office of the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, say that a union with Russia is about to happen.

The reports say that Mr Putin will may visit Belarus to sign a Constutional Act of Union late next week, and that the document has already been drafted.

In a climate where speculation is rife about what Mr Putin will do next after he steps down from the Russian presidency in March, the reports say he could become the president of the new Union State.

Officials from both countries have dismissed the reports, with the Kremlin calling them speculative fantasies.

Source:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/08/2113432.htm?section=justin

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