BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

26/04/2007

Putin: Russia committed to Integration with Belarus

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - The policy of broadening ties with Belarus within the Union State is unshakeable, President Vladimir Putin has said.

"Russia is open to all forms and models of integration and is prepared to advance as far as our Belarusian friends are prepared to," Putin said on Thursday in his state of the nation address.

"The pace of the development of the Union State depends only on the content and real depth of integration processes. We are not pushing anyone and are prepared to discuss with our partners problems arising on this way," the Russian president said.

"The course towards comprehensive development of relations with Belarus in such vital sectors as the economy, transport, social welfare, healthcare and humanitarian cooperation is unshakeable for us," Putin said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11721800