BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/12/2007

Speculation on merger between Russia and Belarus

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

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

Late next week, they say, Russian president Vladimir Putin may visit Belarus to sign a Constutional Act of Union, and that the document has already been drafted.

In a climate where speculation is rife about what Vladimir 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.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2113336.htm