Russia, Belarus foreign ministers to meet in Moscow

MOSCOW, June 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
will receive his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Martynov at a residence of
the Russian Foreign Ministry in Spiridonovka Street here on Monday.
Experts noted that the relations between the countries cannot be
called unproblematic recently. Moscow has recently warned that the country
may cut the credits to Belarus, if the latter hampers the work of Russian
media.
The credit problem was raised over Belarusian President Alexander
Lukashenko's recent statements that if the financial crisis escalates in
the country Minsk may halt all the imports and close the borders.
Belarus has introduced restrictive measures so far. In this regard,
the Russian government noted that crediting problems and imports
restrictions may be interdependable. Meanwhile, Moscow does not intend to
refuse from the first tranche of the credit, but demands "to remove the
barriers." Russia also noted that "a ban or any restrictions on the
imports contradict the Customs Union regulations."
In June the agreement was signed in Kiev to allocate a $3 billion
stabilization credit from the EurAsEC fund, which Russia mainly funds, to
Belarus, which is suffering from the economic crisis. Minsk hopes that
this credit will help to eliminate current difficulties.
Analysts do not rule out that after Belarus solves its financial
problems its trade with Russia may be increased. Currently the bilateral
annual trade makes about 28.5 billion dollars. Moscow and Minsk are
cooperating closely in the energy sector. In July 2011 the countries are
planning to sign an agreement to fund the construction of a Belarusian
nuclear power plant.
The Russian closed joint stock company Atomstroyexport is a general
subcontractor to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The first power
unit of the nuclear power plant is expected to launch in 2017. The
countries are planning to draft the documents to establish a car making
holding involving such motor giants as MAZ and KamAZ before the yearend.
The countries are developing actively interregional ties. The trade
between the Kaliningrad and Gomel Regions has made nine million dollars in
2010 alone and three million dollars for the first three months of 2011.
The regions confirmed the initiatives to fulfill the business plans, share
the experience in construction and agriculture.
Along with the cooperation within the Common Economic Space and
probably a broader cooperation in the CIS the foreign ministers are
planning to scrutinize the joint work within the UN and the OSCE.
Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich noted
that Moscow "hopes for a constructive cooperation with Minsk in crisis
response and security." The ministers will also focus on the current
situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the diplomat underlined.