| Belarus wants to switch to the Russian currency from January 1, 2006 A single currency should be introduced on the territory of Russia and Belarus from January 1, 2006. This statement was made yesterday at a regular meeting of the Union State Council of Ministers by Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky. He referred to the will of the presidents of the two countries.
For this will to come true, it was necessary to approve changes to the plan for introducing a single ruble. However, as Vremya Novostei learned, the plan in the form in which it was presented by the working group has not been approved. The fact is that the current changes were prepared at the level of experts who, due to their status, cannot take political responsibility. Nevertheless, it was at this level that the Belarusian side again revived the problem of the emission center “for two” - i.e. As before, in their opinion, the Bank of Russia alone should not be the emission center. Moreover, on the eve of yesterday's Council of Ministers, representatives of Belarus stated that Russia must make a strong-willed political decision so that the introduction of the ruble from January 1 next year becomes a reality. And this solution is to make sure that the Bank of Belarus has the same rights to print rubles as the Bank of Russia.
Yesterday, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Sidorsky said: “The Union government approved the plan.” But Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov clarified this information: “The plan is generally approved. But it does not exhaust all aspects. We are trying to determine necessary and sufficient conditions. There are pending issues that require further work. Therefore, we decided to discuss them at a higher level.” As a high-ranking source in the Russian government told Vremya Novostey, the finance ministers and chairmen of the central banks of the two countries were instructed to once again discuss the problem of the emission center and clarify the plan for introducing a single currency.
The claims of Belarusians for monetary compensation for the allegedly belated introduction of VAT payment in the country of destination were also separated into “separate proceedings.” And here the Russian Prime Minister expressed his disagreement: “We have a different position. And in order not to slow down the process, we have taken this issue out of the equation.” Vera KUZNETSOVA |
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