NEW ROLE FOR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin could soon become the head of the Russia-Belarus Union State, Echo of Moscow radio has reported. A constitutional document declaring the Union State is to be signed during Putin’s visit to Minsk next week.
Citing sources close to Belarusian President Alexander, Echo of Moscow said the document had already been prepared. Putin is expected to become President of the Union State after he steps down as President of Russia, while Lukashenko will chair the Union State’s parliament.
Boris Gryzlov, leader of United Russia, told reporters today that Vladimir Putin could take any position, which could be seen as an indirect confirmation of Echo of Moscow’s report.
Gryzlov did not elaborate on the news, noting however that the formation of the top bodies of the Union State would be regulated by a constitutional document, which has yet to be finalized. At the same time, he said the leader of the Union State would not be elected by general vote.
Some of Putin’s remarks could also be seen as a confirmation of the proposed scenario. At a meeting with Krasnoyarsk road workers on November 13, Putin said that United Russia’s victory in parliamentary elections would give him “the moral authority to control those in the Duma and in the government.” “I will refrain from commenting on the issue, but there are several options,” he said.
But Kremlin officials are skeptical. “It is pure speculation… Such reports cause nothing but surprise,” a source in Putin’s administration told RIA Novosti. Belarusian officials reacted in the same way. “You’re better off asking the Russian media for comments, as it was they who published the report,” Lukashenko’s spokesman Pavel Legky said. “We cannot confirm the information,” he added.
Apparently, uncertainty will remain until Putin’s visit to Minsk, which is scheduled for December 13 and 14. If all goes according to the plan described by Echo of Moscow’s sources, Russia and Belarus will have to speedily complete the creation of the Union State, which has not yet been formally created, despite lengthy talks on the Russian-Belarus integration.
Meanwhile, a number of disagreements remain between the two countries. Firstly, the gas conflict, which soured relations between Russia and Belarus over the summer. Secondly, the common currency issue has not yet been solved. The signing of an agreement on measures to develop trade and economic cooperation, envisaging the lifting of existing limitations and protective measures in trade, was disrupted at the last minute. On the other hand, if Putin and Lukashenko had in mind the reported scenario, all disagreements would have been settled.
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link to www.top.rbc]
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