An agreement between Russia and Belarus to be signed

The drafted agreement between the government of Russia and Belarus, the Russian Central Bank and the Belarus National Bank on measures to establish conditions for introducing the single currency of the Union State provides for Belarus bringing the laws on natural monopolies, state control of fees for electricity and heating, gas supplies, competition and restrictions on monopolies in accordance with the Russian law. The agreement also provides for canceling state control of prices of oil and oil products; liquefied gas for industrial purpose; compressed natural gas for vehicles; imported products purchased for government funds and exported products, RBC reports. According to the agreement, during privatization, trade for shares must be organized at exchanges, and the shares must be sold for rubles and free convertible currency; respective regulations must be improved. Large-scale sales of state property are to be conducted in Belarus in 2001, Russia's Department of Government Information reports.