Belarus not to have deficit of Russian rubles

Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin believes that Russia and Belarus will not suffer some special losses from the introduction of the Russian ruble as the single currency in Belarus. Kudrin told journalists that Belarusian rubles would be exchanged for Russian rubles at the rate that would be in effect in 2005. The minister added that "some 30 percent more rubles than necessary for the exchange" would be delivered to Belarus to provide Belarusian banks with the necessary amount of currency.

At the same time a source in the Russian government told RBC that Belarus might devaluate the Belarusian ruble "to create a decrease in expenses of its enterprises".