Belarussian Premier To Visit Russia

The Belarussian embassy in Moscow told RIA Novosti on Monday that Prime Minister Gennady Novitsky would arrive in Moscow on December 25th to take part in the latest Council of Ministers and Supreme State Council of the Union Belarus-Russian state. The Council of Ministers session, which will be chaired by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, will consider how the official bodies of the union state are working. State Secretary Pavel Borodin will give a report on this issue. More than 20 questions are on the day's agenda. These include projects to counter-act terrorism and a programme on the priority development of customs points in Belarus for the 2002-4 period. In addition, those attending the meeting will consider how an agreement on the introduction of a single currency for the union state is being implemented, along with accords on guaranteeing equal rights for the citizens of Russia and Belarus to receive medical assistance and proposals on licensing agricultural equipment produced by firms in both countries. They will also discuss a plan of work for the Supreme State Council and the Council of Ministers for 2002.