Medvedev: Russia Sends Integration Proposals to Belarus

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Russia has sent proposals on further integration to Belarus within the Union State, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during the report of the Russian government in the State Duma. “Our proposals for integration have been presented to our Belarussian friends. They are deciding which of those proposals are acceptable and which are less so”, he said. Belarus remains Russia's closest trade and economic partner, the Prime Minister said. “We will definitely continue developping our cooperation”, Medvedev said. According to him, such cooperation should be mutually beneficial. It should be recalled that Minsk hopes to receive compensation for the implementation of the oil maneuver in Russia (zeroing of export duties on oil while increasing MET). Belarus synchronizes export duties with Russia, so the Republic's revenues will be reduced. President Alexander Lukashenko has previously threatened to switch to the purchase of oil in third countries, if the losses are not compensated. At the session with the economic bloc of the government on 11 April Alexander Lukashenko said that in Russia “some people have gone too far trying to twist our arms”. According to him, Russia, being under sanctions, “is using the same weapon against its closest allies”. Mr. Lukashenko asked the government of Belarus “if it is needed to repair pipelines running through Belarus”. Kommersant