Putin goes to Minsk for “family silver”

Putin’s presidential aid has told about Putin’s expectations from his visit to Minsk.

On Thursday during the talks with A. Lukashenka in Minsk Vladimir Putin, Russian president, is to discuss issues of boosting economic cooperation, including for giving financial aid to Belarus, and possibly the questions of privatization of large-scale enterprises by Russian investors, construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, prospects of creating a holding Rosbelavto.

It has been stated today by the Russian president’s aid Yury Ushakov at the briefing in Moscow, AFN reports.

“It is supposed to discuss a wide range of issues concerning joint implementation of major investment projects in different branches of economy. It particular, it could include the progress of preparatory work on construction of the Belarusian nuclear power station, prospects of setting up Rosbelavto holding on the base of Kamaz and MAZ assets; other projects are to be discussed as well. If the Belarusian side is going to propose any other projects, they are to be discussed as well,” Ushakov said.

He noted that during the meeting issues of financial aid to Belarus are to be touched upon, however he refused to spell out in detail what aid is meant (another tranches of the Anti-crisis Fund of the EurAsEc, refinancing of Sberbank of Russia loan).

“Discussing of different credits is taking place constantly. I would not go into detail now. We have given a very considerable support last year. I do not exclude that this topic is going to be discussed. Some questions are to be posed. We shall react, discuss,” Ushakov said.

Following the results of the talks, Putin and Lukashenka are going to sign a common statement.

It should be noted that in the report of the press-service of Lukashenka on the upcoming visit of Putin the topic of privatization is veiled by the phrase “investment cooperation.”

The report names such topics mentioned by Ushakov as the Single Economic Space, trade-economic and investment cooperation, the nuclear power plant, military and technical cooperation and collective security, coordinated foreign policy.