Russia's Putin pushes for closer ties with Belarus

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called for closer cooperation with Belarus in the currency sphere and other areas. Putin is urging the ex-Soviet ally to adopt the Russian ruble as its currency. He says Russia and Belarus should phase out the use of dollars in their energy trade. Belarus's economy depends on relatively cheap energy supplies from Russia. Putin also holds the title of prime minister of a loosely defined Russia-Belarus union. His visit to Minsk on Monday follows a week after Belarus held parliamentary elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of democratic standards. In contrast, Putin said the September 28 vote met high standards.