Putin named PM of Belarus-Russia alliance

Move coordinated between presidents of Russia, Belarus

updated 10:01 a.m. ET, Tues., May. 27, 2008

MINSK, Belarus - The Belarusian president said Tuesday he had named Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the prime minister of the Russia-Belarus alliance.

Russia and Belarus signed an agreement in 1996 that envisaged close political, economic and military ties, but efforts to achieve a full merger have foundered. Structures of the alliance have limited powers.

The meaning of the move Tuesday by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was not immediately clear.

Some observers expected Vladimir Putin to become president of a unified state of Russia and Belarus after he stepped down earlier this month as Russian president.

The Belarusian news agency BelTA quoted the executive secretary of the alliance as saying Lukashenko had coordinated the move with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

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from Alexander Lukashenko's (the President of Belarus) website:
http://president.gov.by/en/press58633.html#doc

Vladimir Putin appointed Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union State

27.05.2008

On 27 May, the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union State, President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, signed the Executive Order of the Supreme State Council on appointing Vladimir Putin the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Belarus-Russia Union State. The Executive Order was also signed by the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev.

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Interesting development to say the least. I wonder what the future holds for the Union of Russia and Belarus, and the possibility of a Eurasian Union. I know that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Serbia have all shown interest in becoming closer with the United State of Russia and Belarus, and possibly joining it in the future. A majority of Russian and Belarusians (especially Russian speaking Belorussians who have nostalgia for the former Soviet Union) support a full Union between the two countries.

For more information on the Union of Russia and Belarus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Russia_and_Belarus

For more information on the Commonwealth of Independent States (a confederation of 11 former Soviet Republics): http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=74 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States