Putin to head 'union state' after stepping down as Russian president
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected on December 13-14 to visit Minsk in order to sign the Constitutional Act of the Belarus-Russia union state, sources close to the Belarusian president told the Moscow-based radio station Ekho Moskvy. Ekho Moskvy suggests that Putin could become the president of the union state after he steps down as the Russian president in March 2008. The head of Belarus could be the speaker of the 'union parliament'.
Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin who also runs the Institute of CIS Countries told the European Radio for Belarus yesterday that the visit aims to pass over the powers to Putin's successor:
“The Russian president has not visited Belarus since long ago. It seems that this meeting will be very important. Putin steps down in March or even earlier, and he would like to pass over his country and relations with other nations in the best shape to his successor”.
Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin who also runs the Institute of CIS Countries told the European Radio for Belarus yesterday that the visit aims to pass over the powers to Putin's successor:
“The Russian president has not visited Belarus since long ago. It seems that this meeting will be very important. Putin steps down in March or even earlier, and he would like to pass over his country and relations with other nations in the best shape to his successor”.
