In particular, the preparation of a document on indirect taxation is almost complete, according to Mr. Sidorsky. "We plan to discuss the document today in order to put it on the agenda of the next meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Russia-Belarus Union", he added.

Mr. Sidorsky met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov before the meeting of the Russia-Belarus Union’s Council. They discussed gas supplies to Belarus and “reached an understanding on this issue”.

According to Mr. Sidorsky, Russia-Belarus sales topped $13bn in 2003, the highest level ever achieved. This showed a high level of cooperation between the two countries, he stressed. Belarus is Russia's second largest trading partner after Germany. Sales between the two countries did not exceed $12bn in the previous year.

Speaking at the meeting of the Russia-Belarus Union’s Council, Mr. Kasyanov said that an agreement on the introduction of the common currency in the Russia-Belarus Union had been "worked out well", but it was too early yet to submit the documents to the Supreme State Council for discussion. According to him, Belarus has a number of questions on this issue that should be solved before the documents are submitted to the State Council.

At the same time, Mr. Kasyanov stressed that the agreement on the introduction of the common currency was of principle importance for both countries.