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In response to comments and questions in the media on the date and agenda of the Russian-Belarusian Union State Supreme State Council’s meeting, the Russian Presidential Press Service hereby informs of the preparations for the meeting. In accordance with senior-level agreements, Russia and Belarus, with the participation of the Union State’s Standing Committee, drafted and approved an agenda for the next SSC meeting. One of the dates considered for the next meeting was December 1, 2008. But Belarus proposed changes to the approved agenda and additions to the list of bilateral agreements for signature at the meeting that require further thorough work at the expert level. For this reason, Russia proposed keeping to the agenda already approved for the meeting and examining the new Belarusian proposals at a preliminary bilateral meeting of the two heads of state, which traditionally takes place on the sidelines of the SSC meeting, at which instructions for work on the proposals and coordinated decision-making would be issued.

Belarus proposed moving the SSC meeting to a later date and first holding a meeting between the Russian and Belarusian heads of state.

Russia sees no obstacle for organising such a meeting very soon.