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Following the meeting, the Presidents of both countries issued instructions to draw up a coordinated foreign policy action programme for the new period and also extended the programme for equipping the Union’s external borders to 2006.

Mr Putin stressed that Russia’s and Belarus’ foreign policy cooperation is multi-format in nature and aims at strengthening the two countries’ positions in international affairs, including in regional stability issues and the combat against national and global threats, terrorism, cross-border crime and narcotics trafficking.

The Russian and Belarusian Presidents signed agreements on union state property and on ensuring equal rights of freedom of movement for the citizens of both countries.

The two Presidents adopted a joint declaration on mutual understanding on the issue of accession to the World Trade Organisation. The council’s session also approved the budget for the Russia-Belarus Union in 2006.

An agreement on cooperation in the area of social benefit provision and an intergovernmental accord on procedures for Russian citizens to receive medical treatment in Belarusian healthcare facilities and for Belarusian citizens to receive medical treatment in Russian healthcare facilities were signed in the presence of the two Presidents.

Mr Putin met with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko before the start of the council’s session.