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Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

Most of those present were in Minsk yesterday. For those who were not, I must say that our meeting was very constructive – both the informal and the official parts. We went over the whole range of our interaction in the political sphere and in the building of the Union State.

I should note that we have put that process back on a constructive track and I hope it will move in a positive direction.

I would like to ask the Government members who work on the commission preparing the Constitutional Act to step up their work. We have upgraded the status of that commission. It is now headed by the Speakers of the lower houses of Parliament on both sides.

In my opinion, it creates good premise for calling upon broad public circles. Let me say from the start that I have already made my views on this known. I would like to stress again: the broader the discussion the better. The more people involved in the process of discussing this key document, the more useful it will be. So, I am urging you to use the media, radio, television and the printed press to do intensive work at all levels for your own part.

Much attention was given to economic issues. It was perhaps the key topic of discussion. Out of the whole range of the issues discussed, I would single out the target that we set for ourselves by 2005. As of January 1, 2005 – that article is included in the treaty and we reaffirmed it in the negotiations yesterday – the rouble must become the sole legal currency on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the Republic of Belarus. As we are all well aware a common monetary policy is one of the main prerequisites for creating a common economic space. And there can be no Union State without it. These priorities are clear, they are shared by us and our Belarusian colleagues. And I am urging, above all, that the Government’s economic unit becomes actively involved and, as part of the planned negotiating process (the Government Chairman is well versed in all the nuances of these negotiations) all the possible concerns both on our side and on the side of our Belarusian friends are removed.

There are some concrete issues and large-scale projects, notably in the energy sphere. I am referring above all to our work to create a joint gas distribution enterprise. The Belarusian side has confirmed its readiness to create such a gas transportation system and enterprise will begin its work in July. The President has signed into law the bill passed by the Belarusian Parliament. On the whole it has to be noted that our relations are developing positively.

There are other areas that are well known to you: I mean the humanitarian sphere and the interaction between the law enforcement bodies. Our colleagues are particularly worried by the problems of migration. We discussed it with the Internal Affairs Minister yesterday and I would like you to keep it in mind.

That is what I wanted to say about our work in Minsk.

Negotiations with the President of Bulgaria begin today. And I invite you to share your ideas regarding the development of relations with our Bulgarian colleagues. An official visit to Bulgaria is being planned. It is necessary that the visit be well prepared and proceed in a constructive way.