BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/10/2006

RF to limit state purchases from Belarus in response to Minsk steps

MOSCOW, October 18 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry has decided to limit federal-budget-financed purchases of goods from Belarus in response to Minsk's analogous actions.

Russian commodities are discriminated with the state purchases from Belarus, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Andrei Sharonov said in the State Duma on Wednesday.

There is a direct ban to buy Russian goods at Belarussian budget expense, including buying of food products and farming machines. It is a fact, Sharonov said.

The ministry in response decided to limit purchases of Belarussian goods that can be replaced by others. The law on state purchases passed last year allows it.

The question is only one of buying commodities at budget expense. There are no other limits for purchases of goods from Belarus for the Russian market, the official noted.

Source:

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10899631&PageNum=0