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ZASLAVL, Belarus-Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko told Russia on Monday any attempts to improve relations with the West would not come at the expense of ties with Russia."Some people have been hinting that we have started thinking about a trade-Russia for Europe," Lukashenko told reporters before talks with Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister, who served two terms as president before stepping down this year. "We never make such trades with anyone.We would never trade our friendship with the Russians."Speaking alongside Lukashenko before their meeting near the Belarussian capital, Minsk, Putin said Moscow was ready to bolster its neighbor's financial system.The government controls much of the economy in ex-Soviet Belarus, which has so far suffered only limited effects from global financial turmoil.The ex-Soviet state, however, has sought help paying an increased bill for imported gas-the prime reason behind a row with Russia last year."Russia is prepared to review questions of deepening our cooperation, of supporting the Belarussian financial system if necessary," Putin said.Russia also suggested that Belarus use the Russian rouble as a reserve currency, Itar-Tass news agency reported, quoting deputy economy minister Andrei Klepach, accompanying Putin to the Belarussian capital.In the only concrete agreement that appeared to come out of the meeting, Russia said it was ready to provide Belarus with a loan, Russian news agencies reported, citing a source in the Russian delegation."Working relations to lay down the details of the loan will continue," a source said, RIA Novosti reported. No other lending terms were reported.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...
