MOSCOW, February 10, 2004. (RIA Novosti). The Council of Ministers of Russia-Belarus Union have not approved the package of agreements on the introduction of the Russian ruble as common currency of the union state, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told journalists following the session of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
"There is no progress on the issue," Kasyanov said.
Nevertheless, the ruble introduction as common Russian-Belarussian currency is possible since January 1, 2005. According to the Russian premier, this requires "a principled political decision of the Belarussian leadership".
