In a rare expression of displeasure with the Belarusian leadership, the Russian prime minister suggested on Tuesday Minsk's failure to recognize two Georgian breakaway republics was amply compensated by its normalization of relations with the West.

Belarus has been dragging its feet for more than a year on the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but experts believe Minsk is afraid that this move would worsen its relations with the European Union.

"We have always favored an improvement of Belarus' ties with Western countries... A positive effect has already been produced," Vladimir Putin said after a session of the Council of Ministers of the Russian-Belarusian Union State.

He added, however, that the recognition or non-recognition of the two former Georgian provinces was Belarus's sovereign right.

Earlier in the day the Russian government said Putin had not planned to hold talks with President Alexander Lukashenko during his visit to Belarus, rejecting media speculation the Belarusian leader had gone to Venezuela to avoid a meeting.

The government press service called the rumors "groundless".

Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Sidorsky focused on minimizing the effects of the economic crisis, the expansion of the Customs Union and energy cooperation.

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August 2008, after a five-day war with Georgia.

The only other countries to have recognized their independence are Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru, the world's smallest island nation.

BREST, March 16 (RIA Novosti)