ST.PETERSBURG, April 28 (RIA Novosti) - Introducing a single currency in Russia and Belarus will simplify mutual payments for natural gas supplies, a Russian delegation said Friday at the talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
"[Belarus] should back social programs out of its own funds rather than Russia's economy," a source in the delegation said.
A source said Belarus was technically ready to introduce the Russian ruble as a single means of payment, but that this was an issue of the Belarusian leadership's political will.
"Lukashenko was elected for five years," the source said. "He has a confidence mandate, and can make any decisions, including unpopular ones, if he wants to."
