NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
BISHKEK, 9 December (BelTA) – Belarus is satisfied with using Russian rubles for interstate transactions. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned it while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, BelTA has learned.
The head of state was asked why the countries had stopped using U.S. dollars in mutual transactions. Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked the decision had been prompted by circumstances and it had been a forced step.
However, Aleksandr Lukashenko said he sees no problems with it: “When we were forced to do it, I said it is okay, we are satisfied with Russian rubles.”
Moreover, Belarus was the country to initiate the transition to Russian rubles in trade in energy resources, the president reminded. “If you remember, we had suggested using Russian rubles in Belarus-Russia trade. But Russia had preferred U.S. dollars. And we had to earn these dollars no one knows where and pay for oil and gas with them afterwards. We are now satisfied with the state of transactions in Russian rubles.”
