Russia, Belarus agree on all 28 integration programs - Putin

MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax) - The programs further deepening the integration processes between Belarus and Russia have been agreed during talks between their presidents, Russian president Vladimir Putin said.

"Today I would like to note with satisfaction that all 28 programs have been agreed upon," Putin said after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The integration package was several years in the making, he said.

"We are talking about 28 so-called union programs aimed at unifying Russian and Belarusian legislations in various economic areas, equalizing conditions for business in the two countries, building single financial and energy markets, a transport space, forming and implementing a joint industrial and agricultural policy," Putin said.

The documents are expected to be agreed at tomorrow's meeting of the Union State Council of Ministers in Minsk, he said.

"After which they will be put for approval by the Supreme State Council of the Union State which is due to meet before the end of this year. We agreed with Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] to look at our schedules now and determine an exact date more or less," Putin said.