Putin says discussed Belarusian transport presence in Baltic Sea with Lukashenko; orders support for such projects

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had discussed a Belarusian transport presence in the Baltic Sea with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

"I discussed that in a phone call with the Belarusian president earlier today: our Belarusian friends are interested in maintaining their presence in the Baltic Sea and developing their ports. You know that I also support such aspirations," Putin said at the Marshal Rokossovsky ferry's flag raising ceremony, which he attended through video link.

He tasked the videoconference participants with "supporting all of these plans."

"They are significant for both Belarus and us. Because this means the development of our infrastructure, the development of our coastline, and the enlargement of cargo transportation for our country. Therefore, every benefit to be gained by Belarus will also apply to the economy of the Russian Federation to a considerable extent," Putin said.