Белорусско-российские отношения на рубеже столетий (конец 1999 - начало 2001 г.)

Abstract

The paper considers the key moments in the development of the relations between Belarus and Russia at the end of 1999, the beginning of 2001. Priority is given to three most significant events in their bilateral relations: signing the Treaty on Creation of the Union State (December 1999); V. Putin coming to power in the Kremlin and the start of a new Russian policy regarding Belarus and its president A. Lukashenko; concluding agreements on introduction of a single monetary unit on the territory of the Union State (November 2000). The article analyses the response of the public and political community (including the opposition) in Belarus and Russia to the integration process. It is stated that a new period in the history of the relations of the two post-Soviet states has begun.