<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 1/23/2003 6:16:25 AM Pacific Standard Time, jmage@panix.com writes:<BR>
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Yes Chris, but it's in the "on again" phase. Putin was in Minsk Sunday<BR>
and Monday and issued a statement about a "single economic space" (which<BR>
must be what DoreneC is referring to), an agreement to introduce the<BR>
Russian ruble as the common currency in January 2005 ... if agreement<BR>
can be reached in negotiations this spring (an "agreement to agree"),<BR>
and what looks like a more real agreement on a Russian/Belarus JV on gas<BR>
transport. So this week it's not "on hold" but more like slow motion...<BR>
<BR>
Here's the Interfax story:<BR>
<http://www.interfax.ru/one_news_en.html?lang=EN&tz=0&tz_format=MSK&id_news=5615885><BR>
<BR>
john mage</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Putin and Lukashenko were all over the news (Vremya) Tuesday signing that and talking it. That's why I even asked<BR>
<BR>
DoreneC</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
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