Economic Integration Between Belarus and Russia

Of all the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation have been most consistent in pursuing economic integration. In April 1996 they signed the Treaty of Formation of the Community of Russia and Belarus, followed a year later by the Treaty of Formation of the Union of Russia and Belarus, which confirms and develops the provisions of the preceding document. The Republic of Belarus is an export-orient country. The most important precondition of economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia are the terroritorial division of labor and the specialization and integration of economic ties that took shape over many decades within the former Soviet Union.