Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is due to meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on March 19, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. The presidents are expected to discuss "topical issues of bilateral cooperation," as well as the implementation of decisions approved by the Russia-Belarus Union State Supreme Council in February, the statement said. At the Supreme Council's February meeting, Medvedev said Russia and Belarus would step up efforts to create a customs union and a common economic space. The countries also signed an agreement on the joint protection of the Russia-Belarus Union State's airspace and the creation of an integrated regional air defense network. The agenda for Thursday's meeting could include the discussion of an additional $2.7 billion loan that Belarus has asked Russia for. Last week, Minsk received a $500 million loan from Moscow. Belarus earlier received $1 billion of a $2 billion, 15-year stabilization loan from Russia.
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