OREANDA-NEWS. On 24 April 2009 was announced, that the progress towards the equal access of Belarusian and Russian companies to each other’s market is blocked by the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Russia, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski said during his meeting with governor of Russia’s Leningrad Region Valery Serdyukov.

“We do not ask for preferences, we want equal competition on the Russian and Belarusian markets,” the premier said.

He said the Belarusian and Russian administrations had agreed that all equal access formalities would be dealt with in February 2009. “But it is April, and we have no decision yet,” Sidorski said.

“We would like to have all barriers to Belarusian tractors and farm machines that are required in Russian region removed as soon as possible,” the premier said, adding that the economies of the two states were complementary and did not compete.

Sidorski also said the Russian side blocked supplies of Belarusian dairy products in the volumes planned by the Belarusian side.

“If Russia has enough milk, we will not export it, but if they see shortages and import it from the West why not import it from Belarus, its neighbor?” Sidorski said.