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Putin Backs Belarus Merger

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin voiced support Monday for Russia to merge with Belarus.

Putin's remarks were a response to a question from a young Belarussian who wondered whether Russia and Belarus could merge into "one state like it was in the Soviet times." Putin said the return to Soviet-style unity is "possible, desirable and wholly dependent on the will of the Belarussian people."

Belarussian officials offered no immediate comment on Putin's statement.


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