Moldova constitutional court to examine validity of decision.

CHISINAU, March 16 (Itar-Tass) - The Constitutional Court of Moldova
on Tuesday is to scrutinize the validity of the authorities' decision to
postpone dissolution of parliament and the holding of an early election.
An enquiry to this effect was forwarded by the oppositional Party of
Communists that seeks dissolution of the legislature that failed to elect
a president in December last year.
The enquiry was sponsored by Members of Parliament Maria Postoico and
Vadim Misin who believe that the Alliance for European Integration (AEI)
in parliament committed a breach of the country's Constitution by changing
the Law on the Election of President. The law envisages that parliament
that twice fails to elect a Head of State, should be dissolved.

.Putin travels to Belarus Tue to attend session of CMUS.

MOSCOW, March 16 (Itar-Tass) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin travels
to Belarus for a working visit on Tuesday to take part in a regular
session of the Council of Ministers of the Russia-Belarus Union State in
Brest.
The press service of the Russian Cabinet announced that those present
at the session are to "discuss the entire spectrum of matters concerning
the practical interaction between the economies of the two countries
within the framework of the Union State and the integration deepening
process".
"Matters to be discussed concern the results of trade and economic
cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in
2009, the implementation of a plan of action between the governments of
the two countries to minimize the effect of the financial crisis, the
balance of fuel and energy resources of the Union State in 2010, the
implementation of a plan of action on the formation and functioning of the
common transport system of the Union State in 2008-2010, the realization
of an agreement on cooperation in social welfare, the work of the Customs
Committee of the Union State, and bringing closer legislation of the
Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus," the press service said.
"The start of the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
on January 1 and the introduction of a common customs tariff is an
important step towards integration interaction," a press service official
emphasized.
In 2009 trade turnover between Russia and Belarus reached 23.4 billion
U.S. dollars. It decreased by 31.2 percent as compared to the previous
year due to the world financial and economic crisis. Russia's export to
Belarus (energy resources and raw materials) decreased by 28.9 percent and
amounted to 16.7 billion U.S. dollars. Belarus imports machine-building
products, equipment and foodstuffs and it decreased by 36.4 percent and
reached 6.7 billion U.S. dollars. The steps taken by the sides made it
possible to cope with the negative effects of the global crisis. In
January 2010 despite business losses, trade turnover increased by 17
percent as compared to the same period of last year and Russia's export to
Belarus increased by 10.3 percent and Belarus' to Russia by 39.5 percent.
At present, about 40 interstate economic, defence and social
programmes and projects are being implemented. Part of them is financed
from the Union State budget. It amounted to 4.87 billion Russian roubles
in 2009.
Russia and Belarus maintain active cultural relations. One of the key
cultural events - the music festival Slavyansky Bazar in Vitebsk - is
financed by the Union State budget. In 2009 Year of Russian Culture was
held in Belarus. In 2010 Year of Belarusian Culture will take place in
Russia.
The session will be held in Brest, which became one of the places of
heroism and courage during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-'45. The
participants in the session will discuss the Union State's participation
in the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the VE-Day and lay
wreaths at the Brest Hero Fortress memorial, the Russian government press
service said.

.Panel to discuss "green standards" for Sochi Olympics.

SOCHI, March 16 (Itar-Tass) - A session of the Public Council on
Preparation of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games is to be held here on
Tuesday. Main reports are to be made by Yuri Trutnev, Minister of Natural
Resources and Ecology, and Stanislav Ananyev, vice-president of the
OlympStroj state corporation.
Representatives of the contractor companies for the construction of
sports and infrastructure facilities for the Olympic Games will also take
part in the Council's meeting to tell those present about the introduction
of "green standards".
The Public Council was set up in July 2009. It is headed by Itar-Tass
General Director Vitaly Ignatenko. Among Council members there are also
Hero of Russia Alexander Karelin, a member of the State Duma lower house
of the Russian parliament, Olympic winner Yevgeny Kafelnikov,
journalists, clergy, members of the Public Chamber of Sochi, and ethnic
diasporas who reside in this health-resort city.
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