CUSTOMS UNION WITH BELARUS CARRIES HIGH PRICE.

The Russian economy willsuffer, and Moscow will find it harder to get into variousinternational economic organizations if Russia and Belarus actuallyform a true customs union, Izvestiya reported May 26. The paper saidthat those behind the union are doing it for political rather thaneconomic reasons. It specifically pointed to the current electioncampaign as the biggest reason for Russian support of the idea.

Moscow Presses Search For Western Investors.