MOSCOW, DECEMBER 14: The Russian State Duma has ratified with an overwhelming vote the union treaty between Russia and Belarus that called for reunification between the two countries.The vote, in an extraordinary session, clears the way for a gradual merger of the two nations into one union and is open for third countries, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told the Duma after presenting the accord.The State Duma cleared the treaty signed between President Boris Yeltsin and his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukoshenk on December 8 by 382-3 votes, with three abstentions.According to Russian constitution, the outgoing Duma, which today sat for a last session before adjourning for December 19 presidential elections, retains its powers till the newly elected house goes into session.Putin said the merger was an objective process, clarifying that the two countries would retain independent identity and stick to their international obligations and commitments.The Supreme State Council (SSC) of the union, headed by the presidents of the two countries on rotation basis, would be set up early next year, Putin said.He also said ``the internal set up of the constituent states of the new union will not change" allaying fears of the powerful leaders of ethnic autonomies of the Russian federation, who see the new treaty as a threat to their newly gained privileges in the post-Soviet era.
