MINSK, May 09. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarus and Russia have agreed on a phased decrease in customs duties on petroleum products for Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday.

"We agreed that customs duties would gradually decrease," Lukashenko said, adding that he expected the Belarusian budget to retain about $1.5 billion next year.

The parties will meet again to review the issue in 2016. Lukashenko expressed confidence that the customs duties issue would be settled within two years.