Business news

11 Mar 2020

Belarus’ PM names topics for discussion with Russian counterpart

Sergei Rumas

MOSCOW, 11 March (BelTA) – Supplies of Russian energy sources, including oil, bilateral trade and Eurasian integration are the main topics for discussion today, Belarus’ Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said as he met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on 11 March, BelTA has learned.

“One of the key issues we need to discuss is the supply of energy sources. The current situation on the oil market reconciles our positions and narrows the gap in figures we have. We will discuss this matter today as well,” Sergei Rumas said.

According to the prime minister, Belarus and Russia have an packed bilateral agenda, a wide range of issues that need to be discussed within the framework of Eurasian integration processes. “I think the progress in the union will depend on the rapprochement of our positions. The presidents have instructed us to prepare documents on the integration strategy. Our vice premiers have done a lot. There are some issues left to address and I hope that today we will discuss them and make certain progress so that we could coordinate the document at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Council in Minsk on 10 April and submit it to the heads of state for consideration at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council,” Sergei Rumas said.

According to Sergei Rumas, the prime ministers of the two countries have been maintaining regular bilateral contacts. Their previous meeting took place in Kazakhstan on 31 January. They also spoke over the phone twice within the past two weeks. “It is good that we have found time to meet so promptly to continue the talks we started in Kazakhstan,” the Belarusian prime minister added.

Taking part in the meeting on Belarus’ behalf are Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko, Taxes and Duties Minister Sergei Nalivaiko, Finance Minister Maksim Yermolovich, Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich, Chairman of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim Andrei Rybakov, and others.