Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 July (BelTA) – More effective efforts to remove barriers in the common economic space are needed. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement during the government conference held on 11 July to discuss Belarus’ foreign policy priorities in modern times, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko said that barriers in the common economic space represent the main problem. Efforts to remove the barriers need to produce better results across the board. He urged the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Economy Ministry to secure a real effect in these matters.

“Enabling equal conditions for commercial entities within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union is a strategic task for us. We should accomplish it in a resolute manner as soon as possible,” stressed the head of state.

“I am not talking about prices for oil and natural gas only. Securing the pursuance of a coordinated policy in the manufacturing sector and agribusiness is as important. It is necessary to dismantle the obvious barriers that prevent access to markets and to take care of other measures that discriminate against Belarusian companies,” stated Alexander Lukashenko.

Alexander Lukashenko also called for working out common approaches for protecting the common domestic market. He said the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Belarus’ representatives in integration associations could do better in this regard.

Heads of a number of Belarusian export companies were present during the government conference. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that even if their sales on the Russian market are okay more or less, it does not mean they can relax. “Any relaxation can be deadly. If you lose that market, you will never be able to regain it. It is necessary to put more efforts into expanding your market position! There is no other way!” the head of state was convinced.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that CIS states are traditional economic partners of Belarus, however, it does not mean that the CIS market is fully mastered and can be classified as a simple one. “Creating a barrier-free trade environment is an important point for applying our common efforts. We have the key element — the agreement on the free trade zone. Building a common market of government purchases and forming the foundation for a market where services will be freely traded represent the next step,” stated the Belarusian leader.

In his words, it is necessary to do everything possible to accomplish these tasks and bring about new common points of economic cooperation on principles of manufacturing, investment, and scientific cooperation.

“Our membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the signing of EU association agreements by a number of CIS states should not separate us. Contrariwise, it should stimulate us towards creating a common product and pushing it to the most appealing markets,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.

On the whole, Alexander Lukashenko described the continued friendly ties with absolutely all the CIS states and ex-CIS states as an important achievement. “It is necessary to keep up positive dynamics of trade with our Ukraine, which we managed to secure last year and this year. It means 12% of Belarus’ export for us,” he remarked.