Opinions & Interviews

Call for step-by-step fulfillment of Belarus-Russia Union State Treaty

MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko shared his opinion about the future of the Union State integration and about the possible ways for Belarus and Russia to handle problematic issues in their relations, including those concerning energy resources, a tax maneuver, common industrial policy, at the meeting with representatives of the Russian media on 14 December, BelTA has learned.

The head of state reminded about the need to fulfill the existing agreements. “We must implement the treaty and move towards the fulfillment of these agreements step by step,” he said. Alexander Lukashenko is convinced that before digging deep it is essential to handle issues lying on the surface. “There are plenty of issues, and we can handle them during a day,” the president said.

Alexander Lukashenko started from natural gas prices. They have a big impact on the prime cost of Belarusian products. There is clarity as far as the next year is concerned, but in the middle of the year Belarus and Russia agreed to come to terms till 2025. “But Russia did not even engage in negotiations, although [Vladimir] Putin and I agreed on it in St Petersburg [at the meeting in April 2017],” the president said. “This is wrong. We need to do something to fulfill the agreement.” Alexander Lukashenko reiterated that Belarus does not demand such gas prices which exist, for example, in Smolensk Oblast where these prices are 2-3 times lower. “We demand the fulfillment of our arrangements on equal conditions for economic operators, they are envisaged in all our agreements and treaties,” the head of state said.

Speaking about the tax maneuver in Russia, the president said that in three years of its existence the Belarusian budget lost almost $3.5 billion, the losses may reach $10.8 billion by 2024. In fact, customs duties are introduced in a different way, the head of state said. He said that it destroys the foundation of the union. “There was a steadfast agreement to provide equal conditions to people, economic operators in order to promote integration,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

“Integration should promote the unity of our nations in the best interests of our people,” the head of state concluded.

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