Opinions & Interviews

Call to intensify work on Belarus-Russia Union State road maps

Grigory Rapota. An archive photo

MINSK, 21 September (BelTA) – It has been suggested that work on some road maps on integration in the Union State of Belarus and Russia should be intensified, State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota said in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel on 20 September, BelTA has learned.

“After the road maps were drawn up, there was a pause due to different circumstances. Now it has been suggested that the work on some road maps (since the decision has not been made, I will not say which one of them) should be stepped up. The high-level group [of the Council of Ministers of the Union State] will convene for a meeting this month and, perhaps, it will give an additional impetus to work on these road maps,” Grigory Rapota noted.

In his opinion, all road maps are aimed at improving the conditions for Russians and Belarusians in different sectors such as healthcare, insurance, taxation.

Speaking about compensation to Belarus over the tax maneuver in the Russian oil industry, Grigory Rapota said that this issue is being discussed at the ministerial, intergovernmental level. “The matter is not yet on the Union State agenda. It will, however, be raised, as suggestions have been today to consider harmonizing the tax legislation. The tax maneuver is, first of all, the tax legislation in the context of Belarus’ energy supply and energy prices,” the state secretary of the Union State said.

He thinks that some progress has been made in the tax maneuver matter. “It is early to comment on how fast and effective this progress will be. I believe some understanding has already been reached on how to move further. We will have to deal with the matter. Both parties understand this and continue working,” Grigory Rapota said.

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