Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko hails progress in Union State development

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) - The Union State of Belarus and Russia has made great progress in its development, Belarusian head of state Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his video address to the participants of the plenary session of the 9th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in Grodno on 1 July, BelTA has learned.

“We are especially pleased with the real results, which are important for the development of the regions, and for the functioning of enterprises, and for the improvement of the lives of our people in general. Citizens of both Belarus and Russia enjoy equal rights to work, recreation, healthcare and education. Unfortunately, there are no similar examples of care for people living in different states in the post-Soviet space,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“We have already developed what we have been talking about for so long at various levels. The Supreme State Council of the Union State has decided to deepen bilateral economic integration. It is aimed at creating a qualitatively new environment for the turnover of goods and services between our countries, the creation of joint industry markets. This implies further alignment of macroeconomic policies of the two countries, harmonization of currency regulations, equal access to government contracts and procurement, introduction of common rules of competition and equal rights for consumers,” the president said.

According to him, the parties have already begun to implement programs to work out a single industrial and common agricultural policy of the Union State.

“Insane and illegal sanctions of the West have pushed us to accelerate solutions in transport and logistics, introduce our own payment systems and settlements in national currencies,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

In his words, a number of key developments of the Union State is unmatched. For example, institutions of the Union State budget and Union State property have been formed and are developing. Union State funds are used to finance programs in a variety of areas. The programs promote cooperation between enterprises and enhance the competitiveness of jointly produced products.

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