English

Lukashenka, Putin discuss «unresolved issues»

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin discussed “the unresolved issues that exist in relations between the two countries” at their meeting in Minsk on May 28, reported the press office of the Belarusian leader, BelaPAN said. 

The Russian prime minister went straight into talks with Mr. Lukashenka after arriving Thursday in Minsk for the officially declared purpose of attending a session of the Council of Ministers of the Belarusian-Russian Union State.

Also under discussion at the meeting were “problems relating to the global financial and economic crisis,” the press office said.

“I think our meeting in Minsk will, as usual, be helpful and productive,” the press office quoted Mr. Lukashenka as saying.

One of the most important problems in Belarusian-Russian relations is the “realization by the Russian side of the decisions resulting from the February session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State,” the press office said in its statement.

“Unfortunately, we have to note that the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level has so far been stalled, which is by no means through the fault of Minsk,” the statement said. “It is very difficult for Belarusian goods to break through to Russian markets despite the common economic space and the extremely powerful industrial cooperation, which predetermines a considerable share of Russian products in Belarusian goods.”

According to the press office, Mr. Putin “expressed hope that Belarusian-Russian trade keep increasing in the period of the global crisis.” “As for the current economic affairs, we have managed to do much,” he reportedly said. “By our common efforts, we have managed to slow down the decline in trade between our countries in spite of the global crisis.”

“At today’s session of the Union State Council of Ministers, we’ll deliberate what else to do in order to ultimately stop this fall in trade and ensure an upward trend,” Mr. Putin said.

The Russian prime minister congratulated Mr. Lukashenka on the selection of Belarus as the host country for the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship, the press office said. “This is good news for both Belarus and Russia,” Mr. Putin was quoted as saying. “Despite all problems caused by the crisis, this event is a positive signal that suggests that we are looking ahead.”