Lukashenko Calls On Putin To Resolve All Issues Ahead Of 20th Union State Anniversary
president.gov.by / BelarusFeed
19 July 2019, 16:40
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve all disputes before 8 December. The date will mark the 20th anniversary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
“Our Union Treaty will turn 20 this December. I believe we can’t leave any unsolved issue beyond that date. We are pressed for time. What shall we say when we celebrate the anniversary?
There will be nothing for us to say if we fail to resolve all the remaining issues and don’t sign the program shaping the strategy of our joint actions,” President Lukashenko said in St. Petersburg on 18 July.
“Therefore, I suggest we sort out all issues before that date within the Supreme State Council and adopt a program that will define our action strategy and resolve current problems,” he added.
The Belarusian leader also pointed out that people of both countries had long been looking forward to the presidents to make specific decisions.
Lukashenko mentioned that he had faced public criticism over his numerous meetings with the Russian president, which hadn’t produced any particular results.
Recall that last December the two countries created an intergovernmental working group to discuss various aspects of integration in the framework of the Union State and controversial issues.
Vladimir Putin stressed the need to continue the discussions started earlier, during the informal meeting, and to talk over interregional cooperation.
“Everything is important, interesting, and promising. We have an intergovernmental commission that, I hope, will report to us on the results today,” he said.
He stressed that Belarus is the closest strategic partner and ally of Russia. “We are working across all the areas – security, military, defense and economic sectors.
We see our mutual trade steadily growing, which is encouraging. Russia is the biggest investor in the Belarusian economy,” the Russian president added.
“However, some issues always emerge within such a large-scale joint project. I hope that today’s meeting will bring positive results for us and we will move further,” Vladimir Putin said.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the presidents visited the main cathedral of the Valaam monastery, several monastic communities and lit candles.
19 July 2019, 16:40
Photo: Kremlin Press Service
“Our Union Treaty will turn 20 this December. I believe we can’t leave any unsolved issue beyond that date. We are pressed for time. What shall we say when we celebrate the anniversary?
There will be nothing for us to say if we fail to resolve all the remaining issues and don’t sign the program shaping the strategy of our joint actions,” President Lukashenko said in St. Petersburg on 18 July.
“Therefore, I suggest we sort out all issues before that date within the Supreme State Council and adopt a program that will define our action strategy and resolve current problems,” he added.
The Belarusian leader also pointed out that people of both countries had long been looking forward to the presidents to make specific decisions.
This is the time to make decisions,” Lukashenko stressed.
Lukashenko mentioned that he had faced public criticism over his numerous meetings with the Russian president, which hadn’t produced any particular results.
Recall that last December the two countries created an intergovernmental working group to discuss various aspects of integration in the framework of the Union State and controversial issues.
Vladimir Putin stressed the need to continue the discussions started earlier, during the informal meeting, and to talk over interregional cooperation.
“Everything is important, interesting, and promising. We have an intergovernmental commission that, I hope, will report to us on the results today,” he said.
He stressed that Belarus is the closest strategic partner and ally of Russia. “We are working across all the areas – security, military, defense and economic sectors.
We see our mutual trade steadily growing, which is encouraging. Russia is the biggest investor in the Belarusian economy,” the Russian president added.
“However, some issues always emerge within such a large-scale joint project. I hope that today’s meeting will bring positive results for us and we will move further,” Vladimir Putin said.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the presidents visited the main cathedral of the Valaam monastery, several monastic communities and lit candles.
