MINSK, 21 December (BelTA) – The 2021 budget of the Union State of Belarus and Russia will amount to more than RUB4.7 billion, First Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko told reporters following the 59th session of the Parliamentary Assembly, BelTA has learned.
“The number one issue on the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly session was the adoption of the 2021 Union State budget. It was passed today and it is as big as RUB4.7 billion. You know that Belarus contributes 35% to it and Russia 65%. It is important that we agreed on how the budget will be spent. A significant part of the funds will be used to boost cooperation in the defense industry, to maintain security of the Union State, improve healthcare provision, education, social security, and to finance recuperation programs for veterans of the Great Patriotic War and children from the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster,” Vladimir Andreichenko said.
According to him, there are plans to implement nine joint programs and 26 events in 2021. “New treatments for back and spine diseases are one of positive outcomes of the Union State programs. After four years of work, Russian and Belarusian scientists have developed modern methods and techniques for treating curvatures, deformities and injuries of the spine, especially in young children. Scientists have also developed respective devices. Now the time has come to train personnel and set up medical centers to treat our children,” said the first deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly.
According to Vladimir Andreichenko, participants of the 59th session also discussed social and political situation in the Union State. “Unfortunately, we still see open hostility on the part of the collective West and the United States of America primarily towards Belarus, Russia and the Union State in general. The goal is clear - destabilization of the situation, interference in the domestic affairs of Belarus. The ultimate goal is to tear Belarus away from Russia, to create chaos. We have discussed this issue and we share the view that it is necessary to stand up to this. It is unacceptable. We agreed that we will hold several conferences and invite international experts and many Union State MPs. Perhaps we need to consider some model laws on the inadmissibility of interference in the domestic affairs of other countries,” he concluded.
