ST. PETERSBURG, 23 December (BelTA) - The Union State of Belarus and Russia is an example for the relations in the Eurasian Economic Union, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told the media in St. Petersburg on 20 December, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus and Russia have been building a system of relations within the framework of the Union State. They are also key players in the EAEU. It is wrong to oppose the Union State and the EAEU. On the contrary, it is important to carefully analyze the successes of the Union State development and the cooperation within the framework of the "five" and to adopt the best practices – new experience, proposals, innovations,” the diplomat said when asked whether the successful cooperation in the EAEU depends on the resolution of the issues on the Belarusian-Russian agenda.
Dmitry Mezentsev stressed that Russia's relations with Belarus have been developing throughout the post-Soviet period, and they have always been mutually beneficial, fraternal and deep.
Commenting on the Belarusian-Russian talks, including the meeting of the heads of state in St. Petersburg, the ambassador noted their great importance. The whole set of integration economic issues has been discussed in great length and in great detail. It is also important to note that just recently, the national leaders together with the heads of government scrutinized the issues that require finalizing, mutual coordination and fine-tuning,” Dmitry Mezentsev said. “Consistently, step by step, the parties have been working to bring closer these positions and this work yields results.”
Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev said that significant progress was achieved since the previous meeting of the presidents in Sochi on 7 December which Russia's Economic Development Minister Maksim Oreshkin told reporters about.
“Indeed, a number of issues in the oil and gas sectors still need to be addressed. These issues, I am absolutely convinced, will be discussed by the parties without delay. But these issues are not directly related to the development of the road maps,”the diplomat said.
He explained that the road maps and the program of action to fulfill the Union State treaty is an opportunity to implement a concerted policy to support the national industries, agricultural and food sectors of the two states, to ensure the balanced work of the customs services, to approximate the legislations, including tax laws. It is also about the interaction in digital technologies, telecom, software development and other areas. “The amount of work that the governments has done is enormous. The implementation of the road maps in the future will imply amending and updating of more than 700 regulations,” Dmitry Mezentsev emphasized.
He noted that a lot has already been accomplished to implement the Union State Treaty, but more needs to be done.
The ambassador stressed the unique importance of the bonds between Russia and Belarus, the peoples of the two countries. It is impossible to overestimate it. It is very vital that we understand this, that we tell millions of people about this and encourage them to pitch in. Not only at the level of states, but also at the level of enterprises, business associations and industries, and what is very important, at the regional level. Regional ties are not only crucial but also beneficial to the two parties,” Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev noted.
The diplomat also believes that the parties need to tap into the system of humanitarian ties, culture, tourism, cooperation in education, science and applied research. Much more can be done to ensure that young people of Belarus and Russia know each other better, understand the huge world called Russia, and the history, potential, opportunities and culture of Belarus,” he said.
