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19 May 2020, 11:58

EAEU online summit to flout protocol

MINSK, 19 May (BelTA) – At the suggestion of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on 19 May was held in an unusual format, BelTA has learned.

When delivering opening remarks, Aleksandr Lukashenko touched on the rules of the event. Traditionally, the EAEU summits are held in two stages: first, heads of state discuss issues in a private meeting and then they are joined by members of delegations. “Given the current form of our meeting I have some suggestions: either we hold our meeting traditionally: a private meeting first and then the extended-participation format, with some pause between them. It is just the way it has always been. Or we can merge these two formats into one. Since there are no secrets we can hold the meeting with all delegations present,” the president said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the idea of the Belarusian counterpart. “You are the chairman today, so I will agree with your offer," he said.

The leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were not against it either. But Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that every president should have the opportunity to speak on all issues. “I absolutely agree with you. The president has the right to speak on all issues and as many times as he wants. We have never put any limits. It is our tradition," Aleksandr Lukashenko responded.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also supported the Belarusian side's proposal. After the general decision was made, Moldovan President Igor Dodon joined the broadcast. Initially, being a representative of the EAEU observer state, he was supposed to take part only in the extended-participation part of the summit.

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