MINSK, 21 August (BelTA) – Nobody questions Belarus' sovereignty, this is never discussed by the Belarusian and Russian leadership, Belarus' Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said in an interview with the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.
Roman Golovchenko stated that economic disputes may arise in Belarusian-Russian relations, which is normal for partners. “We are an independent state, and nobody questions our sovereignty or independence as a state. These issues are not even discussed by the leadership of Belarus and the Russian Federation,” he said.
The host of the program, head of the ONT TV channel Marat Markov noted that the opposition's program of changes was published in the internet but was quickly removed. The Belarusian president commented on it. Marat Markov asked the Belarusian prime minister also to comment on the consequences it would bring, what Belarus will face if it withdraws from the Union State and other “integration structures, dominated by Russia”, imposes border and customs controls on the Belarusian-Russian border.
“All integration associations, beginning with the CIS and ending with the EAEU, were designed to preserve ties. We needed to build a platform on the ruins of the Soviet Union to solve issues of economic and political interaction as independent states. Now the most vibrant association is the EAEU. It is actually a tool for the countries to strengthen economic integration, to implement joint programs, to harmonize industrial and agricultural policies, to remove barriers for the flow of goods, services and workforce. What will the authors of the program offer us in return?” Roman Golovchenko asked.
He pointed out that today many industries in Belarus, be it engineering, agriculture and others, are historically tied to Russian partners. “These are commodity supply chains, a network of cooperation. What is the purpose of destroying this today? Who needs it? There had been attempts to impose it on us once before. Thank God that the authorities had the wisdom not to ruin it,” said the prime minister. “The Belarusian export to Russia amounts to $15 billion a year. Now there is a war for markets in the world. Should we voluntarily give up on what we have, on our good relations?”
