MOSCOW, 20 June (BelTA) – A lot has been done to advance Belarus-Russia integration but it is not enough. President of Russia Vladimir Putin made the statement during the annual Q&A session Direct Line on 20 June, BelTA has learned.
The Russian president stated that Belarus-Russia integration had secured a number of accomplishments, in particular, in social sphere, from the point of view of free movement of goods and services as well as citizens of both countries. “A lot has been done indeed, but in my opinion, obviously not enough. We can and we should do so much more,” he stressed.
Vladimir Putin stated that the merger of Belarus and Russia into one country is not on the agenda. “We are talking about implementing the treaty, which was signed many years ago to create the so-called Union State. It is not one country. It is something different,” he explained. “But I have to admit there are many things there including the establishment of a Union State parliament, the introduction of the common currency, and so on. Russia has failed to accomplish some of the provisions. Belarus has failed to accomplish some as well. Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko and I have agreed that we will take another look at the treaty and the things that have not been implemented in order to see what needs to be accomplished and what needs to be adjusted.” Vladimir Putin reminded that working groups in both countries are working hard on these matters.
