MINSK, 19 July (BelTA) - In today's difficult conditions, Belarus needs such reliable partners as Russia in order to effectively resist external pressure and sanctions from the West, Feliks Yashkov, a member of the Council of the Republic, head of the Gomel customs, told BelTA.
"The meeting of the presidents of Russia and Belarus early this month was fruitful and friendly. The two heads of state discussed many common topics, from gas prices to integration. The meeting lasted for more than five hours, which underscored the importance of the meeting. The economy was traditionally in the focus. Both our countries have bee subjected to the tough sanctions pressure. But we will not just survive. We will develop,” the senator is convinced. “The bilateral economic ties are strong and the trade between our countries is growing. No wonder Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Belarus remains Russia's ‘important and reliable partner in the field of economy'. Even in the unfavorable conditions, the Belarusian economy has been posting good growth indicators.”
According to Feliks Yashkov, in view of the sanctions against Belarus and the undisguised economic pressure, it is important for Belarus to maintain ties with Russia, which provides our country with great support. Evidence of this is the agreement on the credit support in connection with the tax maneuver in Russia and the agreement on gas prices for Belarus for 2022.
“In the light of the recent events, the security issues of our states are more relevant than ever. In Belarus, the opponents of the government have switched to individual terror. In Russia, the opponents of the Kremlin do not hesitate to choose the methods either. Joint actions and mutual assistance are very important here. In today's difficult conditions, our country needs not only the strength and means, but also reliable partners in the face of Russia in order to effectively resist the external pressure and sanctions from the West. Regular negotiations make it possible to foresee and, importantly, minimize the impact of external threats and challenges,” the senator noted.
