MINSK, 2 September (BelTA) – Twenty-eight Union State programs will top the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the presidents of Belarus and Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media on 2 September, BelTA has learned.
"As a rule, the presidents discuss all issues, from the opening of borders in the current pandemic situation to military-technical cooperation. The domestic and international situation is also considered. But the upcoming meeting will most likely focus on the 28 Union State programs, the work on which has been going on for more than three years. They have been prepared and will be submitted to the presidents of Belarus and Russia in the coming days. At the upcoming meeting, I assume, the presidenta will make appropriate decisions on further steps related to the implementation of these Union State programs," the minister said.
As BelTA has reported, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on this topic the other day. “First of all, I would like to emphasize (now they will start saying that we give up on our sovereignty and so on) that at the meeting in Sochi three years ago we instructed the governments to make the next step in the Union State construction process. However, everything was put on hold, there have been no breakthrough movements,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. “Back then, responding to the requirements of people, the Russian president and I made a decision to take certain steps.”
The head of state recalled that the government had prepared over 30 roadmaps for the development of cooperation across the board. Later those roadmaps were turned into 28 Union State programs. “We will sign these programs and will be ready to implement them. These are not just roadmaps with certain instructions,” the Belarusian leader said.
The presidents plan to sign them at the session of the Supreme State Council which is scheduled for October or November. “If we reach a final agreement with the Russian president [the talks of the two leaders will take place on 9 September], the governments will convene a meeting to discuss and to pass these programs. Then we will approve them at the session of the Supreme State Council,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
