MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia stayed united thanks to interregional cooperation, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the Federation Council during his official visit to the Russian Federation, BelTA has learned.
The head of state dwelt separately on the topic of regional ties. “To put it quite frankly, the Union State has survived thanks to you [Federation Council represents the interests of regions],” he said. “Taking this opportunity I would like to say a huge thank you to the representatives of the Russian regions. Back in the day (when the bilateral relations were not easy) we still made an emphasis on working with the regions, and thanks to you we have preserved our unity. If you had not supported Belarusian aspirations then, we would not have such relations today. And it would be difficult to say where our Belarus would be today.”
“Today we, the presidents and governments, listen to local governments and implement their proposals and projects. Comprehensive cooperation with the regions is very vibrant. The process is multi-speed, and we would like to take it even further. But the ball is not in our court, Belarus is open to Russia despite the different potentials,” the head of state said.
“We have agreed with the Russian president that we will attend the forum this year,” the head of state said.
“Today we, the presidents and governments, listen to local governments and implement their proposals and projects. Comprehensive cooperation with the regions is very vibrant. The process is multi-speed, and we would like to take it even further. But the ball is not in our court, Belarus is open to Russia despite the different potentials,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko highlighted the busy schedule of trips to Belarus by Russian governors from Smolensk to Sakhalin and return visits to Russian regions by members of the Belarusian government and representatives of the director corps. Thanks to the regular Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia under the patronage of Belarusian and Russian senators, these ties are preserved, and the number of successful projects is increasing. Last year alone, contracts worth over Br1 billion were signed within the framework of this event.
The Belarusian leader is confident that this year's Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in Nizhny Novgorod will bring together even more participants and guests under the leadership of the speakers of the upper houses, Natalya Kochanova and Valentina Matviyenko.
The Belarusian leader is confident that this year's Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in Nizhny Novgorod will bring together even more participants and guests under the leadership of the speakers of the upper houses, Natalya Kochanova and Valentina Matviyenko.
“We have agreed with the Russian president that we will attend the forum this year,” the head of state said.
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