MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – Creating a level playing field is of vital importance for Belarus in the economic cooperation with Russia, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the 6th Belarusian People's Congress in Minsk on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
The president stressed that equal conditions for citizens of both countries have already been created. They include free movement, integration of the pension system, education and healthcare, the absence of double taxation. Now it is time to bring the economy to this level.
“A level playing field is of vital importance in economic activity, energy consumption, access to markets, participation in public procurement systems and the use of financial instruments. As you can see, I am not asking for free gas, oil or free financial resources. We need just one thing – a level playing field for economic entities, and we will be able to solve any problems,” the head of state stressed.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, today some so-called analysts are trying to implant the thesis into the mass consciousness that the deepening of economic cooperation with Russia threatens Belarus almost with the loss of its sovereignty. For such experts, integration almost implies the absorption of Belarus, the president added.
“Let us dot the i's once and for all. Belarus has always been for and will continue advocating economic integration in the former Soviet Union space, both bilaterally and multilaterally,” said the head of state.
In his words, the Belarus-Russia Union State differs from the cooperation within the EAEU and the CIS by deeper integration in other areas, including politics and defense. This format of cooperation was chosen by the Belarusian people in a referendum. According to the latest sociological survey, more than 70% of Belarusians support integration with Russia,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
