MINSK, 30 September (BelTA) – The CIS and EAEU member states should stand together, rather than scatter in different directions, and focus above all on developing economic ties, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with the heads of government delegations taking part in the sessions of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the CIS Heads of Government Council in Minsk on 30 September, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian leader stressed that the basis of everything is, first and foremost, the economy, and everything else can be built upon it. “This is especially relevant for us now, no matter how much we try to boast of our achievements,” the president remarked. “The states represented here by their prime ministers have different approaches to economic issues. I will put it simply: let us not lose what was achieved by the previous generations. Let us preserve what we already have: our economic relations and our economic foundation. If we can build on that, that would be great. But today it is very difficult.”
According to him, the reason is that the redivision of the world is underway, and there is a competitive battle and struggle. “We would like to stand our ground in this struggle. And we can only do it together,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
In this regard, the head of state urged all CIS and EAEU countries to preserve and strengthen their historically established ties. “Let us stand together rather than scatter in different directions,” the president said. “No one is waiting for us anywhere else. We could be separated from the common whole. History has shown such cases when the countries have been torn away and left behind. And then, who needs us? No one. That is why the most important thing is to preserve our unity that has been achieved by our past generations.”
The central role in these processes belongs to Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. “It must make the main contribution to hold our unions together, to unite us, so that we do not fall apart in these times,” he noted. “Russia must play its role in this regard. And we must not simply demonstrate intentions, but take action in this direction.” Naturally, in these processes it is necessary to take into account the specific features of different states and their sovereignty, the Belarusian leader emphasized. Relations should be built on the basis of existing realities, with each country's economic interests placed at the forefront.
“The main thing is the economy. Let us keep the economy at the highest level. Let us, first of all, see our countries as partners in implementing various programs, contracts, and development projects in each state, and support each other as much as possible. Justice, sincerity, and equality in our relations must be the foundation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
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