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Mezentsev: External pressure is not the reason for Belarus-Russia unity

MINSK, 10 December (BelTA) – External pressure is not the reason for the unity of Belarus and Russia, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Dmitry Mezentsev told the ONT TV channel, BelTA informs.

Dmitry Mezentsev said that the Union State is approaching a new milestone that prompts the parties to rethink the integration processes.

“If we have objectives related to economic integration, we should also have clear objectives to strengthen our contacts in culture, the humanitarian field, education, and these objectives should not be forced upon us from the outside,” the state secretary noted.

According to him, these matters are getting even more important in the face of mounting external pressures. “But it is not the reason for our unity and closer interaction,” Dmitry Mezentsev emphasized.

According to him, the countries are deepening integration primarily to realize their economic potential and provide social guarantees for citizens. “Economic integration is not necessarily prompted by political, economic pressure from the West. Of course, both governments should take into account the losses that we incur from the sanctions. But if the sanctions are lifted tomorrow all of a sudden, are we going to stop expanding our relations and to put those 28 programs aside? I don’t think so,” he said.

Dmitry Mezentsev reminded that Belarus and Russia had developed and approved the Union State integration roadmaps. “Due to their scale and significance the presidents of the two states have designated them as the Union State programs,” he said.

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