Opinions & Interviews

Belarus, Russia to approve Union State prorgams soon

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BOBRUSK, 1 September (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia plan to sign Union State programs at the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told reporters during the working trip to Bobruisk on 1 September, BelTA informs.

“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.

The president remarked the Belarus and Russia are living in the common economic space. However, for example there are certain programs with tracing goods (by the way, this issue was discussed at the meeting of Aleksandr Lukashenko with the chairman of the State Customs Committee). “We must see the progress, we must know what taxes and duties are paid. We need transparent procedure,” the head of state said. “An agreement was made to fully digitize this process. This is one of the programs.”

Closer cooperation in tax matters will promote economic interaction. “We must know who pays taxes and what taxes are paid. We must know what basis they have and what basis we have. It has also been officiated and adopted as a single program,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president added that these programs will benefit both Belarus and Russia. “Russia will clearly understand what role Belarus can play in the fate of Russian itself,” he said.

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