Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Adoption of Union State programs will be a breakthrough

Photo courtesy of the press service of the Russian president

MOSCOW, 9 September (BelTA) – The adoption of Union State programs will be a breakthrough. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during negotiations with President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 9 September, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “I think we will work well. We may have less work left to do than during our previous meetings. Those lasted for a very long time. As long as five hours and even eight hours. Because back then we had to work like bulldozers in order to clear the road for the governments and experts. They did their part but they stumbled all the time over the problems they couldn’t resolve or decide on.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how everything had begun in Sochi. Back then upon demands of the nations and in response to criticism about the lack of dynamics in the Union State of Belarus and Russia the two leaders sketched out over 30 roadmaps. “In broad strokes. While working on these roadmaps later on, we came to a conclusion (more than a year ago) that we need concrete plans instead of some schemes and we switched to Union State programs. As a result today we are ready to discuss 28 programs in the last stage. It is a lot. Those focus on the main major topics and directions of our cooperation in order to allow the governments tomorrow to once again discuss them at the expert level and the government level [at a session of the Union State Council of Ministers]. If they approve these documents, then we may finally adopt these programs at a session of the Supreme State Council as you and I agreed (maybe in late October),” the Belarusian head of state said.

“It will be a breakthrough. A breakthrough in many spheres. It is no secret. We will publish these programs. We will show on what directions we’ve been working on,” he stressed.

“We progress just like all the civilized countries. Only together, only as part of the union. Kindred countries. Close peoples. Virtually one nation, with Russians and Belarusians stemming from one root. We do our work while they [citizens of the two countries] may evaluate us,” the Belarus president added.

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