Opinions & Interviews

Union State programs to advance Belarus-Russia relations, preserve sovereignty unconditionally

MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) – Union State programs are designed to advance Belarus-Russia relations while unconditionally preserving sovereignty. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko made the statement at a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Belarus and Russia on 10 September, BelTA has learned.

Roman Golovchenko said: “Today we will have to make another important step towards the enhancement and development of the Union State. A package of documents defining future avenues of integration cooperation within the framework of the Union State Foundation Treaty has been submitted for approval of the Union State Council of Ministers. Proposals on resuming focused work on realizing provisions of this most important document were first made at a session of the Union State Council of Ministers in Brest in December 2018. The heads of state backed the initiative. Large joint work began then. We’ve come up with a serious result: draft main directions on implementing provisions of the Union State Foundation Treaty and 28 Union State programs have been reconciled.”

In his words, the Belarusian government and the Russian one have inventoried provisions of the Union State Foundation Treaty. “A new list of tasks has been formed in order to further advance the relations while unconditionally preserving both political sovereignty and economic one. It is a response to those, who indulge in political speculations concerning integration within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The fact that the realization of the documents that will be approved today will benefit our citizens and will affect the level of prosperity in the most positive way is indisputable,” the prime minister said.

The process of harmonization of laws and regulations in key branches of the economy is the starting point of the new stage of integration. The package of documents the governments have prepared is geared towards further development of the common economic space, establishment of common sectoral markets, realization of the common financial, tax, credit, price, and trade policy. According to the Belarusian side, the realization of Union State programs will allow the sides to continue perfecting money-and-credit relations, bringing closer the tax systems, stepping up the level of interaction of sectoral ministries and government agencies of Belarus and Russia, including by leveraging modern digital technologies.

Roman Golovchenko said: “We are intent on forming a brand new environment in the sphere of trade in merchandise and services and on enabling genuine unhindered access to markets of our countries. Close attention is also paid to matters of manufacturing cooperation and food security. Interaction in the sphere of energy is an important component. The alignment of social and economic conditions for citizens of Belarus and Russia and further expansion of their mutual rights and freedoms in both countries will be high on the agenda.”

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