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Presidents of Belarus and Russia Meet in Minsk
At the
invitation of Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, on December 13-14,
2007, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, paid an official visit to
Belarus.
On December
13, the heads of state had a face-to-face non-formal meeting in the Silichi
Ski Resort located near to Minsk. The presidents discussed a wide range of
topical issues of Belarusian-Russian relations.
On December
14, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin held official talks as a part of
the program of the visit. They also laid a wreath at the Victory Monument in
Minsk and participated in the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the
Belarus-Russia Union State. The agenda of the SSC meeting included such
issues as the 2007 Union State budget performance, 2008 Union State budget,
the course of implementing the Plan of Joint Actions in Foreign Policy,
trade and economic relations between the two countries and other urgent
issues.
Below are
press statements and answers to journalists' questions following the meeting
of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia on
December 14.
Alexander Lukashenko:
Dear
comrades!
Two events
have taken place: the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir
Vladimirovich Putin's official visit to our country has come to an end. Once
again, I want to publicly emphasize the impact and the importance of this
visit. This visit really will remain part of the history of our relations.
And the second event is the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the
Union State, which also affects relations between our countries.
You are
aware that there were 12 issues on the agenda, a continuation of the
problems that we examined during the official visit. Appropriate decisions
have been taken on absolutely all issues that were on the Supreme State
Council's agenda.
Vladimir
Putin:
For my
part, I wish to thank the President for the invitation to make an official
visit to Belarus, and for the working conditions that were present both in
the bilateral format, and also within the Supreme State Council of the Union
State.
Indeed,
today we managed to accomplish a great deal both at the bilateral level and
with regards to building a union state. I would add that to ensure a smooth
transition in Russian-Belarusian cooperation in the energy sector according
to world market principles, and in light of both parties' obligations
contained in their agreements and contracts, Russia has decided to offer
Belarus credit worth 1.5 billion dollars.
We made
decisions relating to the Union State's budget and discussed the problems
the executive authorities face as they implement earlier agreements and
accords. We talked about coordinating our work in foreign policy and in
defense. I am satisfied with the results of our work and, once again, want
to thank our Belarusian friends for organizing it.
Question:
Vladimir
Vladimirovich, as we know, the prices of the gas that Russia receives from
Turkmenistan have gone up. Does this mean that the price of gas that Gazprom
delivers to Belarus will also go up?
Vladimir
Putin:
No. The
prices for our Belarusian partners will not be raised. Gazprom will fully
implement all the commitments it took on in the contracts it signed last
year.
Question:
I have a
question for both presidents. The highest state authorities in Russia will
change in the near future. I am referring to the elections. And in
connection with this, what would you, Alexander Grigorevich, and you,
Vladimir Vladimirovich, expect with regards to relations within the Union?
(I am referring to politics, economics and, for example, equal rights for
citizens.)
Alexander Lukashenko:
Dear
friends! One answer to this is simply to reply: let’s wait and see. But in
order to respond properly to your question, we must look to recent history.
I just
congratulated Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on the victory of his party in
the elections. We know the outcome of the vote for the State Duma. And it is
not hard to predict (I certainly hope I’m right) the result of the upcoming
presidential election, given the level of confidence in the current
President, and support for the candidate nominated to be the new President
of the Russian Federation.
As a result
of this I am absolutely convinced that, whoever is in power in the Russian
Federation, our relations will continue unchanged because they are of a
strategic nature and nobody can change that. I can assure the Russian side
on my own behalf and on behalf of the Belarusian people, that Russia -- as I
often say, our Russia -- will always remain a priority in our relations
compared to other nations, when we examine all the possibilities.
Therefore,
I am absolutely confident that we will continue to move forward. At times,
it will be difficult, at times complicated. As the President of Russia has
said, we represent different countries, but basically we face similar
issues, although we may have different ways of looking at certain problems.
Nevertheless, we have always been able to find solutions for the most
complicated and difficult problems and issues. Therefore, I am absolutely
convinced that this approach will continue in the future, no matter how
Russia’s domestic political situation develops, because relations between
two brotherly peoples are more important than mere political dispositions.
Vladimir
Putin:
I want to
just reiterate what my colleague has said. Relations between Russia and
Belarus are indeed both fundamental and genuinely strategic. They are
important, not because one of the leaders of our states wants them to be,
but rather because the peoples of Russia and Belarus have for centuries
enjoyed very close relations at the level of their shared humanity,
especially at the personal level between the citizens of our countries.
There is
probably no country to which Russians feel closer than to Belarus. Our
economies are very tightly linked. Just today we were saying that in the
last year our trade has increased by 25 per cent. It has now reached a new
record: 24 billion. This year will be at least 24 billion. And all this is
the result, first and foremost, of our extensive cooperation, which
continues to grow among enterprises and in entire industries.
Your
Russian colleague just asked whether energy prices will be raised beyond the
levels fixed in previous contracts. I have already answered: yes, they will
go up, but as provided for in previous contracts, despite the fact that
Russia itself must pay higher prices for energy, particularly gas, to our
partners in Central Asia.
This shows
that Russia understands the difficulties faced by the major consumers in
Europe, including Belarus, as a result of high world prices for energy. And
we will do everything possible to minimize these effects for the Belarusian
economy.
I would
like to point out that, as per previous agreements between Russia and
Belarus, we once again confirm that we will strictly enforce agreements
reached earlier concerning contracts for the supply of energy. This
confirmation has another, pan-European dimension. Thus, we once again
confirmed today in our memorandum that we will not only abide by these
contracts, but Russia and Belarus will live up to all their commitments
concerning the supply of Russian energy to Europe. This means that Russia
and Belarus are aware of their responsibility for maintaining an appropriate
supply regime for our European partners.
Both sides
have made significant contributions to the stabilization of the European
energy market. All this indicates that Russia and Belarus are unconditional
strategic partners. Whatever processes may occur within the Russian
Federation, I can assure you that developing a genuinely close and fraternal
strategic relationship with Belarus is an absolute priority for the Russian
Federation. And, in this regard, there is a clear national consensus.
Alexander Lukashenko:
I want to
add to what Vladimir Vladimirovich has said. We have insisted for a very
long time that we are committed to providing a stable supply of energy to
Western Europe, to Europe rich and poor, to the European Union. The Russian
Federation supplies a huge amount of energy, natural gas and oil to Europe
via the territory of Belarus. In this way we are making a tremendous
contribution to the economic, social and political stability of the European
continent and the European Union.
I want to
say in this regard that, in making this contribution to the stability of
Europe, we expect an appropriate response on Europe’s part in relation to
our countries. We would very much like Europe to understand the challenges
facing the two States that have made the commitments that the President of
the Russian Federation just mentioned.
Belarus Elected to Governing Council of the United Nations
Environment Program
Belarus has
entered the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
for 2008–2011.
Belarus’
election proves the active participation of the country in various
international environmental activities. Belarus has signed over 20
conventions aimed at decreasing pollutant exhausts. Belarus had acceded to
the Kyoto Protocol, Stockholm Convention, Antarctic Treaty and other
international documents.
Besides,
the country constantly provides information about results of its
environmental efforts to international organizations, takes part in
implementing global ecological projects.
Belarus’
membership in the UNEP Governing Council will allow taking part in important
decision-making, consideration and approval of programs involving resources
of the Council’s ecological fund, shaping national and international
environmental policies, coordinating UN ecological programs.
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