A working visit of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to the Russian Federation is now over, BelTA has learned. 

The president arrived in Moscow on 7 October. On Monday evening he took part in a dinner together with leaders of the CIS states. The heads of state had an opportunity to discuss a broad range of matters in an informal setting and congratulate their Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on his birthday.
The next day Aleksandr Lukashenko told reporters he had presented a very serious, original, and special gift created by Belarusian artisans to Vladimir Putin. However, he did not clarify what exactly he presented. 

Speaking about the range of matters discussed during the informal meeting, the president said: “From geopolitics to specific domestic issues. But the key thing is let’s be together.”
An official summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States took place in the Kremlin on 8 October. In his speech the Belarusian head of state suggested thinking about ways of more efficiently using the potential of regional integration. “The common goal is understandable. We need a solid union of powerful, economically self-sufficient sovereign states. We constantly talk about equal conditions and respect for national interests. A lot has already been done, but we still have a lot to strive for,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He identified several areas such as the enhancement of the international status of the Commonwealth of Independent States, counteraction of the spread of alien extremist ideologists, counteraction of attempts to involve citizens in criminal activities, including terrorist activities, the achievement of technological sovereignty in the CIS space, the promotion and cultivation of an original system of values.

During the summit in a sincere and heartfelt manner Aleksandr Lukashenko presented a joint address to the nations of the CIS states and to the international community ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet nation’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The address was on the agenda of the extended-participation meeting of the CIS leaders.
The president emphasized that it is possible to steal memory, but not the truth: “Without the heroism of the Soviet people those states and people, who do their utmost to discredit the feat of the Soviet people and take away the memory of our Great Victory, which unites us, would not exist. We know why. The historical truth of our peoples is an obstacle for implementing long-term geopolitical plans of the West, which have no place for other strong powers.” 

On the last day of the working visit Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Members of the delegations of both sides took part in the event.

The Belarus president echoed his Russian counterpart’s words that the world was changing at a rapid pace. These changes are bringing about both new threats and new opportunities. “Naturally, new issues that need to be addressed emerge. No matter how often we meet, half of our talks always cover domestic affairs: the welfare of Belarusians and Russians. And security issues,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I believe that we do not have many questions for discussion. There are only two or three issues that you and I will look into today. We need to make final decisions on these issues and move forward in our relations.” 

A solemn ceremony took place after the meeting to present the Russian Federation’s supreme award – an Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called – to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“You, dear Aleksandr Grigoryevich [Lukashenko], are certainly worthy of this highest award. The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called reflects Russia’s gratitude for your outstanding contribution to the development of Russian-Belarusian relations, allied relations, and strategic partnership,” the Russian leader stressed. 

“I thank you for this high award. I consider it recognition of the merits of the entire Belarusian people, which consistently strengthens the unity with brotherly Russia. Russia has always been and will be more than a neighboring state for our country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin continued communication after the ceremony. 

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