President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko outlined the main tasks and directions for the development of cooperation within the Union State, both in the current period and for the future. The Head of State made relevant statements at the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in St. Petersburg, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
The Head of State stated that based on the results of 2023, the parties will update the historical maximum of trade in goods and services. "Vladimir Vladimirovich mentioned a figure for 10 months – over $40 billion, but if we take the whole year (goods and services) – it will be approximately $54 billion. This is indeed a historical maximum. Achieving high indicators is largely the result of implementing the measures of the 28 Union programs, within which fundamental decisions have been made. But we still need to develop common criteria for assessing the effectiveness of their implementation," the President noted.
Key items on the current agenda of the Supreme State Council are the governments' reports on the implementation of the main directions for realizing the provisions of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State for 2021-2023. The agenda also includes the approval of a new program document for the next three-year cycle – for 2024-2026. It envisages the continuation of work on strengthening the single economic space and removing remaining trade barriers.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, it is important to enhance the international positioning of the union, as is being done within the EAEU.
As the main task in the industrial sphere, the President identified the intensification of cooperation in import substitution. A great deal has already been done in this regard. "A lot has been done here. We have understood much that we did not understand two years ago. We have not been brought to our knees. On the contrary, we have mobilized and accomplished a great deal. Basic intergovernmental agreements have been signed on the recognition of technological operations, on the development of microelectronic technologies, on the design and production of electronic component bases, electronic engineering, and on a unified industrial policy. Yesterday, Vladimir Vladimirovich and I very carefully analyzed these issues in the middle of the day, using microelectronics as an example," said Alexander Lukashenko.
"I am convinced that the decree prepared for signing will effectively ensure mutual recognition of technological operations. I believe that governments should take measures for its unconditional implementation as soon as possible, without any deviations or exceptions," stated the Head of the Belarusian State.
Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized the need to eliminate at all costs everything that hinders mutual supply of goods, level the playing field for enterprises, remove barriers in public procurement, and lift restrictions on the transit of goods. "These topics are not new, but we still have plenty of rough edges in this regard. I would like to particularly note that we have not yet fully resolved the most important issues. This concerns the creation of unified markets for gas, oil, and petroleum products. This is precisely the time when we can calmly make these decisions. They will be beneficial for both Russia and Belarus," said the President.
According to him, these fundamentally important issues are regularly discussed during negotiations with the President of Russia. "Agreements have been reached. I think that governments need to implement these agreements more actively," stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
The President also mentioned the logistics of transporting Belarusian export cargo through Russian ports. In this regard, there are proposals to increase the throughput capacity of the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of the ports of Saint Petersburg. "Millions of tons of Belarusian cargo have been reoriented from the ports of the Baltic states to Saint Petersburg, Murmansk, and Black Sea ports. However, tension persists. Vladimir Vladimirovich and I discussed this issue about three months ago. We decided that the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of St. Petersburg should work more intensively. At the first stage, it requires a small amount of money and a small amount of work – to restore the sidings," shared the Belarusian leader.
The agenda of the Supreme State Council meeting also includes important topics such as the creation of a Union media holding, the settlement of common property issues, and the approval of the Union State's scientific and technological development strategy until 2035.
"I am sure everyone understands how important it is to pursue a coordinated information policy. There is a powerful information confrontation. Many call it a war. But, thank God, we have not yet reached war, even in the media. But the confrontation is serious. I think if we create a normal media holding, taking into account (existing. - BELTA's note) trials and errors, it will be a good holding," the head of state noted.
New fresh ideas, and most importantly, breakthrough economic projects and concrete proposals for the development of cooperation are expected from the XI Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which will be held in Vitebsk in June.
This year, a number of significant dates will be celebrated in the Union State. First of all, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State. "These are powerful ideological occasions. We have no right not to use them to promote our values and defend the truth about our common history," emphasized the President of Belarus.
Source: belta.by