On the evening of September 9, negotiations between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin took place in the Kremlin. The agenda of the meeting between the Presidents of Belarus and Russia was widely discussed in the media space, and it is not surprising: the Union programmes, which will take the Union State to a new level, are about to be adopted.
On the evening of September 9, negotiations between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin took place in the Kremlin. The agenda of the meeting between the Presidents of Belarus and Russia was widely discussed in the media space, and it is not surprising: the Union programmes, which will take the Union State to a new level, are about to be adopted. Should we expect a full-fledged common market, what will be the prices for Russian energy resources for Belarus, when will a single currency appear, and what do these programmes actually mean - integration or absorption? Answers to the main questions about the negotiations between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin in Moscow are in our material.
Why did Belarus and Russia decide to develop Union programmes?
The history of these documents began about three years ago. At that time, against the backdrop of criticism about the lack of dynamics in the Union State, the parties developed more than 30 roadmaps. These documents, in essence, were merely something like integration contours in specific areas. Later, it was decided to give greater importance to this work. Therefore, each of today's programmes, as Alexander Lukashenko stated following the meeting, is now a concrete action plan, according to which the countries intend to move.
How many Union programmes are there in total and what do they provide for?
There are 28 in total. These documents include agreements in the sphere of economic integration: convergence of macroeconomic policies, monetary aspects, issues of industrial, agrarian policy and customs administration, tax legislation, consumer protection, competition and trade activities.
A block is dedicated to the energy complex, including the formation of unified markets and the development of nuclear energy. There is also a programme dedicated to common approaches in the transport market. In addition, the Union programmes cover issues of unification of socio-labour aspects, equality of rights of citizens of Belarus and Russia, and organisation of the tourism sector.
Have the presidents agreed on the Union State programmes?
Yes. Right at the beginning of the meeting, Alexander Lukashenko stated that the adoption of the Union programmes would be a breakthrough. "I think we will work well. Probably, we have less work left now than during our previous meetings. They lasted a very long time. Both 5 and 8 hours. Because back then we had to, so to speak, clear the way like 'bulldozers' for governments and experts," the President said.
The heads of state have apparently worked well indeed: after the negotiations, it became known that all 28 Union programmes had been agreed upon. Vladimir Putin, as the host, was fortunate enough to be the first to announce this to journalists. "I would like to note with satisfaction that all 28 programmes have been agreed upon," he said.
When will the Union programmes be officially approved?
On September 10, a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State will be held in Minsk. It is expected that the governments will adopt these documents. They will "polish some points" and "agree on the final touches," as the President of Belarus put it. After that, the Union programmes will be submitted for approval to the Supreme State Council of the Union State. Its meeting is planned to be held before the end of the year.
Will Belarusian and Russian enterprises receive equal rights?
Yes, this is enshrined in the Union programmes. Moreover, equal rights for economic entities are the main document discussed at the negotiations in the Kremlin. As the head of the Belarusian state emphasised, there should be fair competition for all companies in the markets of Belarus and Russia.
"The very same equal conditions, the necessity of which various representatives of Belarus, including myself as President, have been talking about for many years. This is the foundation of foundations. We are full-fledged partners," stated Alexander Lukashenko. "It is precisely for the sake of equality, beneficial cooperation, and fruitful collaboration that Belarusian-Russian integration was initiated."
What will happen to the price of Russian energy resources for Belarus?
The Union programmes also provide for the resolution of the issue of energy supply to Belarus. As for the immediate future, according to Vladimir Putin, following lengthy discussions, mutually acceptable approaches to gas issues have been developed. "The price for Belarus for Russian natural gas for 2022 will remain at the current year's level. At the same time, by December 1, 2023, a document on the creation of a unified gas market within the Union State will be signed," said the President of Russia. Currently, Belarus pays $128.5 per thousand cubic metres of Russian gas, while the price on the European market has now significantly increased and reaches $650.
In addition, it is envisaged that a treaty on the unification of oil and petroleum product markets, as well as a treaty on a single electricity market, will be concluded between the countries.
Did Belarus ask Russia for a new loan?
No. This issue was not raised at the negotiations. "I must admit that I asked him (Vladimir Putin. - BELTA's note) that we do not need new loans, if we save something from the nuclear power plant, for which a certain loan has been allocated to us (this is the practice of the Russian Federation all over the world), I asked him: give me this saving as a loan. The answer was: we will think about it, we are satisfied with it, if there are good, profitable projects for Belarus and Russia," noted Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus is not taking large loans from Russia yet, nevertheless, credit support will be provided: from September to the end of 2022, it will amount to about $630 million.
What will happen to the military cooperation between Belarus and Russia?
It will only develop, as the presidents stated. Alexander Lukashenko generally called the deepening of integration and the build-up of multifaceted interaction within the Union State the most effective response to ill-wishers.
Of course, during the meeting, the heads of state discussed current international issues, relations with neighbouring countries and associations in detail. The presidents dwelled on the situation in zones of instability, primarily in Afghanistan, from the perspective of threats to the security of the Union State. The leaders also touched upon the topic of the joint Union military exercises "Zapad-2021".
"We will only increase our joint counteraction to common challenges and threats," stated the President of Belarus.
When will a single currency be introduced in the Union State?
The presidents could not give a definitive answer to this question at the meeting with journalists. According to the heads of state, the countries are not yet ready for this, and the introduction of a single currency is not the most pressing issue at present. However, the implementation of a unified macroeconomic policy, the creation of a common payment space, and the harmonization of monetary policy within the framework of the Union State are planned.
"The issue is not that Putin or Lukashenko are hindering these processes. When we studied this issue, the Central Bank of Russia and our National Bank unanimously asked us not to approach this issue for now. They stated that neither they nor our countries are ready for it," said Alexander Lukashenko.
At the same time, the President did not rule out that the countries might return to this issue in the future. "The issue is not about currency. The issue has always come down to a single emission center. There are certain problems here," explained the head of state.
What does Russia think about the migration crisis on the Belarusian-European border?
Vladimir Putin noted that some Western colleagues are urging him to take joint action in resolving the problems with migrants on the border with Belarus and are asking him to somehow influence the Belarusian leadership. "The answer is simple: it does not concern us. It is not our border," the Russian leader replied to journalists' questions.
He stressed that the migration crisis has arisen on the state border of Belarus with other sovereign countries, therefore they should seek solutions among themselves. "If you want to solve the problem genuinely, contact the Belarusian authorities at any level and resolve the issue with the neighboring state," emphasized the President of Russia.
Are the Union programs Russia's absorption of Belarus? Or perhaps Belarus's absorption of Russia?
Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly stressed that the countries can build the closest relations without sacrificing sovereignty and independence. Moreover, these are inviolable values for the Belarusian people.
"The President of Russia delicately did not mention various speculations that someone would absorb someone here and so on. I must say that neither the President of Russia nor I have suffered from this illness. If someone has suffered from it, we can help them recover," Alexander Lukashenko briefly remarked following the negotiations.
And as an epilogue. It became known after the meeting of the presidents that Russia is lifting all COVID-19 restrictions on passenger air traffic with Belarus. This news came as a surprise not only to journalists: during the negotiations, Vladimir Putin forgot to inform his Belarusian counterpart about the recent decision of the government commission.
Before the pandemic, over 200 flights were operated weekly between the countries. Currently, there are 36. The President of Russia noted that it is unlikely that the pre-COVID level will be restored in a couple of days, but he expects it to happen quite quickly.
Source: www.belta.by