Makey, Lavrov confirm Belarus and Russia’s integration commitment
<p> MINSK, Jun 18 - PrimePress. Foreign affairs ministers of Belarus and Russia, Vladimir Makey and Sergey Lavrov, have confirmed that both countries are interested in strengthening their cooperation with the framework of both bilateral relations and integrated associations, in particular, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the press-service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus said following the ministers’ meeting in Moscow on June 18. </p> <p> </p> <p> The ministers confirmed an intention to work further towards gradually lifting restrictions on the movement of citizens across the Belarusian-Russian border and resuming transport communication in the context of the current epidemiological situation. They stressed that it is important to take measures to facilitate mutual travel by motor transport in the interests of Belarusian and Russian business entities as well as citizens of the two countries. </p> <p> </p> <p> During the meeting the parties agreed a schedule of nearest contacts and events of the Foreign Ministries at various levels including a joint board meeting of the two ministries in autumn 2021. </p> <p> </p> <p> In the context of preparations for the Eighth Forum of Belarusian-Russian Regions, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow Region on June 28-30, 2021, the parties discussed interregional ties in detail. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, the governments of Belarus and Russia initialled a Union State integration program in September 2019 and approved 31 roadmaps in various areas. Draft roadmaps were expected to be coordinated by November 2020, and Lukashenko and Putin were supposed to approve the entire package of integration documents on December 8, 2019 during the events timed to the 20th anniversary of the Belarus-Russia Union Treaty of December 8, 1999. The signing of the package did not take place. Belarus said that the parties failed to reach accompanying agreements on Russian energy prices, compensation for Belarus’ losses resulted from the tax manoeuvre in the Russian oil industry, and removal of barriers to Belarusian commodities in the Russian market. Lukashenko said he would not endorse the roadmaps unless the above fundamental issues are finally resolved. </p> <p> </p> <p> In 2021 the term ‘integration roadmaps’ was substituted with “union programmes”, and their number was reduced 28. The programs are expected to be approved by the Supreme State Council of the Union State scheduled for the autumn of 2021. End </p>
2021-06-19
Primepress
Makey, Lavrov confirm Belarus and Russia’s integration commitment
MINSK, Jun 18 - PrimePress. Foreign affairs ministers of Belarus and Russia, Vladimir Makey and Sergey Lavrov, have confirmed that both countries are interested in strengthening their cooperation with the framework of both bilateral relations and integrated associations, in particular, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the press-service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus said following the ministers’ meeting in Moscow on June 18.
The ministers confirmed an intention to work further towards gradually lifting restrictions on the movement of citizens across the Belarusian-Russian border and resuming transport communication in the context of the current epidemiological situation. They stressed that it is important to take measures to facilitate mutual travel by motor transport in the interests of Belarusian and Russian business entities as well as citizens of the two countries.
During the meeting the parties agreed a schedule of nearest contacts and events of the Foreign Ministries at various levels including a joint board meeting of the two ministries in autumn 2021.
In the context of preparations for the Eighth Forum of Belarusian-Russian Regions, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow Region on June 28-30, 2021, the parties discussed interregional ties in detail.
As previously reported, the governments of Belarus and Russia initialled a Union State integration program in September 2019 and approved 31 roadmaps in various areas. Draft roadmaps were expected to be coordinated by November 2020, and Lukashenko and Putin were supposed to approve the entire package of integration documents on December 8, 2019 during the events timed to the 20th anniversary of the Belarus-Russia Union Treaty of December 8, 1999. The signing of the package did not take place. Belarus said that the parties failed to reach accompanying agreements on Russian energy prices, compensation for Belarus’ losses resulted from the tax manoeuvre in the Russian oil industry, and removal of barriers to Belarusian commodities in the Russian market. Lukashenko said he would not endorse the roadmaps unless the above fundamental issues are finally resolved.
In 2021 the term ‘integration roadmaps’ was substituted with “union programmes”, and their number was reduced 28. The programs are expected to be approved by the Supreme State Council of the Union State scheduled for the autumn of 2021. End