Tsepkalo opposed to single currency with Russia
<p> MINSK, 28 May - PrimePress. One of the candidates for Belarus’ presidency, Valeri Tsepkalo, the creator and former head of the Belarusian Hi-Tech Park, says sharing a common customs space with Russia would be ideal relations with Moscow. At the same time, Tsepkalo admits that it is necessary to adjust the Treaty on the creation of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Tsepkalo made a statement to this effect in an interview with the Belarusian portal TUT.by on May 28. </p> <p> </p> <p> “I believe that ideal relations … with Russia – [is that] we should be within the common customs space, which, by the way, does not work either now. But even from the point of view of the customs space, [the sides] have to sit down and talk,” - said Tsepkalo. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, “there are clear interests of Russia as a state that has huge reserves of natural resources - oil, gas and so on, and there are specific interests of Belarus as a country that does not have that, and can rely on completely different factors in a competitive struggle: the simplicity of the tax system, good infrastructure, education, health care, effective public management. </p> <p> </p> <p> He stressed that the Treaty on the creation of the Union State of Belarus and the Russian Federation “was concluded in absolutely different historical conditions..., requires serious adjustment, as contracts within the European Union are constantly being adjusted. </p> <p> </p> <p> Asked about the possibility of introducing single currency in the Union State, Tsepkalo said that, in his opinion, “this is not necessary”. “The issue of single currency cannot be solved in the way it exists now. The issue can't be solved if Belarus doesn't have an equal influence on this process. It is impossible. There is a weighted voting rule in the EU, when large countries can't draw a line unless small countries support it. A ‘weighted vote’ is possible when there are many players [in the Union]. We have two players, we can only have equality in relations, which makes the union difficult,” he said. End </p>
2020-05-29
Primepress
Tsepkalo opposed to single currency with Russia
MINSK, 28 May - PrimePress. One of the candidates for Belarus’ presidency, Valeri Tsepkalo, the creator and former head of the Belarusian Hi-Tech Park, says sharing a common customs space with Russia would be ideal relations with Moscow. At the same time, Tsepkalo admits that it is necessary to adjust the Treaty on the creation of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Tsepkalo made a statement to this effect in an interview with the Belarusian portal TUT.by on May 28.
“I believe that ideal relations … with Russia – [is that] we should be within the common customs space, which, by the way, does not work either now. But even from the point of view of the customs space, [the sides] have to sit down and talk,” - said Tsepkalo.
In his words, “there are clear interests of Russia as a state that has huge reserves of natural resources - oil, gas and so on, and there are specific interests of Belarus as a country that does not have that, and can rely on completely different factors in a competitive struggle: the simplicity of the tax system, good infrastructure, education, health care, effective public management.
He stressed that the Treaty on the creation of the Union State of Belarus and the Russian Federation “was concluded in absolutely different historical conditions..., requires serious adjustment, as contracts within the European Union are constantly being adjusted.
Asked about the possibility of introducing single currency in the Union State, Tsepkalo said that, in his opinion, “this is not necessary”. “The issue of single currency cannot be solved in the way it exists now. The issue can't be solved if Belarus doesn't have an equal influence on this process. It is impossible. There is a weighted voting rule in the EU, when large countries can't draw a line unless small countries support it. A ‘weighted vote’ is possible when there are many players [in the Union]. We have two players, we can only have equality in relations, which makes the union difficult,” he said. End