Lukashenko: Belarus, Russia interested in EAEU adopting Union State experience
Belarus and Russia are interested in the Eurasian Economic Union adopting more of the experience of the Union State – as stated by the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, during his today’s meeting with the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Bakytzhan Sagintayev
Welcoming his guest at the Palace of Independence, the Head of State noted, “The CIS, the EAEU, and the Union State are still multi-level integration, and we are interested together with Russia in making the EAEU learn more from the Union State – with view on what is acceptable for the EAEU, since you are probably interested in the CIS, which is at the lowest level of integration, to focusing on the EAEU and maybe also on working within the framework of our allied relations with Russia. Actually, this is the will of the heads of state, governments, and the elite of these states. We do not particularly insist on this process, but it may be possible, of course.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the representative of Kazakhstan, Bakytzhan Sagintayev, had been entrusted with a serious mission by the decision of the heads of state, “This will be your burden for four years, but you are an experienced person who has come a long way, including in economics, and our organisation of the Eurasian Economic Union is an economic one. I know Kazakhstan's principled approach to these issues very well, since I was at the origins of the creation of this organisation together with [Kazakhstan’s first president Nazarbayev] Nursultan Abishevich. The current leadership of Kazakhstan is committed to the course of the economic focus of the Eurasian Economic Union.”
The President also drew attention to a number of economic problems that exist within the EAEU and that need to be worked on, “We’d like to see (this should be done during your presidency, since Kazakhstan plays a very important role in the EAEU) all the barriers – that, unfortunately, still exist among us – to be removed. We need to agree on energy issues so that the states have equal opportunities. We need to create common markets for gas and oil. A common market is needed, since there is no other way. You can see how the situation is developing around us, and the current circumstances are pushing us to co-operate more closely within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.”
The Head of State voiced the thesis, which he had repeated more than once, “If the economy functions well, then there will be politics, diplomacy, and military relations. Therefore, it is necessary to more actively create joint ventures on the principles of co-operation and to finance them. I think that – using your experience and your previous involvement in economic processes – we will manage to do a lot. Importantly, you should not stay silent, but make proposals. You know how to do this, as well as the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, who speaks frankly on many issues.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed confidence that Bakytzhan Sagintayev, as Chairman of the EEC, would show determination and make proposal for removing obstacles to the EAEU development. He congratulated the guest on his new position and stressed, “You can always count on us. Tell us frankly what we have to do. If there is something we cannot do at all, we will also tell you openly about this. By now, there have been no such issues that we could put aside and not participate in the development of our union.”
