Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko received his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Minsk on Monday and assured that Moscow and Minsk are ready for dialogue with Europe, which he appealed to «listen to the voice of reason».
«Vladimir (Putin) and I regularly say that Russia and Belarus are open to dialogue with other states, including European ones. I hope that soon they will listen to the voice of reason and we will be able to constructively discuss both common security and the future world order,» Lukashenko said after his meeting with Putin, according to Belarusian news agency Belta.
Lukashenko stressed that «defending democracy and progress with the use of restrictions and military force no longer impresses even his own voters who are now experiencing all the consequences and shortcomings of this position».
«The strengthening of Belarus-Russia relations has been a response to the changing world situation, in which we are constantly tested and measured by our strength,» he noted. «I believe that despite the fact that there are still some rough edges, we continue to achieve effective responses to the existing challenges and threats,» he has noted.
Lukashenko emphasized the «right» decision to promote the integration of the two countries within the Union State, which «demonstrates to the whole world that only together we can overcome pandemics, crises and sanctions».
«This complicated moment makes it necessary to show political will and commitment to achieve results in all areas of the bilateral agenda (…). We can in no way repeat the mistakes that occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union,» he pointed out.
In this sense, he has recognized that bilateral «negotiation options» have been «exhausted» at lower levels. «Governments believe that it is impossible to reach an agreement on individual issues without you, Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), and me. That is the reason for our meeting today. We will discuss these issues again and in detail and make the necessary political decisions,» he has advanced.
The talks between the two leaders began with a meeting attended by ministers and other high-ranking officials of both countries. Putin and Lukashenko, instead of sitting on opposite sides of the table, sat together, according to the Belarusian official agency Belta, which considers this gesture «of special symbolism» because it «emphasizes the friendly and allied nature of Belarusian-Russian relations».
NUCLEAR COOPERATION For his part, Putin confirmed Russia’s commitment to collaborate in the nuclear field and gave as an example the Astravets nuclear power plant, which produces the equivalent of 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, although Russia could sell this gas to Minsk.
«We could supply natural gas, but now this nuclear power plant is in operation and generates the equivalent of 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas that Gazprom could sell to Belarus,» he stressed.
In addition, Putin highlighted the growing bilateral trade, which could reach $40 billion in the near future. In 2021 it was already 38.5 billion and between January and October it has grown by another 10 percent, according to the Russian leader. «Belarus is not only a good neighbor with whom we cooperate taking into account mutual interests, but also our ally in the truest sense of the word,» Putin has stressed.
Among the main areas of the bilateral relationship he has cited security and cooperation at the international level. «In general we are satisfied with our relations,» he reiterated.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
