The meeting was timed to the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State.
In Minsk, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, which was timed to the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State. The meeting was attended by Federation Council Speaker, Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council Valentina Matvienko.
Vladimir Putin described the Treaty as a fundamental document, under which Russia and Belarus have jointly accomplished a truly vast amount of work over the past quarter century.
“I am referring primarily to their efforts to promote integration in the socioeconomic and humanitarian spheres, to harmonise the two countries’ laws, and to reliably ensure common defence and security,“ the head of state noted.
According to the President, Russian-Belarusian relations of alliance and strategic partnership are based on the unshakable principles of friendship and neighbourliness, mutual respect and regard for each other’s interests.
“Our countries and peoples are bound by a common history, family ties between many Russians and Belarusians, and a commitment to the same moral and spiritual values.”
The President of Belarus emphasised that the choice made in 1999 had been correct.
“It is only through this allied tandem that we have been able to benefit from our shared experience and potential based on the principles of mutual trust and partnership,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
In her congratulation message on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State to Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova, Valentina Matvienko noted that the will of the two nations to create a single strong democratic state has continued to be realised through joint efforts over the past quarter of a century. She emphasised that great results have been achieved during this time. In particular, 28 Union State programmes have been signed, a significant number of barriers to the movement of goods, services, capital and labour have been lifted, work has begun to form a single market, and a solid foundation has been laid for achieving the goals of integration processes.
According to Valentina Matvienko, economic indicators are improving, mutual trade and technology exchanges are increasing, and the main task of industrial production – stepping up cooperation on import substitution – is being successfully addressed.
“An important role in implementing the plans we outlined belongs to the legislators in both countries. I believe that the active interaction between the Federation Council and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly will continue to serve as an effective working mechanism for building the Union State,” the Federation Council Speaker emphasised.