Belarus President approves resolution on state border protection in 2016

On 14 January Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko held a government session to approve the resolution on the state border protection in 2016.

The session focused on the economic side of the issue. Head of the Belarus President Administration Alexander Kosinets was instructed to set up a group of independent specialists to monitor the fulfillment of the President’s instructions to protect the economic interests on the border, including the efforts to protect the domestic market.

In this context, the President spoke about self-employed businessmen. On 1 January they have to start working in equal conditions in compliance with the corresponding documents. “They should realize that the certification of products that we had introduced is the first step. All products should have accompanying documents. We need transparent trade,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The President expressed concerns regarding the consumer market of Belarus being flooded with imported goods. The President is confident that the issue can be addressed only with the efforts to invigorate the national industry, take it to the corresponding level. The head of state is confident that national goods can and should be of the same high quality with the imports, and at the same time they should be cheaper.

Aleksandr Lukashenko deemed it necessary to focus on certain aspects of the external situation. These include changes in the trade regulations with Ukraine, the EU and Russia. The head of state voiced Belarus’ position on the issue. On the one hand, Belarus fulfills its obligations within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission owed to the Russian Federation and ensures the transparent transit of Ukrainian goods to third countries. On the other hand, Belarus is not going to limit its trade with Ukraine.

The President also pointed out the alarming global trend concerning the increase in illegal migration and trafficking, trade in weapons and drugs.

Speaking about the migration crisis in Europe, the head of state said that Europe is flooded by migrants. The head of state expressed confidence that such a situation is impossible in Belarus. However, we must do our best to preserve the existing migration policy. Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarus is not against the increasing inflow of migrants, but absolutely all migration cases will be scrutinized.

Speaking about the facilitation of state border procedures, the President said that it is necessary to get rid of queues at border checkpoints and facilitate border crossing procedures. “But all decisions regarding the facilitation of regulations should be fulfilled taking into account the national interests,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

At the end of the session the President approved the state border protection resolution.