Working visit to Russia's Ufa

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko pays a working visit to Russia’s Ufa.

The Belarusian leader takes part in the events connected with the top-level meetings of the BRICS association and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

On 8 July Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Belarus President stressed he would like to discuss three question pools during the meeting. In particular, Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested discussing problems in the Eurasian Economic Union, particularly in view of Kyrgyzstan’s accession. In his words, it was decided a long time ago that the sides would arrange consultations to discuss these matters.

Apart from that, the Belarusian head of state said he would like to talk about Belarusian-Russian relations. “We are going through complicated times, but we will quite survive them. We faced these problems a long time ago, you face them now maybe to a lesser degree. This is why we should discuss the continuation of decisions made by the Union State Council of Ministers, what steps we should take now to overcome the negative trends that may emerge soon,” said the Belarusian leader.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also thanked Vladimir Putin for the opportunity to arrange bilateral meetings with foreign heads of state. The Belarusian head of state noted that he was planning to meet with presidents of four countries. “I think that more meetings may be arranged,” he said.

Vladimir Putin underlined that Belarus is the closest strategic partner and an ally of Russia. He pointed out that cooperation between the countries covers all areas starting with defense and ending with humanitarian affairs, social matters are taken care of for the benefit of the citizens, manufacturing cooperation is promoted both within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. The Russian head of state also stressed that Belarus and Russia have a lot of serious plans.

Vladimir Putin congratulated the Belarusian side on the fact that the task of raising Belarus’ status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization had been accomplished.

“You can say it is a done deal. Belarus is going to get the observer status in this respected international organization, which role in the modern world is on the rise,” said the Russian head of state. Vladimir Putin went on saying: “We are confident that your participation in the operation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will benefit both Belarus and all the participants of the organization.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Vladimir Putin for support.

The Belarusian head of state remarked that “at last there are organizations that risk charting a slightly different course of action in the international scene”. “We absolutely support and accept it. It will benefit all the people, who live on earth. The financial and economic moves you have undertaken recently within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS represent very good directions,” said the Belarusian leader.

On 9 July Aleksandr Lukashenko will partake in the meeting of BRICS heads of state, leaders of invited countries to discuss the most urgent issues of global politics, economy and finance.