Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev

Belarus does not see itself outside integration, President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev.

“We do not see ourselves outside integration processes. Our economy cannot survive in isolation, even the Russian economy cannot. And indeed, the entire world is moving in this direction. Therefore, we will shape our policy taking this into consideration,” the head of state said.

Sergei Lebedev stressed that Belarus has always played an active role in CIS integration processes.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he would like to discuss current problems in the Commonwealth of Independent States. “I know there are certain problems. You know our position. We will stick to it during the presidency. We believe that no one should evade its obligations in the CIS, none of the states,” the Belarusian President said. “If there are any issues related to the presidency, you can always count on Belarus, because it is home to the CIS headquarters, integration center. We bear the bulk of responsibility for that,” the President said.

The meeting also focused on the forthcoming parliamentary election in Belarus.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that t he parliamentary election in Belarus will be held openly and transparently.

“We are not hiding anything here, you know that. We would like to hold the elections in an open, transparent and proper manner. It is important to hold legitimate elections. It will depend on the degree of freedom during the declaration of will,” the head of state said.

“We have held several meetings. Everyone has been given instructions. The bodies that will hold the elections have been set up. The nomination of candidates has begun. We will do it very properly,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The Belarusian head of state invited the CIS mission to monitor the parliamentary elections in Belarus. “We’ve always invited the CIS mission with pleasure and would like you to lead it as usual because in Belarus the degree of trust in you is very high, moreover, in all government institutions,” the President said.

According to Sergei Lebedev, the formation of the CIS mission has already started. The long-term observation will be conducted by about 30 people, while the voting period will be monitored by about 300 CIS observers. The offices of the headquarters will be opened in all the oblast capitals of Belarus.

“During previous elections we usually got all kinds of assistance from all government agencies of Belarus, the Central Election Commission. There are all grounds to believe that our mission will fulfil its duties,” Sergei Lebedev said. He noted that the CIS mission plans to keep in touch with observers from the OSCE and various international western organizations. “Such contacts are very useful. The practice shows that such contacts, communication of views help develop more objective evaluation of the electoral process in all the CIS member states,” he said. “I think this will be the case in Belarus,” he added.

Sergei Lebedev also told the Belarusian head of state about the preparation to the CIS Economic Council, session of the CIS heads of government in Yalta, and the meeting of CIS heads of state in Ashgabat.