Meeting with State Secretary of Union State Grigory Rapota

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota on 18 February.

The head of state remarked that the 6th Belarusian People’s Congress which took place on 11-12 February gave answers to many questions. “I was quite sincere in my report, so were other speakers. We were sharing our thoughts. Therefore, the congress gave answers to all questions. I think that our Russia heard us, so did the West. And so on and so forth. It is very important for the further development of our cooperation within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia,” the head of state said.

He thanked Grigory Rapota for the participation in the Belarusian People’s Congress. “It was very interesting,” the state secretary of the Union State responded.

According Aleksandr Lukashenko, specialists are currently monitoring the situation after the Belarusian People’s Congress to understand public sentiments. “It is good that opinion-building circles, such people like you have a normal perception of our forum,” the President said.

He remarked that the Belarusian People’s Congress touched upon various issues – global and minor ones. Plans have been made to formalize and publish all of that. “We want to publish all questions which were discussed in a newspaper so that people were in the know. There were hundreds of hundreds of questions. Topical issues were discussed. There were minor questions, too. We will publish all that. I am grateful to you for attending the forum,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

At the meeting with Grigory Rapota Aleksandr Lukashenko announced a meeting with Russia President Vladimir Putin. "Indeed, Putin and I  agreed to meet somewhere around 20 February and talk about some areas of our cooperation. But I want to say something now: as it always happens in Russia, rumors are circulating regarding the agenda. Now they are speculating that ‘Lukashenko is coming to ask for as much as $3 billion’. This is not true. I am not going there to ask for something," the Belarusian leader stressed.

"You know that we have signed the documents on the supply of hydrocarbons this year, which is a sensitive issue for us, common markets. We didn't ask for anything or argued at all. If Russia believes that the level of our economic cooperation should be this high, then it will be so. What's there to ask for? The liberals in Russia are not up to speed on the sensitive issues that we are discussing. We are not going to ask for anything," the head of state said.

The Belarusian President said that he is set to meet with Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Russia. "There will be a meeting with Medvedev. There is such an agreement. We will discuss the most pressing issues that we are concerned about today. Defense, security of our state are more important issues," the President said.

“There are continuous attempts to intimidate Russia, just like us, with some kind of sanctions. I lived in the Soviet era. I know what a state plan is and how things are planned. I thought, God, why are we fretting about it? We can make a plan and provide ourselves with everything we need, except for a couple of component parts. However, we will be able to launch their production in Belarus and Russia within 3-5 years. We have great scientific potential! And if we did this, Ukraine would gradually join us, to say nothing of Kazakhstan and nearer countries. Therefore, the number one task is to reach an agreement and provide our fatherland with everything necessary,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that the countries can successfully cooperate in virtually all areas, be it space, biotechnology, electric cars, etc. “We can do everything. Liberals managed to convince us once that the market will regulate itself. No way,” the Belarusian leader said.

To illustrate his point, the President mentioned Japan and China, the countries that draft thousands of plans and all kinds of balance sheets. These are not only indicative plans, these plans are based on the situation on the ground. The second thing is iron discipline. The head of state recalled a conversation he had with a Japanese at the Winter Olympics in Nagano. This man shared his opinion on why Japan differs from the post-Soviet countries. “He said: in our country only one person makes a decision and 99 people execute it without discussion. But in your countries, 99 people contemplate and make a decision, and one has to do this all. This was said by a Japanese. This is also about discipline - once they agree on something, they will definitely accomplish it. The same in China. That is why they are the world’s leading economies. We can do it, too” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He believes, there is no need to worry too much about sanctions. “Okay, let them go ahead and impose them. However, in this case they will have to sell their goods at home, not on our 150-million strong market. A huge amount of goods is sold through Belarus and Russia. Therefore, it is clear who will lose from this move. Yet, we are lamenting: oh, sanctions, we will crumble ...No, we will not! Sergei Lavrov [Russian foreign minister] minced no words saying it, well done! Do not even try to start some kind of war against us. We can retaliate. If we want peace, we really should prepare for war. Of course, we do not want to fight, we do not need it, we are fed up with it. Nevertheless, you see what is happening around,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian head of state noted that these issues should be discussed at the Supreme State Council as well. “We need to start working on it offline. We need to take advantage of the situation. The situation is not simple, but it is a situation of opportunities. If we pick up steam, we will work better,” the Belarusian leader said.

The President emphasized that Belarus did not go into a national lockdown and did not put the economy on hold. This is one of the reasons for a significant growth in the manufacturing industry in January. “This is not because we are great, but because many countries suffered an economic disruption. Therefore, there are good things that can benefit us immensely,” the head of state added.

During the meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko presented the Order of Honor to Grigory Rapota. The state secretary of the Union State received the award in recognition of a big personal contribution to the development of integration cooperation, Union State construction, enhancement of friendly relations and unity of peoples of Belarus and Russia.

“You deserve it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed presenting the award. Accepting the award, Grigory Rapota responded: “Serving our Union State!”

Addressing the President, the state secretary thanked him for many years of productive joint work. “You have always responded to all requests, all questions, all wishes. It creates a very good working environment. With God’s help we will manage to preserve it in the Permanent Committee and other agencies. It is a good mechanism, and we must use it,” he said. “I am ready to help new people who will work there.”

The state secretary of the Union State confirmed that he will continue doing his best for the enhancement of relations of Belarus and Russia. “In my opinion, it is very important. It is important for Russians, it is important for Belarusians. It is important for the entire post-Soviet space,” he said. “I will be committed to it at any job in the future.”