Meeting of Supreme Eurasian Economic Council

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held as a video conference on 21 May.

Attending the event were the presidents of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia), Honorary Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the presidents of Cuba and Uzbekistan, the observer states at the EAEU.

The agenda included about 15 issues. The heads of state of the Eurasian Economic Union were briefed on the work done to agree on approaches to pricing and tariff setting in the EAEU common gas market, and the issue related to setting the tariff for gas transportation from third countries. 

High on the agenda was also cooperation between the EAEU member states in the production of medicines and pharmaceutical substances for medical use.

According to the head of state, the whole world had to deal with the pandemic and the aggravation of social and economic issues caused by its consequences. “Apart from this malady, we were involved in processes of political turbulence,” he said.

“You see the colossal pressure which is put not only on Belarus. We are also witnessing the systematic, elaborate and longstanding pressure of sanctions on our states and, first of all, on Russia. In view of the developments, it is clear that the situation will have a certain impact on all of us. It is not a question of if but when,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, trade and economic relations, banking and finance, production cooperation and existing logistics chains may be affected.

“Obviously, the so-called collective West is not interested in the strengthening of our union and the strengthening of the new rival on the global market. Therefore, it is important to assess the negative impact of such external pressure and to start mulling over response measures – from the targeted promotion of import substitution and mutual trade to, if necessary, the introduction of direct restrictive measures within the competence of the union. We can use these measures like our rivals in the West do if the economic situation aggravates,” the Belarusian president said.

In this context, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that he liked the statement of Honorary Chairman of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Nursultan Nazarbayev who said that the EAEU countries have all tools to withstand modern challenges, from food to cutting-edge technologies.

The Belarusian president also expressed confidence that the sides can demonstrate unity and ensure the self-sustainability of the EAEU economy and its stable growth.