Working visit to the Russian Federation. Talks with Vladimir Putin

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held talks in the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg on 13 July.

The heads of state discussed cooperation prospects in various fields and the international agenda.
 
This visit is part of the established practice of regular personal meetings between the two leaders.

At the start of the talks the Russian president stressed that Belarus has been Russia’s important and reliable partner

"At the start of our meeting I would like to note that the Republic of Belarus - I am not talking about our Union State plans - remains an important and reliable partner for us in the field of economy,” Vladimir Putin said.

The president noted that in 2020, the trade between the countries increased by 17%. In April - May of this year, the trade was on the rise too. It surged by more than 37%. "This is a good indicator," the Russian head of state emphasized. 

He noted that, despite external challenges, sanctions and the pandemic, the Belarusian economy has demonstrated good indicators. The country services all loans. Moreover, its external debt is declining. "In this sense, Belarus is a reliable, stable partner," the Russian leader said.

Industrial production has been also growing steadily in Belarus, Vladimir Putin noted. "It expanded by more than 16%. This is very good. I mean our close cooperation in the field of manufacturing. The production chains that we have preserved since the times of the Soviet Union and developed in recent years have had a positive impact on the Russian economy and on the economy of Belarus," the Russian president added. 

In St. Petersburg the presidents are set “to analyze the groundwork laid by the governments" and decide how to move forward, the Russian head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the opponents of the Belarusian authorities have proceeded to individual terror. The head of state noted that it was the next stage of the so-called color revolution or rebellion in Belarus. “They have resorted to individual terror. I updated you on some developments. They are unfolding every day. Individual terror against those people who spoke up and supported the state. They proceeded to MPs. And these scoundrels attacked the home of one of leading members of the parliament and a political party exactly at the time when his children were there. They are trying to put pressure, intimidate,” the Belarusian leader said.

“I think it’s a matter of time. We will identify all of them. And we will find them, bring them to justice, and the punishment will be harsh,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

He also noted the need to pay close attention to the security of Belarus and Russia. 

“The security of our countries is the most important thing. We should pay all the attention to it. Whatever [opponents] may say to lull us, we see that we did the right thing in the past by paying attention to the defense of our states and to security. I will tell you a lot about what is going on. The dynamics is crazy. Something changes every day,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that opponents of the Belarusian government had already transitioned to the next stage of the so-called color revolution or rioting – individual acts of terror against people, who openly speak up and support the state. Including attacks against individual MPs.

Apart from that, Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned that the Belarusian government had started a vigorous campaign to crack down on various not-for-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, and so-called Western mass media. “Which have been gifting democracy here or actually implanting democracy. And not democracy but all this terror,” the Belarusian leader said. “You have to understand that we cannot act otherwise. It is understandable what they’ve been doing. They were financed from abroad. And we’ve been thinking all the time: that’s okay, it is democracy after all, let’s talk, let’s cooperate. So, we’ve got the corresponding results.”

“Anyway, Vladimir Vladimirovich, it is not a catastrophe for us. Acts of terror and what not. We will handle it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.

The Belarusian head of state noted that one of the main issues that we should deal with is the economy, because both Belarus and Russia are faced with sanctions, new or extended ones, the president noted. Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that the countries will hold out. “I have already said that this should not bother us. After all, we focus on the economy more than the USSR did and prioritize people’s interests. We will hold out. Even better – we will continue developing. For sure. They will not succeed in monopolizing the international agenda and putting pressure on us. They will not! The world has changed,” the Belarusian head of state stressed.

“Friends’ support is great, but we should rely on ourselves, just like we have always done,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.