Alyaksandr Lukashenka has offered Kazakhstan assistance with constitutional reform. He made the statement at a meeting with Chairman of the Mazhilis Erlan Koshanov, who is visiting Belarus.
“I followed your visit, including through the media. Thank you for engaging in concrete work. Not only parliamentarism — although that is very important, especially now, when you have taken up the Constitution and decided to modernize it. If we are of interest to you in this regard, we have enough lawyers and specialists. But that is not the main point. Lawyers write texts, while practitioners suggest what should be written. Therefore, we will always be glad to help in this respect,” he said in welcoming the guest.
It should be recalled that in January, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented plans to amend the country’s basic law. The proposals envisage replacing the bicameral parliament with a unicameral body to be called the Kurultai, elected under a proportional system. The creation of a vice president’s post is also proposed.
Lukashenka also said on Tuesday that Belarus and Kazakhstan share common approaches to international policy.
“As for the international agenda and our approaches and views, in my opinion there is absolutely no difference. We see the development of our world in the same way. We are supporters of multipolarity. We want new states that have emerged, including after the collapse of the Union, to be sovereign and independent. You know this very well, and so does your president. You helped us greatly during our attempt to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. I turned first of all to my Kazakh friends. They not only supported us but also helped work with other countries so that the same support would be provided. We are very grateful to you. And we clearly remember that both Kazakhstan and Belarus are members of a number of international organizations, from the EAEU, CSTO, and CIS to the global United Nations. That is, we are together wherever it is necessary and where our interests are concentrated. This speaks to identical approaches to resolving various global and regional problems,” he said.
Lukashenka proposed developing interregional ties more actively and supported the idea of holding a forum on interregional cooperation.
“Your governors and ours are central figures. Like it or not, much depends on them, especially for you with such a vast territory. Therefore, we need to somehow accelerate this process, develop it, and not be afraid that this middle level has begun to cooperate. Then it will be easier for us as well,” he said.
He added that he places a heavy workload on regional leaders, noting that their cooperation with Russian counterparts produces good results. Lukashenka also recalled an interregional forum with Ukraine.
“People remember when we gathered in Ukraine — our governors and theirs — and outlined paths for cooperation. Not everything worked out because this bacchanalia began in Ukraine, but we did quite a lot during that time,” he said.
“I would very much ask you: we must not lose each other. No country, even America, can develop independently today. Therefore, I propose that in this mad world we do not lose each other,” Lukashenka said.
According to him, attention is now focused on Central Asia.
“I would very much ask you: we must not lose each other,” the head of state said. “No country, even America, can develop independently today. Therefore, I propose that in this mad world we do not lose each other,” he continued.
He emphasized that trade is the foundation of relations and that trade turnover between the two countries has approached $1 billion.
“Today we already have, by our estimates, a billion and more. But there is room to grow. We are a high-tech country. We are ready to supply you not only with goods. They are well known. We know which goods Kazakhstan needs. But in the long term, we are ready to open joint production facilities with Kazakhstan partners, work together, and move in this direction,” he said.
According to him, Belarus produces 1.5 times more goods than its domestic market can consume and is ready to supply the remainder for export.