Aliaksandr Lukashenka plans to meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the president of the neighboring country, Vladimir Putin, in the near future. He made the statement at a meeting with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
“We will meet with the Prime Minister of Russia in the near future, and we will also meet with the President of Russia and discuss the issues that we will not be able to agree on,” Lukashenka said, according to his press service.
He presented Denis Manturov with the Order of Friendship of Peoples. Lukashenka signed the decree awarding Mishustin and Manturov the order yesterday. Presenting the award today, he stressed that it “has a political component and a certain advance”. In his view, Manturov will now “not be going anywhere” and will promote the Union agenda in the right direction.
Lukashenka also stressed that he considers cooperation with Russia an honor and assured Manturov of his loyalty.
“Unlike all other countries (which are, naturally, friends of Russia, but do not want to publicly say anything), we do not shy away from any convenient or inconvenient issues. We openly say that we consider it an honor to cooperate with Russia, and we will cooperate. You can have no doubt about that. It is not that the situation is pushing us toward this. The point is that we determined this course a long time ago, several decades ago, and have faithfully adhered to it,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Belarusian Prime Minister Aliaksandr Turchyn and Lukashenka’s chief of staff Dzmitry Krutoi. Some joint projects were discussed, including the development of the Osvey aircraft, which has required additional funding.
“I am grateful that, after looking at some of our enterprises, you have worked in two areas to support Belarus. In automobiles, and especially for the aircraft. There are some misunderstandings there. But I think we will discuss them now so that the Osvey will ultimately be built. It is needed on our common market. Naturally, it will be a good aircraft for Russia. And for us, it means acquiring new competencies. You saw that we are engaged in repairing many aircraft. We already know how to do some things. We are not starting from scratch. Therefore, with the help of the Russians, we could develop a new area of industry,” Lukashenka said.
In turn, Manturov conveyed Putin’s and Mishustin’s best wishes to Lukashenka.
“Aliaksandr Ryhoravich, I bring you warm greetings and best wishes from Vladimir Vladimirovich and Mikhail Vladimirovich,” he said.
The Russian deputy prime minister also noted that industrial products account for more than half of mutual supplies.
“I would like to note that last year, 65% of bilateral supplies consisted specifically of industrial products. This really is the foundation of any economy. The most important thing to note is that it is not only trade that is the foundation today, but also the close cooperation ties that we have established over recent years, including through the regulatory framework. Not only within the framework of the Union State, but the Eurasian Economic Union also provides a certain stimulus for development. This includes through funds received in the form of duties and subsequently directed toward subsidizing and compensating interest rates on loans for joint projects,” he said.
