Łukašenka wants long-term plan of reliance on Russia’s resources

July 24, BPN. Alaksandar Łukašenka, at his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on July 23, suggested that that two governments work out a long-term economic development plan with emphasis on the use of Russian resources.

“Like I said, two states, one Fatherland,” he said in reference to Belarus and Russia. “And we can do it. But the main forces are here, in Russia, since ancient times.”

“Even if we do a little bit worse [than other countries], people will understand and support us because they will see the light at the end of the tunnel,” the Belarusian ruler’s press office quoted him as saying.

Łukašenka added that the two countries have already forged ties in microelectronics, space industry and agriculture.

In 1999, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Łukašenka signed a treaty to establish the Union State. It entered into force in January 2000 after ratification by the parliaments of the two countries. The deal is of unlimited duration.

In 2018, Russia launched an upgrade of the Union State to bind the two countries together.

In November 2021, Minsk and Moscow signed 28 Union State programs. They focus on macroeconomic, industrial and agricultural policies, tax and customs harmonization and a common energy market.