Strong friendship or takeover: Putin and Lukashenko deepen the integration of Russia and Belarus - ForumDaily
The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.
Переклад цього матеріалу українською мовою з російської було автоматично здійснено сервісом Google Translate, без подальшого редагування тексту.
Bu məqalə Google Translate servisi vasitəsi ilə avtomatik olaraq rus dilindən azərbaycan dilinə tərcümə olunmuşdur. Bundan sonra mətn redaktə edilməmişdir.

Strong friendship or takeover: Putin and Lukashenko deepen integration between Russia and Belarus

For the fifth time in a year, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko flew to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks in the Kremlin lasted more than three hours. As a result, the heads of state announced that they had agreed on 28 programs to deepen the integration of the two countries. The edition told in more detail with the BBC.

Photo: Shutterstock

What Putin and Lukashenko said

«Хотел бы с удовлетворением отметить, что согласованы все 28 программ», — сказал Путин на пресс-конференции после переговоров. Речь идет об унификации законодательства в экономике, создании единого финансового рынка, гармонизации налогового и таможенного законодательства, валютном регулировании, общем платежном пространстве, пенсиях и соцстраховании.

«Договорились о проведении общей макроэкономической политики», — резюмировал российский президент.

Among other things, they managed to agree on the "very sensitive", as Putin put it, the issue of Russian energy supplies. The price of natural gas for 2022 will remain at the level of this year. All details must be agreed by the governments of the two states.

We also discussed a common defense space. Putin himself recalled that the joint exercises Zapad-2021 have now begun. According to him, they "are not directed against anyone," but their implementation "is logical in conditions when other associations, such as NATO, are actively increasing their presence near the borders of the union state."

Lukashenka also spoke about the internal political situation in Belarus, "which has stabilized noticeably," Putin added. The Belarusian president himself began with the fact that the integration of Russia and Belarus, according to observers, “lost its pace,” but a year and a half ago, “we thought that there are probably enough schemes, we should implement specific plans”.

On the subject: The USA is looking for activists who are ready to change Russia: the winning projects will receive $ 5 thousand

«Мы с Владимиром Владимировичем все принципиальные решения приняли, — заявил Лукашенко упомянув проблему поставок энергоносителей и взаимных социальных гарантий. — Я хочу спросить у критиков нашей интеграции: где вы видите гирю на ноге Российской Федерации?! Ничего плохого для народов России и Беларуси нет. Все рассчитано на рост благосостояния».

The military-political union of the two countries has also "advanced far," Lukashenko continued and promised "to step up joint actions in response to threats."

"Regarding the talk about the fact that someone will absorb someone, we did not get sick with this disease," He remarked.

«Если понадобится, мы с Путиным это сделаем элементарно! — воскликнул Лукашенко. — И если будет нужна еще более тесная военно-политическая интеграция, мы это сделаем мгновенно, как только почувствуем запросы людей в России и Беларуси».

Concluding the conversation on this topic, Putin said that first “we need to create an economic basis”: “We have not yet discussed the issue of uniting the two states. Everything should come naturally. To do this, you need to grow up, as they say. "

Both presidents announced about the financial support of Belarus from Russia that by the end of 2022 the volume of loans will amount to about $ 630- $ 640 million. Lukashenko added that “we do not need new loans.”

"I asked you to drive up"

The governments of both countries announced in advance that Lukashenko and Putin would meet in the Kremlin on September 9 to agree on 28 union programs, as well as "other topical issues on the bilateral agenda and international issues."

«Я попросил вас подъехать, чтобы подвести итоги того, что было сделано за последнее время, — заявил Путин в начале встречи. — Нам надо сверить часы, точки поставить по некоторым вопросам. И дать возможность правительствам в ближайшее время финализировать некоторые договоренности».

«Наверное, работы у нас осталось меньше, нежели на прежней нашей встрече. Они длились очень долго: и по пять, и по восемь часов. Потому что тогда приходилось нам, можно сказать, как бульдозерам проходить, чтобы расчистить дорогу для правительственных экспертов», — добавил Лукашенко.

The talks in the Kremlin were held face to face without the participation of ministers. Lukashenka at the beginning of the meeting called the Russians and Belarusians "practically one people", descended from the same root.

Putin, in turn, said that the fifth meeting in a year was not connected with "any current political situation" in Russia and Belarus or with the elections to the Russian parliament.

Against the background of negotiations in the Kremlin in the Kaliningrad region, the opening ceremony of the Russian-Belarusian strategic exercises "West-2021" took place, which will be held within the next week on the territory of both countries and in the Baltic Sea. Several NATO countries have expressed concern about the start of an exercise of this magnitude.

28 programs

The union programs that Putin and Lukashenko were supposed to discuss were the result of negotiations of a working group created in 2018. It was headed by the then Minister of Economic Development of Russia Maxim Oreshkin and the former Minister of Economy of Belarus Dmitry Krutoy.

«Обсудим 28 программ. Это очень много. Это основные темы и направления нашего сотрудничества», — сказал в начале встречи Лукашенко.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Содержание этих программ неизвестно — ни о какой конкретике по экономической интеграции власти двух стран до сих пор не сообщали.

Частые встречи Лукашенко с Путиным, проходящие на российской территории, — следствие международной изоляции Минска, вынужденного переориентировать свой экспорт на Россию.

В Минске 6 сентября за закрытыми дверями суд вынес приговор противникам Лукашенко Марии Колесниковой и Максиму Знаку. Колесникова получила 11 лет лишения свободы, Знак — 10 лет.

Concerns over Belarus' sovereignty

Independent Belarusian analysts warn that although the results of the talks between the two presidents in Moscow relate only to economic issues, the Kremlin has still not abandoned plans to achieve political integration from Belarus, which may well put an end to the country's sovereignty, writes with the BBC.

The Western media also agree with this, which note that although there are no agreements on political integration yet, the results of the negotiations may well bring Moscow closer to even greater control over Minsk, and in the future, possibly, to the unification of the countries.

At the same time, some netizens note that during the meeting, Putin's stand had the coat of arms of Russia, while there was nothing near Lukashenka. They see this as a sign that soon both countries will merge into one.

The Belarusian media, controlled by the president, say the meeting was very successful and praise Lukashenka. At the same time, independent media do not see any positive moments for the country as a whole.

Political expert Alexander Klaskouski notes that although the 28 approved programs to deepen integration, at first glance, relate only to the economy, the Kremlin does not hide its plans to achieve political integration from Minsk, which, according to the 1999 agreement on the Union State, should include the introduction of a single currency and creation of supranational authorities.

«Словом, тот набор, который фактически ставит крест на белорусском суверенитете», — констатирует аналитик.

He notes that despite the difference between the levels of impact and power of the two countries, such integration would mean "complete subordination of Belarus to the Kremlin."

On the subject: Moving to Russia did not help: US court fined Steven Seagal $ 200

Although Lukashenka may try to resist such a development of events, he has little chance, because in the conditions of almost complete global isolation, Russia remains his main partner and ally.

Russian media and analysts note that although integration is a little haul, it still does not stand still. In their opinion, integration will give both countries a powerful impetus in economic development.

Whereas foreign media see integration as the first way to unite countries.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, after last year's elections, Lukashenka has to balance between dependence on Moscow and an attempt to preserve his country's sovereignty.

«На данном этапе развития отношений между Беларусью и Россией правильнее будет говорить не об уменьшении формального суверенитета, а об ограничении независимости Беларуси в экономической, внешнеполитической и военной сферах», — поясняет белорусский аналитик Егор Лебедок.

According to the New York Times, these statements were another signal from the Kremlin that Russia will continue to support the Belarusian leader, despite a barrage of criticism from the West about human rights violations in the country. They also proved that Putin is keen to prevent Belarus from following the path of its southern neighbor, Ukraine, from Russia's orbit to the western one.

Read also on ForumDaily:

The USA is looking for activists who are ready to change Russia: the winning projects will receive $ 5 thousand

Top 5 Unpleasant Features of American Banks Surprising Immigrants

Cold, isolation and torture by insomnia: a Russian speaks about an American immigration prison

Russia introduced a new category of visas, very convenient for Russian-speaking residents of the United States

Belarus Russia At home integration
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google News

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis. 



 
1069 requests in 1,193 seconds.