President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, colleagues and friends. I would like to welcome you cordially to our regular meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (UAEU).
I would like to start with a different issue, notably, that relations between Russia and Belarus are growing stronger. These are relations of strategic partnership, allied relations. We have drafted important documents aimed at developing cooperation, including major guidelines for the macro-economic policy for 2018–2019.
The relevant departments are now preparing for the Union State Supreme State Council meeting that we expect to hold as agreed in Belarus next June.
As for our cooperation within the EAEU, we will discuss this in more detail with all of our colleagues.
I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss bilateral issues on the sidelines of this international event.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr President, thank you for the invitation.
First, I would like to express routine, traditional congratulations to you on the high confidence of the Russian people and the very impressive events that were held in Moscow: the inauguration and Victory Day. Very commendable. Belarusians appreciated this. Therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate you on these dignified events and their results.
Indeed, we are planning to hold the meeting of the Supreme Council. We decided to conduct it in Minsk even before the election. Later, in autumn we will hold the regular annual Forum of Regions in Mogilev, a city in the region that borders on Smolensk Region.
We usually hold this forum at top-level, so I hope you will find the time to visit Mogilev in the autumn. You will see what it is like – this is a new city for you. We – both Russians and Belarusians – are working hard to hold this forum at a high level.
Since we will be holding these events, life will be easier for us today: we can bring up some issues and if we do not discuss them in detail, we can return to them at the Supreme State Council once again and adopt the relevant decisions. We have every right to do this.
I believe at the autumn meeting we will also find an opportunity to meet and discuss the issues that exist in our interstate relations today.
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