Financial Crisis not to Have an Influence on Russian-Byelorussian Relationships

29.10.2009 12:39

A regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State took place on October 28 in Moscow. The agenda included over 20 topical issues of the Russian-Byelorussian integration.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union State, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Byelorussian party was headed by Prime-minister of Byelorussia Sergey Sidorsky.

Heads of Government of the two countries have already met twice last October. Three weeks ago in the Moscow suburban residence Novo-Ogarevo Vladimir Putin and Sergey Sidorsky discussed a number of pressing topics of bilateral cooperation.

During yesterday’s talks Vladimir Putin emphasized again that in spite of crisis developments in the world economy, relations between Russia and Byelorussia are in progress, and Byelorussia’s share in Russia’s foreign trade turnover has been increasing in recent years.

At yesterday’s meeting in President Hotel the trade and economic cooperation between Byelorussia and Russia for the first half of 2009 was summarized. The participants noted that both countries’ foreign trade turnover has surpassed 10.5 billion dollars. Alongside with that Byelorussia continues to remain one of the key Russia’s trade partners and following the results of the first half of 2009 is ranked among the first by the volume of Russia’s foreign trade turnover. The sides also mentioned at the meeting that at present the Joint Actions Plan measures taken by the Economic Ministries of Byelorussia and Russia in the field of the development of mutual trade and cooperation between economic operators of the real sector of the economy have become especially urgent.

During talks the draft budget of the Union State for 2010 was also considered, as well as other documents regulating the budgetary process of the Union.

The Council of Ministers of the Union State also considered the information on the Coordinated Action Program performance in the field of foreign policy of the signatory states of Agreement on Union State creation for 2008 - 2009. The Program represents a conceptual document ensuring the elaboration of coordinated approaches of Byelorussia and Russia to the most important problems of international relations and coordination of both countries’ efforts in foreign policy, which is defined by the union treaty as one of the priority tasks of the union construction.

Another important topic was expressed at the talks: members of the Council of Ministers considered the report on the progress of implementation of the Union State Social Development Concept until 2010.

This Concept became an important base in pursuing the mutually coordinated social policy in Byelorussia and Russia. At the moment in accordance with the decisions of the Supreme State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Union State the work is being carried out for preparation of a draft concept of the Union State social development for 2011-2015.

At the meeting of the Union Government a report was made on progress of the work on formation of a single science and technology space of the Union State.

The report tells about measures directed towards coordination of Russia’s and Byelorussia’s general scientific, technical and innovation policy, coordination of the performed basic research and technology, implementation of joint science and technology, as well as innovative activities. Particularly, a proposal on the development of a project of the Union State's scientific and technical program “Development of prospective alternative, environmentally appropriate technologies and equipment for production of biologically full-value compound feeds” for 2010-2012 was submitted for consideration of the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers also heard a report on strategic assessments of the climate change impact in the coming 10-20 years on the natural environment and economy of the Union State, prepared by the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Byelorussia.

The sides also considered the progress of implementation of the Union State's outer border development program for 2007-2011. Its main objective is the reliability enhancement of guarding of the Union State’s outer borders for the period of 2007-2011. At the meeting decisions were also made on a number of issues relating to defence, security and the law protection activity, pursuing a coordinated migration policy and the accomplishment of coordinated measures in the field of struggle against migration and other related manifestations of unlawful activity.

In conclusion of the meeting in President Hotel the proposals on awarding prizes of the Union State in the field of literature and the art for 2009-2010 were approved, as well as a Plan of measures dedicated to the 10th anniversary of signing of the Agreement on Union State creation.

Following the talks Vladimir Putin declared: “We and our Byelorussian colleagues are confident: there need to be new steps directed towards widening cooperation, support of mutual trade and joint projects able to shoulder the burden of the whole economy.”