Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is interested in supporting Belarus ‘ economy, and expressed confidence that Moscow and Minsk will find a way out of any disputes.
“If you look at the numbers offered to the IMF, you will see very impressive numbers in the hidden and direct support of the Belarusian economy (from Russia). But we do not regret, because what is called “long”, and the Russian economy will receive a benefit from this, because it strengthens our synergies and enhances our overall competitiveness,” said Putin at a press conference in Bishkek, answering the question about prospects of development of EurAsEC taking into account the latest actions of the Belarusian leadership.
As Putin said, “it’s not a waste of money is all counted steps, counted steps based on the future result.”
“Well, there’s always a debate, I’m sure we’ll find a way out of any seemingly even very difficult situations”, – said the President of the Russian Federation.
According to Putin, “disputes are quite natural, each party (the Eurasian economic community) to defend their interests”.
“We and our Belarusian friends are disputes and finding solutions to these contentious issues,” – said the Russian President.
However, he noted that assistance to Belarus from the Russian Federation is much greater than the aid, for example, in Kyrgyzstan.
“Some loans to Belarus – more than six billion dollars, our market is fully open for Belarusian goods are duty-free oil supplies to the Belarusian enterprises, and their recyclable oil products Belarus abroad with the collection of the fee and credited to her to the Belarusian budget,” – said the Russian President.
Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that Russia is taking actions that may complicate cooperation with Belarusand urged us not to spoil relations between the two countries. According to him, the Russian side complicates the process of cooperation between the two countries.
“Why are we creating a unified economic space not only in our Union state, but in the EEC? Last year, we fell 40 percent in the EEC and this year 20. Only 60% over two years. I have created integration… But we must speak, you have these bottlenecks finding how to glue our relationship. Instead of uniting, gluing, eliminate the negative, San Sanych (Surikov, Russia’s Ambassador in Minsk, – Ed.) today introduces a ban on the supply of beef (from the region of Minsk – Ed.) in Russia,” – said Lukashenko.
Earlier Alexander Lukashenko instructed to withdraw the main Belarusian specialists of customs authorities of the Eurasian economic Union. He explained that had not signed the Customs code, because a lot of what was supposed to be not working.
It was also reported that Russia plans to cut oil supplies to Belarus up to 4 million tons in the first quarter of 2017, after the parties had failed before the end of 2016 to reach agreement in resolving the gas dispute.
Note that the debt of Belarus to Russia for gas accumulates from January 2016, when Minsk, demanding the reduction of the cost of raw materials, began to pay less unilaterally, and by the end of November the debt, according to the Russian side amounted to about 425 million dollars.
