Russia remains strategic ally of Belarus - Lukashenko
MINSK. July 11 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has underscored the strategic relationship between Belarus and Russia, the presidential press service said.
"Russia was, is and will be a strategic ally of our country. We are pursuing a coordinated course both in our foreign policy and security issues. We are successfully dealing with a range of social and humanitarian affairs," Lukashenko said at a conference on Belarusian foreign policy priorities.
Belarus and its partners have implemented the project of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), one of the largest integration unions of the recent past, within an exceptionally short period of time, Lukashenko said.
Russia remains the principal trade and economic partner of Belarus, and the two countries are elaborating common approaches to key economic objectives, he said. Russia accounted for half of the $2 billion export growth posted by Belarus in January-May 2017, he said.
"Despite artificial and other obstacles we have encountered on the market, we can see that our goods are still in demand. It [the demand] will continue to increase. The Russians say that the embargo and the sanctions give a chance for their economy, but you should realize that this is no lesser chance for our economy. This is because our economies are closely intertwined, and we have the highest degree of cooperation," Lukashenko said.
Given those circumstances, Lukashenko called for continuing calm, confident and insistent interaction with Russia in the solution of concrete economic problems.
"There are tight economic bonds between thousands of big enterprises. Millions of Russians and Belarusians directly depend on these. Alas, we have faced certain complications on that market. Domestic goods have found themselves in a disadvantageous position because of massive support for Russian enterprises from federal sources," he said.
Lukashenko told heads of export enterprises who attended the conference that they should not relax even if they are doing relatively well on the Russian market.
"Any kind of complacency could be deadly. If you are forced to leave, you will never regain your former position. You should hang on, secure your position and expand. There is no other way," Lukashenko said.
