Russia-Belarus Union building "correct and far-sighted" - Lukashenko
MINSK. Oct 16 (Interfax) - The establishment of the Russia-Belarus Union has been successful and can serve as an example for other integration projects by former Soviet states, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
"The construction of the Russia-Belarus Union is an absolutely correct and far-sighted step," Lukashenko said at a press conference for Russian regional media companies on Tuesday.
"So far we have been unable to reach a similar depth in other cooperation projects on former Soviet soil, including the Common Economic Space and attempts to build the Eurasian Economic Union," he said.
"Our relations within the Belarus-Russia Union are more profound today. It is a truly unique integration process. We have both "sprouts" here and a system, a structure, which will allow us to make progress in creating a powerful state entity very rapidly, if our elites want it," the president said.
The past decade has not been an easy time for Belarus and Russia, Lukashenko said. The two countries' relations have witnessed "everything - heated disputes, conflicts, as well as fraternal support offered at very difficult periods of history, he said.
"But the most important thing is that it is clear both for Belarus and Russia that they need each other in this turbulent, constantly competing world," the Belarusian president said.
"As it turned out, no one needs our countries when they are strong and independent. The powers that be have chosen to openly neglect all rules, prompting the Belarusian and Russian people to fight for their place under the sun," Lukashenko said.