Lukashenko announces meeting with Putin due in Moscow on Wednesday

MINSK. May 22 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

"The government tells me there are practically no problems [in relations with Russia]. I have little faith in that. I can see from the situation that there are still some problems, some inconsistencies. Sometimes, there is also bureaucracy. Who is responsible for that? We will meet in Moscow the day after tomorrow so that Russian President Putin and I could discuss and solve the problems, which should not occur in our relations at all," the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying after a meeting with Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi in Minsk on Monday.

According to Lukashenko, his frequent meetings with Putin are meant to solve any problems in bilateral relations.

"These [frequent meetings] are not for looking at each other. Although, this is also important, sentiment of the presidents is always important. Still, we try to help the governments untie any knots, in particular, to help you," Lukashenko said.

The two presidents will also discuss the implementation of the Russia-Belarus Union State's programs.

"We talk a lot about that. However, I am more interested in specific programs. As we have named them, import substitution and so on. Remember that Russia was ready [to give] us $1.5 billion. I am sure they still are even if they have not assigned the whole sum. They were ready to give funds, a loan for substitution in the areas vacated by the Americans, the West as a whole, and unfriendly countries on our markets. Such as microelectronics," Lukashenko said.