On May 23-24, Minsk hosted talks between the Presidents of Belarus and Russia, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, with the participation of members of the governments of the two countries. The parties discussed the state and prospects for the development of the entire complex of Belarusian-Russian relations – integration within the framework of the Union State, strengthening security, implementing joint trade and economic projects, and cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.
In addition, the focus was on issues of the international and regional agenda, joint response to emerging challenges and threats.
Media attention, in turn, was focused on the issues of further development of the Union State, namely the prospects of unification of Belarus and Russia into one state.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, answering journalists' questions in Minsk, noted that "the presidents have repeatedly stated that "Belarus and Russia are two sovereign states and we have a Union state, which represents the highest level of integration that we can generally see not only in the post–Soviet space, but also and in other regions of the world."
The presidents of both countries previously ruled out the possibility of uniting the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation into one state. On this occasion, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko noted that "Belarus and Russia must remain independent states in order to create a unique association that will be more powerful than a unitary state."
Recall that the Treaty on the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus was signed in 1999. The agreement implies the creation of a single political, legal, military, economic space, as well as the unification of energy, transport, tax and customs systems of both countries and much more.
Without going into details of the implementation of joint political and economic projects, it can be argued that the process is going well. The evidence may be that the citizens of Russia and Belarus have not felt like foreigners in the territory of the Union State for a long time. Belarusians and Russians coming from one country to another do not have difficulties in solving social, pension, medical, tax and migration issues. Also, citizens of the two countries can get education in Belarusian and Russian universities, and free medical care. Russians and Belarusians do not have a visa regime and migration cards. Every Russian and Belarusian can enter, leave, stay, transit, move and choose a place of residence in any locality of Belarus and Russia. There is no need to apply for a work permit and there are no obstacles to business development.
Following the example of Minsk and Moscow, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have embarked on the path of creating a Union State. The leaders of these countries recognized years later that the Union between Belarus and Russia is a unique precedent in world political history.
In turn, the Secretary of State of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev noted that Vladimir Putin's current visit to Belarus as part of a new political cycle, after the presidential elections in Russia, confirms the strategic importance of the direction of union integration. At the same time, the statements of the Russian leadership demonstrate that Belarus is considered not as a candidate for joining the Russian Federation, but as a separate state – a full-fledged partner and ally.
Such a strategic allied nature of relations has proved its effectiveness today. It has a very serious economic, political, military, cultural and humanitarian foundation, which allows Minsk and Moscow to jointly defend sovereignty and political identity in the face of pressure from the collective West.
Sergey Ostryna
