Putin to visit Minsk to participate in Union State Supreme State Council meeting
The presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenko, will take part in a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk, TASS reports citing the Kremlin’s press service
The meeting 'will pay special attention to strengthening the common defence space of Russia and Belarus’. The leaders of the two countries also intend to consider the general course of the Union State construction and prospects for integration co-operation. It is planned to adopt a number of specific decisions on the formation of a unified electricity market, countering illegal imports of goods, introducing unified rules for consumer protection and comfortable tariffs for communication services.
Russia and Belarus are expected to sign a treaty on security guarantees and a security concept of the Union State. Earlier, the defence of Belarus was for the first time spelled out in Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine.
The meeting is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Union State Treaty. Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Aleksandr Rogozhnik noted in an interview with TASS that this meeting ‘will be a landmark’, summarising the results of 25 years and determining the directions of development for the coming year. The diplomat expressed confidence that the event will traditionally be held in a friendly atmosphere.
In addition, Putin and Lukashenko will hold a separate meeting.
