Self-sufficient union

Countering the pressure of the collective West, the initiatives of Minsk, positive trends in the economies of the EAEU countries, the implementation of the strategic guidelines of developing the Eurasian economic integration until 2025. What other topics were tackled by the President of Belarus at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

The Belarusian Head of State began his speech with the most pressing issues. The Belarusian leader informed his colleagues about what is happening in our country and how relations with the West are developing. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the situation in Belarus is the first issue on the international news agenda,“The United States and the collective West, as we call them, will not leave their policies. They need reasons to put pressure on our fraternal Russia, including us.” 


Today, refugees are the main reason for stirring up tensions by the West. The President of Belarus noted, “We did not create this problem. Neither did you, the former post-Soviet republics, but this is used as a pretext for pressure primarily on Belarus.”
However, this issue is not only in our country. Yes, the EAEU countries are still subject to western pressure to varying degrees but the Head of State is convinced it will only grow, “We have information that visitors from western countries and the United States of America have already gone to your ministries of foreign affairs, persuading you to join the pressure on the Republic of Belarus. 

You know that this is the fifth package of sanctions against Belarus. They say that they are preparing the sixth and the seventh, and it is not known how far this will go. This is the economic pressure for strangling Belarus, for replacing, as they directly say, not only the authorities, but also the state system in the Republic of Belarus.”

The Head of State drew attention to the fact that Minsk has to confront all these destructive problems. The President of Belarus addressed his colleagues, “First of all, I thank Russia for its support in this regard and all the heads of state who provide us with all possible support. However, I underline again: figuratively speaking, you will be strangled, incited against Belarus, so that you join these sanctions against our country. My request is that we must be together because this pressure will grow. The West will not be limited just to putting pressure on Belarus and Russia.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that, during the face-to-face meeting, there will be an opportunity to discuss some issues, 

“One thing is clear: the real goal of the West is to methodically destroy its competitors. This situation clearly demonstrated that we have no friends there. Therefore, we must rely on our own strength.”

Good signals

The President of Belarus recalled that the EAEU is a self-sufficient union that can provide itself with everything necessary. In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko drew the attention of the meeting participants to the importance of the topic of import substitution, “It is enough for us to focus on western diapers and chips. We can even produce all these ourselves.”
Commenting on the key issues on the agenda of the integration association, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted the positive results in foreign and mutual trade despite the continuing difficult situation on world markets, 

“Almost all countries of our Union have double-digit growth in exports to foreign markets: this is a good signal.”

Dictated by life

Referring to the signing of the agreement on the use of navigation seals in the EAEU for tracking shipments, the President of Belarus called this document one of the main elements of the unified customs transit system of the EAEU being formed, “Digitalisation of transportation today fully corresponds to the spirit of the times, and the use of navigation seals will increase the level of trust in trade between the countries of the Union while optimising control measures at internal borders and increasing the transit attractiveness of the EAEU.”


Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the second big protocol on the introduction of amendments to the EAEU Treaty had been prepared for the meeting. It covers a wide range of issues, “The application of anti-dumping measures in relation to third countries, competition and state price regulation, collection of indirect taxes and the mechanism of control over their payment, technical regulation and much more: all that is dictated by life.”

On the external circuit

Effective protection of the economic interests of the EAEU should become an integral part of international activity both next year and in the long term. However, joint work on the external circuit and the activities of the Eurasian Economic Commission should be focused primarily on solving the practical problems of developing the export of goods and services. In accordance with the approved major priorities of international activities in the EAEU for 2022, Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed to focus on working with the following countries,

“China occupies a special place. I consider it necessary to focus on interaction with this country within the framework of the alignment of the EAEU development plans, the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2018 Agreement on Trade-Economic Co-operation. 

It is necessary to continue the dialogue with Egypt and Iran to complete the negotiations on free trade agreements, as well as to intensify it with Israel. We look forward to the early completion of preliminary work with Indonesia and Mongolia and a decision on the expediency of starting negotiations with these countries on a free trade zone.”

Industrial co-operation is a priority

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew the attention of his colleagues to the need to implement the measures enshrined in the strategic guidelines of developing the Eurasian economic integration until 2025. The President is confident that, given the current favourable situation in foreign trade, which is cyclical, in order to maintain the positive dynamics of economic growth in 2022, it is necessary first of all to intensify industrial interaction in the joint production of new products that are in demand on the world market. The Head of State specified,

“An important practical step in this direction will be to agree on a list of joint large-scale high-tech projects, as well as to determine the conditions for their financing and implementation. We are already working on such projects with the Russian Federation.”

In conclusion, the President of Belarus thanked his colleague Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the productive work and congratulated the Kazakh side on the worthy completion of the chairmanship in the EAEU bodies and the Independence Day of Kazakhstan. The Belarusian leader wished success to his Kyrgyz friends who are taking over the chairmanship next year.

DETAILS 
• The key issue at the summit was the implementation of Strategy-2025 on the development of Eurasian economic integration. The heads of state supported the decision, according to which every six months after the completion of the plan, a detailed report will be presented for making decisions on the further implementation of the provisions of the Strategy.
The presidents supported the Agreement on the Mechanism for Traceability of Goods using so-called navigation seals, enabling them to speed up transit deliveries in the EAEU from outside and to put an appropriate barrier to many existing ‘grey’ schemes.
• From January 1st, 2022, the Russian Federation will introduce restrictions on the export of timber. This ban also affected the EAEU member states, so the EEC Board had made a decision that all countries will agree to prohibit the export of round timber from the Russian Federation outside the EAEU perimeter. At the same time, the timber that is supplied for internal needs to the EAEU member states will go in the volumes necessary for business entities. 

By Dmitry Kryat, Dmitry Umpirovich, Polina Konoga, Svetlana Isaenok
Photos by BELTA