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Lukashenko, Putin to identify priorities for interstate relations

The presidents will adopt a joint statement in which they will “identify key priorities for further interstate interaction”

MINSK, May 31 (Itar-Tass) —— Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin will identify priorities for further interstate relations.

“During the official visit by the head of the Russian state on May 31 – June 1, Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin will discuss pressing issues on the bilateral agenda and areas for further development of Belarusian-Russian relations,” the Belarusian presidential press service told Itar-Tass.

The schedule of the visit includes negotiations, with and without the delegations, during which the presidents will discuss bilateral cooperation and joint work in international organisations. “One of the main topics will be cooperation within the Common Economic Space”. A great deal of attention will be paid to the development of trade, economic and investment cooperation, and joint work in the field of atomic energy. Military-technical cooperation and the strengthening of collective security, including within the framework of the SCTO [Collective Security Treaty Organisation] will be discussed separately. The heads of state will also exchange views on pressing international and regional issues and discuss foreign policy coordination,” the press service said.

The presidents will adopt a joint statement in which they will “identify key priorities for further interstate interaction”. Several other documents on cooperation in various areas will be signed during the visit as well.

Belarus will be the first country to be visited by Putin as president after inauguration in early May. It will also take place ahead of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The heads of state also plan to discuss collective security and the development of military and military-technical cooperation, as well as foreign policy where Moscow and Minsk have identical views on the current processes in the world, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier.

Several days before the Russian president’s visit, Lukashenko said at a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov that he was planning to discuss with Putin new promising areas of bilateral cooperation. “I am interested in new areas of cooperation with the Russian Federation so that we could discuss them thoroughly,” Lukashenko said, recalling that he had earlier instructed Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich to explore such areas.

The Belarusian leader also said that major events would occur in the country’s foreign policy shortly and Belarus should be ready for them.

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