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Belarus, Russia have good prospects - Lukashenko

He made this statement at a narrow format meeting with Putin who arrived in Minsk on an official visit

MINSK, June 1 (Itar-Tass) — Belarusian President of Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus and Russia have good prospects. He made this statement at a narrow format meeting with RF President Vladimir Putin who arrived in Minsk on an official visit on Thursday.

“Not bad years are in store for us. Your election and post-election statements that the European space vector will be strengthened give confidence,” the president said.

According to Lukashenko, the meeting with the Russia president was held in the run-up to the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He thanked the Russian government and Putin personally for what they have done recently for Belarus. “There are results both in politics and economics. The main success is the creation of the Union State,” said Lukashenko.

The Belarusian leader stressed that today the two countries have no borders and people move freely, citizens have equal rights, the common defence area has been created, the two countries have a unified military force grouping. “In all spheres we have achieved certain results. So we should act in this direction. We need to promote and strengthen the Union State,” said the president.

He also stressed that the two countries have almost single economy today. He also noted that the Customs Union has been created, and Belarus and Russia have spread their experience to a wider range of countries. Lukashenko said that Ukraine is more closely eyeing the integration associations. “There is an attraction to this pole,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin will end on Friday. From Minsk he will depart to Berlin and Paris on brief visits.

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