MINSK, September 11. /TASS/. The implementation of the programs within the framework of the Union State of Russia and Belarus does not envisage that the countries will lose either their political or economic sovereignty, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said in a televised interview with Belarus-1 channel on Saturday.

"We intentionally did not let leaks out at the stage of the event, since the positions frequently changed. We wanted to show the Belarusian and Russian public a ready-made version that would not give grounds for speculation. The fact that yesterday the Russian prime minister and I presented our agreements more broadly than the presidents has lifted very many questions. None of the activities, which will be implemented within the framework of the union programs, implies limitations or loss of either political or economic sovereignty of Belarus," Golovchenko said.

The Belarusian prime minister explained that each of the 28 union programs, negotiated by Belarus and Russia, provides for various activities.

"It has activities scheduled for up to 2027. They are all different speed: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… I think that as soon as the programs are approved by the Supreme State Council and become legally effective, we will specify them in more detail," the prime minister said.

Gas market principles

Belarus and Russia are to determine principles of a common gas market of the two countries by July 1, 2022, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said in a televised interview with Belarus-1 channel.

"Next year, by July 1, we are to determine the principles under which the common gas market of Belarus and Russia will function, and how the natural gas price [for Belarus] will be formed, with the goal to freeze it for a long-term perspective," Golovchenko said.

"It [the price for Russian gas] will not just be maintained at the same level next year, it will be even better than under the current contract. It will not even be tied to US inflation rate, as envisaged by the current agreement. From the current perspective, as far as the next year’s gas price is concerned, it looks very comfortable," he said.

The Belarusian prime minister explained that three of the 28 union programs, negotiated by Belarus and Russia, are devoted to forming common markets of gas, oil, electricity. One more is about nuclear energy, he added.

Two countries - one economy

Meanwhile, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said during an online broadcast of journalist Igor Tur the work on economic integration programs within the framework of the Union State of Russia and Belarus may help to eventually introduce the principle of "Two countries - one economy,"

"We made very important steps on September 9 and 10, making a detailed description of movement toward enhanced economic integration. This is what it all is about. That is why there is a serious road ahead, and there will be lots of differences. We hope that as a result of this huge effort, the principle of ‘Two countries - one economy’ will be implemented," the deputy premier said.

On Thursday, after the talks in the Kremlin between the Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, 28 programs of the two states’ union were approved. The Russian president pointed out that at the talks they reached agreements on a shared macroeconomic policy, on the integration of payment systems, on deeper cooperation in cybersecurity as well as in the customs, tax and energy sectors and other areas. On Friday, the two prime ministers approved these programs at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Minsk.

Russia and Belarus intend to conclude agreements on the unification of energy markets, including gas, oil and electricity, as part of the Union State. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 9. Moscow and Minsk intend to sign a document on the creation of a unified gas market within the Union State of Russia and Belarus by December 1, 2023, the Russian leader said.