Lukashenko arrives in Moscow for talks with Putin

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived in Russia on a working visit, BelTA has learned. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold talks in the Kremlin later. The agenda includes review 28 Union State programs prepared by the governments of the two countries, and also other issues on the bilateral and international agenda. One of the topics is the situation in Afghanistan, especially in view with the upcoming summits of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe in mid-September.

As reported earlier, the parties have reached a consensus on all the 28 Union State programs at the governmental level and are on the home stretch. The presidents are to give their verdict to the work done as to whether the programs are ready for signing in the form and structure they have been submitted. The main emphasis is on the sustainability of the economic development of the two states. The presidents are expected to sign the programs at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State due in October - November.