Minsk to host a lot of Belarus-Russia Union events this year

This year Minsk will host plenty of the Union State's events, State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Dmitry Mezentsev told BelTA following the meeting with Speaker of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova in Minsk.

“The issues of inter-parliamentary and interregional interaction were widely discussed during the meeting. Natalya Kochanova highlighted the role and importance of the forum of regions. This forum is a traditional platform for signing agreements that support interregional trade and also Belarusian and Russian enterprises. This important factor attests to a large scope of economic interaction between our countries, especially at the new stage of economic integration,” Dmitry Mezentsev said.

Dmitry Mezentsev thanked the speaker of the upper house for supporting the interaction within the Union State framework. He also noted the role of Belarusian MPs

in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

The parties also discussed the results of the meeting of the High-Level Group of Belarus-Russia Union State's Council of Ministers held in Minsk on 14 February. The state secretary highlighted that the group reached meaningful results following the discussion of 18 agenda items. “It was also important that the parties strived for joint result and took each other's interests and arguments into account,” he said.

Minsk will host the Day of Peoples' Unity celebrations on 2 April. The events will be primarily themed around the interaction between young scientists and researchers.

Dmitry Mezentsev noted that the head of states will soon be presented with the proposal to approve candidates for the Union State Science and Technology Awards. He also stressed that the heads of the Kurchatov Institute and the Sirius Federal Educational Center are expected to visit Minsk.

Dmitry Mezentsev informed that the People's Artist of Russia, famous cellist Professor Sergei Roldugin will perform on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Minsk and will have a meet-and-greet with the conservatory students and give a workshop. The conversation might be not only about music but also the shared roots and the shared history of Russia and Belarus, the state secretary added.

Dmitry Mezentsev briefed the speaker about the status of projects, programs and activities of the Union State. He also noted that the Union State in Alexandria program will debut at the Alexandria festival this year. A few delegations from the subjects of the Russian Federation are expected to attend it.

The parties also reached an agreement in principle regarding the format of inter-parliamentary events between the Council of the Republic and Russian colleagues.