Belarus and Russia have resolved all the urgent issues of bilateral relations

         Belarus and Russia have resolved all the urgent issues of bilateral relations, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told media following the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.
Also, it was announced that Russia will provide Belarus an additional loan of up to $2 billion. According to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin this decision was taken to assist the country in view of the challenging situation on the world markets. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that the loan will help develop economies of both countries:
         “I am grateful for the decision to support Belarusian economy in these difficult times. Real sector of economy is all Belarus has. 60-70% of all resources and components required by the Belarusian economy come from the Russian Federation’s enterprises, which employ roughly up to 10 million people. That is why I assure that the assistance you render our country today will not just be eaten away. This way you support the Russian economy as well.”

         In turn, Vladimir Putin emphasized that priorities for the future development of the Union State are increasing the efficiency of trade and economic cooperation, strong industrial cooperation, the formation of an integrated transport system, a common labor market.
According to him, on the basis of these objectives the parties have approved the budget of the Union State for 2014, which amounted to almost 5 billion Russian rubles, about 40% of which will support the promising economic projects:
       “Its parameters in 2014 have remained on the same high level. These funds will be used to finance 37 joint projects and events, including promising high-tech products such as microchips and semi-conductor appliances, composite materials, remote Earth sensing projects. These are projects of high importance for our economies, for the development of the modern industry and for the defense sector, too.”