Ambassador: Belarus, Russia are close to creating economic platform of Union State

Belarus and Russia are close to creating an economic platform of the Union State, Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko told the media after a ceremony to lay a wreath on behalf of the embassy to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on 6 May, BelTA has learned.

"Belarus and Russia have an absolute understanding of what they need to do, where to move forward as individual states and as the Union State," Ambassador Vladimir Semashko said. "Today we can state that we are close to really creating an economic platform of the Union State."

Ambassador Vladimir Semashko noted that the parties have reconciled 26 roadmaps to deepen integration out of 28. "I think we will sign all roadmaps in September or October," he said. The Ambassador stressed that the parties are not forcing the integration processes, but the tasks set in the Union State Treaty remain relevant.

"What is a roadmap? This is a plan of action - a common industrial policy, a common agricultural policy, a common market for oil, gas, electricity and so on. All in all, we have outlined are 28 avenues of cooperation. Each of them needs the legislative framework in Belarus, in Russia, and in the form of intergovernmental agreements. Developing a regulatory framework is hard work. It will take at least six months," the diplomat explained.

According to him, some roadmaps envisage signing a number of intergovernmental agreements - up to 10. "We might be able to update some regulatory framework this year and will finish the remaining work next year,” Ambassador Vladimir Semashko added. “For example, the most difficult task is the approximation of the tax and customs laws. This is expected to take at least 2-2.5 years."