Medvedev: “We are glad that Belarus participates in CORF”

Today the Russian president has been answering questions of Belarusian journalists for an hour. “There were no sensations,” an editor of “Novy Chas” newspaper Alyaksei Karol answered after the meeting.

As journalists of the BelaPAN who were present at the press-conference in the residence of Dmitry Medvedev in Barvikha note, the Russian president answered questions concerning Belarus’ participation in the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

“The CRRF reinforce the CSTO and we are glad that Belarus participates in it, though there had been certain subtleties,” Medvedev said.

As said by him, the issue of Belarus’ participation in military activities in the framework of the CRRF CSTO should be decided considering two aspects. The first one is the national Constitution and home laws the second is complying with the international laws, which has supranational status. “It concerns the CSTO. So make conclusions,” Medvedev said.

He underlined that the CRRF is created for operational reaction to modern challenges. “According to the Collective Security Treaty, the same rule as in the NATO is valid for us,” the Russian president underlined. “Attacking one of the countries of the treaty is viewed as attack against the entire bloc”.

As said by Medvedev, he and Alyaksandr Lukashenka have agreed upon holding joint military drills like the ones held in September 2009 once in two years.

The Russian president has also stated that neither officially nor personally he asked Lukashenka and other officials to recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “All the talks about that are made out of thin air,” Medvedev said. “Talks that somebody is exerting pressure on Belarus have provocative nature and are dictated by a wish to obtain favourable conditions in other international contacts”.

At the same time, Medvedev didn’t hide that it would be better for Russia if these republics “receive greater international recognition”. “But it is an internal affair of Belarus,” the Russian leader underlined.

At the same time, he noted that he heard from Lukashenka many times assurances that Belarus would positively study the issue of recognizing independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Touching upon the issue of gas costs for Belarus, Medvedev stated that in 2010 the cost of Russian gas for Belarus is to become approximately 30-40% less than for “comparable countries”.

As said by him, the cost for the next year is calculated automatically, basing upon the existing contract. Medvedev has also informed that in the fourth quarter of 2009 gas cost for Belarus is $122 per thousand cubic metres. He underlined that Belarus had always been receiving Russian gas at preferential prices. According experts’ calculations, from the moment when Belarus received independence, the volume of Russian preferences for the country in the form of beneficial prices for resources was $50 billion, the Russian leader noted.

“It is a large figure, which demonstrates our special close relations with Belarus, but even within the country we are moving towards world prices, “Medvedev said.

The president of Russia has also called upon Lukashenka to be more temperate in his statements concerning representatives of the Russian government.

He noted that recently many statements were done by his Belarusian foil about representatives of the Russian government and its chairman, which step over the bounds of “political diplomacy”. “I obviously do not like it. It is a way towards a dead-end,” Medvedev said, reminding that it was he who appointed the present government.

Medvedev noted that he does not have “lack of communication” with Lukashenka. During his upcoming visit to Minsk they are “sure to talk,” the Russian president said.