Lukashenka reluctant to meet president of Russia for the first time within thirteen years :: Charter'97 :: News

There are no questions in the Russian-Belarusian relations that need to be discussed at the summit level. That was declared by A. Lukashenka on Friday when commenting on the message about the forthcoming talks with Vladimir Putin. The rumors about the meeting of Lukashenka and Putin to be held 22 August appeared at the background of the sharp arguments concerning the problem of the Belarusian non-payment for the Russian gas deliveries late in August.

First within thirteen years of his being in power the Belarusian governor said that he saw no reason for meeting with the Russian colleague, the Vremya Novostey newspaper admits. “Now there are no issues to be discussed at the summit level”, Alyaksandr Lukashenka considers.”We meet with the president of Russia when two or three issues or any urgent issue for discussion appear. We meet officially, make decisions as it is used to be in relations between the two states”, he declared.

However, Mr. Lukashenka made it clear that the meeting with the Russian leader can be easily organized if required.’”I f any necessity of our meeting with Vladimir Putin arise it will take not more than a day for organizing it- we shall make a phone call, agree on the time , meet and discuss the issues”.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka also stressed that the subject of the Russian-Belarusian relations remained vital. He also promised that a regular meeting of the supreme state council of the “union state’ is due in autumn.”The parties will discuss there all the problems of the presidents’ as well as of the governments’ competence, if any”, he promised.

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