Surikov Asked Not to Escalate "Milk Problem"

It is not necessary to cut a wide swath around the issue of Belarusian dairy products supplies to Russia, said Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov in connection with the recent statements made by Russian dairy producers. The diplomat said he did not consider it a serious matter. According to him, this is a common summer problem as "milk yield has grown due to cows being on pastures."

"Journalists and milkmen from the Russian regions are beginning to escalate the problem," said Alexander Surikov. In his view, this makes no sense, and the problem has "long been solved by the two parties’ reasonable decisions," BelTA informs.

According to the diplomat, a surplus of dairy products is now formed in Russia. However, the Ministries of Agriculture of the two countries have always reached a consensus in such a situation.

Belarusians use a portion of milk to produce long-preserved products, including milk powder, the diplomat said. "Production aims at the winter time. Thus, there’s no tense," said Alexander Surikov.

As Telegraf previously reported, Russian quotas on Belarusian dried milk are nonsense, said First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, answering the questions of the members of the House of Representatives. According to him, Belarus and Russia have already gone through a "milk war" quite successfully.

The resolution, adopted by the participants of the All-Russian conference of representatives of the dairy industry, stipulates that Russia should suspend imports of Belarusian dry whole milk, skimmed milk powder, whey powder and butter of 72.5% and 82.5% of fat from June 4 until December 1.