Alexander Lukashenko during his meeting with the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich, on April 29 in Minsk, stated that there are a number of key areas, where the national interests of Belarus and Ukraine are the similar. "We discussed the whole range of issues in details, its contents are important for the two truly strategic partners vitally interested in each other", Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that Belarusian side considers the coming of Viktor Yanukovych to power as the turning point of bilateral relations. «Therefore, we attach particular importance to such a representative delegation and regard it as a real opportunity to bring Ukraine and Belarus to a qualitatively new level of cooperation», BelTA quotes the head of state.
According to the President, the agenda included «the aspects of strengthening trade and economic potential, ensuring energy security of both countries and of the whole region, cooperation in the field of culture and ecology, and many others».
«Elaboration of common approaches to strategic issues can strengthen positions of our countries in both the East and the West. Today we are approaching fundamentally new arrangements which will govern our cooperation in the near future», Alexander Lukashenko said.
Belarusian leader noted with satisfaction that the global crisis «despite all its negative consequences has given Belarus and Ukraine an opportunity to show themselves in terms of effective joint search for solutions to complex problems». «I think that we have overcome this contemporary challenge», Alexander Lukashenko noted. «In spite of a marked decline in bilateral trade in 2009, the trading results at the beginning of 2010 are encouraging».
The president of Belarus also believes that the two countries should move from the number of projects to the quality — to the joint planning of the most promising sectors, emerging the markets of third countries. «The work in all areas must be strengthened, oriented to achieve maximum effect in the interest of both parties», the head of state stressed.
Referring to his Ukrainian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko underlined that «Ukraine presented by Belarus will always find a reliable partner ready to provide a shoulder». «It always has been like this. Here live devoted and trustworthy people with whom you can solve any problem», the president of Belarus said.
Belarus and Ukraine to enhance possibilities of electric power supplies to the Baltic countries, Lukashenko
Belarusian leader noted that «this is one of the issues prescribed in the «road map» of the two countries.» «It also includes the issue of Venezuelan oil transportation via Ukraine to Belarus. Ukraine will seriously support its transportation to Mozyr Oil Refinery», Alexander Lukashenko said.
The head of Belarusian state added that the high-quality oil production obtained from this oil will be delivered as to Belarusian so and Ukrainian markets, as well as to other countries. According to the president, the two states will work to expand the project until the laying of new crosspieces to pump oil via the pipes. «Ten million tones of oil is a serious project we are prepared to realize jointly with Ukraine», Belarusian leader said.
In his turn, Viktor Yanukovych expressed hope that Belarus «will be a reliable partner of Ukraine in the expansion of transit to the Baltic countries». «After all, Ukraine will create all conditions for Belarus’ access to the Black Sea», the president of Ukraine said.
Ukrainian leader is sure that both countries will be able to find the solutions to complement the two economies. «We see these solutions in cutting-edge technologies of science, engineering, outer space, intensification of the processing of raw materials», Viktor Yanukovych said.
«The sequence and priority of these areas are marked in a joint action plan, the so-called road map of the two countries — we’re working on it, and this plan will be approved soon «, the president of Ukraine added.
There are opportunities for Belarus and Ukraine to change the geopolitical situation, Lukashenko
In addition, during the meeting, Alexander Lukashenko also drew attention to the fact that Belarus and Ukraine «gain the importance in the eyes of the European Union and Russia, which allows the countries to count an independent role in European geopolitics».
Alexander Lukashenko added that the essence of this importance should be determined «not by the confrontation, but the desire to make Ukraine and Belarus to be fundamentally important actors in the region». «To do this, Belarus and Ukraine must consolidate a position of truly independent partners coordinating its activities», believes the head of state.
«Our countries are at the crossroads between the so-called geopolitical centers of power. I am convinced that now we have opportunities to change the geopolitical situation and make geography work for the benefit of our peoples», Belarusian leader noted.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, without stepping up the bilateral economic potential and the final resolution of current «few differences», these goals are unlikely to be achieved. The president also expressed hope that the period of uncertainty and marking time, disengagement between the two countries has been overcome.
