VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin's address:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Russia and Belarus was held today. Before it began, I met with Sergei Sidorsky separately to discuss the most important issues concerning our two countries' partnership.
The agenda of the Council of Ministers was mainly devoted to economic matters. We discussed in detail the progress in our joint plan to minimise the effects of the global crisis on the economies of our two countries. It is an indisputable fact that our efforts are yielding real results, promoting business activity.
We agree with our Belarusian colleagues that new steps are needed to expand the scope of our cooperation and support both trade between our two countries and joint projects that could stimulate the entirety of our countries' economies.
We discussed and approved the main parameters of a draft for the 2010 budget for the Union State. Despite well-known difficulties, we found a way to maintain the current level of contributions to the Union State's treasury.
That being said, in the future we intend to increase the effectiveness of our spending on joint programs funded by the Union State. This primarily concerns high-tech projects aimed at modernising our economies.
We also devoted appropriate attention to foreign policy issues and ensuring the defence capabilities and security of the Union State.
As you know, the 10-year anniversary of signing the Treaty on Establishing the Union State is approaching. Together with our Belarusian colleagues, we intend to prepare for the celebration of this important date in a worthy manner.
All in all, I believe the meeting was a success, and I expect that our work together will continue to be constructive and professional, as has been the case up until now.
Thank you.
