“I am glad that we have met, because each such meeting advances the Russian-Spanish dialogue and cooperation,” Dmitry Medvedev told King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

“Today, Russian-Belarusian cooperation in all areas is very meaningful, open and effective,” the Russian prime minister said.

The Russian prime minister said that this was his first meeting as chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union State.

“Long-term Russian-Belarusian economic relations must be based not only on Russian supplies to Belarus and vice versa, but on joint projects that promote integration,” said the Russian prime minister.

The Russian prime minister said he will do everything for “our Union State to develop and prosper.”

“Trade between our countries has reached a record level. It has never been so high,” Dmitry Medvedev said during the meeting. In his words, this is the result of the two nations’ cooperation and integration in the Union State and the Customs Union.

“We will continue giving priority to consistent salary increases for teachers at schools and kindergartens, doctors, scientists, and, naturally, librarians and museum workers – in general for all social and cultural workers."

At a State Council meeting, the prime minister said the regions and the federal government must assume mutual responsibility, and that the federal agencies working in the regions must act responsibly and intensively. Naturally, they must abide by regional and federal law.

The prime minister said that any decisions on infrastructure modernisation in Krymsk should be made only after a thorough analysis of the recent tragedy.

“The government must closely monitor the relief and reconstruction efforts,” the Prime Minister said about the disaster in the Krasnodar Territory. He said that humanitarian aid must be delivered on schedule and reach its intended recipients. “Compassion is something that needs our attention,” Dmitry Medvedev said.