Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: 

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Sidorsky.

First of all, I'm glad to see you. I believe the meeting between Dmitry Medvedev and Alexander Lukashenko is to take place on August 19. Mr Medvedev has been looking forward to it.

Sergei Sidorsky: Thank you, Mr Putin.

Mr Putin, first of all, I would like to convey my personal condolences in connection with the events in South Ossetia. Russian people, the peacemakers, have perished.

Our Government at once took all the necessary measures. The President was informed, and he formed the staff. Today we dispatched lorries with humanitarian aid. On the very first day, when Sergei Shoigu was appointed chief of the Federal Operations Staff, we contacted him, discussed all the issues, such as warm clothes, foods and food supply, everything that was necessary there. All the questions which he asked us today - about the machinery, possible equipment, elevators - will be reflected in the executive order which I am preparing now.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Sergei Sidorsky: As for the children, I have given orders to host at least 2,500-3,000 Ossetian children in Belarus in August and September.

Belarusian citizens have requested the Government to set up ways to help, and we have opened an account to which funds can be transferred. We are doing our best to help the Ossetians involved in this difficult conflict. We are going to help to do everything necessary to resume normal life as soon as possible.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr Sidorsky. Indeed, a great tragedy has happened there. Even moral support, attention, and especially material aid, will be important and useful. Thank you once again.

As for the bilateral relations, I would like to remind you again: Alexander Lukashenko and Dmitry Medvedev are to meet in Sochi. They will continue the negotiations on all the issues, and today we will discuss economic cooperation and social sphere. I think, the meeting of the intergovernmental commission is planned for October...

Sergei Sidorsky: For the end of September or for October.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, the meeting of the intergovernmental commission is planned for the end of September or for October. We are ready for this discussion. We shall talk about this in detail in an enlarged format. And I would like to state that our relations in the economic sphere are developing well. The problem, which we've discussed more than once - I mean minimising the difference between export and import tariffs - still exists, though that difference is decreasing both in import and in export. We are going to discuss other questions in an enlarged format.

Sergei Sidorsky: Thank you, Mr Putin.