Events

 
 
 

Joint news conference with Dmitry Medvedev and Mikhail Myasnikovich

 
 
 

Transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: Ladies and gentlemen,

We have several statements to make on the results of our work.

We have just concluded a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues for taking part in our work and for their constructive spirit at the talks. At first we spoke tête-à-tête, then we spoke with the ministers and eventually we held the Council of Ministers meeting.

The format of the Union Government allows us to discuss different issues, find solutions to them and adopt serious, life-asserting documents. Today we discussed in detail not only the agenda of the Union Government but also the work of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. We also spoke about the future Eurasian Economic Union.

We are talking about this because we want to emphasise that the Eurasian Union (I hope it will be established by 2015, as we plan) will not replace the Union State, because the latter is a separate integration association that is developing in part according to the union model, and in part according to its own regulations. Integration is key, and we must do everything to make our future work within the integration organisations effective, all the more so since the global markets and financial markets, in particular, remain largely volatile, and we must do our best to minimise these risks for our respective countries and take advantage of the benefits of our alliance.

Today, during breakfast, in fact, this is the format of our work with ministers, we discussed at length what are the best indicators to assess the quality of our work. Understandably, it's not the number of papers that we sign, no matter how important they may be, but rather the decisions that get implemented and are then not reviewed or revised later. Not ones that we tend to blame each other for failed decisions which we understand we share responsibility for.

For example, we agreed today that we need to identify several significant cooperation projects. I suggested taking five companies and giving them a new lease of life. These may be Belarusian companies or joint Russian-Belarusian companies. What is important is that we achieve tangible results from our cooperation in several areas. Let’s just go ahead and get it done without any excuses for objective or subjective difficulties. I think this is important. As a matter of fact, this is what partnership is all about. We do engage in the implementation of major programmes, such as Union innovation-driven programmes, to develop and promote innovative production processes, communications, space projects, and so on. We have just signed several documents to this effect.

Today, we exchanged ideas on how to get around the bureaucratic obstacles that invariably exist in every country. I believe that our Belarusian friends were absolutely right when they suggested looking into procedures and regulations governing certification, accreditation and activities of self-regulated organisations in order to speed up these procedures within the Union State.

Other important areas of ​​cooperation include the social sphere, health insurance and social security (deputy ministers reported on the medical services provided to patients in our respective countries), education, freedom of movement and employment opportunities. The 2012-2015 social development programme of the Union State’s is specifically designed to address these tasks.

We have adopted several other documents. I hope that they will be implemented and serve as another step in promoting the social, economic, cultural and political partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

Over to you, Mr Myasnikovich.

Mikhail Myasnikovich: Thank you. I would like to bring to your attention the fact that we had around 40 or so items which we discussed within the agenda of  the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State, and about the same number of issues that were discussed with Mr Medvedev in private. I'm glad that we are able to find constructive solutions to these issues, especially since such decisions are made fairly quickly.

Now, in terms of what we have agreed upon for the Union State Council of Ministers... We have mainly formed the budget for 2013. It totals $60 million. This is our Union State expenses – our Union programmes...

The Union State Council of Ministers is working not only on the legal regulatory framework, but also on real, concrete economic programmes that have received the funds I have mentioned... I concur with Mr Medvedev in this regard. Four new programmes that we have launched – programmes on IT, space, and composite materials – are forward-looking. This is why I think that it differs drastically from other integration associations within the framework of which we work.

Of course, the Belarusian side has raised certain issues... I’m glad that the Russian side has taken note of them. I’m pleased that efforts are being made for their resolution. Decisions have been promptly taken on a number of issues. Other issues will be considered in the short term by a high level group – Shuvalov-Rumas. Among the issues to be covered is the Customs Union – the Common Economic Space of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. 

Issues on infrastructure have been resolved. These include border guards, transit corridors and regional military groups – essential issues for our states. I think the issue of liberalising domestic markets should also be resolved soon. That is, in terms of granting access  for our companies to the domestic market, so that they can work intensively in sectors like design, construction, road transportation, healthcare and pharmaceuticals... 

We made a proposal – and thanks to Mr Medvedev – immediately received support to complete our activities on the mutual recognition of licences, permits, and so on. We signed a joint action plan – a plan on the further development of small- and medium-sized businesses. This sector is growing ever more important. And it is remarkable that small- and medium-sized companies form a rather large percent of the GDP. I think that all of these issues are urgent. Mr Medvedev mentioned five or six projects that will be supported by the governments. I think that the Belarusian side will develop these proposals in the near future. The Dvorkovich-Semashko group – a group of two deputy prime ministers – will consider these proposals, so as to organise the practical work. 

In addition to good commodity turnover growth, we have seen good mutual investments. Russia’s direct investments in Belarus were $7.5 billion over nine months. Meanwhile, Belarusian investments in Russia amounted to $1.5 billion. If we compare the territories of our states, we will see that this work is rather active. I’m sure that the goal we are setting – on reaching a commodity turnover of $40 billion – will be achieved without a doubt.

I think a number of proposals could be submitted for consideration to the Supreme State Council – to the heads of state of Russia and Belarus. A meeting between the presidents, if not a meeting of the Supreme State Council, is planned for this year. Thus, the whole range of problems and issues that we have discussed will be finalised. And we will enter the 2013 year in an organised way. Thank you.

Dmitry Medvedev:  Thank you. I want to tell the Belarusian ambassador that I have signed the documents.

Mikhail Myasnikovich: Yes.

Dmitry Medvedev: Everybody, thank you.

Адрес страницы в сети интернет: http://archive.government.ru/eng/docs/21881/