P.Borodin Reported about Prospects for Development of Belarusian-Russian Integration in 2008

Pavel Borodin, State Secretary of the Union State, gave an interview to the leaders of Union mass media. At the meeting, which took place in Moscow, as a positive example of integration he cited the II Forum of Union Projects. “I cannot recollect such a large-scale and efficient event,” he noted and urged the participants of the meeting to report more about joint production programmes, common “points” of Belarusian and Russian economies and integration processes.

Pavel Borodin, State Secretary of the Union State, gave an interview to the leaders of Union mass media. At the meeting, which took place in Moscow, as a positive example of integration he cited the II Forum of Union Projects. “I cannot recollect such a large-scale and efficient event,” he noted and urged the participants of the meeting to report more about joint production programmes, common “points” of Belarusian and Russian economies and integration processes.

According to P.Borodin, joint programmes were and remain the most “advanced product” of Union formation, they provide workload for hundreds of Belarusian and Russian enterprises and permanent, well-paid job to thousands of people.

Talking about prospects for the development of Belarusian-Russian integration in 2008, Pavel Borodin named several key points. First of all, the work on the draft Constitutional Act and regulatory framework of the Union State will be continued. Besides that, the year 2008 promises to become very active and efficient in customs sphere where some issues of Union regulation have already been settled, joint technologies are being constantly developed and information is exchanged.

The State secretary also spoke about intercontinental transport corridor traversing Europe and Asia. As the periodical “Soyuz” reports, this corridor will help to create jobs for one and a half million of Belarusians and 15-20 millions of Russians. Transeurasian corridor will let gain up to $25 million of profit from transit annually.

The representatives of mass media also familiarized themselves with the Plan of Activities aimed at information support of Union formation for January-February of the current year. Sergey Shukhno, Deputy State Secretary, and Irina Narkevich, Head of the Department on Social Policy and Information Support at the Standing Committee of the Union State , reported about near-term Union events. Among them are: the meeting of the organizing committee on preparation and holding celebrations dedicated to the Day of Unity of Belarusians and Russians, inauguration of customs clearance frontier points “Bruzgi” and “Berestovitsa” and the meeting re physical education and sport development within the Union State.