In a difficult conditions of international tension Belarus and Ukraine are going to follow the path of friendship and mutual cooperation, develop cooperation in various fields. This is the result of the meeting of President Alexander Lukashenko and Petro Poroshenko, which took place in the territories of both countries on the anniversary of Chernobyl disaster.
The cost of the disaster is more than 25 billion dollars. And this is only from the budget. Only for clean gas, water, food. Contribution to health and safety, to studies that have no analogues in the world, but which are necessary.
Yesterday in Chernobyl, two presidents confirmed: the experience will be used both by Belarus and Ukraine.
Now there is a constant exchange of knowledge and skills.
Valery Borodenya, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives: "The Ukrainian economic crisis will increase demand for Belarusian products. And these are the products that are familiar to Ukrainians: machinery, agricultural machinery, tractors, MAZ. We continue and will intensify cooperation in the sphere fuel, oil, and agricultural products. We have the potential in tourist exchange, education, science."
One of the central problems raised by the presidents in Chernobyl is an information vacuum around the liquidation of the consequences of the disaster. A number of partners are trying to avoid the topic of the accident. Some are not willing to invest in the security of Europe, saving on this.
A small place of Lyaskovichi became a big arena of economic negotiations between Belarus and Ukraine at the highest level yesterday. We have worked on the resumption of supplies of cheap Ukrainian electricity and an alternative route of oil supply from the Black Sea. Another priority is industrial cooperation, science and services. This is the foundation, it already exists and it must not be allowed to collapse. The results of negotiations today are analyzed in detail by economists and businesses of the two countries.
Georgy Grits, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Scientific and Industrial Association: "This is primarily machinery, such services as logistics, supply of petroleum products."
