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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko,

Thank you once again for marking glorious Victory with us here on the hallowed Stalingrad land in Volgograd. We look forward to seeing you in Moscow on May 9, the day of the main celebrations. I am aware that you have decided on your ceremonial unit marching on Red Square on that day as well. Thank you very much.

Of course, as usual, we have an opportunity to discuss, formally and informally, current affairs, which are many. Suffice it to say that in trade and economic ties alone we have achieved, to put it bluntly, an outstanding result of over $50 billion in trade. According to your statistical data, the figure is even a little bit larger: according to ours it is slightly over 50, about 51. According to Belarusian data, it is slightly over 51.

Without a doubt, we will need to discuss matters of industrial cooperation. We agreed to expand it through joint work in the aircraft construction, the aircraft industry, among other things. I would like to inform you about our proposals. We are ready to lay down a plant and an appropriate laboratory for unmanned aerial vehicles in conjunction with your specialists. This is crucial primarily for the economy and logistics.

We have earlier agreements regarding aircraft construction; we managed to preserve a portion of the aviation industry. There are things to work on in this department as well including a small airplane, cooperation on medium-range airplanes, and so on.

We will discuss other areas as well. Our respective governments are working on these issues all the time. You and I are aware of what our colleagues are discussing. So, I am very pleased to see you.

Welcome again.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, thank you for the opportunity, especially for the opportunity to visit new places, not only the ones I have been to before. I mentioned earlier to you that I was in Stalingrad, Volgograd, in Soviet times and later when I became President. It is an impressive location, and I am overwhelmed each time I come here. It is, indeed, very intense.

I studied history in my own time, and I know the kinds of battles that unfolded here. Every time I come here – I am an adult person – but when I stand next to this monument – you and I were inside, too – I get awestruck. It is a feeling that I cannot express. That is why I am grateful to you for inviting me here, and here I am again, on our sacred land, where Belarusians and Russians, and all the peoples of the Soviet Union, fought to death.

You have rightly said that we have a good tradition to encourage our respective governments, and to set a trend in our relations, and to also resolve some issues that do not get resolved by the governments – we meet regularly. Thank you for us having frequent telephone conversations to discuss urgent matters. We have a common understanding of the entire development process, and our respective international agendas overlap. There is no need to say anything about it; we are not hiding anything, and there is no duplicity or artifice about it.

A major holiday is lying ahead. I forgot to mention during my speech [at the forum]: some of our comrades, in Russia as well, we have St George ribbons, memory and so on… That is owing to you, by the way, when you spearheaded the Immortal Regiment march, we followed this path in Belarus as well. However, in parallel with St George ribbons, our young people initiated the Belarus Remembers drive, which is our version of Immortal Regiment. No one bans anybody from wearing St George ribbons. I asked about its history. I suggest that you ask your historians to provide you with information about the St George ribbon. We do not deny it, but the history of the St George ribbon is somewhat special.

The symbol of the drive includes the colours of – many people reproach us for that – the Soviet flag, but we decided this by the referendum. The Belarus Remembers drive is similar to your Immortal Regiment drive – the very first one, in which you participated. I do not see anything wrong with that: some people prefer St George’s ribbon, others Belarus Remembers symbol. These badges go together, and no one is pushing their own agenda wearing them. But still there are people out there who must make a fuss about it.

So, do not pay attention to it. We share the same idea. You are aware of our ideas, and we are aware of Russia’s ideas. We are one Fatherland. I say that from Brest to Vladivostok, we are one Fatherland. It was not our choice to have two countries. And we must do everything to make our relations within this Fatherland even closer than in a unitary state. You and I have done a lot in this regard.

I am confident that our children and future generations will appreciate what we are painstakingly working on now. It is not an easy feat for us, because we are being attacked left and right. All our decisions are aimed at ensuring unity of our peoples. This is very important on the eve of this bright date. So, thank you for this opportunity.

Let no one be surprised that we meet often. We are not leaving anyone out. We are ready to welcome anyone. Mr Emomali Rahmon agreed to come to our village in March. We welcomed him and sat down to discuss general issues. So, why hold anything against us, or envy us? Come, we will talk and build relations.

Thank you again for these bright days and for the invitation to attend the parade. We could not stay away. You are aware that we first go to Red Square, and then we hold the parade in Belarus. Two states, two Presidents are committed to this. We are not crowding each other, nor are we bored. We are doing our job. Anyone is welcome to join us.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko, I am not sure what you meant saying what you said about the St George’s ribbon, but I think I know what it might be about. I fully agree with you: symbols can be slightly different. The important thing is what stands behind these symbols.

Alexander Lukashenko: The deep meaning.

Vladimir Putin: These symbols are about our common history, our present and our common future. Thank you very much for your stance.

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