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Presidents of Belarus, Russia discuss integration collaboration prospects in Sochi

Prospects of integration collaboration as well as strategic cooperation between Belarus and Russia in various avenues were discussed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Sochi on February 3 during Alexander Lukashenko’s working visit to Russia. During the meeting the sides discussed the expansion of trade and economic ties, contacts in the defence industry, transit via Belarus, accomplishment of the external border infrastructure, coordination of actions taken in the international arena as part of the joint foreign policy, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian head of state. During the negotiations the possibility of Belarus taking part in implementing national projects and federal programmes in Russia was discussed. In particular, the participation could be implemented as supplies of Belarusian agricultural machines and food to the Russian Federation. Special attention was paid to cooperation in sports and tourism. Belarus suggested considering the possibility of building a Belarusian Olympic facility in Sochi. Apart from that the sides talked over possible build-up of the Belarusian tourism infrastructure in Krasnaya Polyana to enable the facility to welcome more people, including citizens of Russia. Such unofficial meetings held in a confidential environment allow discussing in detail the entire range of relations and sharing opinions about a large number of issues, noted the press service of the President of Belarus. Shortly after the two presidents’ meeting started, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev joined the talks. The meeting of the presidents in Sochi was a logical continuation of contacts maintained as part of the agreements the sides reached during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belarus in December 2007 and a session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State. On February 3 several hours before the meeting with the President of Russia Alexander Lukashenko discussed certain issues regarding the Belarusian-Russian cooperation with Viktor Zubkov and Dmitry Medvedev.