Rapota steps down as Belarus-Russia Union State state secretary after term expires
12:19, 19 February
I am planning to step down as State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State once my tenure is expires, Grigory Rapota told the media after a meeting with the Belarusian president on 18 February, BelTA has learned.
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“I have a fixed term [of office], which is expiring, so I am getting ready for it. Some final decision will probably be made in the near future. However, no matter where I am, or where I work, my heart will be here, in the area of Russian-Belarusian relations. I have very clear intentions to continue the implementation of some of the ideas,” Grigory Rapota told the media.
Grigory Rapota noted that once the Standing Committee is renewed, it is very important to maintain the momentum in integration and facilitate the solution of problems that remain in bilateral relations. According to him, this was also discussed during the meeting with the Belarusian head of state. “I would like (and it is our mutual desire) us to maintain any momentum we achieve. If some problems are left unsolved (and we have plenty of them), everything must be done to resolve them somehow. This is what we talked about,” explained the state secretary.
In his words, the meeting also stressed the importance of the economic component of the union integration and mutual trust. “This is a topic that has been built up over the years and can be easily ruined if not given proper attention,” he said.
As for the prospects of further relations between Belarus and Russia within the Union State, Grigory Rapota said: “I have never had any doubts for a minute and I still hold to my opinion that integration is necessary, it is necessary for the well-being of both peoples.” He believes that in order to strengthen the relationship it is worth implementing joint major projects. In his opinion, it could be projects in science (joint efforts in the technological development of the Arctic, for example), in transport communication.
The State Secretary of the Union State is in charge of the Standing Committee. The state secretary is appointed and dismissed by the Supreme State Council on the proposal of the chairperson of the Council of Ministers. Grigory Rapota has been working as State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State since 2011.
