What did Putin, Lukashenka Agree Upon?

Here come the promises that sounded at the Forum of the Regions.

To cancel roaming and ink a new integration strategy by the end of the year - representatives of Belarus and Russia promised this at the VI Forum of the Regions of the two countries in St. Petersburg, Belsat informs.

What else are Moscow and Minsk trying to agree on?

Belarus and Russia can take the decision to cancel roaming before September 15 - the speaker of the ''Council of Republic'' Mikhail Miasnikovich and his Russian counterpart Valentina Matvienko announced this at the Forum of Regions of the two countries. Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Council of Federation of Russia, said:

''Roaming created an additional financial burden on our citizens, thus limiting the communication between our peoples. And we are interested in our people having as many contacts as possible.''

Most sections of the Forum of the Regions were dedicated to the development of contacts. Representatives of Russia and Belarus discussed how to develop tourism and expand student exchanges, prepared a number of contracts. Mikhail Miasnikovich, Chairman of the ''Council of Republic'', said:

"Commercial contracts (not protocols of intent, namely contracts) worth at least $ 550 million will be concluded."

They also discussed how to form a common information space of Belarus and Russia.

Minsk considers barriers to trade a more pressing issue. Russia still does not allow products of some Belarusian manufacturers to its market. Chairman of the ''Council of Republic'' Mikhail Miasnikovich complained of this at the plenary meeting of the Forum of Regions.

Aliaksandr Papkou, the Regional Policy Commission, the ''Council of Republic'':

''In the recent years, one million tons of palm oil has been used in the Russian Federation. It is a fact. Compare our natural product and the one that contains these elements - it speaks for itself.''

Mutual claims of Lukashenka and Putin have been under discussion for the second day - yesterday in the silence of the Valaam Monastery, and today in St. Petersburg. Until December, it is needed to decide in which direction to integrate, - Lukashenka suggested the head of Russia:

''We have reached the point when it's time for not just talking, but making decisions. Not only journalists and specialists, but also ordinary people are expecting this from us.''

In December, the "Union Treaty" marks 20 years. At the initiative of the Kremlin, Belarus and Russia have been conducting its audit for half a year already.

“Aliaksandr Ryhoravoich and I decided to analyze everything that was done within the framework of the ''union treaty'', what remained undone, for what reasons, and work out the ways of developing integration acceptable to our countries,'' commented Russian President Vladimir Putin.

To compensate Belarus for a tax maneuver, give a discount on gas and allow Belarusian products to Russia - Minsk does not want to combine political and economic systems without fulfilling these conditions. But what the leaders of Russia are demanding from Belarus - they do not officially report.

''They seek implementation of the treaty on the creation of a ''union state'', signed in 1999. This agreement provides for the creation of unified supranational authorities,'' explains political scientist Valer Karbalevich.

If mutual understanding is not achieved, Russia will stop economic subsidies for Belarus, and oil and gas wars will break out between Minsk and Moscow, Valer Karbalevich predicts. As the political analyst notes, the relations between the two countries are not developing as positively as it follows from the statements of the participants of the Forum of the Regions.