A.Kolpakov. Alexander Grigoryevich, creation of a union state and striving towards it imply a voluntary waiver of a part of sovereignty. How far could you go in this direction, do you agree, for instance, to have a single emission center in Moscow?
A. Lukashenko. These are two questions: how far and a single emission centre. You've just hit the nail on the head. An absolutely precise question. I wish to emphasize again: as to the transfer of a part of our powers to supranational bodies of the union state, we are ready to go as far, as Russia can go in a reciprocal way. I mean this movement should be equal, it must be a two-way traffic: a waiver from one state followed by a waiver from another state of a part of its powers and their transfer to a top level. Therefore, one step by us, one step by Russia; one step by Russia, one step by us. That is to say, we are going to do as much as Russia does.
Your second question - on a single emission centre. The discussion on this issue is moving in a wrong direction. Certainly, if there is a single currency, there must be a single emission centre. Let it be the Russian ruble, or, maybe, some other currency. We do not object to the Russian ruble being a single means of payment. What is important is the role to be played by the states in this single emission centre. In my view, there must be full equality. The rights of each side should be balanced. They should be based on the principles of international law, as it was said today by President of Russia. For this reason, it is not a single centre that is most important (it will be established without fail if there is a single currency) but a role, which is going to be played by the states at this centre. The roles must be equal. |
