A. Lukashenko: the bet on integration is a conscious choice of Belarus

May 8, Minsk /BELTA/. The bet on integration is a conscious choice of Belarus. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko today, addressing the Belarusian people and the National Assembly, according to a BELTA correspondent. "The bet on integration is our conscious choice," said the Belarusian leader. "We understand perfectly well: in the modern world, only those who have a huge domestic market, measured by at least hundreds of millions of people, can survive, or those who form such a market through integration associations. Today, the model of our integration is clearly emerging. Together with Russia and Kazakhstan (I am sure other countries will join soon), we created the Customs Union, and then the Single Economic Space with a single market of 170 million people." The common market provides additional opportunities for product sales, especially high-tech ones. Through such integration, equal access to raw materials and energy resources can be obtained, without which no state can develop normally. "This path fully meets the interests of Belarus and its people, as it is aimed at strengthening the position of the Belarusian state on a global scale and improving the welfare of citizens," believes Alexander Lukashenko. "Our structures are open for other countries to join and, accordingly, for further expansion of the common market. But this is not the limit either. The creation of the Eurasian Economic Union is on the agenda; it will be established by 2015." The President noted: "Assess the scale of what has been done: from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the main space is shared by two largest integration associations. And Belarus is among the founders of one of them. This is worth a lot. Two large unions, encompassing Europe and Eurasia, and their proximity cannot but be key factors of global peace." -0-