MINSK, 11 Aug State Secretary of the Union State of Russia and Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev expects that current and future realities will allow Minsk to come to an optimal format of interaction with Crimea. the position of Belarus, it is significant for the parties to take it into account in the system of our relations. Let's hope that the realities of the present day and the day of the future will allow us to come to an optimal format of interaction, including with the Crimea, if not today, but in the future, «Mezentsev told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
Mezentsev spoke about the work on the union programs of Russia and BelarusPresident of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that he «recognizes the Crimea» when «the last oligarch in Russia begins to supply products there.» At the same time, according to the Belarusian leader, his hands are «untied», so you can step over the Budapest Memorandum. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum was held there in March 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimean voters and 95.6% of Sevastopol residents spoke in favor of joining Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea to be its own, but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically, in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is «finally closed.»
