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In addition to current issues on the domestic agenda, the participants also held an in-depth discussion on key issues of the development of Russian-Belarusian cooperation.

Taking part in the videoconference were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we will discuss the development of relations with some of our neighbours – states with which we traditionally maintain a broad range of ties due to our geographical proximity.

These relations are developing, and we need to adjust our positions on some key matters, to coordinate them between our agencies and to discuss approaches aimed at the further progressive development of interaction with our partners.

Let us get to work.

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