This was reported on the website of the State Duma.
Volodin noted that "politicians and experts are actively discussing the topic of further development of the Union State."
According to him, "there are attempts to question its expediency."
“I want to remind them that the decision to create the Union State was made more than 20 years ago,” said the State Duma speaker.
He explained that "it was about the creation of a unique integration state association."
“Both of our countries have experienced rather difficult periods over these 20 years,” Volodin said.
He stated that “much has been done to ensure the equality of rights of citizens of Belarus and Russia: when entering universities, when applying for a job, when solving pension issues”.
“We are not foreigners for each other, but fraternal peoples,” he stressed.
Volodin recalled that “thousands of joint ventures have been created and are working successfully, the border regions are closely cooperating”.
“We define our joint priorities in economic policy, promote mutual investments in various spheres of the economy,” the speaker said.
Volodin noted that “within the framework of the executive structures of the Union State, much has been done to coordinate integration roadmaps.
“We need to value this and do everything for the progressive development of our relations,” he added.
Earlier, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, during his message to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly, said that Russia will always be the closest ally of Belarus.