OREANDA-NEWS  President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will address the Russian Federation Council for the first time. This is reported by TASS with reference to the press secretary of the President of Belarus Natalia Eismont.

"The president spoke in the [State] Duma, but in the Federation Council, unfortunately, for the first time," said a representative of the press service of the President of Belarus.

Lukashenko was greeted with a standing ovation in the Federation Council Hall. "Thanks for the advance," he replied.

Earlier, the presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, signed a joint statement following the talks between the leaders of the two countries. The signing took place during the visit of the head of Belarus to Russia on March 13 and 14.