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Election of new Polish president will "open new page" in bilateral relations

Bronislaw Komorowski's election as president of Poland will make it possible to "open a new page" in relations between Minsk and Warsaw, Andrey Savinykh, spokesman for the Belarusian foreign ministry, told reporters on July 8, as quoted by BelaPAN.

He described the newly elected president as a "well-known and authoritative politician who attaches a big importance to the strengthening of Poland's ties with eastern neighbors."

Belarus treats "the Polish people's choice with deep respect," he said. "This is its sacred and sovereign right. The Belarusian side is ready for constructive cooperation with the elected head of the Polish state for the sake of the expansion of truly neighborly relations," Mr. Savinykh said.

Belarus advocates the further development of mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation and the "implementation of joint projects in the spheres of energy, transport and logistics, agriculture and other areas of mutual interest," the spokesman said.

The 58-year-old Komorowski, the candidate of Poland's ruling party, the Civic Platform, reportedly won 53.01 percent of the vote in the July 4 presidential election. His rival, right-wing opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, gained 46.99 percent.