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Belarus intends to more actively develop relations with EU, but not to detriment of Russia

 

Belarus intends to more actively develop its relations with the European Union, but not to the detriment of Russia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said Thursday in Minsk while meeting with Sergei Naryshkin, speaker of the State Duma (lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly).

Belarus will pursue a very active policy regarding integration in the post-Soviet area, Mr. Lukashenka said. “We have never abandoned this process and never will,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Statements by some politicians, including Russian ones, claiming that Belarus always rushes from side to side are unfounded, Mr. Lukashenka said. Belarus

has never done that, he stressed. One should understand that Belarus is sandwiched between two giants – Russia and the European Union – and has to take into consideration this factor in its foreign policy, he explained.

“We don’t doubt, and nor does Russia, that Belarus has taken shape as a state,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “Since economic matters are important for us, we have to establish normal relations with the EU, but never to the detriment of our ally and brotherly state, Russia, under any circumstances.” Whoever is in power in Belarus will have to follow this policy, he added.

“We should more actively move toward the EU in our relations,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “We understand perfectly well that our bad relations with Europe cannot be good for our relations with Russia.”

The implementation of Belarusian-Russian agreements, especially within the framework of the Belarusian-Russian Union State is a “sacred thing,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “We’ll never abandon this policy,” he stressed.

“If we are required to choose between Russia and Europe or some other bloc, we’ll never do this,” he said. “This is the policy we follow. Our statements are not inconsistent with our actions.” // BelaPAN