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Someone aims to split Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Minister Makey says

Someone aims to split the brotherly nations of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey said Monday in an interview with BelaPAN.

"I think we all understand that such things are not accidental," Mr. Makey said, referring to the Ukraine crisis. "I am sure that a carefully planned campaign is behind this. We should exert every effort to preserve peace, stability and quiet here. While taking one step or another and making statements, the Belarusian side was guided by its national interests and did not try to condemn anyone or please anyone."

According to Mr. Makey, nobody put pressure on Belarus with regard to its stance on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. "Decisions are made solely in Belarus on the basis of our national interests," he said.

Belarus has very close relations with Russia within the framework of the Belarusian-Russian Union State, but Belarus is not going to quarrel with Ukraine either, Mr. Makey noted. "This is our second most important economic partner after Russia within the framework of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States], and we have a trade surplus [in trade with Ukraine]," he said. "We are interested to further develop trade, economic, political and other relations with that country. Our stance is based on our intention to maintain and develop very close relations within the triangle of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine."

Belarus would like the conflict between Ukraine and Russia to be resolved as soon as possible, Mr. Makey noted. "We would like the situation in that region to be normalized as soon as possible," he said. "We have said that since the CIS is headquartered in Minsk, we would be ready to provide a platform for a direct dialogue between the sides involved in this conflict in order to find a way out, but we have never said that we are going to be a mediator in this matter."

All sides involved in the conflict have "enough common sense and constructiveness to finally sit down at the negotiating table, organize a dialogue and find mutually acceptable solutions to all issues," Mr. Makey said.