Approaches defined rather clearly

By Veniamin Mikheev

Belarus is ready to build relations with the EU and USA but without damaging its national interests, notes President Alexander Lukashenko during his meeting with Foreign Minister, Vladimir Makei

“We’ve recently noticed that the European Union and the USA have somehow started talking to Belarus, albeit through gritted teeth. I’d like to publicly underline that creating additional tensions in relations with the European Union is not part of our plans,” said the Head of State. “We face enough tension as it is. We have to fix the situation, but without damaging our country”.

The President noted that these issues had been discussed during his meeting with heads of Belarusian diplomatic missions. “As a matter of principle, I’ve answered all the questions asked by the Foreign Ministry regarding the direction we should take our relations with the European Union; what we can accept and what we cannot,” added Mr. Lukashenko.

During the working meeting, The President and Vladimir Makei also raised issues concerning other directions of foreign policy and foreign trade efforts. In particular, the eastern vector of Belarusian foreign policy was discussed. “Information about the Russian Federation and the state of our affairs in the eastern direction is the most important,” stressed Mr. Lukashenko. “Frankly speaking, reading some statements that we are between the West and the East in this regard amuses me. As if God didn’t place us between the West and the East. Being between the West and the East is our destiny. We build our relations and our stance bearing this fact in mind. We cannot avoid it,” said the President. “But it doesn’t mean that we are trying to sit on two chairs at once. That is unacceptable for us. It is not the foundation of our foreign policy and the economic doctrine”.

The Head of State also asked the Minister about foreign trade trends and changes, particularly those regarding exports. The meeting also tackled issues which are connected with the situation in Ukraine.