Lukashenko proposes to develop country plans for co-operation with former USSR republics

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, during today’s meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan Ermek Ibraimov, proposed developing country plans for co-operation with the post-Soviet republics

photo: www.president.gov.by

In particular, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “I very often think about the interaction of Belarus with the post-Soviet republics and – using the example of Kyrgyzstan – I usually come to the conclusion that we liaise with them in any random way, without any clear plan or direction. Something in our relations remains from the Soviet period. For example, we bought sugar beet seeds from you, and we probably continue to do this because we are satisfied with the quality. However, we haven’t come closer yet to developing a permanent plan, a roadmap, as it is fashionable to say now, for co-operation between Belarus and former USSR republics (those that want to liaise with us). We do this with other states (the far arc countries, etc.). We make separate decisions for individual countries, e.g., a Presidential Decree on Russia, on China. As far as former USSR republics are concerned, on the one hand, they are already ours, and we will always establish relations with them, but on the other hand, such a plan is definitely needed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to have such country plans for relations, especially with Kyrgyzstan. We have something to offer the Kyrgyz state while this country boasts a lot of things that we need. We must have such relationships.”