Opinions & Interviews

Belarus eager to facilitate EU's closer ties with other EAEU countries

MINSK, 7 August (BelTA) – The European Union could take advantage of the opportunities that Belarus has to offer to advance cooperation with other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with outgoing Head of the EU Delegation to Belarus Andrea Wiktorin on 7 August, BelTA has learned.

“We pursue an independent policy. We do not drag behind other states’ decisions. We have our own course. I believe this merits certain attention,” the head of the upper house of the Belarusian Parliament said.

The speaker thanked Andrea Wiktorin for her personal contribution to the Belarusian-European relations. “It is great that we have dialogue, including at the parliamentary level,” he said. Belarus hopes that European institutions will continue supporting bilateral inter-parliamentary contacts with the EU countries. Mikhail Myasnikovich cited Poland, Austria, Germany and Italy as an example. “They all, however, look back on Strasbourg and Brussels. Here, I believe, it is possible to give the green light to the EU countries for more vibrant bilateral relations with Belarus,” the chairman of the Council of the Republic said. “We are not talking about any concessions or a practice of silence with regard to some shortcomings. We need to make our positions closer,” he added.

Mikhail Myasnikovich stressed the need to intensify the dialogue at the highest and high levels. “I believe that it should be done step by step, using the parliamentary dimension in the first place,” the speaker said.

In turn, Andrea Wiktorin emphasized great progress in the Belarusian-European relations. She echoed the opinion of the chairman of the Council of the Republic about the importance of inter-parliamentary contacts and the need to develop them further.

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