Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 4 May (BelTA) – Belarus and the European Union should think about a new strategy of mutual relations and should take concrete steps towards each other, BelTA learned from Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei on 4 May.

The official said that all the problems in mutual relations between Belarus and the European Union were discussed thoroughly and in detail at premises of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 4 May. The same matters were raised during the meeting of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Sebastian Kurz. “I think the Minister is leaving with a more complete picture of what is going on in Belarus,” said Vladimir Makei.

“We don’t consider ourselves an ideal country and are ready to learn from our more advanced partners. But we believe that it should be done via an open, sincere, direct and frank dialogue,” said the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Vladimir Makei noted that among other matters they had discussed matters of considerable importance for the future of the European continent, in particular, security matters including in view of the Ukrainian crisis. They had also discussed ways to bolster sovereignty and independence of the countries in the region and the countries on the European continent as a whole.

“Today we should think about a new strategy of mutual relations on the European continent, including relations between the European Union and Belarus,” said Vladimir Makei. “The situation when over 200 people experience sanctions of the European Union cannot be called normal.” He went on saying that a war is being waged against Syria and there are fewer people experiencing European sanctions over there.

The Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs did not reveal details of the matters that had been discussed. “But we believe that relations between Belarus and the European Union should be constantly improving, should be normalized. To make it happen, both sides should take concrete steps towards each other,” he stressed.