Opinions & Interviews

BRATISLAVA, 27 April (BelTA) - Slovakia hopes the trade with Belarus will increase, Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico told the media following the talks with Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov, BelTA has learned.

“Slovakia is not be satisfied with the level of trade with Belarus, which was €163 million last year. I think Belarus would also like increase that figure. I hope our new joint projects will help raise the trade to a brand new level,” Robert Fico noted. According to him, in Vitebsk Oblast alone the investments in the livestock industry can reach €130 million.

Belarus and Slovakia successfully cooperate in pharmaceuticals. “We want to move foward in this field, deepen the cooperation between our research institutes,” the Slovakian prime minister noted.

“Belarus and Slovakia are not big countries which have an influence on world politics. Therefore, we would like to focus on economic cooperation. We have been building it taking fully into account the interests of each other and without any interference in the internal affairs of our countries,” Robert Fico said.

Slovakia views Belarus as an important participant in the Eastern Partnership. “Belarus and Slovakia are close in mentality, culture and history. We do not have any unsettled political issues, fortunately,” Robert Fico stressed.

In his opinion, Slovakia can be a bridge on the way to Europe for Belarus. At the same time, Belarus can be a bridge to the Eurasian Economic Union for Slovakia. “Our goal is to make use of this unique opportunity,” he concluded.