Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 June (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia have developed a relationship of strategic alliance which meets the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries, reads the joint statement of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Belarus on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, BelTA has learned.

“Our countries maintain an active political dialogue at all levels. The stable infrastructure of cooperation which has been established over the years helps us find mutually acceptable solutions to any problematic subjects bilateral agenda,” the statement said.

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are among the most active participants in integration associations within the CIS and are the driving forces promoting many new multilateral initiatives.

Commitment to the principles of strategic partnership and consistent efforts to promote integration processes in Eurasia facilitated the formation of a qualitatively new economic association, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “The key factors in the functioning of the EAEU are the removal of internal barriers, the formation of a single market for goods, services, capital and labor resources within the EAEU, comprehensive modernization, cooperation and greater competitiveness of national economies on the world market,” the ministers said.

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus actively cooperate within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which has become an important factor of stability and security in the region.

The statement reads that the two countries are ready to continue strengthening the cooperation on the international arena. “We are in favor of multilateral and collective approaches to solving pressing global and regional problems, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of states, and rejection of the sanctions policy and unilateral economic and trade restrictions,” the statement said.

The ministers of foreign affairs resolutely condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that an effective opposition to this evil is possible only on a collective basis without politicization or double standards and under the condition of strict compliance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

In the joint statement the ministers touched upon the crisis in eastern Ukraine. They proceeded from the assumption that it can have no military solution and must be settled by political and diplomatic methods based on the Minsk Agreements in their fullness and consistency.

At the OSCE, the parties intend to continue coordinating approaches to the most sensitive issues on the OSCE agenda. They are in favor of reforming the organization, including through the adoption of the OSCE Charter. The cooperation at the Council of Europe will be continued as well.

The countries will continue coordinating their relations with the European Union and also intend to work jointly to establish ties between the EAEU and the EU.

“The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus confirm their commitment to continuing their constructive work to expedite the accession of the Republic of Belarus to the World Trade Organization,” the statement runs.