Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) - Europe does not want to drive a wedge in the relations between Belarus and Russia, Head of the Federal Foreign Office’s Division for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and Eastern Partnership Hans-Peter Hinrichsen said at a panel discussion during Minsk Forum 2017 on 16 November, BelTA informs.

“We have no desire to pull Belarus towards the West, to drive a wedge in the relations between Belarus and Russia. We are not seeking to improve the situation with the EU at the expense of worsening it with Russia,” Hans-Peter Hinrichsen said.

The diplomat stressed that Europe wants Belarus to have good relations with both the partners. “Belarus is a bridge, a state that is not just located between the EU and Russia but unites them. No one intends to have Belarus make a choice: to be either with Russia or with the EU. This would be completely wrong,” he said.