Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 October (BelTA) – Over the past two or three years of positive relations, Belarus and the European Union have achieved much more than over the years of sanctions, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said in an interview with the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, BelTA has learned.

“Our experience has demonstrated that over the past two or three years of more positive relations, we have achieved more than over the years of sanctions. What does this mean? It means that we need a normal, equal and positive dialogue to be able to solve issues that may arise in our relations,” Vladimir Makei noted.

Belarus would like to develop its relations with the European Union in all areas. “Of course, it is important for us to establish normal trade and economic cooperation, because we realize that no financial institution, bank or company will work with Belarus without a nod from the European Union,” the minister stressed.

Still, Vladimir Makei emphasized that Belarus has no intention to demonstrate a total determination to move towards the European Union. “But we do want to establish normal trade, economic, political and other types of cooperation with the neighboring countries and centers of power,” the minister noted. Vladimir Makei said that if the European Union wants to achieve certain success in Belarus, it should demonstrate its appeal to the country.