Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) - There is every reason to count on a thaw in the relations between Belarus and the West, Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei said in an interview to the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.

Belarus’ foreign policy based on the priority of national interests becomes more understandable for Europe. “It is important that Europeans now better understand these nuances in the relations with Belarus. We hope that it will lead to a more positive atmosphere in our relations. Today there is every reason to think so,” Vladimir Makei said. “We are in a very active dialogue with our European partners, the United States. There are already certain positive results,” he added.

At the same time the minister did not take notice of any cardinal changes in the Belarusian-European relations due to Belarus’ efforts to regulate the conflict in Ukraine. In his words, the Belarusian side submitted a number of proposals regarding Ukraine’s crisis regulation to Ukraine and Russia. “The Belarusian side has made a number of proposals to Ukraine and Russia regarding possible further steps in regulating the Ukrainian crisis. We understand the most important things for Russians, Ukrainians,” the minister stressed.

Vladimir Makei took part in the 51^st Munich Security Conference. The forum discussed in detail the prospects of regulating the Ukrainian crisis. According to the minister, “Europeans, as opposed to Americans, state that further supplies of armament to the region will lead to the aggravation of tensions and they would not like this to happen.”

“Europeans believe that sanctions cannot be the only way out of the situation. Everyone wants hotheads to stop and resume normal cooperation. There should be a dialogue between the Nato and Russia, other countries, between the European Union and the post-Soviet space. It is a dialogue not the strengthening of confrontation that will lead to the normalization of the situation in the region,” Vladimir Makei said.