Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 March (BelTA) – Belarus will do its best to ramp up bilateral trade with Ukraine, Ambassador of Belarus to Ukraine Valentin Velichko said in an interview with the Ukrainian News Agency. The full text of the interview is available on the official website of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BelTA has learned.

“The trade turnover (between Belarus and Ukraine. – BelTA’s note) made up $5.8 billion in 2014. We will try to ensure maximum growth this year,” Valentin Velichko said.

The Ambassador pointed out the need to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and to restore the economy as soon as possible. “We need to hold talks and discuss all issues. It is necessary to stop this fratricidal war and to calm people down. They must be convinced that tomorrow will be a peaceful day,” he added.

Speaking about Belarus as a platform for negotiations to discuss peaceful regulation of the Ukrainian conflict, Valentin Velichko remarked: “There was no political background. The main priority was to help people. Moreover, it was the resolution of the head of state. We were not trying to improve our own image on the backdrop of someone’s grief. We are fraternal nations with common history and the Slavonic spirit. We maintain robust trade and economic relations.”

Due to the situation in Ukraine, citizens of the neighboring country arrive in Belarus. “There is information that Belarus has already welcomed over 60,000 citizens of Ukraine. And people are still sending requests because emigration is not a formal event. It is not the same as visiting relatives and coming back home in good mood. People always think about the future,” the Ambassador said. The majority of Ukrainians move to oblast capitals.

Speaking about tourism, Valentin Velichko noted that Belarusian tourists are afraid of the events in eastern Ukraine. “The Belarusians were frequent guests in, for instance, Bukovel. The number of Belarusian tourists has fallen,” he said. Meanwhile, the Belarusians still travel to Turkey, Egypt, the UAE via the Borispol Airport. Besides, Ukrainian towns of Khmelnitsky and Chernigov are very popular destinations for Belarusian people.