MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – Belarus will make every effort to bring East and West together and handle the existing disputes, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei noted at the Minsk Forum 2017 on 17 November, BelTA has learned.
“In line with this approach, we are actively searching for common points between East and West and support the international effort to settle the Ukrainian crisis in every possible way, including the joint effort of Germany and other Normandy Format countries,” the minister remarked.
In his words, the parties are able to transform the Belarus-EU border into a role model of good neighborliness at the continental level. “It can and should become a sort of an interface between the European and Eurasian integration processes. From the standpoint of historical logic, geopolitics, geoeconomics, and common sense their dialogue has no alternative,” Vladimir Makei underlined.
“It is hard to imagine that two largest and adjacent economic blocs ignore each other completely. The benefits from the EAEU-EU dialogue go beyond practical matters: the harmonization of standards, the improvement of customs, transport, and other technical trading conditions. The more important goal in present-day conditions is to show that the two integration models are not incompatible or hostile to each other. A clear aspiration of both unions to cooperation could help reconcile East and West, bring peace back to divided communities, and avoid making new sacrifices for nothing,” the minister said.
He stated that nowadays many countries and communities face numerous challenges. “The high level of misunderstanding and mistrust between Russia and West is bringing us back to the age of Cold War and bloc confrontation,” Vladimir Makei added.
Under these circumstances, Belarus, on the one hand, reaffirms its commitment to a strategic partnership with Russia, including military cooperation and initial orientation towards the integration in the EAEU. On the other hand, the country is trying to maintain as constructive and pragmatic relations with the EU and the US as possible. “Such balance is vital for our country no to turn into a sort of a buffer state, which is fraught with serious consequences for our security,” Vladimir Makei clarified.
He agreed that the role of a bridge or a buffer is very dangerous. Experts and political analysts, he added, should search for ways to bring East and West, North and South together, handle the existing disputes and stop the confrontational rhetoric.
