VERONA, 20 October (BelTA) – Sanctions against Russia eventually had a negative impact on the economic cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in general, President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation Romano Prodi said during the 5th Eurasian Forum in Italy's Verona on 20 October, BelTA has learned.
“The trade cooperation of the European Union with the EEU has fallen considerably, and the figures testify to it. Despite the sanctions were introduced only against Russia, they had a negative economic impact on Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. We cannot but see it,” Romano Prodi stressed.
In his words, the economy and politics are always linked and interdependent. “The lack of the economic and political dialogue is obvious today. I am convinced that the sides can start with a clean slate. It is in the best interests of Europe and Russia to restore the dialogue and relations,” Romano Prodi believes.
The President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation believes that “there will be no peace in Syria without the agreements between the United States and Russia, there will no steps forward.”
“My plea for agreements is, in fact, an automatic acknowledgement of Europe's weakness at the moment,” he added. “Obviously, the relations between Europe and Russia should get back to normal.”
The geopolitical processes in the Big Eurasia and the opportunities to improve economic cooperation between the EEU and European partners are discussed in Verona on 20-21 October. Partaking in the international meeting are Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Shestakov, State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota, representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Russian and European politicians, scientists, and international experts.
