MINSK, 24 April (BelTA) – Belarus has made some progress in building a dialogue with European countries. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement in his address to the nation and the parliament on 24 April, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted: “The increase in the level of political contacts and the expansion of economic interaction are obvious. We should use the constructive potential of the Eastern Partnership Initiative as much as possible.”
In his words, the Eastern Partnership Initiative should be geared towards implementing concrete projects, should work to overcome divisive lines and bolster European and Eurasian integration. “After all, the European Union is our neighbor. And neighbors are chosen by god. An axiom. We should live in peace with and be friends with neighbors. Just what we do,” said the president.
The head of state stressed that the CIS vector still remains important in the system of Belarus' foreign political and foreign economic priorities. “Bilateral cooperation roadmaps are being implemented with the main partners in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The CIS has become the venue for meetings, negotiations, and contacts. In one day you can talk to all the nearest partners. It is beneficial. We should preserve it today,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
“Without building fences, Belarus maintains economic ties with the countries, which have left the Commonwealth of Independent States or are about to. The intention of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to establish tighter integration with the European Union is no hindrance to our active trade and economic cooperation,” the Belarus president is convinced.
Recalling his recent visit to Moldova, Alexander Lukashenko talked about the situation in the country and the problems it had encountered. “It is being torn apart. What are they to do? They intend to survive,” noted the head of state. “While we [in the Commonwealth of Independent States] try to criticize them. But we should act in our own way, in a Slavonic way, in a Russian way, in a Belarusian way. We should bring them closer with good deeds,” believes Alexander Lukashenko.
He spoke in similar terms about relations with Georgia. “Kicking them out is the easiest thing to do. They already demonstrate American Javelins – a modern antitank weapon. They do that and Ukraine does. Is that what we want? We [the Commonwealth of Independent States] are to blame for a lot of what is going on along the perimeter,” pointed out the president.
