MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – Belarus should change the structure of its exports and supply half of it to the EAEU member states, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei suggested as he addressed the 6th Belarusian People's Congress on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Makei believes that in the current circumstances it would make sense to change the present structure of exports, which provides for delivering a third of Belarus' exports to Russia and the EAEU markets, another third – to the European Union, and the last third to distant-arc countries. According to him, it is necessary to direct half of Belarus' exports to the markets of the EAEU member states and divide the rest between the EU and distant-arc countries.
“Neighboring countries, especially strong ones, play an important part in any country's foreign policy. Taking into account the intensifying integration processes of various forms in the post-Soviet space, perhaps, it would be smarter to direct half of our exports to this region, dividing the rest between the remaining two,” Vladimir Makei suggested.
He admitted that trade with Western countries is an important, sometimes even indispensable element of Belarus' economy. “The West accounts for a large share of Belarus' foreign trade, which makes it an indispensable element in our response algorithms to external shocks. We learned this from the previous crises,” Vladimir Makei noted.
Belarus is also in favor of close partnership between the European Union and the EAEU, which should help not only develop economies, but also avoid potential conflicts in the region.
“This might sound paradoxically, but we would like to see a strong European Union, we support a strong transatlantic partnership,” Vladimir Makei said. He reminded the EU representatives, that all positive results in the Belarus-EU cooperation were achieved thanks to a meaningful dialogue with the sitting government. “We believe that there should not be a dominating power in the region or in the world. Every country should have its own voice, and others should hear it and listen to it,” the minister stressed.
