MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – The level of cooperation between Belarus and the collective West has noticeably decreased, but that was not the fault of Belarus, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at a press conference in Minsk on 16 February, BelTA has learned.
"We have been committed to a multi-vector foreign policy, and this principle still remains in place. We have formalized it in foreign policy documents and we will continue doing so in the future. We believe that this is absolutely justified. We do not deny that vectors can be diverse and different-sized," the minister said.
Vladimir Makei stressed that Belarus is interested in advancing the relations with Russia, its strategic partner, ally, a fraternal power. At the same time, the country seeks to develop cooperation with other countries and regions. "We have always asked our Russia partners not to take with suspicion our desire to have normal relations with Western countries," he said. “Unfortunately, the level of our cooperation with the EU, the collective West has noticeably decreased. But it's not our fault. The five rounds of sanctions against Belarus do not contribute to the normal development of relations between Belarus and Western countries."
Vladimir Makei stressed: "It was not our fault. I think that the problem is the inept assessment by our Western partners of what is happening in and around Belarus."
"When I read the materials from the briefing of a certain anonymous representative of the U.S. State Department, when I read the statements by the leadership of neighboring countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, I feel bewildered. I think that Western politicians have suffered some kind of intellectual deformation and, as a result, they cannot assess the situation appropriately. This inept assessment is a consequence of miscalculations in their policy towards Belarus," Vladimir Makei said.
He is sure that a serious politician would never follow the calls made by some people in Warsaw and Vilnius. "I understand their motives. I won't dwell on them. But today politics is not done this way," the minister said.
"Believe me, the problem is not with us. We are ready for dialogue with all partners, including difficult ones. These are the countries of the European Union, although not all of them. But it should be a mutually respectful, equal and calm dialogue. Today we do not see that our neighbors and a number of EU countries are ready for such a frank dialogue," the minister assured.
