MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) - Belarus remains committed to dialogue and mutually beneficial, constructive and good-neighborly cooperation with European partners, reads the Annual Review of Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus and Activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2021 published on the ministry's website, BelTA has learned.
"Despite the ongoing pressure from the EU, Belarus remains committed to dialogue and mutually beneficial, constructive and good-neighborly cooperation with all European partners," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed.
The ministry noted that in 2021 negative dynamics remained in place in the relations between Belarus and the European Union, due to political and economic pressure. The high-level political dialogue, EU technical assistance cooperation with Belarusian state bodies, and also the sectoral interaction, with the exception of nuclear and radiation safety, have been suspended.
"In contacts with European partners, Belarus firmly adhered to the position on counter-productiveness and futility of sanctions, their contradiction to international law and negative impact on the interests of ordinary citizens of Belarus and the EU. In response to the unfriendly actions of the EU, Belarus was forced to implement a number of political, diplomatic and economic measures to protect the national interests," the ministry recalled.
The ministry stated that despite the negative dynamics in relations with the EU, cooperation developed in several areas. Belarus continued contacts with some of the European countries at the ministerial and regional levels, primarily in economy and humanitarian affairs. The country had a lot of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international events. The country also had a number of contacts at the high and highest levels.
“The country continued developing relations with a number of countries. Despite the prevailing negative factors in the political dialogue between Belarus and European capitals, bilateral trade and economic relations with most European countries demonstrated stability and impressive economic growth,” the ministry said.
