MOSCOW, 10 June (BelTA) - The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the Belarusian-Russian relations, Belarus' First Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Andrei Yeudachenka said during a video conference dedicated to the prospects for the development of relations between Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.
“The coronavirus pandemic has certainly had some impact on our relations,” said Andrei Yeudachenka. "It clearly reminded us that we live in an interconnected world, and we have shown our willingness to help each other in this difficult, critical situation. We are grateful to Russia for the assistance it has provided to Belarusian citizens with evacuation from third countries at a time when international air traffic has been grounded. This is just a practical example of our countries' cooperation in emergency situations.”
For his part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that the coronavirus pandemic has become a kind of litmus test and a test of the strength of relations between the two countries. “It is worth mentioning that the relations between the two countries have also been tested in terms of mutual assistance in returning stranded citizens and also in terms of the assistance the two countries have provided each other,” he said.
“Restrictive measures have had an impact on a number of important aspects. The mutual trade has reduced. Personal contacts at all levels, including political and humanitarian ones, have been affected. However, those changes were quantitative not qualitative. The essence of our strategic partnership has remained the same,” Andrey Rudenko said.
According to him, now that the situation with the pandemic is gradually improving, Belarus and Russia should restore the momentum in comprehensive interaction. “This is already happening,” he added.