Opinions & Interviews

Belarus’ presidency in Eurasian Economic Union expected to spur union’s development
Mikhail Myasnikovich said: “On 1 January 2020 it will be five years since the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty was signed. Belarus’ presidency in Eurasian Economic Union bodies in 2020 should give an impulse to the development of this regional association. The task has been set by the president of Belarus. The Eurasian Economic Union should become a full-value economic union with equal terms for all the participants”...

Experts urge to drop phobias of external threats to Belarus’ independence
The matter was discussed at the first session of the Expert Environment project at the BelTA press center. The first session was titled “Parliament of the Seventh Convocation: Objectives of the Legislative Branch of Power”...

Lukashenko: The main achievement is that Belarus and Serbia can be the owners of their land
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled his visit 20 years ago when he came to Belgrade to demonstrate his support to the brotherly nation of Serbia...

Lukashenko: I am ardent supporter of EU
“I am resolutely against the disintegration of the European Union, which has imposed sanctions against Belarus. The European Union is one of the most powerful pillars of the world. If you pull it out, the system will not just become unstable. It can collapse. This is why I want to see the European Union intact,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said...

Lukashenko: Belarus, Serbia never imposed conditions on each other
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Serbia and Belarus are not big countries and they do not abound in resources like global leaders, for example, Russia or the United States of America. Belarus and Serbia have to scratch and claw for what they need, the president emphasized...

Vucic: We are proud of our friendship with Belarus
Serbia will always be your true friend. We are proud of our friendship. There were times when some people did not dare to say how much we value and love the Belarusian people. Today we talk about it with pride everywhere and we want you to come here as often as possible,” the Serbian leader noted...

Vucic: Belarus, Serbia look to reach $500m in trade
“Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is a sincere friend to Serbia and the Serbian people. Belarus is a truly friendly country for Serbia. We are proud of our Belarusian friends,” said Aleksandar Vucic...

2019 described as one of most fruitful years in Belarus-UAE relations
“I am convinced that the Belarus-UAE relations will continue to be a shining example of successful, mutually beneficial and lasting international cooperation"...

Belarus, Serbia showing bigger interest in bilateral cooperation
Valery Brylev noted that bilateral cooperation had its ups and downs in the past...

Ambassador: Latvia is interested in Belarus-EU cooperation
According to the diplomat, Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Latvia is viewed one of the main events for the two countries in 2020. “This will be an important event both for the bilateral relations of the states and for the European Union in general. Latvia would like to see the cooperation between Belarus and the EU to develop further”...

FM praises role of twinning movement in Belarus-Poland cooperation
Almost 90 Belarusian and Polish cities and towns maintain twinning relations and cooperate, Vladimir Makei noted. This figure increases every year...

Lukashenko: CSTO has potential for stabilizing situation in the world
Journalists also asked whether the CSTO is going to act “as a clenched fist if, God forbid, something happens.” “All sides have their zones of responsibility. But if it bursts out in the zone where all our interests are concentrated, we will respond to these challenges together. It goes without doubt”...

Belarus’ accession to WTO expected to facilitate UNDP projects
She emphasized that the organization seeks not only to promote economic growth, but also social justice as well as green, low-carbon and circular economy. “This should be approached in a comprehensive way”...

Contact group on Ukraine in Minsk accomplishes goals set by Normandy Four advisors
The meeting of the trilateral contact group in Minsk on 27 November was second to the last one this year. Martin Sajdik reminded that developments in the conflict zone in Ukraine’s east have inspired certain optimism recently...

Makei: Belarus’ peace initiatives upheld by foreign partners, including CSTO
Among the initiatives Belarus has put forward recently are launching a new large-scale international dialogue similar to the Helsinki process, establishing a digital good-neighborliness belt and signing a declaration on non-proliferation of short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe after termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty...

Call to harness full potential of EU-Belarus cooperation
The European Union and Belarus cooperate in various sectors. Today we interact in energy, transport, environmental protection and implement projects to promote trans-boundary cooperation and to support small and medium-sized business. It would be great if we harness the full potential of our cooperation, Dirk Schuebel said...

Japan to strengthen cooperation with Belarus
“This year the Japanese government has taken a decision on a new status for its diplomatic representation in Belarus, which now means under the leadership of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,” Hiroki Tokunaga said. Thus, the Japanese embassy starts functioning in Minsk...

At least 30 enterprises expected to operate in China-Belarus industrial park in 2020
“At present 17 companies residing in the park are starting their commercial activities. Six of them are busy making mechanical engineering and electronics products. The number of such enterprises will be at least 20 by the end of this year. Their number should be 30 next year”...

Lukashenko on Domracheva’s coaching job in China
“I said that I could not say no because Xi Jinping would respond in kind. So they have taken up the job, and it's okay. This is the country with a population of one and a half billion. If they achieve good results in biathlon, then the Chinese will remember that it was the Belarusians who helped"...

Visit of foreign ministers of Sweden and Finland to Minsk described as unique event
Among the issues discussed by the foreign ministers were the agreements on visa facilitation and readmission, ways to intensify work on the Belarus-EU partnership priorities, prospects for the framework agreement with the EU, Belarus' accession to the WTO, development of the Eastern Partnership post 2020...