Official Website of the Republic of Belarus
News
Belarus Events Calendar
Belarus’ Top Tourist Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Belarus
Belarusian sanatoria and health resorts
Souvenirs from Belarus
| Home | News | Opinions & Interviews

Opinions & Interviews

23 Jul 2013

Makei: Problems in Belarus-EU relations ‘artificial, but surmountable’

Makei: Problems in Belarus-EU relations ‘artificial, but surmountable’

MINSK, 23 July (BelTA) – Problems in relations between Belarus and the European Union are surmountable and have been artificially created. The statement was made by Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei after the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership Initiative member states in Brussels on 22 July, BelTA has learned.

“It is up to analysts to speculate and talk about circumstances. Yes, there are problems. But we absolutely believe that they are surmountable, moreover, they are artificial. We have always spoken in favor of normalizing the relations with the European Union on the basis of an equal and sterling dialogue,” said the Minister when asked whether insurmountable difficulties existed in Belarus-EU relations.

Vladimir Makei noted that the sides are implementing several projects together, but the number of examples of cooperation might have been larger. “It could have generated more benefits both for our country, for the civil society in Belarus that the European Union cares so much about, and for the European Union itself,” he said.

According to the Foreign Minister, Belarus is a very important partner for the European Union because it ensures uninterrupted transit of hydrocarbon resources to Europe, cargoes from Europe to Asia, fights transboundary crime, slave trade, international drugs trafficking, and illegal migration. “In this regard we are a very important partner for the European Union. And certainly it is slightly surprising for us that several proposals on this and other matters fail to get a proper response from the European Union, including within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Initiative,” noted the Belarusian Foreign Minister.

“But I am convinced that life itself will force the European Union to bolster and accept tighter cooperation with Belarus. Moreover, I am convinced that the idea of integration above integrations that the Belarus President put forward some time ago, the idea that envisages tighter cooperation between the European Union and the future Eurasian Economic Union, will surely be called for in the future,” concluded Vladimir Makei.

Archive
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
Great Patriotic War monuments in Belarus