Multi-vector policy in action: Lukashenka wants EU to further Belarus' economic independence


Belarus has a unique opportunity to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at Monday’s meeting with a delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union.

“With the abolition of the EU’s most restrictive measures against Belarus in February 2016, we now have favorable conditions for our relations. We have a unique chance to make them truly mutually beneficial for the benefit of economic development, for the benefit of the peoples of our countries,” he said.

According to Lukashenka, the interaction has already brought positive results: a coordination group has been set up to promote a new format of political dialogue between Belarus and the European Union.

The president expressed hope that the EU might contribute to Belarus’ economic independence.

“The EU may contribute to the strengthening of Belarus’ economic independence through removing restrictions in trade, providing access to the EU market for Belarusian goods, assisting the country in the development of its relations with the IMF, enhancing Belarus’ position in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) credit ratings, and intensifying talks on Belarus’ accession to the WTO,” Lukashenka believes.

The EU Political and Security Committee led by its chairman Walter Stevens is paying a visit to Belarus on November, 21.

Belsat.eu, following BelTA

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