Relations with West, Russia: Belarus never sat on two chairs, but national interests above all, Lukashenka says
Belarus is ready to build relations with the European Union and the USA but without damaging national interests, Aliaksandr Lukashenka said on Nonday during the meeting Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey.
‘We have recently noticed that the European Union and the USA have somehow started talking to Belarus albeit through gritted teeth. I would like to publicly underline that creating additional tensions in relations with the European Union is not part of our plans. We face enough tension as it is. We have to fix the situation but without damaging our country,’ state-run news agency BelTA quotes Mr Lukashenka as saying.
The eastern vector of the Belarusian foreign policy was also discussed. ‘Information about the Russian Federation, the state of our affairs in the eastern direction is the most important thing,’ the head of state stressed.
‘Being between the West and the East is our destiny. We build our relations and our stance bearing this fact in mind. We cannot avoid it,’ he said. ‘But it doesn’t mean that we are trying to sit on two chairs at once. It is unacceptable for us. It is not the foundation of our foreign policy and the economic doctrine,’ Mr Lukashenka added.
