After Lukashenka’s visit to Italy: Belarus seeks better relations with EU, but Russia still No 1

Italy has always maintained quite a pragmatic constructive position on Belarus, even during the deterioration of relations with the EU, Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey told state-run TV station ONT in the wake of president Lukashenka’s visit to Italy and the Vatican where he met with Italian Prime Minister Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis.

“In better years we had $2-3 bn in trade with Italy. Unfortunately, last year the trade turnover decreased threefold. Now our goal is to regain the level at which we were before,” Makey stressed.

Read also: EU should have forced more concessions from Belarus before lifting sanctions – diplomat

According to the minister, Lukashenka’s visit to Italy is speaking for the improvement of relations between Belarus and the bloc.

“It was not us who initiated these sanctions. Unfortunately, it happened like this. I personally believe that these years were wasted both for Belarus and the European Union. Belarus is not some troublemaker in the region. The country is a donor of stability. We will repeat it until it is finally realized,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes Makey as saying.

The top official also mentioned a ‘big role’ of the Vatican in the normalization of the relations between Belarus and the West. It was Lukashenka’s first visit to the EU after the bloc lifted its sanctions on the Belarusian authorities.

Read also: Sanctions lifted, protesters fined. Opposition leader Lyabedzka punished for solidarity

At the same time, the minister stressed that lifting sanctions would never lead to Belarus’ making any U-turn  in its foreign policy and promised that our country would always comply with the obligations assumed by the CSTO, the EAEC and the CIS.

According to Uladzimir Makey, Belarus does have its interest in the diversification of international relations, but not at the expense of Russia.

“We have repeatedly told our European, American and other partners that we will never build our relations with them to the injury of those with our traditional partners. We have always complied and will comply with our obligations within the bounds of  the CSTO, the EAEC and the CIS,” he said.

Read also: In wake of lifting sanctions. No need for reforms in Belarus, crisis only in your heads – Lukashenka

belsat.eu