FM Lavrov praises ‘big role’ of Belarus in countering 'Russia-bashing' at EaP summit


Moscow appreciates Belarus’ stance on Russia in the context of the Eastern Partnership.

„We ourselves have a partnership agreement with the EU, which unfortunately has been frozen and not by Russia’s fault. And we have never had concerns about all our neighbors and all our friends wanting to have good relations with all their partners in the West and the East, in the North and the South,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview to Belarusian TV channel CTV.

According to him, ‘certain’ EU member states are seeking to use the Eastern Partnership for Russia-bashing and ‘locking horns’. The diplomat mentioned the speech of the British Prime Minister Theresa May at the recent EaP summit as an example.

However, the majority of EU countries believe it to be ‘counterproductive and pointless’, he stated.

“And Russia has highly estimated the firm position of Belarus together with other participants of the Eastern Partnership against such attempts. And the fact that the final declaration, despite the wish of certain participants of the summit, doesn’t contain external issues, not concerning relations of focus states with the EU directly, we see a big, big role of Belarus as well. Belarus did not allow to make this process politicized and ideology-driven,” CTV quotes Lavrov.

ІІ, belsat.eu, following CTV

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