Foreign Ministry: Last year was not simple because of US sanctions and “hardening” of Russia’s attitude

Last year was anything but simple for Belarus because a number of economic challenges, Foreign Minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau said on February 27, opening a session of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.

Among the challenges he named oil and gas price hike for Belarus, hardening of access to the Russian market for Belarusian goods. The minister noted expelling Belarus from the Generalized System of preferences of the EU and imposing economic sanctions against Belneftekhim concern by the US.

The minister noted that the today’s session of the panel was an important working event, which is to summarize and analyze the results of the year 2007 and define main objectives for the next year. “The results of work of Foreign Ministry in 2007 are to lay foundation of our work for this year,” he said.

Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski, vice Prime-Minister Andrei Kabyakou, representatives of the Presidential Administration, “national assembly”, heads of foreign establishments, bodies of state administration and large Belarusian enterprises.