Makei asks to ignore the political prisoners

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Uladzimir Makei believes that at the current stage the issue of normalizations of the relations between his country and the European Union depends on the EU’s position.

“We are convinced that the key to the resolution of the current situation in our relations is in the hands of the European Union. Unlike the EU we do not interfere into the domestic issues of our neighbors. It is exactly the European Union that is responsible for the loss of trust in the dialogue. And it should compensate for the damage caused”, - Makei said in an interview to the Russian newspaper “Krasnaya Zvezda”. The interview’s text is posted at the Belarus MFA’s web-site.

The Minister admitted that the relations at the political level “are far away from the real needs of Belarus as well as the European Union itself”.

He emphasized that Belarus on its part is ready to “reciprocate of Brussels not only in words is ready for equal and respectful relations with us”.

He reminded that in 2011 the EU has expanded sanctions against a number of Belarusian officials and companies: now there are 243 Belarusian citizens and 32 companies in the scantions list.

“Our economic and trade cooperation with the European Union has mutually beneficial nature, whereas lifting of the existent political barriers would give a greater momentum to this cooperation”, - Makei believes.

We would remind that the EU has introduced sanctions against 243 citizens of Belarus responsible for violations at elections and prosecution of the Belarusian opposition, and 32 companies close the Belarusian dictator.