Lavrov: Lukashenko is driven into a corner‎

Russia opposes the use of unilateral economic sanctions in politics as a means of coercion, including with regard to Belarus.

This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to him, the Russian Federation is on principle against the use of such tools in anyone’s policy, especially when it comes to close country and people.

The presidents of Russia and Belarus have already signed a joint declaration on the inadmissibility of such methods in international relations. A joint statement has also been adopted by the governments of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, said Sergei Lavrov in an interview to the media in connection with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Russia, RIA "Novosti."

Russian Foreign Minister believes that the sanctions will never yield the result, pursued by the instigators. He explained that he had in mind unilateral sanctions, as sanctions, taken collectively in the framework of the UN Security Council, are provided by the Charter of the Organization and are part of international law.

According to Sergei Lavrov, such an instrument of pressure, as sanctions, must be handled with extreme caution. According to him, unilateral sanctions will only "drive into the corner" those questions that could be potentially solved.

Russian Foreign Minister believes that the methods of isolation of a partner instead of engaging him in dialogue are always counterproductive. Russia prefers to rely on dialogue in all difficult situations, whatever questions may arise on the agenda of relations between the states, said Sergey Lavrov.

As charter97.org previously reported, in March, the EU black list was added up with the Belarusian businessmen, as well as judges and prosecutors. In addition, 29 Belarusian companies were targeted by the EU sanctions.

The total number of the Belarusian officials and businessmen, subject to sanctions, reached 243 people.

EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Ashton reiterated the conditions for the possible resumption of the EU cooperation with Minsk.

The Belarusian side has stated that it regrets the decision of the EU Council to impose additional sanctions on a number of Belarusian citizens and businesses, noting that "European politicians are prisoners of conflict thinking and remain hostage to the logic of coercion and blackmail."