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Belarus hopes for better relations with EU

Xinhua, March 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Belarus is eager to normalize and develop its ties with the European Union (EU), but not to the detriment of its relations with Russia, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said here Tuesday.

Makei made the remark during his meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

Poland, an EU member and a neighbor of Belarus, is "an important country for Belarus, so we want it to be our friend and partner rather than an opponent," Makei told his Polish counterpart.

Waszczykowski's visit to Belarus is the first by a Polish foreign minister in the past eight years and the Belarusian side regards it as a significant and timely move which will give an impetus to bilateral dialogue in all spheres, Makei said.

Makei thanked Poland for the latter's role in lifting EU sanctions against Belarus.

Waszczykowski said that the new Polish government considers it abnormal that the two nations have no high-level contacts for such a long period.

"I've come to start negotiations without any preconditions," said Waszczykowski.

The two ministers discussed issues including the modernization of border infrastructure, streamlining visa issuance procedures, reducing visa fees, and strengthening cooperation with China. Endi