Martynov: Belarus will not get closer with Russia
"Belarus is not a candidate for entering the European Union, and we will not go to Russia. We will be an independent country between the giants", Belarus' foreign minister Sergei Martynov said in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Der Standard. Commentators have described it as a signal to Russia.
This is how the Belarusian minister sees our country in 20 years. Since Belarus is located between two giants -- EU and Russia, survival is the first task of the Belarusian authorities. Secondly, we have to be well-off. Thirdly, we have to build good relations with both the West and East.
When asked by Der Standard how far Belarus is ready reform politically in order to to move towards the European Union in the field of a common market and to enjoy the advantages of the neighborhood policy, Martynov noted that one should not "mix market and political reforms, as they are two different things".
According to the minister, Belarus has already been in a political dialogue with the European Union, while the actual political situation in the country is much better than it is protraied in the media.
"This is a signal to Russia that Belarus will not orient to the East exclusively", comments Minsk-based political commentator Yury Shevtsov. At the same time, he also points to emotions in Martynov's statement which is not very much worthy.
On February 5-7, the 46th conference on security policy took place in Munich, Germany, with representatives from dozens of countries from around the world havig attended.
Photo: telegraf.by
