Belarus would like to normalize relations with Europe and USA
"Belarus does not mind normalizing relations with Europe and with the United States”, - claimed Alyaksandr Lukashenka at a meeting with Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Secretary of State of Pope Benedict XVI, in Minsk on June 20.
At the same time, according to the leader of the state, “Belarus will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affaires”. “We know and understand the role of Belarus in Europe and we proceed from the assumption that there can be no European security without Belarus. We are ready to play any part in the issue of strengthening the security of the European continent and in normalizing relations with the United States but everything should be based on the principles of respect of the foreign and internal policy of Belarus as a sovereign and independent state”, - inform official sources quoting Lukashenka.
According to the leader of the state, “numerous forces, especially those belonging with the opposition and with the west consider the visit of the Cardinal Secretary of State of His Holiness as an attempt of the Belarusian government to normalize relations with Western Europe with the help of the Roman Catholic Church”. “However, the dialogue between Belarus and the Roman Catholic Church did not start two or five years ago, – stressed A. Lukashenka. – We have been cooperating for a long time, it started in the time of John Paul II who loved and respected Belarus a lot, as far as I know. However, if our relations with Europe improve thanks to the visit of His Eminence cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, we will welcome the fact and we have never tried to conceal it”.
BelaPAN
At the same time, according to the leader of the state, “Belarus will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affaires”. “We know and understand the role of Belarus in Europe and we proceed from the assumption that there can be no European security without Belarus. We are ready to play any part in the issue of strengthening the security of the European continent and in normalizing relations with the United States but everything should be based on the principles of respect of the foreign and internal policy of Belarus as a sovereign and independent state”, - inform official sources quoting Lukashenka.
According to the leader of the state, “numerous forces, especially those belonging with the opposition and with the west consider the visit of the Cardinal Secretary of State of His Holiness as an attempt of the Belarusian government to normalize relations with Western Europe with the help of the Roman Catholic Church”. “However, the dialogue between Belarus and the Roman Catholic Church did not start two or five years ago, – stressed A. Lukashenka. – We have been cooperating for a long time, it started in the time of John Paul II who loved and respected Belarus a lot, as far as I know. However, if our relations with Europe improve thanks to the visit of His Eminence cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, we will welcome the fact and we have never tried to conceal it”.
BelaPAN
