BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/02/2009

Belarusian FM Popov responding to media questions following the briefing on 5 February 2009

What's the general feeling of the Belarusian side about the results of the CSTO and EurAsEC summits held the other day? What decisions are thought to be most immediate? And how does Belarus see its involvement in the formation of the CSTO operational response force, given the Belarus legislation disallowing its armed forces to engage in cross-border actions?

Answer: As regards our assessment of the results of the Moscow-hosted events as a whole, I reckon, there have been quite a few comments made by the high-ranking officials from our delegation who worked in Moscow in an active and very substantive manner. As a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, I can reconfirm that the Belarusian side is obviously satisfied with the results of those events, on the whole. It may be improper, perhaps, to prioritize those results as we are a responsible participant of the integration bodies in question and, certainly, assume responsibility for both drafting and implementing every single decision passed within those organizations. Regarding our country's involvement, under the signed document, in the collective rapid-response force, I'd like to underscore that Belarus' real involvement within this structure will be ensured, as it has always been the case to date, by the joint Belarus-Russia task force. That means, the Belarus-Russia task force will be operating in the Belarus' zone of responsibility (in the CSTO western zone of responsibility). There's absolutely nothing new about it. As for the Belarus' military staff engaged in some "hot spots", it obviously is forbidden by Belarusian law. That didn't happen before and isn't going to.

BelaPAN: Is it true that Vilnius will host a trilateral meeting attended by the Belarus Foreign Minister, what sort of issues will be discussed?

Answer: We are still discussing the matter, the issue is under consideration. The specifics including elements of the agenda will become clear later on if the meeting, on the whole, is found relevant and scheduled to take place.

BelaPAN: Following the appointment of a new Secretary of State of the United States, is Belarus-US co-operation becoming more active. Perhaps, the reinstatement of full-fledged operation of the Embassies is being considered?

Response: We are ready to develop dialogue with the US as long as our American partners are ready to follow suit. We have never shut ourselves away from communication, nor intend to do so in future. A fundamental for the dialogue is considered to be, as it has always been, respect for each other's interests. Referring to "more active" dialogue , we continue to believe that the matter sits closely together with the withdrawal of the US discriminatory decisions of economic nature adopted by the previous US Administration towards Belarus businesses. Our stance has never changed, and we put it across to our US partners in a distinct and open manner. They are fully aware of our position on the matter.

Source:

http://www.isria.info/en/diplo_06february2009_75.htm

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