BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/05/2009

Belarus to benefit from participation in Eastern Partnership - Lukashenko

SOLIGORSK. May 8 (Interfax) - Belarus's participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership program will benefit the country, said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Speaking to Interfax on Friday, Lukashenko praised the Eastern Partnership summit in Prague.

"On the whole, we have gotten what we expected. This is a very advantageous practical project," Lukashenko said.

"What concerns us above all is that we sell half of our products to the EU," Lukashenko said. "We have to overcome duties and barriers. Doesn't it make sense to campaign for a free trade zone in the European Union?" he said.

"What appeals us most of all is a free trade zone with the European Union," he said.

Lukashenko also described as promising Belarus's involvement in the construction of the Baltic Sea-Black Sea transportation corridor, for which about 1 billion euro should be allotted. "This project will be implemented, and Ukraine and Belarus are prepared for it," he said.

"Cooperation with our neighbors is the most important thing in the Eastern Partnership," Lukashenko said.

"There is no politics there," Lukashenko said. "What do human rights and democracy have to do with oil and gas? Who is against human rights in Belarus today? Nobody," he said.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/492507/news.aspx

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