BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/12/2008

Belarus open to dialogue with EU - Lukashenko

MINSK, December 11 (Itar-Tass) - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday his country is open to a dialogue with the European Union and seeks to normalize relations.

"Our course is absolutely honest and pragmatic and we do not play any game, we are rather open to the European Union and would like finally normalise our relations," he said at the meeting with Italian ambassador in Minsk Norberto Cappello, who ends his diplomatic mission in the country.

However, he stressed that Minsk "is categorically against this process to be surrounded by any preconditions," Lukashenko said.

Speaking about Belarussian-Italian relations the president said the two countries' trade increased to reach 1 billion US dollars in 2008 as "both export and import surplus is registered."

"Your country invests into the Belarussian economy and we expect bigger investments despite the global financial crisis," he said.

The Italian diplomat said his country "has always had special relations with Belarus, including those in the European context, proceeding from pragmatic approaches." "Of late good progress in Belarus-EU relations has been registered."

Cappello underlined that the talks between Belarus and European structures cover concrete issues and this agenda expands, which meets interests of ensuring stability in Europe.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13371578&PageNum=0

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