BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/01/2008

Russia, Belarus ink one-voice foreign policy plan

MOSCOW, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Belarus on Wednesday signed in Minsk a plan of action in foreign policy in a bid to enhance cooperation on international issues and preventing isolation attempts against Belarus, according to reports reaching here.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Belarussian counterpart Sergei Martvnov also signed a plan of ministerial consultations in 2008 and discussed cooperation within international organizations, news agencies reported.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the document stressed a new quantity of foreign political cooperation of the Russia-Belarus Union State in 2008-2009 that is based on common views on key world political issues.

Their talks also focused on United States' plans to deploy anti-ballistic missile components in East Europe, the West's pressure on Belarus and monitoring over elections.

"We're concerned over certain Western countries' attempts to put pressure on Belarus. This is pressure, which is aimed at changing Belarus' policy. It's counter-productive," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

Martynov appreciated Russia's supports, saying the West's criticism "groundless."

The two former Soviet allies have pledged to realize re-integration and Belarus is also developing ties with Washington's rivals such as Iran and Venezuela.

Source:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/31/content_7529499.htm