BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/12/2007

Belarus to pursue improved ties with EU-minister

By Andrei Makhovsky

MINSK, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Belarus will build on a good start to its drive for improved links with the European Union, but this need not hurt its strategic relationship with Russia, the ex-Soviet state's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Sergei Martynov, interviewed by Reuters, said relations with the EU had improved in the past year despite lingering tension over allegations that Belarus crushed basic rights and that President Alexander Lukashenko rigged his re-election.

But the 27-nation bloc, he said, was wrong to impose preconditions on a programme to boost relations.

"In the course of the past year, there has been a rather good start to sensible dialogue," Martynov said.

But he added: "It is incorrect to view Russia and the EU as contrasting vectors of foreign policy. By virtue of geography and economics, Russia and the EU are our main partners.

"Russia is our principal strategic partner. The EU is our nearest neighbour. Making a choice between Russia and the EU is a myth that does not exist. Belarus intends to pursue its policy of developing dialogue with the EU. Our foreign policy priorities do not change. They are unaffected by circumstances."

The EU and the United States criticise Belarus and have barred entry to Lukashenko and dozens of other officials in connection with the president's landslide re-election to a third term last year.

But the bloc this year praised Belarus for releasing two jailed activists before the end of their terms and welcomed restraint used by police during opposition rallies.

The EU has also proposed a programme of assistance, but made it contingent on the introduction of democratic change and the release of what Brussels calls political prisoners, including a candidate who challenged the president in last year's race.

EU POLICY "FLAWED"

Belarus has consistently denied it violates human rights.

"We are not asking for anything for Belarus from the EU. We are merely proposing joint action in areas of common interest," Martynov said, citing energy, transit, customs cooperation and the fight against crime and illegal migration.

He said EU policy was "flawed not because we don't like it, but because it will produce no results. We would like to see in a framework of moves towards each other an end to discriminatory measures both in terms of visas and economic policy".

Belarus, which has been pursuing the creation of a post-Soviet "union state" with Russia off and on for a decade, called for stronger ties with the EU after it quarrelled with Moscow a year ago over steep energy price increases.

But Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's talks in Minsk this month produced a 2008 deal with a relatively small rise of 19 percent in gas prices and the granting of large credits to Belarus.

Martynov dismissed suggestions that Belarus had made major concessions to clinch the accord, such as sales of large industrial sites or concessions on a future "union" deal.

"Such comments come from people who are not very qualified to make them. There was not even any discussion of concessions or payback," he said. "Belarus will repay the credits according to the timetable and conditions set down in agreements." (Writing by Ron Popeski)

Source:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7181448