OREANDA-NEWS. On 24 February 2009 was announced, that Belarus and the European Union should exclude intermediaries in developing a bilateral dialogue. This position of the Belarusian side was voiced by President Alexander Lukashenko on 19 February at a meeting with Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union–High Representative for the Common and Security Policy of the EU.

‘I would like to ask you that we make an attempt to exclude all intermediaries in the relations between Belarus and Europe, especially those acting from the position which is not too friendly towards our country. I mean the intermediaries both inside the country and beyond its confines. And there are quite a few of them’, said the President.

‘I have got a feeling that this stage of our relations is characterised by the presence of some sort of “bargaining” between Belarus and the European Union in both economic and political issues. The principle here is as follows: We have done this, now is your turn to do that. And there begins a dialogue in the form of “bargaining”, which is perhaps unavoidable in politics, but, from my point of view, undesirable. What is more, one does not need it: The European Union is well aware of what modern-day Belarus means for Europe’, said the Head of State.

Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus realised full well the significance of the European Union both politically and economically, and emphasised the importance of economic cooperation with the EU.

The fact that Belarus and the EU members share many common interests is obvious, he said. The EU is Belarus’ second largest foreign trade partner. In 2008 Belarus’ exports to the EU expanded 36 per cent as against 2007 to USD 14.4 thousand million. All in all, most Belarus’ exports, 44 per cent, are destined for the EU (Russia accounts for 32 per cent of Belarus’ exports). Belarus is a very significant transit corridor between the East and the West, through which around 30 per cent of Russian gas and nearly 50 per cent of Russian oil supplies go to the EU. Belarus is also an essential transport thoroughfare which annual throughput is over 100 million tonnes of cargo, of which 90 per cent account for goods coming from the European Union to Russia and from Russia to the EU.

During a meeting with Javier Solana the Belarusian President stressed the intention to voice openly ‘everything the Belarusian side is prepared to do to establish absolutely close and trust-based relationship with the European Union’.

‘That is, I want to tell you what we can do today and tomorrow, and what we (in the interests exclusively of our country, rather than in the interests of some individuals) cannot. And if our points of view begin to divert, I will try to convince you by giving facts that we are conducting sincere policy with regard to the European Union’, said Alexander Lukashenko. ‘We would not like you to have the impression that we have no other choice but to run one way and deceive Europeans, the leadership of the European Union. We have never set such a goal for us’.

The President stressed he was a supporter of purely honest and sincere policy: ‘We will be telling the truth: What we can do and what we cannot. This is in keeping with your interests too’.

The Belarusian leader thanked Javier Solana for his assistance in establishing good-neighbourly relations between Belarus and Europe. ‘According to the information I have and to what I feel personally, this talk and today’s thaw in the relations would have been impossible without your contribution’, added Alexander Lukashenko.

The Secretary-General of the EU Council said, ‘the European Union views Belarus as a European country’. ‘It is absolutely normal development of the situation if Belarus and the European Union have normal relations’, said Javier Solana.

Javier Solana, who has come to Belarus on a visit for the first time, said the sides were well prepared for the Minsk talks and expressed readiness to hold ‘an open, honest and sincere talk’.

The meeting, which lasted for nearly one hour and a half, discussed various aspects of interaction between Belarus and the EU, and the situation in the world in connection with the financial and economic crisis. According to Javier Solana, today’s difficult economic situation ‘will also have global political repercussions’.