OREANDA-NEWS. August 28, 2009. As far as the Eastern Partnership initiative is concerned, Belarus is attracted by the possibility of creating a free trade zone with the European Union. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement in an interview with the TV programme Formula of Power. It is a joint project run by the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS and the TV channel Russia.

Speaking about Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership initiative, Alexander Lukashenko remarked: “In the future (I don’t know whether it will happen or not but we are discussing it) we aim for the free trade zone. If we have a free trade zone with Europe, we will be twice as rich”.

“If we have free trade with the technologically advanced West, with such a market, rich population, it will benefit us. Are my efforts in the Western direction worth it? They are,” said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko believes that Russia’s leadership should not be so sensitive about Belarus’ participation in this European initiative. He underscored that the Eastern Partnership has no anti-Russia goals. Russia has been invited to take part in many projects. “Why is the Russian leadership so afraid of our talks with Europe? At present Belarus’ trade with the European Union is as big as that with Russia, even big. Trade with Europe accounts for about 45%. Billions of dollars! Do I have to put some political efforts into it? We cannot disregard the fact,” said the President.

“At present Russians have no problems paying EUR 35 for travels to the West. But the visa price we pay is EUR 60. But we don’t feel ‘allergic’ about it and don’t make a ruckus over it. We do not diabolize your relations either with Europe or NATO,” added the head of state.

The President underlined that Belarus needs to build normal relations with Europe. “We are not just a European country. We are the centre of Europe. It is the strategic country, the bridge between the East and the West, the bridge between the giant country, which is Russia, and the giant focus of power, which is the technologically advanced European Union,” he said.

“We used to be able to freely talk to Poland, the Baltic states, Eastern Europe when they were independent and outside the European Union. At present they are members of the European Union and don’t make many decisions, especially economic, diplomatic, visa ones independently. Those decisions are made in Brussels. We have to protect the existing relations, provide the diplomatic support for them by conducting a dialogue with Brussels. It is an objective easy-to-understand point of view,” remarked the President.

“Last but not the least, why do we have to quarrel with Baltic nations? Why do we have to quarrel with the Poles, the Ukrainians? They are our neighbours!” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.