BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

28/06/2007

Russia remains Belarus's main strategic partner - foreign minister.

MINSK, June 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarussian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov has said that Russia remains his country's "most important, strategic partner."

Martynov said so as he received his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who had arrived in Minsk for events scheduled for the 15th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

For his part Lavrov said that he regarded his visit first and foremost from the standpoint of giving an impetus to the solution of problems facing both countries. In reply Martynov said that Belarus remained firm in its conviction that Russia was his its strategic partner.

Early this year there developed certain frictions in relations between Moscow and Minsk, mostly due to the shift of economic relations, including those in the energy sphere, to free market principles. Some high level Belarussian officials even speculated new strategic partners might begin to be looked for.

Yet, in his message of greeting to President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia Day earlier this month the Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed the certainty that both countries will be moving along the path of building a common, union state.

"I am certain that our countries will consistently adhere to their pledges to advance mutually beneficial integration and proceed along the path of building a union state and fostering the certainty of the people of Belarus and Russia about the success of this undertaking," Lukashenko said.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11671474&PageNum=0