MINSK, September 20 (Itar-Tass) —— Belarus hopes for the reset of Belarussian-European relations on the principles of equality and mutual respect, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said at the ceremony of ambassadors of foreign states presenting their credentials.
Accepting the credentials of Maira Mora, ambassador, head of the European Union’s delegation to Belarus, the president said that he counts on her “vast experience of work in the diplomatic service (Mora, specifically, headed Latvia’s diplomatic mission in Minsk - Itar-Tass) which will enable her to assume an active stand in the development of the Belarussian-European relations and ensure their reset on the principles of equality and mutual respect.”
The president said the European Union is one of the main partners of the republic in the commercial, economic, credit and investment areas. Belarus and the EU jointly ensure reliable protection of the European region against the main challenges and threats of the present, fight transborder crime, illegal migration, slave trade, and trade in arms and drugs.
Addressing Mora after the ceremony, Lukashenko said, “I hope you understand us, and this is very good. Don’t you believe anyone, don’t you believe in what is written, that we will be bargaining with someone, trading in so-called political prisoners (those convicted for the December 19, 2010 events after the presidential election – Itar-Tass),” he said. “If we can do something to ease their lot, also in the interests of the European Union, we make no secret that we will do so, and we will do this sincerely,” he added.
The president also said that the country is able to solve its financial and economic problems, also on the currency market, without anybody’s aid. “We are not in a situation when we need to run somewhere, to fall on our knees. The first days after we have sharply normalized the currency situation have shown that there was no such crisis,” he said.