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Belarus to make efforts to normalize Ukrainian-Russian relations

MINSK, March 20, 6:30 /ITAR-TASS/. Belarus cannot remain indifferent to the situation in Ukraine, Crimea's referendum on March 16 and its decision to join Russia, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday March 19.

"Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are brotherly states linked by common centuries-old history," the statement said. "Outside forces have repeatedly tried to play on and exploit contradictions that emerged between us."

"At present, the attempts by politicians who actually do not care about the events happening in the region to decide what is good and what is bad for our Slav peoples cause deep concern."

Taking into account the present-day reality, the Republic of Belarus objects to one-sided and biased interpretation of principles of international law in favor of geopolitical interests and attempts to announce certain international situations and territories unique while ignoring others.

Minsk believes that "theorizing on this topic means driving the problem into a corner. "Belarus will make all efforts towards returning Ukrainian-Russian relations to brotherly and good neighborly ones, helping find options to settle all the existing contradictions and preventing armed confrontation," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

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