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Minsk to build ties with EU, not at expense of cooperation with Russia

Belarus official notes Minsk should derive benefit from multilateral cooperation

MINSK, June 7. /TASS/. Belarus is determined to develop relations with its partners, including the European Union, but not to the detriment of cooperation with Russia, Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Council of the Republic, the upper house of the Belarusian parliament, said on Tuesday summing up the results of his talks with speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper house Valentina Matviyenko.

"Building relations with other countries, associations does not mean that this should be to the detriment of the Belarusian-Russian relations," he said. "We never make friends with one to make enemies with the other, there is nothing like this here."

He noted that Belarus should "derive benefit from multilateral cooperation." "Our friendly priority relations with the Russian Federation do not mean that they are directed against someone," Myasnikovich said.