MINSK, June 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Minsk considers it to be Ukraine’s sovereign right to sign the economic section of the association agreement with the European Union, Belarusian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dmitry Mironchik said on Thursday.

“This is the sovereign right of the sovereign state,” he said.

When Mironchik was asked about possible impacts of Ukraine’s signing the economic section of the association agreement with the European Union on Belarus’ foreign economic activity, he said his country would closely monitor any possible changes in foreign trade conditions following this signing, since Ukraine is one of Minsk’s key trade partners. “As a matter of fact, we conduct such monitoring on the permanent basis in respect of all our trade partners, especially such important partners as Ukraine,” Mironchik said.

“We take appropriate protective measures, if it is needed, in full compliance with world practices and Belarus’ liabilities,” even regardless of any agreements that might change basic conditions of foreign trade, he added.