MINSK, December 17. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called on the European Union to develop a "reasonable" policy towards former Soviet states and especially Russia, condemning "positions of sanctions and threats" as unacceptable.

Lukashenko made the appeal during the meeting with the president of the Foundation for International Cooperation and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Wednesday.

Pressure for sanctions had produced an "asymmetrical situation" in which advocates — named by Prodi as the United States — had "sustained the slightest damage as compared with those countries which did not want sanctions but were affected by them,” Italy's former premier said. Experience as a scientist showed him “sanctions are detrimental and do not bring any benefit."

Belarus was keenly interested in improving relations with European partners, Lukashenko said. “But you should realize clearly that we are ready for this normalization on mutually respected principles and on an equal basis,” he told Prodi.