30 January 2008
Russia is worried about West's pressure on Belarus, foreign minister says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia is worried about "pressure exercised by some Western countries on Belarus to force the republic into changing its policy."

Speaking at a news conference in Minsk on Wednesday, Mr. Lavrov denounced the "attempts of the economic and political pressure" as "counterproductive and short-sighted."

"Sanctions have never had a desired effect. Problems should be solved through mutually-respectful dialogue, not through dictate and pressure," the minister said.

Mr. Lavrov denied that any possible improvements in Belarus' ties with western countries may have a negative impact on its relations with Moscow, saying that Russia believes that all countries including the "closed neighbors above all" should "have an opportunity to realize their potential freely."

Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynaw said that "criticism and unilateral measured are ungrounded."

"We are now working to neutralize these matters as much as possible to ensure that economic sanctions could not be worsened and even could be removed," he said.

Mr. Lavrov arrived in Minsk for participation in the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries' board meeting.