Lukashenko: Belarusian-U.S. relations have good prospects

MINSK. July 28 (Interfax) - The relationship between Belarus and the United States is developing well, and promising prospects are in sight, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

"The current situation in our relations, and especially trends and prospects, are not bad," the presidential press service quoted Lukashenko as saying with reference to Belarusian-U.S. relations while receiving Belarus's Permanent Representative to the UN Valentin Rybakov.

Lukashenko dwelled on the current state of Belarusian-U.S. relations, which Rybakov has been tasked with handling.

"Both the honor and the huge task of normalizing relations between the U.S. and Belarus has fallen to you. You work closely with [U.S. Special Envoy to Belarus] John Coale. Please convey my best wishes to him and his lovely wife," Lukashenko said.

He said that, at negotiations with U.S. representatives, he clearly and unequivocally explained to them Belarus's position, telling them what was possible and what it would not agree to do.

"I explained our relations primarily with Russia and China, and also with Iran for that matter. We touched on numerous topics," Lukashenko noted.

"We have never weaseled or hidden our position behind diplomatic language. That's what benefits us today. They understand perfectly well, including Mr. Coale, what we can and what we cannot do," he said.

After presenting his report to Lukashenko, Rybakov told reporters that the U.S. had formulated more proposals for Minsk, which the president had already reviewed.

"Just a few days ago, the U.S. formulated further specific proposals for us. The president reviewed this information and gave the relevant instructions to the agencies tasked with implementing these proposals," Belarus's BelTA official news agency quoted Rybakov as saying.

He said he planned to return to New York in a few days and meet with Coale.

"The president's message will be conveyed to him. We look forward to the results," he said.