17 Sep 2019 19:07

U.S. not asking Belarus to choose between East, West - U.S. Undersecretary of State Hale

MINSK. Sept 17 (Interfax) - The United States is determined to normalize relations with Belarus and is not asking Minsk to choose between the East and the West, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said.

"Normalizing our relations, we are not asking Belarus to make a choice between East and West. The United States respects Belarus' desire to determine its own path and contribute to peace and stability in the region," the Belarusian state news agency BelTA quoted Hale as saying after his meeting with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday.

"We welcome increased cooperation on non-proliferation, border security, economic cooperation, and exchange of information on common security," Hale said.