Lifting of EU sanctions the only means for Belgian agricultural products to return to Russia - Medvedev
GORKI. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Access to the Russian market for Belgian agricultural products will be possible only on a reciprocal basis, if the European Union lifts its sanctions against Russia, Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.
At a joint press conference following talks with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Medvedev was asked when the issue of Belgian pear exports to Russia might be resolved.
"It's cold here, but not as cold everywhere as in Moscow or St. Petersburg, we also have pears growing here...which does not mean that we are closed to the possibility of shipments of fruits and vegetables from other countries. But for that to take place, we need to lift the restrictions that we have implemented," Medvedev said.
"Only a symmetrical response is possible here: if there are sanctions, there are also response measures; if sanctions collapse or we see some roadmap on moving away from them, we will, or course, outline means for restoration of trade in products which are subject to restriction," the prime minister said.
"If we follow this path, then all of this will come about," Medvedev said.