16 Nov 2017 22:23

EU not to drive wedge in Minsk-Moscow relations - German diplomat

MINSK. Nov 16 (Interfax) - Europe does not want to drive a wedge in relations between Belarus and Russia, Hans-Peter Hinrichsen, the head of the German Foreign Ministry's department for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and the Eastern Partnership, said.

"We have no desire to pull Belarus towards the West, to drive a wedge in relations between Belarus and Russia. We are not seeking to improve the situation with the EU at the expense of worsening it with Russia," Hinrichsen said at a roundtable during Minsk forum 2017 on Thursday.

He said that Europe wants Belarus to have good relations with both partners. "Belarus is a bridge, a country that is not simply positioned between the EU and Russia but also brings them together. No one intends to put Belarus before a choice: either with Russia, or with the EU. This would be completely wrong," Hinrichsen said.