Moscow hails improvement of Minsk-West relations - Russian ambassador
MINSK. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Russia is interested in the development of relations between Belarus and the West with due account of Belarusian commitments to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov said.
"Russia welcomes the process of improving relations between sovereign Belarus and European nations, the EU and the United States," Surikov told a press conference in Minsk on Tuesday.
"The establishment of such relations on an equal and mutually advantageous basis is somewhat behind schedule because of the obstructionist stance of the West," the diplomat said.
"Russia is interested in the development of relations between Belarus and Western partners but does not want it to be at odds with obligations to the Union State and the EAEU," Surikov said.
"We are supporting our Belarusian partners in the process of their entry into the WTO and interaction with the International Monetary Fund for the purpose of receiving a loan," the ambassador said.
Russia is also seeking to normalize relations with the United States and the European Union, the diplomat said.