Belarusian interests should be taken into account while resolving Ukraine situation - FM

MINSK. May 6 (Interfax) - The Ukraine crisis should be resolved with due account of the interests of regional countries, including Belarus, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said.

"The negotiations should involve the parties for which the situation in our region matters. This applies to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Speaking of guarantees, there should be a clear understanding of the kind of security guarantees to be provided to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus," the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Makei as saying on Friday.

"Our stance is well known and has been repeatedly expressed by the Belarusian head of state; the stance is that we are interested in the soonest possible settlement of the conflict in a neighboring country. Of course, a solution should be found but it should be based on a balance of interests essential to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus," he said.

The West declares its interest in ending the conflict in Ukraine while adding fuel to the fire with its attempts to stuff the region with weapons, to send in mercenaries, etc.," Makei said.

It looks like Western countries are competing with one another in the imposition of sanctions on Belarus and Russia, Makei said.

"The United States, the European Union and their allies are practically having a socialist competition with these sanctions. At first they were imposed once in six months, then once in a quarter, and now on a monthly basis," the Belarusian minister said

"Our proposals of dialogue are categorically rejected. They said at first that the sanctions would be selective and would not target average people but now they say their primary objective is to smother the economy, to isolate the countries, and actually to destroy the sovereignty and independence of both Russia and Belarus," he said, adding that Belarus would give "a proper response."