Russia retains ban on supplies of goods from about 50 Belarusian enterprises - Lukashenko

MINSK. Dec 16 (Interfax) - Russia has retained the ban on supplies of goods produced by "about 50" Belarusian enterprises, which goes against the ideology of relations between the two countries, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

"Russia's ban on supplies of products of about 50 Belarusian enterprises, mostly food producers, still exists. I must tell you [the government] that it is our government's fault too. We just think, those are some small enterprises, it's no big deal. But it simply should not happen in principle. It goes against the ideology of our relations [with Russia]," the Belarusian BelTA state-run news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying at a meeting on Belarusian-Russian relations.

Lukashenko emphasized the importance of coordinating export and import with Russia while taking measures in response to the West's growing pressure of sanctions. "The measures taken by the Russian side must by no means hinder transit of Belarusian goods to third countries via the territory of Russia. There also must be no complaints during exports of Belarusian goods and services to the Russian market," he said.