Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia considers the U.S. and the EU's sanctions against Belarus counterproductive, as they've been adopted "for political reasons to undermine stability in the country." This was announced by Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich on February 1.
«Of course, each country gives an estimate of the events in Minsk on December 19, 2010 and their aftermath. We also have an opinion on this subject, which we did not conceal both in bilateral contacts with Minsk and in the European Council while taking appropriate decisions,» the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
«In this case, the consistent position of Russia comprises in the widest possible involvement of Belarus as a sovereign European state in the processes of international cooperation. In this strategic context, it would be counterproductive to impose politically motivated unilateral sanctions against Belarus to undermine social and economic stability in the country,» Lukashevich said.
«On the contrary, establishment and development of mutually beneficial and equal relations with Belarus would contribute to the deepening of market reforms there, as well as further development of democratic institutions,» the Russian Foreign Ministry believes.
As Telegraf previously reported, the Foreign Ministers of the EU 27 countries agreed on the decision to impose sanctions against 158 representatives of the Belaruian authorities at a meeting in Brussels on January 31.
At the same time, the U.S. imposed unilateral sanctions on a number of Belarusian companies, but also expanded the list of Belarusian citizens not to enter the United States, recalled Korrespondent.net.
In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus commented on the decision of the European Union to impose sanctions on the country’s leadership. According to the Ministry, the country will take appropriate and proportionate measures in response to EU sanctions.
