President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite in Minsk offered to develop cooperation between the two countries in the energy sphere. "We are in adverse conditions, and we need to think about the ways to ensure our independence," the president said.
The Belarusian leader noted that Belarus and Lithuania have good prospects for cooperation, especially in the energy sector. According to Alexander Lukashenko, a lot can be solved by agreements with the Baltic countries. «We’d like to agree with Lithuania. We are open for negotiations,» BelTA quotes the president of Belarus.
Alexander Lukashenko also noted that he intends to discuss a whole range of issues to be solved with his Lithuanian counterpart. As for political cooperation, the Belarusian leader intends to raise issues of interactions within the «European Eastern Partnership» to hear the opinion of his colleague in respect of the direction for further cooperation development or, just the opposite, its possibility to remain «frozen».
«You are a member of the European Union, it leaves its imprint on our meeting. I think you’ll recommend some activities,» Alexander Lukashenko said, referring to Dale Grybauskaite.
Lithuania Wants to Help Belarus Be More Open and Recognized in Europe, Grybauskaite
In turn, the Lithuanian president Grybauskaite said that the Lithuanian party was interested in the improvement and intensification of relations with Belarus. «We are not only neighbors. Lithuania is EU member and will chair the OSCE next year. Within this framework, we want to help Belarus, want to be around during the elections. We want to help be more open and recognized in Europe,» President Lithuania said.
Speaking about bilateral relations, Grybauskaite noted the interest of Lithuania in the development of economic relations, further implementation of energy projects. In particular, she expressed the readiness of Lithuania to «try to help use the EU policy towards Belarus as intense and open as possible.»
According to the President of Lithuania, the Lithuanian side is ready to cooperate, to protect the interests of Belarus in the European Union as far as Belarus would want it itself.
Belarus and Lithuania Could Reach $1 Billion Turnover, Lukashenko
Meanwhile, during a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus and Lithuania had demonstrated positive trade dynamics, which could provide the opportunity to reach $1 billion in 2011.
«Both sides have a good basis for negotiations. Steadily growing trade between the two countries will actually let reach $1 billion turnover next year. This is a very good base and good prospects for cooperation,» Alexander Lukashenko said.
In addition, the Belarusian head of state, addressing Dale Grybauskaite, expressed hope to come to an agreement which will facilitate communication between the two countries. «I’d like to remark that you firmly hold the word: you’ve promised to be in Belarus on the occasion of important agreements, events,» the Belarusian leader said.
