Belarus is interested in full normalization of relations with EU, deputy foreign minister says

Belarus remains interested in achieving the full normalization of its relations with the European Union, Deputy Foreign Minister Alena Kupchyna told reporters in Minsk on November 29.

The deputy minister noted that the relationship had not yet been fully restored to normal. "This is a fragile process that should not be harmed," she warned.

Speaking about the prospect of a framework cooperation agreement between Belarus and the EU, Ms. Kupchyna said that Belarusian representatives, at all meetings, emphasized the country's interest in starting talks or at least consultations on the matter.

"It is wrong that a country such as Belarus, which makes a fairly weighty contribution to regional stability and security and which has made significant progress in building partner relations with the EU, is not even involved in negotiations on a cooperation agreement," she said.

EU institutions want to see greater progress on democracy in Belarus before taking steps to further improve relations with Minsk, said Ms. Kupchyna.

Speaking in an interview broadcast on the Belarus One television channel earlier this week, Andrea Wiktorin, head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, said that the 28-nation bloc was ready to start talks on a framework cooperation agreement with Belarus but would like the latter to fulfill certain conditions before that could happen.