On 2 February, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko gave an interview to the Euronews TV channel, one of the leading European news agencies.

In the course of the interview it was stated that Belarus and the EU were prepared to hold a dialogue, including on such issues as the freedom of the press and election legislation. The Euronews reporter was interested to know what influence the world financial crisis had on Belarus, why Belarus played a significant role as a transit country, and what relations Belarus had with Russia in the light of the issue on recognition by Belarus of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Speaking about the warming of relations between Belarus and the European Union, Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus valued highly the positive steps taken by the European Union.

‘Speaking about the warming of the relations between Belarus and the EU, there are positive moments in them. We appreciate it very much. We believe it is the starting point for developing further our relations’, said the President.

The European Union is Belarus’ second-largest international trade partner. According to Alexander Lukashenko, ‘there is mutual interest, and it pushes us to normal relations’.

The Belarusian President added that Belarus welcomed the EU’s steps with regard to the European Partnership initiative. ‘We welcome this positive step of the European Union in relation to its neighbours. It is a pragmatic, wise and timely step of the EU’, said the President.

The Euronews TV channel is broadcast to 119 countries, operating 24 hours a day and providing news items in eight languages: English, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian and French.