OREANDA-NEWS. April 17, 2009. Belarus is capable of establishing good relations with the EU, without middlemen, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg in Minsk on April 17.

“Being interested in cooperation with the European Union, we have repeatedly stated that we do not need middlemen in the relations between Belarus and the EU. We are capable, if there is such will on the part of Europe, of establishing good relations between Belarus, which is a European state, and Europe,” the President said.

The head of state assured that in Belarus all are interested in establishing normal relations with the EU. “Recently some statements have been made, mainly here, addressed to you, that Lukashenko is allegedly cheating Europe, that he promises and does not fulfill. You need to know and understand clearly: everything we promise, we will honour. We will tell you straight away if we cannot do something and will explain why,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The President also added that he is happy to meet a representative of the Czech Republic, more so a representative of the EU and the country presiding in the European Union, here in Minsk.

For his part Karel Schwarzenberg confirmed that no middlemen are needed for the Belarus-EU dialogue. The sides can agree on everything by themselves. He noted the progress in these relations and assured that the sides can solve the existing problems together.

“For us Belarus is a European country. It has always been. It is just that we need a fresh start in the Belarus-EU relations,” Karel Schwarzenberg said. The idea of the Eastern Partnership is to boost these relations, he added.