OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2007. Belarus is prepared to have a close union with Russia and is fulfilling all the obligations it has undertaken. However today everything hinges on Russia as regards the Union State forming, and “absolutely nothing depends on Belarus,” said the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at a meeting with the delegation of the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. Headed by Alexander Khloponin, the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk region, the delegation is on a two-day visit to Belarus on May 28-29, reported the Presidential website www.president.gov.by.

In 2006, the trade between Belarus and the regions of the Siberian Federal District of Russia amounted to $510,8 million, up 12,9% from 2005; exports reached $347,2 million (a 17,1% improvement) and imports came to $163,6 million (a 5% growth). Belarus’ major exports are automobiles, road-construction and agricultural equipment and consumer goods. Belarusian companies have set up a network of 34 commodity distribution facilities in the regions of the District.

According to the Head of State, the trade growth between Belarus and Siberia’s regions is quite big. “But this level does not correspond with the potential of the Republic of Belarus and of such an enormous and rich region. We are prepared to work in this direction,” Alexander Lukashenko said. There has been a robust growth of assembly plants in Siberia, and Belarus intends to expand its presence in this market, the President said.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, Russian mass media are groundlessly accusing Belarus of ostensibly having “turned toward the West,” of betraying the interests of the Russians and the Union State. “We are situated in the centre of Europe and cannot fail to develop relations with the West; we must have a normal dialogue; for Russia this is beneficial too,” the Head of State said. Russia is engaged in a close dialogue with both the USA and the countries of the European Union, but nobody is speaking about any sort of betrayal of Belarusian interests.

Belarus has great economic interest in the West, the President said. Today nearly 45% of the Belarusian exports is bound for the Russian Federation and 45% - for the countries of the European Union. At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko said, Belarus will continue adhering firmly to the agreements reached with the Russian Federation. “We have never failed Russia, not even in small things,” the Head of State said.