Vladimir Ulakhovich: The level of understanding between Belarus and Russia is very high

Such a statement was made by Vladimir Ulakhovich, head of the Centre for International Studies under Belarus State University, at the 12th Minsk forum “Belarus and Eastern partnership: prospects of development in the spheres of politics, economy and society”.

Such a statement was made by Vladimir Ulakhovich, head of the Centre for International Studies under Belarus State University, at the 12^th Minsk forum “Belarus and Eastern partnership: prospects of development in the spheres of politics, economy and society”.

A diffused opinion that Belarusian-Russian relations are now in a crisis since Russia procrastinates granting of a final $500-million credit tranche to Belarus and some representatives of Russian governing body have made a number of unfriendly noises towards Belarus is wrong, to say the least. The head of the Centre for International Studies under Belarus State University is certain that such an opinion is just an emotional aspect of the case. “Today it is not correct to say that Belarusian-Russian relations are experiencing a crisis, one should use a little bit more tolerant vocabulary,” stressed V. Ulakhovich.

The expert also noted that Russian mass media is more pessimistic about the prospects of the Union State that Belarusian media. For instance, every now and then Russian mass media prints or broadcasts an opinion that Belarus is moving towards the West.

Vladimir Ulakhovich is convinced that in reality current improvement of relations between Belarus and the West is nothing else but natural adjustment of Belarus’ foreign-policy course which was dictated by time. It is by no means the departure from the Union State formation. “Development of full-fledged and large-scale relations with Europe is now a part of supreme national interests of Belarus,” noted Vladimir Ulakhovich.