Belarus supports Ukrainian independence, territorial integrity

          Belarus supports Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said after a meeting with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics in Riga.
The Minister said that Belarus proceeds from the fact that Ukraine is its very important partner. Ukraine is Belarus’ southern neighbor. Our trade was $7 billion last year and $8 billion a year before that. Our countries have close trade and economic ties and speak virtually the same language. “Therefore we view what is happening in Ukraine as, I would say, a tragedy and, of course, we regret the victims in Ukraine,” the minister said.
         “We think that the most important thing now is to restore stability, prevent further bloodshed and ensure the functioning of the authorities which should be legitimate," the minister added.