Russia sees Belarus as most reliable, strategic partner

MOSCOW, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that "Belarus is a fraternal country, the most reliable, strategic partner of Russia" amid concerns about future bilateral ties.

Russia is at odds with Belarus over energy prices among other issues that led to recent public criticism of Moscow by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Russians and Belarusians are not indifferent about how relations between the two allied countries will develop, especially against the backdrop of the current international situation, the ministry said in a statement.

In an address to the parliament in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russians consider it appropriate to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, including in the foreign policy and economic spheres, the statement recalled.

The statement said that in Russian-Belarusian relations, there are scenarios in which the assessments and approaches of the parties do not completely coincide. "At the same time, however, we have always found and will find solutions to even the most difficult issues," it read.

The ministry stressed that the two countries maintain close contacts at all levels to iron out differences.

The Commonwealth of Belarus and Russia was founded in April 1996 and the two countries signed the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State in December 1999 to enhance integration in multiple spheres.