Lukashenka to EU banker: There are enough responsible businessmen in Belarus
On March 17, Aliaksandr Lukashenka met with Vice President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Alain Pilloux. The Belarus president thanked him for the investments amounting to nearly 1.8 billion euros since 1992. Belarus will remain an honest partner in the future, he said but stressed that the Belarusian side will not implement projects that do not benefit the state.
The sides also discussed provate business in Belarus just days afters the detention of top businessmen, including Yury Chyzh.
"We are absolutely not against private business, responsible business which prioritizes the interests of the state and is not trying to line its pockets only,” the head of state said and added that there are enough responsible businessmen in the country," BELTA reports.
Belarus is now able to conduct a more open dialogue with European Union and is prepared for it, the head of state stressed.
EBRD Vice President Alain Pilloux, in turn, noted that the bank has already done a lot in Belarus. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has maintained robust cooperation with Belarusian companies and the government, there is a high level of trust. The EBRD can do even more in Belarus today. The EBRD Vice President suggested discussing these issues with the Belarusian head of state.
