Azaruk: All Western sanctions aimed at eliminating Belarus and Russia as competitors

The cooperation, which Belarus and Russia are demonstrating today, is a result of the unprecedented sanctioning pressure, applied to our countries by the collective West. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Igor Nazaruk.

"Illegal sanctions of the collective West are not just the termination of some supplies, but also a ban on financial transactions, the withdrawal of a number of manufacturers, who were co-founders or founders of the companies, from the markets of Russia and Belarus," said Deputy Minister.

"Our counter-partners just pushed us to work even more closely with Russia to prevent a technological gap, to maintain a continuous production process. And as a result, we either recreate or create on a new basis our centers of competence - whether it is mechanical engineering, microelectronics, mastering of nanotechnologies, biotechnologies.

Belarusian science in many areas has been famous since Soviet times. There is also much to learn from the Russians. Both countries have a common goal - to move away from technological and other dependence on third countries and develop their own.

In Soviet times, Minsk was famous for its computer engineering plant, which was engaged in the development and production of large electronic computers. We were a competitor to IBM Corporation. And now they have no competitors. So all these sanctions are aimed at eliminating the competition and the face of Belarus and Russia either in the markets of their own countries or in the markets of third countries, where they sell their products," said Igor Nazaruk.