MINSK. Sept 17 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he is sure that the United States could help settle the conflict in Ukraine.
"The U.S. could help settle this conflict," Lukashenko said, receiving David Hale, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, in his residence on Tuesday.
Lukashenko was quoted by the state news agency BelTA.
"As for the problems facing Europe, especially Eastern Europe and Ukraine in particular, I am absolutely sure today that this conflict won't be settled without the participation of the United States," Lukashenko said.
"It is the basics of diplomacy: if negotiators fail to achieve something, then one should invite some new forces," he said. "Then it's time for new ideas to come."
Lukashenko welcomed the interest that the United States takes in Eastern Europe as a region. "It is nice to see you coming here for a visit; I mean not only visiting Belarus, but Eastern Europe in general. I am pleased to point out that this is an indication that the United States has finally paid attention to Belarus rather than just Europe as a whole," Lukashenko told Hale.
Minsk is set to do its utmost for the developing of bilateral relations with Washington. "We will make every efforts for our relations to develop," he said.
"As regards to our relationship, you know very well that this is not the only signal about normalizing relations we are sending the U.S. administration. It is not normal that two countries that were once on one side fighting a common enemy have kind of weak relations today," Lukashenko said.