Opinions & Interviews

ASHGABAT, 30 May (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in strengthening the international cooperation in ensuring global energy security, Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister Vadim Zakrevsky said as he spoke at the Ashgabat International Energy Charter Forum “Towards a Multilateral Framework Agreement on Transit of Energy Resources” on 30 May, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus signed the International Energy Charter in the Hague in 2015. The country reaffirms its readiness to continue the development of the international cooperation to ensure global energy security, which should contribute to the most effective production, transportation, allocation and use of energy sources on an economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound basis,” Vadim Zakrevsky stressed.

He believes that Belarus’ geopolitical location and the active effort to promote the “integration of integrations” of the European Union member states and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union contribute to the compatibility of the national and regional energy systems and help create a common energy space.

“In order to tap into the country’s geo-strategic potential, boost the economic efficiency of the national fuel and energy sector, and ensure energy security, Belarus is strengthening its cooperation in such areas as the establishment of common energy markets, scientific research, advanced personnel training, and development of energy-related services. Belarus’ strategic position at the crossroads between the East and the West, the North and the South creates preconditions for a profitable exchange of energy resources and their transit across Belarus in different directions,” Vadim Zakrevsky noted.

He also noted that Belarus maintains its position as a reliable partner that ensures the uninterrupted supply of energy to the European Union. Being a reliable partner-country and transit-country, it is open to infrastructure projects that contribute to global and regional energy security, taking into account, on an equal basis, the interests of all states-suppliers, transit countries and consumers of energy resources.

The deputy minister believes that the active positions of the states participating in the forum will help further develop the already existing relations and find new areas for constructive cooperation in the future.