Opinions & Interviews

Belarus MFA: Eastern Partnership should aim for promoting peace and security

MINSK, 16 April (BelTA) – The Eastern Partnership initiative should be aimed at preventing the emergence of new dividing lines, promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region, Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgeny Shestakov said at a conference held in the Czech Republic to mark the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy in the Czech Republic.

Speaking at a themed section, Evgeny Shestakov stressed the importance of the initiative as a tool for pragmatic cooperation between the countries of the region and the European Union. In his opinion, this contributes to solving common tasks and responding to challenges in the areas of transport, trade, economic reform, people-to-people contacts and other sectors.

Despite the positive results achieved so far, “many of the fundamental goals of the Eastern Partnership have not yet been fully realized,” the deputy minister said. “Taking into account the lessons of the past, the main goal of the Eastern Partnership should be cooperation aimed at preventing the emergence of new dividing lines, promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region,” he stressed.

The deputy minister also emphasized the importance of achieving specific practical results within the initiative, the implementation of major infrastructure projects, including together with China, the organization of mixed EU-EaP trade missions to other regions of the world, encouragement of entrepreneurship, wider involvement of private capital for EU-funded projects.

The conference marking 10 years of the Eastern Partnership has been organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. Taking part in the event were representatives of the ministries and agencies of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, the European Commission and the European External Action Service.

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