Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 8 June (BelTA) – Belarus aims to raise its status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from a dialogue partner to an observer, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei told reporters after the talks with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on 8 June, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Makei said that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is planning to take part in the meeting of BRICS leaders with the presidents and heads of government of the states participating in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Ufa in July. “We view this event as an additional platform for building dialogue between the heads of state,” the minister said.

He noted that Belarus maintains good relations with all BRICS countries. Vladimir Makei said that Belarus is ready to enhance concrete avenues of cooperation within the framework of this association. In particular, Belarus is interested in BRICS financial institutions, first of all, the New Development Bank.

Speaking about cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Vladimir Makei said that Belarus has been a dialogue partner of this organization for five years. Now Belarus is interested in advancing the level of participation in the organization.

“We hope that we will make a political decision on acquiring an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and finalize pending legal procedures in the near future. As a European country we are ready to be a kind of a Western corridor for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and make a contribution to its activities,” Vladimir Makei said. For example, Belarus has already put forward about a dozen of trade and investment projects.

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, in turn, hailed Belarus’ active position and said that the Russian side will support Belarus’ application for an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.