Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 19 June (BelTA) – Belarus has been persistent in stating that Russia’s interests in the Eastern Partnership Initiative need to be taken into account. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement during the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Minsk on 19 June, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Makei presented a Belarusian-Russian program of coordinated actions in the area of foreign policy for 2018-2019. “We pay close attention to cooperation with the European Union. Belarus has been persistently stating that Russia’s interests must be taken into account within the framework of the implementation of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership Initiative,” said the official.

Apart from that, Belarus represents Russia’s interests in the joint consulting group on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. “We look forward to the participation of Russian representatives in the OSCE-sponsored international high-level conference on preventing and fighting terrorism in the digital age in October 2018,” said Vladimir Makei.

Vladimir Makei mentioned the most important initiatives the countries are pushing for in the OSCE. In particular, the number includes the harmonization of integration processes, fight against trafficking in persons, drugs trafficking, and other transnational challenges and threats.