Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 15 December (BelTA) – In international security matters a lot also depends on small countries like Belarus. The statement was made by Latvia’s Permanent Representative in NATO Indulis Berzins during the international seminar “International security and NATO in 2016” on 15 December, BelTA has learned.

The Latvian diplomat noted that major players, large powers deal with many matters but a lot also depends on small countries like Belarus and Latvia. He said he believes that Belarus’ role in international security matters and the resolution of regional conflicts is very large. “Without Belarus the world as we know would have been different,” said the NATO Permanent Representative. He specified that Minsk had become an influential platform for discussing the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis.

In his opinion, even if no considerable progress is secured in negotiations, negotiations and dialogue are better than any conflict. “Unfortunately, countries could use more trust in each other. It is a shame that countries no longer trust each other. It is necessary to organize meetings and talk to each other in order to restore trust,” Indulis Berzins was convinced.

The international seminar has been traditionally organized by the Foreign Policy and Security Research Center of Belarus in association with the NATO Public Diplomacy Division. Renowned experts, diplomats, representatives of public organizations and associations, representatives of Belarusian universities took part in the seminar. Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Policy and Security Research Center, Doctor of Historical Sciences Andrei Rusakovich and Doctor of Historical Sciences Viktor Shadursky also took part in the seminar.

Participants of the event discussed relations between NATO and ex-USSR countries in 2016 as well as NATO’s role in the international security system in 2016.

The international seminar gathered about 60 people. Participants of the event thoroughly and substantially talked over topical matters concerning international security.