Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) - Minsk format of negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and OSCE remains very important, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger told the media in Minsk on 9 October, BelTA has learned.

“I think this is a very important format and it will remain such, providing a platform for dialogue for all the signatories to the Minsk agreements. Belarus is doing a very good job supporting this format. However, the possibilities for ensuring specific results largely depend on political will. As you know, political readiness to fulfill the provisions of the Minsk agreements in security affairs and political affairs is not very high among the parties," Thomas Greminger said.

He also described the Minsk high-level international conference "Preventing and Countering Terrorism in the Digital Age" as a successful joint undertaking. “This conference is an eloquent example of very close cooperation between Belarus and the OSCE across a variety of issues, including combating human trafficking, security sector reform, gender equality. We also discussed the ways to strengthen this cooperation. However, my main message was the words of gratitude for all the efforts that Belarus is making for the OSCE,” Thomas Greminger noted.

When asked whether a possible candidature of Ukraine’s new representative in the trilateral contact group was discussed during the meeting with the Belarusian president, the OSCE secretary general said: “No, we did not discuss this. It is up Ukraine to resolve this issue".