Opinions & Interviews

RIGA, 20 May (BelTA) – The influence and role of Belarus in matters of pan-European security are expected to become even more pronounced, BelTA learned from Ainars Lerhis, Chairman of the Board of the Center for East European Policy Studies, who took part in the media conference in Riga prior to the Eastern Partnership Initiative summit.

According to Ainars Lerhis, Belarus’ contribution to ensuring security in Europe and the Eastern European space grows all the time. “In the past it seemed that Belarus was not so active in the process, but recently we saw the country step up the effort. Belarus’ wide representation in events of the Eastern Partnership Initiative summit, including in the first media conference, testifies to that,” he said.

The political analyst said he believes that Belarus’ active stance on pan-European security matters is important for Europe. He also emphasized Belarus’ role in helping resolve the situation in Ukraine.

Ainars Lerhis added that Belarus’ stance and the country’s view on the development of the situation in Eastern Europe are becoming very important. “The key positive trend is the growing involvement of the Belarusian state in common European processes. It is very important that it is a bilateral process on the part of the European Union and within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Initiative. It is a mutual process of rapprochement and the manifestation of mutual points of view of the European Union and Belarus. I hope that the development will be gradual,” said the Chairman of the Board of the Center for East European Policy Studies.