Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – The strengthening of political and economic dialogue with Belarus is important for Austria, Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Michael Linhart told journalists as he attended the opening of the Austrian Embassy in Belarus on 9 February, BelTA has learned.

He emphasized the importance of the event and said that Belarus is an important partner for Austria. Michael Linhart also stressed that the two countries have been cooperating for many years. “Business understood the importance of these close ties. Austrian companies have been operating in Belarus for a long time,” Michael Linhart noted. He said that Belarus received $2 billion in foreign direct investments from Austria. We can say that Austria is one of the largest western investors in the Belarusian economy, the Austrian official pointed out.

“The opening of the Austrian Embassy in Belarus will provide new opportunities for strengthening our economic cooperation,” Michael Linhart said.

He noted that the political dialogue with Belarus is important for Austria in the context of the country’s relations with the European Union in general. In his words, Austria was one of the first countries to promote the Belarus-EU dialogue.