Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – The Belarusian-German relations are progressing in a positive way reaching a qualitatively new level, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media after a meeting with Vice Chancellor, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Sigmar Gabriel on 17 November, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Makei welcomed the intensification of political contacts and trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Belarus-EU cooperation was on the agenda of the talks in Minsk.

It is symbolic that Sigmar Gabriel’s visit is taking place in the year when the two countries celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations. The visit shows that the Belarusian-German relations are progressing in a positive way reaching a qualitatively new level. This fact was noted during today’s meetings.

Vladimir Makei stressed that the meetings with Sigmar Gabriel were held in a constructive and absolutely open atmosphere. “We were happy to note that in the past few years the political contacts between Belarus and Germany have significantly intensified, including the contacts between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two states,” he said.

In 2017, there was a significant increase in bilateral trade. “We hope that together we will be able to keep the momentum. We also talked over the ways to bring more German business to Belarus. We have concrete proposals and I think that we will be able to strengthen our trade and economic cooperation in the near future,” Vladimir Makei said.

In his words, sensitive issues related to the development of human rights and democracy were also touched upon during the talks in Minsk. "I cannot say how many meters or tens of meters we have made in the rapprochement but it is very important to have a chance to discuss sensitive issues frankly at all the levels. Our talks were very informative, proper. I am convinced that we have improved our understanding of each other,” the minister said.