Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) - Belarus will continue to support the Belarusians living abroad in their effort to preserve the language and culture, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said when speaking at the first session of the Advisory Council for the Belarusians Abroad set up at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister noted that the law on the Belarusians living abroad justifies the political attention to the diaspora on the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He stressed that the state will continue to provide all possible support to the Belarusians living abroad in preserving the Belarusian identity, language, culture, and in self-organization, the development of economic and humanitarian ties with the motherland. Vladimir Makei said that the Ministry will act as an objectively engaged friend to all representatives of Belarusian organizations of foreign states who will come to Belarus or a Belarusian Embassy with a constructive attitude," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Council was established in accordance with the law on the Belarusians living abroad in 2014. In lien with the law, the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for coordinating the work of government bodies in implementing the state policy in the sphere of relations with the Belarusian Diaspora. The session of the Council was attended by 32 representatives of the Belarusian organizations from 18 countries. The participants discussed the current level of cultural, educational and other kind of support to the Belarusians living abroad from the state, the participation and the role of the Belarusians living abroad in the economic relations between Belarus and the countries of their residence.

"A number of issues were raised. They will be discussed in greater detail in the course of further contacts between the Belarusian communities and relevant ministries. Representatives of the Belarusian diasporas, public institutions and non-governmental organizations noted that in all spheres of interaction there is a significant potential that needs to be tapped into,” the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs said. The participants to the Council meeting agreed that the discussion they started at the meeting will form the basis of the roadmap of next steps by the Belarusian state in regard to the Belarusian diasporas. Among these first steps, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working now, is the extension of the state program "The Belarusians in the World” for 2016-2020, the creation of the common Internet portal about the life of the Belarusians abroad, and the organization of the business forum of Belarusians living abroad in Minsk in 2016.