Opinions & Interviews

Makei: EaP should help ease regional tensions

MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) – The Eastern Partnership Initiative should contribute to the efforts to ease regional tensions, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said during the 10th round of information ministerial dialogues of the Eastern Partnership countries on 22 June, BelTA has learned.

“This is the tenth time we have met in such an informal and friendly format. Looking back at our long history of contacts, we can say that they have proved instrumental for addressing important regional issues, communicating views on topical matters and improving planning of our individual and joint activities,” Vladimir Makei said.

He emphasized that the ongoing meeting in Minsk is the first one after the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels where “a very useful and quite ambitious set of deliverables for 2020” was adopted.

In his words, Belarus welcomes the Summit Declaration that provides a common ground for reconciling individual interests of the EU and all its partners. “We will review its implementation in Luxemburg in October this year. I would describe our today’s meeting as an opportunity to review our progress in addressing the most important issues of our agenda ahead of the meeting in Luxemburg. Belarus’ position remains unchanged: to be a success the Eastern Partnership should be a practice-oriented and non-confrontational instrument of promoting regional cooperation with a focus on efficient synergy in the areas of mutual interest,” Vladimir Makei said.

He noted that the Eastern Partnership will be useful for building bridges, eliminating dividing lines and easing regional tensions.

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