Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Italian relations have accumulated a large untapped potential, Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky said as he met with Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Benedetto Della Vedova, BelTA has learned.

“The Belarusian-Italian relations have accumulated a great untapped potential. We would like to see more practical action in our economic relations. We would like the Italian Government send positive signals for the Italian business community in the relations with Belarus,” Vasily Matyushevsky said.

According to him, it is quite symbolic that Italy is one of the first countries with which Belarus has held a meeting of intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation after the decision of the European Union to lift most of the sanctions. “Now we can say that there is a new favorable background. Now we can make plans without regard to some artificial limitations,” Vasily Matyushevsky said.

Italy is one of the most important trading partners of Belarus and is among the leaders in the number of jointly-created enterprises, he noted.

“We would like you to know that we are an open and hospitable country. Belarus has no geopolitical ambitions. There is a healthy desire to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with partners in both the East and the West,” said Vasily Matyushevsky. “As we know, you are a consistent advocate of constructive cooperation and dialogue as a means of overcoming difficulties,” he added addressing

According to the First Deputy Prime Minister, Belarus would like to join forces with Italy on the path towards mutually beneficial cooperation. “We hope that the visit will give an additional impetus to our bilateral economic relations,” Vasily Matyushevsky said.

For his part, Benedetto Della Vedova thanked Vasily Matyushevsky for the meeting. “This is the second time I visit Belarus in less than a year. I am happy that after the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs today, we held the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. We worked intensively analyzing the prospects for economic partnership, which at this moment look upbeat and provide more opportunities,” he said.