Opinions & Interviews

Poland ready to arrange V4+EaP foreign ministers visit to Minsk

MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – Poland is ready to arrange the visit of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative of the European Union to Minsk, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he reviewed the visit of the Belarusian parliamentary delegation to Poland in an interview with the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper, BelTA has learned.

Belarus’ parliamentary delegation met with Poland’s top officials. The parties discussed how to advance bilateral relations to a higher level. “High-level contacts will be intensified; positive signals were sent to the business community. Poland upholds Belarus-EU rapprochement and is interested in the prompt signing of the visa facilitation agreement. It also welcomes the contribution of the Belarusian government to the Minsk agreements. The Polish side is ready to arrange the visits of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership initiative of the European Union to Minsk. It is in favor of Belarus’ participation in international summits, including events to mark the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership. The speaker added that Poland was pleased to receive an invitation to take part in the 2nd European Games in Minsk, celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of Brest and other events.

Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that Belarus and Poland have yet to unlock the full potential of their political contacts. “It is not a secret that Belarus-Poland relations were not easy. They had a fair share of ups and downs. However, Belarus’ good attitude to the Poles always prevailed. I believe that bilateral cooperation can be more dynamic and comprehensive,” he said.

During their visit to Poland, the Belarusian delegation met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the heads of the Polish Senate and Sejm, top officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Polish Academy of Sciences and the National Chamber of Commerce. According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the Polish side showed its readiness to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with Belarus. “After many years of lukewarm relations, we now have an opportunity to expand bilateral cooperation in virtually all areas. Our countries are bound by many centuries of common history, Slavonic unity, similar traditions and a mindset, and a common cultural background. After all, we are neighbors, therefore we simply must communicate openly with each other, including when it comes to problems. Belarus views Poland as an important and promising partner in the west. It counts on closer cooperation with Poland based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect and equality taking into consideration mutual interests,” the speaker underlined.

Belarus’ parliamentary delegation led by Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich was on a visit to Poland on 11-14 February. Mikhail Myasnikovich also visited Bialystok where he met with representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in Poland.

Launched as a joint policy initiative, the Eastern Partnership aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union, its Member States and its six Eastern neighbors: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

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