Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) - The Belarusian Presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) seeks to improve the situation in the region, Slovakian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak said during a meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 22 June, BelTA has learned.

The minister congratulated Belarus on the successful CEI presidency and fully supported Alexander Lukashenko’s call for discussion of multiple common challenges and threats. “No country and no region can deal with these challenges on its own. Most challenges are transnational and require comprehensive solutions. The Minsk meeting provides another possibility for discussions and better understanding,” Miroslav Lajcak pointed out.

He stressed that Belarus’ CEI presidency is aimed at promoting connectivity in a wider Europe and bringing nations together. “It also inspires us to build new bridges,” Miroslav Lajcak remarked.

“Belarus’ presidency aims to improve the situation in the region. In this light, I would like to speak about the Eastern Partnership, one of the key tools of cooperation between the EU and its Eastern partners. This project has always pursued very ambitious goals, namely to reunite Europe and establish links between the European countries. At the same time it is totally voluntary. We would like this project to have an effective impact on our nations,” the minister noted.

“We know you have certain expectations and goals. Today we have a wonderful opportunity to talk over the priorities. Cooperation in transport and logistics is of great importance for all of us. I believe our nations will benefit from our pragmatic cooperation. But we should also pursue ambitious objectives, think strategically and go beyond the scope of technical matters,” Miroslav Lajcak underlined.

According to him, the CEI is a unique regional association that can serve as a platform to forge regional partnership.

“We have a chance to build a wider Europe. Today we can review the results we have achieved in this sphere due to the CEI’s uniqueness. We have discussed the ties that link together the CEI and the Eastern Partnership members. Our states are totally supportive of the initiatives of the Belarusian presidency. This format is of paramount importance, unifying the wider Europe. We have gained certain experience we can now exchange. I hope today’s meetings will bring positive results,” Miroslav Lajcak summarized.