Working visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei to Ukraine

26 August 2016

26-08-2016

On August 25-26, 2016 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei paid a working visit to Ukraine.

During the visit Vladimir Makei met with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Vice Prime Minister — Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Gennadiy Zubko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin.

During the meeting the sides discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko thanked the Belarusian side “for the excellent organization of the Minsk talks, aimed to resolve the situation in the east of Ukraine.” He stressed that Minsk agreement is the only way for peaceful settlement of the conflict. In turn V.Makei assured the readiness of Belarus to continue to do its best to establish peace in brotherly Ukraine.

During the meeting with President of Ukraine the sides discussed intensification of the political dialogue, including at the highest level, the expansion of inter-parliamentary contacts, activities to enhance trade and economic cooperation, including the removal of artificial barriers in mutual trade. Participants also discuees the prospects for further normalization of relations between Belarus and the EU and the United States with the assistance of Ukraine. The sides stressed the importance of expanding humanitarian cooperation, the study of the Belarusian language in Ukraine and Ukrainian — in Belarus. It was agreed to intensify the process of demarcation of the Belarusian-Ukrainian state border.

The President of Ukraine emphasized the important role for the development of bilateral relations of the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Kiev and its head, Ambassador of Belarus to Ukraine Valentin Velichko, who has worked in this position for 15 years.

On behalf of the President of Belarus V.Makei presented a gift of the Head of State to the President of Ukraine on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence — “Slutsk belt”.

At the meeting in the Foreign Ministry in connection with the forthcoming 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the heads of foreign ministries stated the presence of the achieved high level of interaction between Belarus and Ukraine, outlined the prospects of further cooperation in political, trade-economic and cultural spheres.

P.Klimkin noted that our two countries have much in common, that determines the “common vision of the future”, emphasized the importance of further development of Belarusian-Ukrainian cooperation. V.Makei emphasized that while building up bilateral relations with Ukraine, Belarus “to be guided only by their own national interests.”

In the Cabinet of Ministers during the meeting with G.Zubko the sides discussed issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. V.Makei stressed the need for more efficient use of the possibility of cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine owing to the fact that countries are participating or seeking to participate in different associations of economic integration. The issues of the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation were discussed. The sides stressed the importance of eliminating barriers to trade between the two countries.

V.Makei together with the Head of Kyiv City Municipality Vitaly Klitschko took part in the opening ceremony of the residential complex of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Ukraine. The construction of the object, which consists of an apartment building for diplomats and the residence of the Ambassador, started in December 2013 with the active participation of the Ukrainian side.