Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei participates in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries

12 April 2017

12-04-2017

On April 12, 2017 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, took part in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries in Warsaw.

The event was also attended by the senior officials of the Foreign Ministries of a number of EU Member States and the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn.

In his speech at the plenary session V.Makei stressed the need for closer cooperation among the EaP and the V4 countries in the field of transport, including the implementation of the connectivity concept in the EaP region and holding of relevant thematic events. The Belarusian Minister emphasized the importance of attracting International Financial Institutions’ funds for the implementation of perspective infrastructural projects in the region.

During the meeting, the heads of delegations discussed the preparations to the upcoming EaP Summit to be held in Brussels in November this year and the current situation in the region.

In Warsaw V.Makei held a number of bilateral meetings. The current state and prospects for development of Belarus-EU dialogue were discussed with Commissioner J.Hahn. The meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Davor Ivo Stier, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Teodor-Viorel Melescanu, were focused on intensification of bilateral interaction in political, economic and trade areas, as well as Belarus-EU relations.

The Belarusian Foreign Minister also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin. The two Ministers discussed the prospects of Belarus-Ukraine political dialogue, including the preparations of talks at the highest level. The challenging issues concerning the settlement in the East of Ukraine were also considered.