The inauguration of the Embassy of Belarus in Spain

16 December 2016

16-12-2016

On December 15-16, 2016 the Belarusian delegation headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, Yevgeny Shestakov, visited Spain.

Due to the beginning of a diplomatic presence of Belarus in Spain, a number of political, economic and cultural activities were organized.

Mr. Shestakov held talks with Mr. Ignacio Ibanez, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain. During the talks they discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the intensification of contacts at the level of leadership of the Foreign Affairs Ministries of the two countries, to the development of trade and economic cooperation, to the expansion of the legal framework and to the organization of joint cultural projects.

The parties agreed to sign soon an intergovernmental memorandum on cooperation in the spheres of economy and industry between the two countries, which provides for the establishment of a joint trade and economic commission, as well as a memorandum on cooperation between the Foreign ministries and an agreement on cooperation between the ministries of justice of Belarus and Spain.

The inauguration ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Kingdom of Spain was held in Madrid on December 16, 2016.

On December 16, 2016, an official reception was organized to mark the inauguration of the Embassy of Belarus in Spain. The reception was attended by over 100 representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Madrid, political elite of Spain, business community and Belarusian diaspora in Spain.

The reception was also attended by the Secretary General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Ignacio Ibanez, and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai.

These days in Spain were held three concert performances of the choir of students of the Belarusian State Academy of Music, who performed the works of Belarusian, Spanish and Russian composers. In the city of city Chinchon was organized a concert, which was attended by more than 250 spectators.

On December 16, 2016, in the city of Toledo was opened a unique exhibition from the collections of the National Art Museum of Belarus and of funds of the Spanish El Greco Museum. The exhibition included icons of XVI — XVII centuries and the works of El Greco, dedicated to St.Peter and St.Paul. The exhibition was organized by the Embassy of Belarus in France, Belarus Embassy in Spain, National Art Museum of Belarus, Museum of El Greco with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Spain, as well as of sponsors.

Opening of the Belarus Embassy in Spain will contribute to the development of the Belarusian-Spanish cooperation. The main tasks of the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Spain will be intensification of trade, economic and investment cooperation, increasing of intercultural dialogue and interaction in other areas.