High-level International Conference “Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Transforming World”

On October 26-27, 2023 Minsk hosted the High-level International Conference "Eurasian Security: Reality and Prospects in a Transforming World". 

The conference attracted considerable attention of the international audience. More than 150 foreign guests from 30 countries took part in the discussions, and about 300 representatives of Belarusian and foreign "think tanks", analytical institutes, and government agencies took part in the conference. 

The high-level international conference was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik, who presented the greetings of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, to the participants of the event and outlined Belarusian approaches to the Eurasian security architecture.

The opening ceremony was attended by Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Hungary, Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Imangali Tasmagambetov, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, Grigory Logvinov, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Roman Vasilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Imomi Sodiq Ashurboyzoda, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs - Head of the Centre for Political and International Studies of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and a number of other high-ranking guests.

In his statement, S.Aleinik emphasised the existential nature and significance of security issues for the Eurasian region. "West-centricity is a thing of the past, its place is taken by multipolarity," the Minister noted.

The Belarusian Foreign Minister suggested developing a "Charter of Diversity for the 21st Century". "Eurasian countries and even wider - the countries of the global East and South, and in fact, of the Global Majority - could openly and transparently develop such a document, which would set out the principles for building a just world order, reflecting the fact of diversity of civilisations. Western countries could also become participants in this process," Aleinik said.

The Minister also emphasised the necessity and timeliness of holding a serious summit of heads of state of the Eurasian countries to discuss the future architecture of Eurasian security. As Aleinik noted, "an architecture that would ensure lasting peace on our common large continent. The peace necessary for progress, creation and sustainable development of countries and nations".

Within the framework of thematic panel discussions, politicians and diplomats, analysts and experts from Eurasian countries, representatives of a number of international organisations, including the CSTO, CICA and the SCO, discussed topical problems of Eurasian security at the current stage, the main challenges and threats of geopolitical, military, economic and energy nature, outlined promising steps and directions for the formation of a new security architecture in the region.     

Yuri Ambrazevich, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, addressed the conference participants with closing remarks.

The holding of this conference in Minsk is another practical step confirming Belarus' consistent position on the necessity and importance of dialogue between international actors, the efforts of the Belarusian side to build mutual understanding and overcome the confrontational nature in interstate interaction.