News & Events in Belarus

Hans-Dietrich Genscher: Belarus will remain important for Germany’s foreign policy

MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) – Belarus will not lose its significance in Germany’s foreign policy, said Hans-Dietrich Genscher, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor of Germany, as he met with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on 10 September.

“It is very important for us to pay considerable attention to promoting Belarusian-German relations as well as Belarus’ relations with the European Union,” stressed Hans-Dietrich Genscher.

“When the Berlin Wall was destroyed 20 years ago and Germany was united, someone wrote that it was the end of history. I didn’t believe it back then and don’t believe it now,” said Hans-Dietrich Genscher. “Today we have to build a new world and to rebuild Europe anew”. Hans-Dietrich Genscher is convinced that Europe can be stable provided it relies on the equality of all European nations, large and small ones. “The approach will not change regardless of the outcome of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Germany. It will become the foundation of the German foreign policy, first of all, in promoting relations with Belarus,” noted the European politician. He added that Belarus has not dropped out of his vision range. He continues monitoring the situation in Belarus and the development of relations between Belarus and Germany.

Addressing the guest, the Belarus President stressed that it was a great honor for him to meet with a politician of such a scale. “I could not even imagine that me and you would sit down together and discuss the policy, its major avenues, and Belarus’ place in the European politics,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

“Since I was about 20 years old I have been dealing with political issues. I’ve studied a lot in politics, especially in the policy of Germany because it formed not only the European architecture but also the global one. I could not but focus on you as an architect of this policy,” remarked Alexander Lukashenko. “If 30 years ago I was asked in the middle of the night what kind of man Hans-Dietrich Genscher is, I would have immediately named his position and characterized his entire political career,” said the President of Belarus.

The President was pleased to point out the affinity in foreign policies of Belarus and Germany. “Your views that have not changed for many decades largely coincide with the views that we advocate. In things like world peace and stability, multipolarity of the world order,” Alexander Lukashenko told the guest. “We have many common traits in the foreign policy that were laid down by you in Europe”. 

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