Events

15 May 2020

Belarus calls on CEI states to develop joint economic recovery strategies

Vladimir Makei

MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) – The Central European Initiative (CEI) member states should focus on developing joint strategies for the economic recovery of the region, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the CEI extraordinary summit held via teleconference on 15 May, BelTA reports.

The teleconference discussed ways to address social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vladimir Makei informed the participants of the summit about measures taken in Belarus to stem the spread of the infection. He also emphasized the need for concerted international effort to overcome social and economic aftermath of the crisis.

The minister called on the CEI member states to come up with joint strategies for the economic recovery of the region. “It is important that borders should remain open, markets accessible, and people and goods should be able to move freely across the borders and small and medium-sized enterprises should receive support,” the minister said.

Vladimir Makei expressed solidarity with the other CEI member states affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “Our words of compassion and support go to all the countries hit by the coronavirus, in particular Italy. We welcome the first manifestations of economic recovery and removal of some restrictions all over the region. We hope that this return to normal life will be irreversible and we will survive this crisis becoming more united and resilient to future challenges,” he said.

The foreign minister underlined that in the fight against the coronavirus no one should be left behind, including at the international level. “Concerted effort is the only way to overcome the negative impact of the pandemic,” he is convinced.

According to the minister, Belarus remains committed to cooperation with the other CEI member states, the WHO Secretariat, the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other interested parties while addressing social and economic consequences of the pandemic. “This is a long battle from the point of view of health and economic recovery and we will be able to win it only if we stay united,” Vladimir Makei added.

Taking part in the summit were prime ministers of Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, North Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Ukraine, deputy prime ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Poland, representatives of the foreign ministries of Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The discussion was also joined by European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti, and WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge.

The CEI is an intergovernmental forum established in 1989 to develop regional cooperation. Currently, the CEI includes 17 member states: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia, Montenegro, and the Czech Republic.