Events

BERLIN, 4 April (BelTA) - The new convocation of the German Bundestag may set up a group of friendship with Belarus in the nearest future. The statement was made by MP Martin Patzelt during the meeting with the Belarusian delegation headed by Chairman of the public organization Sister Cities Boris Batura, BelTA has learnt.

Martin Patzelt said that the new convocation of the Bundestag has not yet formed international groups tasked with the development of cooperation with different countries. However, this work is already underway. “Some MP want to set up a group of friendship with Belarus and I am going to become a member of this group, too, given my good experience of cooperation with Vitebsk,” said Martin Patzelt, who earlier was Oberburgermeister of Frankfurt an der Oder and developed twinning relations with Vitebsk. Frankfurt an der Oder will play host to the main events of the eighth meeting of Belarusian-German twin towns and partners. The main purpose of the visit of the Belarusian delegation to Germany was to take part in the meeting.

“I cannot say exactly how many deputies this friendship group will include and who will lead it. I think the group will be set up in the nearest future,” the MP said.

The work of the Belarus-Germany friendship group in the Bundestag aims to intensify bilateral cooperation. “I am going to support and promote active contacts with Belarus, including through the group of friendship with Belarus since it is very important. Our task is to maintain dialogue because the exchange of opinions with Belarus is very important in Europe,” said Martin Patzelt.

This meeting in the Bundestag is the first event of the program of the eighth Belarus-Germany meeting of sister cities and partners. Its plenary session, sessions of working groups and negotiations will be held in Frankfurt an der Oder on 4-6 April.

This large-scale forum is being held after a four-year hiatus by the Belarusian public organization Sister Cities together with German partners - the Frankfurt an der Oder administration, the West-East Meetings fund, the East-West union of federal societies, and the embassy of Belarus in the German Federal Republic. Taking part in the event from the Belarusian side is a delegation that comprises representatives of about 20 Belarusian districts and cities that have twinning or partnership relations with German cities and regions. The main purpose of this meeting is to develop bilateral and regional ties, promote Belarusian products in the German market, establish new ties and identify prospects of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Belarus and Germany.