Events

MINSK, 9 July (BelTA) – If necessary, Belarus can act as a secretariat in negotiations on Ukraine. Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei made the statement in an interview with the TV channel Russia 24, BelTA has learned.

The Minister underlined that as Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko repeatedly stated, Belarus is ready to continue providing the platform for talks on resolving the conflict in Ukraine. “We are ready to provide more than a platform. If necessary, we can act as a secretariat. Certain partners of ours have made such requests. We are ready to provide any other kind of assistance for the sake of securing peace and accord in Ukraine as soon as possible. From our point of view, to make it happen, all the sides in the conflict should first of all demonstrate interest and readiness for a dialogue,” said the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking about the operation of the trilateral contact group, Vladimir Makei stated that despite a number of difficulties the process advances and certain progress has been secured. “Little by little the sides come to terms on the withdrawal of heavy weapons and on the unconditional fulfillment of the agreements reached within the framework of the Normandy format in February 2015 — the so-called Minsk 2 accords. We hope that dynamics in the process will be secured,” said the official.