Events

MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – Belarus will continue expanding cooperation with the Belarusian diaspora, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the third meeting of the Consultative Council for Belarusians Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 September, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Makei noted that the cooperation between the state and the Belarusians living abroad has been steadily developing. A new impetus to this cooperation was added at the meeting on foreign policy issues hosted by the head of state in July 2017. The president instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify cooperation with the Belarusian diaspora.

Local authorities and foreign establishments have been closely cooperating with compatriots in various areas, including culture, economy, healthcare and IT. Hundreds of events were held in 2016-2017.

The mutual interest of the state and the Belarusian diaspora in stepping up cooperation was emphasized at the seventh congress of the Belarusians of the world in Minsk in July. In summer Belarus welcomed the descendants of well-known Belarusian scientist, National Hero of Chile Ignacy Domeyko to mark his 250^th birthday. Representatives of the Belarusian diaspora attended the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk festival, the Wreath of Friendship festival in Bobruisk, and the Belarusian Written Language Day celebrations in Polotsk. The third edition of the Belarusians of the World art festival will open on 8 September.

“All of us would like to see our Belarus an independent, respected and prosperous state,” said Vladimir Makei.

Today’s meeting is set to take stock of the progress made by the council over the past year and discuss future prospects. The agenda of the meeting also includes the discussion of the Belarus-Diaspora strategy for the period through 2025.