Opinions & Interviews

Hahn: Belarus, EU will adopt partnership priorities in 2018
“In particular, it will help improve economic relations and send a positive signal to European investors. The document will also open up new business opportunities that will consequently create new jobs”...

Belarus in favor of direct dialogue between EU, EAEU
“It should not be directed against the interests of third countries. Belarus would like to take advantage of the constructive potential of the Eastern Partnership to overcome the dividing lines and restore trust”...

Makei: EaP should help ease regional tensions
He emphasized that the ongoing meeting in Minsk is the first one after the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels where “a very useful and quite ambitious set of deliverables for 2020” was adopted...

Coe: Belarus is ready for big athletics competitions
Speaking about the renovated Dinamo Stadium, Sebastian Coe noted that this facility should become a Minsk landmark. In his words, Belarusian athletics has gone a long way and has reached a high level by now...

Clegg: Dinamo Stadium impresses with scale and atmosphere
He emphasized that a year ahead the start of the 2nd European Games, Belarus is well geared up for running such a large-scale sports event...

Belarus, EU to keep negotiating visa relaxation
Belarus has been consistently advocating relaxation of mutual visa regulations. A testimony to that is Belarus’ unilateral decision to allow a five-day visa-free stay in the country for EU citizens...

Lukashenko: Dinamo Stadium will be home to active leisure fans
Alexander Lukashenko reminded about the history of the legendary stadium, which hosted competitions of the 1980 Olympic Games. In 2019 the Dinamo Stadium will become the heart of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019...

Good dynamics in Belarus-Moscow trade noted
The official said: “If we compare 2017 to 2016, we will see that Belarus-Moscow trade rose by over 28% to $6.7 billion. It is good dynamics. Mind you, we buy more than we sell”...

Belarus interested in projects for harmonizing digital markets of EU, EaP
The communications and informatization minister drew attention to the pilot projects the Belarusian side had suggested in the sphere of digital trade, electronic logistics, and digital transport corridors...

Belarus’ visa-free program might be extended
“It makes sense to increase this period to 15 days to promote medical tourism in our country,” he said...

Hahn: Belarus, EU have built relationships of trust
He underlined that this can be achieved only through improving the economic situation. “Economic growth means social advancement and development of the country,” he believes...

Lukashenko: Belarus committed to agreements on cooperation in Eastern Partnership
“We offer specific regional economic projects which benefit both the European Union, Belarus and eastern neighbors, ours and yours”...

Lukashenko praises Hahn’s role in Belarus-EU rapprochement
“Your role is significant, first of all, because our major partners are the European Union and Russia. It is in many ways due to your efforts that our relations have been improving and have reached some level of stability”...

UNHCR envoy: Belarus might join UN conventions on statelessness
"The study of the situation with stateless persons carried out with the support of the Belarusian Interior Ministry in late 2017 – early 2018 suggests that Belarus has good chances to join the UN conventions on statelessness and the UN worldwide campaign aimed at eliminating this problem by 2024"...

More capabilities for helping forced migrants now available in Belarus
"We believe that the revision of the law on forced migrants, which came into force in July 2017, is one of the key achievements of the country. The procedure for applying for shelter has been simplified. People under the purview of the UNHCR have been granted more rights"...

Russia, Belarus set to strengthen strategic partnership
Vladimir Putin noted that a special focus was made on economic cooperation. “It yields good results within the framework of the Union State. I mean, first of all, dynamic growth of mutual trade and investment,” he said...

Putin reaffirms commitment to economic integration with Belarus
Vladimir Putin drew attention to the fact that next year the countries will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Union State Treaty...

Belarus speaks up for Russian interests in Eastern Partnership Initiative
"We pay close attention to cooperation with the European Union. Belarus has been persistently stating that Russia’s interests must be taken into account within the framework of the implementation of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership Initiative"...

Interregional relations named key to success of Belarusian-Russian integration
"More than 80 regins of the Russian Federation maintain trade and economic relations with Belarus. Three hundred agreements on cooperation have been signed between regions and municipalities concluded"...

European Commission: Belarus has potential to develop digital sector
“We see huge potential for the digital sector in Belarus. I think you have very experienced young people who work in this sector. It is Belarus that has suggested making this sector a priority for the Eastern Partnership”...