Opinions & Interviews

Belarus commended for efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, met with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed at the UN Headquarters in New York...

Latvia FM: Belarus-EU relations have good prospects, but disputes will continue
Edgars Rinkevics noted that a number of issues in the relations between Belarus and the EU cannot be solved as fast as one would hope. “I think that the way we solve those issues gives reason to say that there is progress and it will continue,” the diplomat said...

Makei: Belarus must do everything to help establish friendly relations between Russia, Ukraine
“We must do everything for peace and accord to return to Ukraine and help Russia and Ukraine establish friendly relations,” Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told the media following the negotiations with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics in Minsk...

Belarus, Latvia mutually interested in tighter cooperation
“We are intent on maintaining businesslike contacts in the spirit of good neighborly relations. We are intent on the comprehensive development of economic, scientific, technical, and humanitarian cooperation, interregional and transboundary cooperation, cooperation in the sphere of culture, tourism, and sport”...

Rinkevics: Latvia has no questions to ask Belarus about the Zapad 2017 army exercise
“We no longer have any questions to ask Belarus about the [army exercise] Zapad 2017. My counterpart has explained the stance of the state in detail. I am satisfied,” said Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics...

Praiseworthy political dialogue between Belarus, Latvia
“I am genuinely pleased with the level of the political dialogue in Belarus-Latvia relations, with the vigorousness of contacts between the ministries of foreign affairs, with regular meetings at various levels. I believe that the state of affairs enables good conditions for us to better understand each other,” he stressed...

Ukraine, Belarus encouraged to aim for $7.9bn in bilateral trade
“The matter is not only about trade but about creating more opportunities. First of all, this is about higher revenue to the local budgets, bringing technology, raising investment into agriculture, production of agricultural machinery in Ukraine, and attracting our Belarusian partners in the construction of road infrastructure”...

Belarusian health resorts report 9% increase in export of services in H1 2017
“In H1 2017 the exports totaled Br69 million, up more than 9% over the same period of 2016. There has also been an increase in the export of value-added services not included in the price of vouchers. Growth exceeded 16%,” Gennady Bolbatovsky said...

MEP calls for advancing relations between Belarus, European institutions
“Naturally, in order to establish a constructive dialogue it is necessary to advance relations between Belarus and European institutions.” In particular, he reminded about several spheres of interaction where positive dynamics has been registered...

MP: Belarus can play an active role in renewing the East-West dialogue
"We believe it is now of vital importance to reinforce mutual trust, security, and cooperation and renew the large-scale dialogue between the West and the East,” said the MP. He was convinced that Belarus could play a rather active role in this regard...

Sidorenko: Applications for Slavianski Bazaar 2018 already coming in
“Preliminary art and financial results of the festival are more than good. All plans have been implemented. The key things we announced back in February remained unchanged," Alexander Sidorenko, the festival’s director, President of the World Association of Festivals (WAF), told the media...

Makei: CSTO’s main task is to enable favorable external environment for its members
“In our opinion, today the CSTO’s fundamental task is not to be ready to respond to external factors. Our organization should be able to create favorable external conditions for the development of its member states, in the first place,” Vladimir Makei noted...

Call for CSTO’s more active involvement in decisions of international organizations
“Dangerous conflict hotbeds persist along the perimeter of the CSTO responsibility area as well as Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the European region. The conflict hotbeds may potentially influence the collective security and evolve into situations, which consequences cannot be predicted"...

Makei: Belarus makes its contribution to enhancing trust on the continent
Talking about the results of the OSCE PA session in Minsk, which major theme was “Enhancing mutual trust and cooperation for peace and prosperity in the OSCE region”, Vladimir Makei stated that the current level of opposition is extremely high and it is impossible to change the situation within one session or month...

Dodon: Moldova and Belarus will always have shared interests
“There are many interesting projects. They just need to be considered carefully and promoted,” Igor Dodon said. He also added that Belarus and Moldova should considerably increase mutual trade within the next year or two...

Gusman: Belarus President’s new Helsinki Process initiative can be implemented within five years
According to Mikhail Gusman, it is important to gradually implement the idea of Alexander Lukashenko. “It seems to me that Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] has felt the right moment. I believe that it can be implemented within the next five years,” said Mikhail Gusman...

Makei in an interview with El Pais: Belarus considering extending visa-free stay period
“Since spring, EU citizens can travel to Belarus for a period of up to five days without a visa. The minister said the government is considering extending this period,” reads the interview...

Belarus, Russia hailed as drivers of integration
“When there are different forms of integration in one region, it is important to ensure that they do not interfere with each other. Thanks to the long-standing close ties in all areas, including in economy, Belarus and Russia have been the core of not only the Union State but also of the Eurasian Economic Union"...

Zinovsky: Documents to facilitate business activity in Belarus will be signed soon
“The government has worked hard to prepare these documents. Careful consideration has been given to a package of documents on liberalization. They have been submitted to the President Administration. There are certain points that need to be finalized by lawyers, proofreaders, and editors. I believe the head of state will sign these documents in the near future”...

Dodon: Moldova and Belarus will always be connected by friendly relations
“Dear friends, it is a great honor for me to greet you on behalf of my country’s leadership, on behalf of the Moldovan nation for the first time in 26 years. This forum has become internationally recognized. It is this forum that has launched the careers of famous artists from dozens of countries, including Moldova”...