Opinions & Interviews
German hope for Russia, Ukraine to observe Minsk agreements
MINSK, 29 June (BelTA) – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hopes that Russia and Ukraine will stick to the Minsk agreements. The German head of state made a statement to that effect as he met with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in the Palace of Independence on 29 June, BelTA has learned.
At the beginning of the meeting the German president thanked the Belarusian president for the invitation to visit the Palace of Independence, of which he had most favorable impressions. Speaking about the Normandy Four meeting in Minsk, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed: “We’ve spent a great many hours here at the time when the greatest crisis on the European continent happened in order to find solutions for restoring peace.”
The German president continued: “After lengthy talks a document inextricably connected to Minsk was developed. I strongly hope that not only the title of this document will stay in effect, but that Russia and Ukraine will stay true to the content of this document. That they could move forward step by step, slowly but steadily.”
Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed with Alexander Lukashenko that it is indeed necessary to learn from the past and make sure that the non-peaceful development of the situation never again happens on the continent.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked Alexander Lukashenko for the invitation to attend the requiem rally in the Trostenets Memorial Complex. “We know that the invitation was not extended as a matter of course. It is not a matter of course that we mark this date together. It has become possible because you’ve offered us a hand of reconciliation,” he said.
Although during the solemn ceremony it was possible to find the words to describe horrors of the past, the events themselves still remain unimaginable, stated Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After the negotiations the German president asked to see the chamber where the historical meeting of the Normandy Four took place in order to replenish and refresh memories of three years ago.
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