Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 2 October (BelTA) – It is essential to build and strengthen bridges between eastern and western countries, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he received credentials of foreign ambassadors on 2 October, BelTA has learned.

“Today it is essential to build and strengthen political, economic, humanitarian bridges between countries and various integration associations both in the West and in the East. We should look for as many contact points which will unite countries and peoples as possible,” Alexander Lukashenko remarked.

The head of state said that today the Belarusian capital city has gained the status of an efficient negotiations venue, and not only for the discussion of Ukraine-related issues. In 2017, Minsk hosted two high-profile international forums. These are the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Central European Initiative where Belarus is presiding for the first time, and the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

“During that session, and then from the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly our country has voiced an initiative to launch a broad discussion of a new Helsinki process under the aegis of the OSCE which aims to untie the knots of contradictions between states in Euro-Atlantic and Eurasia. We want the Helsinki 2 project to be a success. Dear ambassadors, I am convinced that you will also make your contribution to the formation of the group of like-minded states to promote and implement this important initiative,” the Belarusian leader said.

The president added that it is inadmissible to underestimate the uniting power of culture and sport. In 2019 Belarus will host the 2^nd European Games, in 2021 our country and Latvia will host the IIHF World Championship. “I sincerely hope that the representatives of your country will also be among the participants and guests of these competitions,” Alexander Lukashenko said.