BRUSSELS, 24 November (BelTA) – Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei held brief meetings with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, BelTA has learned.
Despite the fact that the summit is being held behind the closed doors, members of the press were admitted to the venue of the forum before the event.
Journalists spotted the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs talking to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and representatives of other countries.
During an official welcome ceremony Vladimir Makei was welcomed by President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Estonia (Presidency of the EU at present) Juri Ratas.
Belarus' participation in the summit was welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she talked to the press. When talking to the Belarusian media Romanian President Klaus Iohannis noted the importance of Belarus as a partner of the European initiative. He also expressed optimism about the further development of relations.
The Eastern Partnership is an EU initiative aimed at strengthening the relations between the European Union and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. This initiative, an eastern branch of the European Neighborhood Policy, focuses on the establishment of bilateral and multilateral relations.
