MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) – The ministers of foreign affairs and heads of the delegations of the member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI) coordinated cooperation priorities in Minsk on 22 June, Belarus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told a press conference, BelTA has learned.
According to the minister, one of the themes discussed at the meeting were the prospects of further reforming of the CEI with a view to better adjusting the organization to new challenges in the region. “The foreign ministers coordinated the organization's themed cooperation priorities that will make the basis of the CEI plan of action for 2018-2020,” he said.
The head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the discussion was held in a very friendly and constructive atmosphere. He thanked his colleagues for the balanced and pragmatic approach to the work of the organization.
CEI Alternate Secretary General Margot Klestil-Loffler praised today's meeting as successful. “Two major issues were discussed. These are the migration crisis in Europe and the promotion of interconnectivity in the region. The dialogue was held in a constructive and open atmosphere. We should express our gratitude to the Belarusian CEI Presidency as Belarus has put forward new initiatives and presented the new senior management on our work in the future,” she stressed.
According to Margot Klestil-Loffler, the CEI will not reach its goals if it does not cooperate with other international organizations. In this respect, the diplomat named as important the CEI-OSCE Discussion on Migration that was held in Vienna on 9 June and was initiated jointly by the Belarusian CEI Presidency and the Austrian Presidency in the OSCE.
