MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) - Hungary supports the enhancement of cooperation between Belarus and the European Union (EU), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto said at the meeting of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko with the ministers of foreign affairs and heads of national delegations of the member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI) on 22 June, BelTA has learned.
The diplomat mentioned the symbolic nature of Belarus' presidency in the CEI because the state is part of the Eurasian Economic Union and develops interaction with European partners at the same time. “At all meetings we support the enhancement of cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus. This cooperation should rely on mutual trust,” Peter Szijjarto said. “You can always count on the support of Central European countries in the spirit of mutual respect and rationality.”
He stressed that Hungary has learned important lessons from history and realizes the need to develop good relations with the West and the East. “That is why we view the Central European Initiative as a bridge between the eastern and western countries of Europe,” Peter Szijjarto emphasized.
According to the minister, to a considerable extent the European Union has lost its competitiveness, and one of the best and most efficient ways to restore it is to promote cooperation between Western and Eastern Europe.
