MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) – Countries of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership Initiative can get closer despite differences, BelTA learned from Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Marek Ziolkowski. The statement was made after a meeting of deputy ministers of foreign affairs of the Visegrad Group and Eastern Partnership Initiative participating states in Minsk on 15 March.
The Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Initiative had been discussed taking into account the summit that would take place in Brussel in November. Marek Ziolkowski said that the Eastern Partnership Initiative is now seven years old and has proved itself.
Marek Ziolkowski thanked Belarusian colleagues for the initiative to arrange the meeting in Minsk and noted that “our countries can get closer despite differences between partners”.
The negotiations on 15 March confirmed the mutual interest of the participating states in advancing transboundary cooperation and contacts in the areas of transport and education. “We are optimistic about the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs that will take place in Warsaw in April,” said Marek Ziolkowski.
The Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also mentioned the importance of advancing Belarusian-Polish contacts and friendship between the countries. He drew attention to the development of good neighborly contacts and the possibility of implementing initiatives in various formats.
