NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 19 December (BelTA) – A Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgeny Shestakov took part in a meeting of heads of government of the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states in Rome, Italy, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.
During the summit's plenary session Evgeny Shestakov spoke in favor of further enhancement of the Central European Initiative's role as a platform for dialogue and for advancing regional cooperation. He also spoke in favor of expanding contacts between the member states by means of strengthening transport links, harmonizing trade procedures, simplifying transit, and assisting with energy and digital connectivity.
The diplomat called for strengthening the CEI's economic dimension and advancing partnership with other international organizations. In view of Belarus' forthcoming presidency over the Eurasian Economic Union in 2020 the diplomat expressed Belarus' readiness to provide maximum assistance, particularly for the sake of linking up integration processes on the European continent.
The head of the Belarusian delegation mentioned it is important to step up cooperation in the area of science and technology within the framework of the Central European Initiative. He drew attention to Belarus' initiative in favor of forming a system of technological forecasting at the international level.
During the summit Evgeny Shestakov met with CEI Secretary General Roberto Antonione. Prospects of Belarus' cooperation with the CEI were discussed, including the possibility of arranging a number of events in Belarus in 2020. The Belarusian diplomat also met with the heads of a number of delegations.
The Central European Initiative is an interstate association established in 1989 for the sake of advancing regional cooperation. At present the CEI comprises 17 countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia, Montenegro, and Czechia. Belarus has been a CEI member since 1996.
