Belarus looks forward to signing visa facilitation, readmission agreements with EU

MINSK, 5 December (BelTA) - Belarus hopes to sign visa facilitation and readmission agreements with the European Union in the near future. The move will facilitate human contacts and increase the efficiency of cooperation in combating illegal migration, Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko said at the opening of the 17th Minsk Forum highlighting Belarus' place in Europe, opportunities for foreign policy, economy, civil society, and culture. The forum is taking place in the Belarusian capital on 4-6 December, BelTA has learned.

According to the deputy minister, these issues are important for the citizens in the first place. In his words, the negotiations with the EU on Belarus' accession to the World Trade Organization are gradually advancing, too.

“A modern legal framework is an inseparable sign of the full-fledged relations. We expect that the European Union will launch negotiations with our country on a new fundamental agreement,” said Oleg Kravchenko.

“The theme of this year's forum is The place of Belarus in Europe. Opportunities for Foreign Policy, Economy, Civil Society and Culture. Of course, the opportunities are many, and we should use them together. The main thing is to make the positive dynamics of our relations stable,” Oleg Kravchenko said.

In his words, 2019 was in many ways an anniversary year. It marked the 100th anniversary of the Belarusian statehood and modern Belarusian diplomatic service, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazis. November marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which became a “prologue” to the unification of Germany and Europe. The EU's Eastern Partnership Initiative marked its 10th anniversary.

“This year's Minsk forum has an anniversary context as well,” said the deputy minister. “The forum is traditionally organized by the German-Belarusian society with the support of a number of partners. The forum is held here, in the Johannes Rau International Education Center in Minsk.”

This year, these organizations, which are important pillars of bilateral cooperation, have marked the 20th and 25th anniversaries respectively.

“I would like to thank once again Chairman of the German-Belarusian Society, founder and permanent chairperson of the Minsk Forum, Professor Rainer Lindner for the development of this unique discussion platform and his personal contribution to the development of Belarusian-German relations and dialogue between Belarus and the EU,” the deputy minister said.

Oleg Kravchenko presented Rainer Lindner with a diploma of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a sign of appreciation of his work in Belarus, constructive cooperation with the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Belarusian Embassy in Germany.