MINSK, 26 September (BelTA) – Belarus' initiative on the international dialogue on security will sooner or later bear fruit, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at an online press conference, BelTA has learned.
"The very topic of the need for a large-scale international dialogue on security is in the air. The Belarusian president put forward this initiative five years ago. Probably, many states, primarily western ones, are not willing to associate this much needed and important proposal with Belarus, which has certain problems in relations with the West," Vladimir Makei said.
The minister said that in 2014, after the events in Ukraine, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk contacted the Belarusian president and asked for help in resolving this situation. The following day, the Belarusian head of state sent his foreign minister to Warsaw to discuss the prospects for resolving this crisis.
"The proposals of the Belarusian president were conveyed to him. Then he said, ‘It's very interesting. I will talk with the president of France and the Federal Chancellor of Germany. I'll get back to you.' However, no response came afterwards. Apparently, they considered it beneath their dignity to respond to these initiatives, which were put forward by the leadership of Belarus, which was under sanctions at that time. We are ok about that. Probably, the same thing is happening now," the diplomat suggested.
Vladimir Makei explained this position by the EU by a sense of jealousy and unwillingness to understand that smaller countries can put forward constructive, future-oriented proposals."I am convinced that this initiative holds much promise. We will promote it at all regional and international dialogue venues. I am convinced that sooner or later this will bear fruit," he said.
