MINSK, 7 December (BelTA) - Belarus supports measures to enhance military transparency, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said during the 25th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan on 6-7 December 2018, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The minister drew attention to the dangerous escalation of tensions in the region, to the build-up of military capabilities at borders. He urged to stop thinking of new military bases, pumping the region with lethal weapons. He also noted the need to learn from the experience of regional and local confidence-building and security measures. The minister drew attention to the initiative of the Belarusian president to launch a new broad dialogue on international security and stressed the importance of concerted action to respond to modern challenges and threats.
Vladimir Makei also attended the OSCE informal ministerial meeting which approved a joint declaration in support of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took part in the event dedicated to economic interconnectedness in the OSCE area. The minister emphasized the need to expand trade and economic ties between the countries in the region and major integration associations, to develop transport corridors. He noted the unique geographical position of Belarus between the two major integration groups - the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. As an example of successful interstate cooperation Vladimir Makei cited the China-Belarus project Great Stone.
Vladimir Makei held a working meeting with Miroslav Lajcak, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, to discuss the prospects for the development of Belarus-Slovakia cooperation in light of the upcoming Slovakia presidency in the OSCE in 2019.
The Belarusian minister and First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic of Serbia agreed to intensify political dialogue.
Ways to further strengthen Turkish-Belarusian cooperation in various areas, prospects for the development of contacts at the highest levels were the subject of the conversation between Vladimir Makei and Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged views on some issues on the bilateral agenda with Norway's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Soreide and Dutch counterpart Stef Blok.
Vladimir Makei also met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto to review the schedule of bilateral contacts in early 2019.
Vladimir Makei also met with Nato Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller to talk over the the possibilities of further enhancing the dialogue between the Republic of Belarus and the alliance, as well as the situation in the region.
At a meeting with Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Ingibjorg Gisladottir the parties touched on the prospects for interaction between Belarus and the ODIHR, including the joint projects.
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