At the Palace of Independence, a wide range of issues were discussed, including the development of political and economic interaction between Belarus and Germany, as well as further prospects and the international agenda. The Belarusian President particularly noted the contribution of Germany to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
The prospects of developing relations with Germany and, consequently, with the European Union were discussed by the participants of the 20th Minsk Forum. This year, the Forum brought together a record number of participants – over 300 representatives from Europe and the United States.
The event attracted a lot of attention. Belarus has established itself as an important player in the region. The country plays a special role in resolving the conflict in the Donbass.
Also, Belarus has become an important element of the EU foreign policy in the East. As Sigmar Gabriel told the Forum’s participants, Belarus can become a bridge between the EU and the EAEU. The minister held talks with his counterpart – Vladimir Makei, the head of the foreign policy department of Belarus. The diplomats also addressed the participants of the conference.
Vladimir Makei, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus: "We are pleased with the fact that political contacts between the Republic of Belarus and the Federal Republic of Germany have intensified. It is gratifying that after the recession in previous years, the year 2017 has witnessed a significant increase in the turnover. We hope that by joint efforts we will be able to consolidate and develop this trend in the future."
Sigmar Gabriel, the Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany: "We are anticipating the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. Belarus will be represented at the summit and we have high hopes that the President of Belarus himself will be able to attend. That would be a good signal. In any case, I sincerely thank both for the ability and for your country's readiness to do everything possible regarding the conflict in Ukraine in order to find a solution as soon as possible."
Prospects of Belarus’ accession to the WTO received a special attention at the forum. After all, this prospect means access to new markets for all economic players, as well as an increase in the turnover.
