Minister V.Makei participates in the 6th Ministerial Summit of the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia

On October 11-12, 2021 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, participated in the 6th Ministerial Summit of the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Background Information: The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia was established in 1992. The main goal of the CICA is to strengthen cooperation by developing multilateral approaches to ensuring peace, security and stability in Asia. The meeting brings together twenty seven countries. Nine countries (including the Republic of Belarus) and five international organizations have observer status.

The summit had started with the meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

During the plenary session, the participants noted an increasing global role of the Conference in developing cooperation within the Asian region, boosting the level of security and strengthening confidence-building measures among states. The attendees supported the initiative to transform the CICA into a full-fledged international organization whilst preserving the fundamental principles the Conference is based on.

In his statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus noted an increased international authority of the Conference, its important role in the development of collective approaches towards solving regional problems, coordinating stances on issues of ensuring security in Asia.

The Foreign Minister stressed the relevance of the idea of forming a global architecture of inclusive development, including with the focus on establishing partnerships with the largest actors in Europe and Asia, namely the EAEU, SCO, CSTO, CIS, European Union and ASEAN. This notion coincides with Belarus' initiative to resume a broad dialogue on strengthening confidence-building measures, security and cooperation, as well as to create a belt of “digital good-neighborliness”.

The Minister noted the importance of the Asian region for Belarus, as trade and economic ties with partners in the EAEU are intertwined and close interaction with the CSTO allies is aimed at the ensuring collective security.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that Belarus is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan in the context of its’ influence on the situation and security of the CSTO Member States. The Minister stressed that Belarus is interested in restoring peace and harmony in Afghanistan, along with the introduction of relevant measures necessary to normalize the situation and create favorable conditions for a national dialogue.

On the margins of the event, the Minister held a number of meetings and had contacts with his colleagues, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh, Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Turkmenistan Rasit Meredow, Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev, Minister of Tourism of Israel, Yoel Razvozov, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, Natalia Gherman and others.

Bilateral cooperation, interaction on current issues on the  international agenda, as well as mutual support in international organizations were discussed.
 

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