Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus S.Aleinik participates in the CEI Heads of Government Meeting

On December 2-3, 2021, the Belarusian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik participated in the Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Member States in Budva, Montenegro.

During the plenary session of the summit, Sergei Aleinik advocated further strengthening of the CEI role as a platform for dialogue and development of regional cooperation, expanding contacts among the member states by fostering transport links, harmonizing trade procedures, simplifying transit and promoting energy and digital connectivity.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs called for strengthening the economic dimension of the CEI, developing partnerships with other international organizations. The important role that the Initiative could play in conjugating the integration processes on the European continent was emphasized. The necessity of building up cooperation in the field of science and technology was also noted.

The Head of the Belarusian delegation stressed the importance of developing Europe after the COVID-19 pandemic on the principles of non-discrimination, equal opportunities for all states, respect for their sovereignty and independence, rejection of separation by artificial walls and barriers, getting rid of rudimentary methods of pressure on others, such as sanctions and restrictions that are contrary to international law. It was emphasized that such measures, especially of an economic nature, violate the right of states and peoples to develop, and also widen the gap between the countries of the West and the East. The potentially important role of CEI in stabilizing the situation, building "bridges" and strengthening trust between the countries of greater Europe was emphasized.

During the summit, the Head of the Belarusian delegation met with CEI Secretary General Roberto Antonioni, and the parties discussed the prospects for cooperation between Belarus and the CEI.

Sergei Aleinik also met with the Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization Hans Kluge, where they discussed practical issues of cooperation between Belarus and WHO.

In addition, "on the sidelines" of the summit, S.Aleinik held bilateral meetings with the leaders of foreign delegations.

Background Information. CEI is an interstate association created in 1989 with the aim of developing regional cooperation. Currently, the CEI includes 17 states: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic. Belarus became the member of the CEI in 1996.

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