Keynote of Vienna statements

By Mikhail Svetlov

Ties between the Central European Initiative (CEI) and other regional organisations, including the CIS and Eurasian Economic Union, need to be expanded

At the invitation of the Federal Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann, Belarus’ Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, took part in the summit of the Heads of Government of the Central European Initiative. Co-operation within the CEI, as well as the interaction of the CEI with other regional and international organisations was discussed. The Declaration on the 25th anniversary of the CEI was adopted after the meeting.

In his speech at the event, Mr. Makei stressed the importance of continuing and further enhancing regional co-operation in order to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe. He called for the expansion of CEI ties with other regional organisations, including the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Union.

During the visit to Vienna, Mr. Makei, together with UN Deputy Secretary General, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Yuri Fedorov, attended the presentation ceremony of the global report on people trafficking. The report is published by the office on a regular basis in accordance with the Global Plan of Action to Combat People Trafficking, which was adopted on the initiative of Belarus in 2010.

Moreover, the Foreign Minister held bilateral talks with the Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria, Sebastian Kurz. The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Belarus-Austria relations in political and economic areas, as well as Belarus-EU interaction and issues on the regional and international agenda.