In his speech, Mr. Martynov pointed out the need to step up practical co-operation within the Eastern Partnership programme. To achieve this, Belarus suggests organising a Forum of Eastern Development to unite all interested companies, associations and government agencies and to act as the key element in business co-operation and in contacts between governments and businesses.
As part of preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit (scheduled for May 2011, in Budapest), Belarus has propesed to prepare a list of strategic projects, in addition to compiling a roadmap for operations over the coming two years. Mr. Martynov is keen to enhance the project component of multilateral co-operation within the Eastern Partnership initiative, including collaboration in energy security and wider participation of third-party countries in projects under the Eastern Partnership aegis.
The meeting was chaired by Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, and foreign ministers of six partner states and EU member states also participated.
