It is necessary to work out principles of cooperation in Europe, which will be acceptable for everyone. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he met with the heads of the delegations participating in the session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council on 6 April, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that during the 26th session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Belarus suggested starting the discussion about launching a negotiation process meant to overcome the existing contradictions and forming new constructive relations in the OSCE region. “It is necessary to work out universally acceptable principles of cooperation in Europe. A dialogue of experts involving analytics centers, government agencies, and private structures to determine common goals meant to enhance trust between nations at least in political and military affairs could play an important role,” stated the head of state.

In his words, the international expert conference on security in Eastern Europe, which is due in Minsk in May 2018, represents a good opportunity to get the ball rolling.

In 2018 Belarus will also host an OSCE counterterrorism conference on preventing and fighting terrorism in the digital age. A meeting of the Munich Security Conference Core Group will take place in Belarus in 2018, too.

The Belarusian head of state invited all the partners to partake in the events at the highest level.

Alexander Lukashenko said: “Today's international situation is literally oversaturated with tensions. The ongoing destabilization of the system of checks and balances, which kept competing countries and blocs at bay in the past, represents the most dangerous trend in the Euro-Atlantic space. Located in a peculiar geopolitical fissure, Belarus recognizes the disadvantages of the confrontation in the European region spiraling out of control. Experts believe that a cold war is already in progress.”

Alexander Lukashenko stated that attempts to work out a new paradigm of the world order are made not only via negotiations but in war zones, too. The Donbass area in Ukraine is the closest one. “Thanks to the Minsk agreements large-scale combat operations have been stopped over there but, unfortunately, people keep dying. Let me reaffirm once again that we are ready to do everything to restore peace in the Donbass area while observing every letter of the international law and with the approval of the conflicting sides,” said the president.