Minsk stages a comeback as a point for discussions on international security

Last week, Belarus hosted a high-level international conference on the prevention and fight against terrorism, organised by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Secretariat.

The conference brought more than 250 delegates from 46 states, including from the West. Within the framework of the event, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger visited Minsk for the second time in a year (premiered for the Minsk Dialogue Forum in May). In his opening speech at the conference, Foreign Minister Makey reiterated Minsk’s proposal to hold a new large-scale international dialogue on security issues (the Minsk Process). Hence, Belarus continued her consistent efforts to picture herself as a focal point for discussing international security matters.

On October 10^th, 2018, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Dapkiunas met with Latvian Ambassador to Austria, Director General of the Security Policy and International Organizations Directorate of the Latvian Foreign Ministry Edgars Skuja. The meeting focused on improving bilateral operational interactions of the border and customs services, as well as coordinated joint steps to modernise checkpoints at the Belarusian-Latvian border.

On the same day, Dapkiunas met with the head of the EU representation in Belarus, Andrea Victorin, to discuss main approaches and priorities of Belarus and the European Union at the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly. In addition, Dapkiunas and Viktorin discussed the implementation of a joint comprehensive action plan on Iran’s nuclear programme. As noted before, the US withdrawal from the “nuclear deal” on Iran created additional interest points for Minsk and Brussels for coordinated action.