| At the invitation of Mr Balázs, Sergei Martinov, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus, paid an official visit to Hungary on March 1. The aim of the meeting was to give political reinforcement to the development of relations, as well as giving an impulse to economic and trade cooperation. Continuing his Budapest programme, FM Martinov participated in the extended Visegrad Four conference on Eastern Partnership on March 2. The development of cooperation between the two countries closely depends on the EU-Belarus cooperation (in this regard invitation to the Eastern Partnership programme can be characterised as a milestone). The continuous improvement of economic-trade indicators over the past few years has had a clearly favourable effect on relations.
 At the talks, the Belarusian Foreign Minister touched on the need for the further dynamism of economic-trade as well as cultural relations – with reference to the latter he mentioned sister-city ties and the handling of the joint Báthory heritage. Mr Balázs assured his partner of Hungary’s support for the approximation of Belarus to the European Union – starting with making use of opportunities inherent in the Eastern Partnership programme. He also briefed mr Mr Martinov on the goals of the present Hungarian Visegrad Four Presidency and the EU Presidency in the first half of 2011. Mr Balázs underscored Hungary’s efforts towards the setup of a pragmatic system of relations with the Republic of Belarus, proof of which is the good cooperation between the countries’ respective ministries and legislative bodies, the work of the intergovernmental mixed economic committee and the continuous professional exchange of views on consular matters. The earliest possible signing of an investment promotion agreement is hoped to give uplift to further progress in trade relations. Mr Martinov underlined the significance of the Budapest summits of the past week and welcomed the extended Visegrad Four foreign ministers’ conference, the subject of which will be the EU Eastern Partnership programme, on March 2. At the meeting, Mr Balázs handed over to his colleague a diplomatic note documenting the entry into force of the bilateral cooperation agreement in education, culture and science. (March 1, 2010) |