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Belarus not decide on participation in EaP summit -- FM

Savinykh stressed that Belarus had the sovereign right to independently determine the format for participating in the summit

MINSK, September 29 (Itar-Tass) — Belarus has not yet decided to give up its participation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit to take place in Warsaw on September 29-30, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh said.

Speaking at a news briefing on Thursday, Savinykh said Belarus was planning to take part in the summit on the earlier agreed terms.

“We said we might refuse [to take part in the summit] whether Poland would try to regulate the format of Belarus’ participation,” the diplomat said.

At the same time, he stressed that Belarus had the sovereign right to independently determine the format for participating in the summit. In his words, Belarusian Ambassador to Poland Viktor Gaisenok will represent Belarus at the summit. “He will head the Belarusian delegation at the summit,” he added.

Commenting on why Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov declined to take part in the forum, the spokesman said, “At present, the minister is in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly session.”

Focusing on Minsk’s attitude towards the Eastern Partnership, Savinykh pointed out that in due time Belarus lauded an idea of creating this project and put forth several constructive proposals.

“We were impressed by the principles on the basis of which the Eastern Partnership was planning to be created,” the Belarusian diplomat stressed.

However, he said, “Today we observe politicisation to some extent and deviation from the earlier agreed principles.” “Groundless demands do not satisfy us. The principle of universality is challenged. We are convinced that these tendencies will cause damage to the Eastern Partnership. We hope that the interested parties will find a solution to the problem,” Savinykh emphasised.

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