FRG Ambassador hails improvement in Belarus-EU relations

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FRG to Belarus Gebhardt Weiss points out to the improvement of the relations between Belarus and Germany and the EU in general. The German Ambassador made this statement at a meeting with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky timed to the completion of the term of his diplomatic service in Belarus on 18 June, BelTA has learnt.

“I am happy about the current state of relations between Belarus and Germany and the EU in general. The relations between the countries have significantly improved since I started my diplomatic service in Belarus,” the Ambassador said.

Gebhardt Weiss expressed confidence that the positive trends will remain in place. “I am sure that this process is moving ahead contributing to the modernization of your country which has a complicated history. The potential of the people working in Belarus gives grounds to believe that there are good prospects for such development. I wish your people and your country all the best,” he said.

The Ambassador noted that the economic relations between Belarus and Germany are proceeding normally despite the crisis. “At the same time our potential is higher, we believe we can do more,” he underlined.

Sergei Sidorsky noted that during the work of Gebhardt Weiss in Belarus the two countries managed to achieve progress in the bilateral relations. “We have increased the trade, boosted the investments; it is very important that we have resumed the work of Belarus-Germany Council for Economic Cooperation and Belarus-Germany Task Group for Sci-Tech Cooperation,” he said.

The Belarusian Prime Minister added that during his work in Belarus Gebhardt Weiss undertook many initiatives, including those in the most sensitive areas. “You adopted an unbiased position both in your country and in the European Union and we felt it,” Sergei Sidorsky underlined.

Germany is among Belarus’ major trading partners outside the CIS. In January-April 2010, the bilateral trade dropped by 5% to $743.3 million over the same period a year before. The export fell by 22% and made up $148.8 million, the import edged up by 0.5% to $594.5 million. In 2009, the German investments in Belarus totaled $59.7 million, up 51.1% over 2008; of them $51.6 million were direct investments. Some 352 companies with German capital have been registered in Belarus, of them 187 are joint ventures and 165 are foreign companies. Their authorized funds at registration were estimated at a total of $242.6 million.

In February 2009, Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov paid an official visit to Germany. At present, the parties are considering a possibility to arrange a return visit of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to Belarus.

Source: BelTA