Belarus’ participation in EaP summit under President’s purview

MINSK, 16 October (BelTA) – The issue regarding Belarus’ participation in the forthcoming Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit comes within the purview of the head of state, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh told media, BelTA has learnt.

“We confirm the reception of an official invitation to the EaP summit which is due to take place in Vilnius. The invitation is identical both in the content and the handing over procedure to the invitations given to other EaP member states. It is a matter of principle for us, as Belarus has always believed in the necessity of an equal approach to cooperation within the Eastern Partnership. Now the issue of Belarus’ participation in the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit lies within the head of state’s competence,” Andrei Savinykh stressed.

As it was earlier reported, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Andrius Krivas handed over to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Lithuania Vladimir Drazhin an invitation for Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership summit.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, invitations were given to the diplomats of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The letters are signed by President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

The summit will take place in Vilnius on 28-29 November.