Belarus to hold first round of consultations on Eurasian charter of diversity in December

In brief

• Belarus plans its first round of consultations on the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity for December.
• Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov invited all states that share the charter's principles.
• Ryzhenkov accused the EU of self-isolation and predicted it would eventually engage with the charter.

Invitation to December talks

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said Minsk will organise the first round of consultations among countries that backed Belarus and Russia in drafting the charter. He made the announcement at the International Security Forum in Moscow (Беларусь проведет первый раунд консультаций по Хартии многообразия – Reform.news). Ryzhenkov invited representatives of all states that share the charter's principles to attend.

Criticism of the EU

Ryzhenkov said regional security in Eurasia is currently being handled without active participation from European Union member states. He accused the bloc of following a policy of self-isolation and said that policy would have to be overcome. In his view, the crisis processes now under way in Europe will push EU countries sooner or later to take up the charter's subject matter.

Response to neighbours

Ryzhenkov also said Minsk is answering what it sees as aggressive behaviour by its neighbours with political and diplomatic steps.