On September 25, the second stage of the "Belarus-Latvia" round table was held at Euphrosyne Polotskaya State University of Polotsk. Participants discussed the current situation in the Baltic region, the state of bilateral relations, and possible avenues for further cooperation.
Second stage of the "Belarus-Latvia" round table
The discussion focused on the causes of growing regional tensions and the search for common ground between Belarus and Latvia. Participants examined the socio-political situation in the region, as well as the status of ethnic Belarusians and the Russian-speaking population in Latvia. Special attention was also given to the upcoming parliamentary elections and the expectations surrounding them.
Participants of the second stage of the "Belarus–Latvia" round table
Vadim Elfimov, Political Scientist, Journalist, and Associate Professor: "The policy of our President, Alexander Lukashenko, is well known and supported by our people. We have long been open to friendship with everyone. Remember the concept of a multi-vector foreign policy, where all vectors were considered equal? Today, the President himself has adjusted this approach. He stated clearly: we will only be friends with those who want to be friends with us. No one is abandoning the multi-vector approach, but the vectors now vary in scale and significance. The primary vector is eastern: the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, and the SCO".
Participants of the second stage of the "Belarus–Latvia" round table
A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to regional security and economic ties. In particular, experts discussed logistics and transit, as well as the challenges countries face under sanctions pressure.
Participants explored practical tools for developing relations and the role of people-to-people diplomacy in maintaining interpersonal contacts. As a long-term goal, they emphasized the need to keep channels for dialogue open and to seek areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Yury Ramanouski
The round table served as a platform for exchanging views on the complex issues of the Belarus-Latvia agenda. It is precisely these consistent contacts and the willingness to discuss shared interests that can lay the foundation for the further development of good-neighbourly relations.
