On March 18, 2026, the official opening ceremony of the “International Quarter” took place on the sidelines of the 33rd Minsk International Book Fair.
The event was attended by:
- First Deputy Minister of Information of Belarus Andrey Kuntsevich;
- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Igor Sekreta;
- heads of the diplomatic corps accredited in Belarus;
- representatives of international organizations.
The CIS Executive Committee was represented at the opening ceremony by CIS First Deputy Secretary-General Igor Petrishenko.
Opening the “International Quarter”, First Deputy Minister of Information Andrey Kuntsevich noted that the 2026 Minsk International Book Fair had got off to a confident start and was continuing its work. On the first day alone, over 11,000 people participated in the forum, a number comparable to the population of a small Belarusian district center.
He thanked all participants of the forum and expressed special gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus for its assistance and support in organizing the “International Quarter”.
In turn, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sekreta also welcomed the visitors of the book fair. Igor Sekreta stated that the “International Quarter” is a young, well-proven project that has its own traditions and regular exhibitors and fans, and also serves as a bridge between cultures, peoples, and countries.
Within the framework of the “International Quarter”, a presentation of the book “On Diplomacy Without Templates: Uninvented Stories” took place. Belarussian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that from it one can learn that in such a strict, formalized matter as diplomacy, there is room for creativity. This collection is intended for a wide range of readers, as well as for those taking their first steps in the diplomatic profession, graduate students, and specialists in the field.