"At least I felt a wish for constructive communication and talk," Linkevičius told BNS late on Monday following a meeting with ministers from EU and Eastern Partnership countries.
According to Linkevičius, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey, who was previously on the EU blacklist for repressions against the opposition, said at the meeting that Minsk "would want a non-discriminatory attitude for all partners to have equal opportunities to make use of Eastern Partnership instruments."
The Belarusian minister also did not protest when he was reminded of the issue of political prisoners, Linkevičius said.
"Contrary to what was earlier, there were no objections – perhaps he passed it over in this case but it's better than objecting – when the majority of speakers reminded him of the issue of political prisoners," the Lithuanian foreign ministers told BNS by phone from Brussels.
The Belarusian minister also welcomed Lithuania's initiative to hold an Eastern Partnership business forum in Vilnius, Linkevičius said.
"I would say the minister had a constructive attitude. He distinguishes as successful our presiding country's proposal to hold an Eastern Partnership business forum. I also noted readiness to take over the experience in fostering democratic values," the Lithuanian minister said.
In his words, it has not been decided yet as to who would represent Minsk at the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November, as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is on the EU's blacklist. The EU travel ban for Makey was suspended in June.
"It has not been formalized yet. We will look for common agreement from all countries," Linkevičius said.
"There's a wish that all countries participate and all have their representatives. Of course, it should not be done at any price as our partners also have to demonstrate their determination to carry out reforms and show results everyone expects from them. But it would be a successful program if all countries were able to participate and be represented at the meeting," the Lithuanian minister said.
Belarus was not represented at an Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw two years ago.
Besides Belarus, five other post-Soviet countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are taking part in the EU Eastern Partnership program.
The summit in late November will be held in Vilnius as Lithuania is holding the rotating EU presidency in the second half of this year.
