The President of Belarus especially underlined high level of co-operation between the foreign ministries of the two countries. “There would be no problems at all if all ministries worked in such a collaborative manner,” he noted.
Mr. Lukashenko invited Mr. Lavrov to discuss the prospects of Belarus-Russia relations, integration in the format of the Eurasian Economic Union in the run-up to the top-level meeting that will take place on May 31st. “I’d like to listen to your opinion on a number of international issues, in particular, on the situation in Ukraine and Syria. Probably, you will even brief me on the recent developments because we need to know how to coordinate and adjust our position on a number of issues,” assured the Head of State. “We have an absolutely open and friendly conversation. In this format I’m ready to discuss all issues with you.”
“We absolutely share the concept of our relations which you’ve just voiced. Certain issues emerge between all countries and allies. However, our relations can boast the fact that we discuss these issues with out friends and partners. We always understand each other although sometimes it takes more than one day to find solutions,” underlines the Russian Foreign Minister.
Mr. Lavrov praised a regular format of the Belarusian-Russian bilateral and multilateral contacts. “We have a rich agenda this year. During your visit to Moscow in December you and Vladimir Putin adopted a joint statement to set a number of foreign political tasks. The Supreme State Council session which took place in February approved a new programme of approved foreign policy efforts for 2016-2017,” he said.
According to Mr. Lavrov, the international situation requires close co-ordination, including on such issues as European security, the situation in Ukraine, Syria, and the Middle East in general. He added that another issue discussed during the talks was the need to prevent the attempts to glorify Nazism and rewrite history, and to protect the memory of World War Two and the Great Patriotic War.
The two sides discussed in details integration topics and the schedule of the forthcoming top-level contacts, including within the EAEU format in Astana, during the 3rd Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, and the CIS Heads of State session. EAEU-EU interaction was also in the limelight.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has also met his Belarusian colleague, Vladimir Makei, in Minsk.
By Vladimir Velikhov
