Lukashenko predicts more meetings with Putin in 2023

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of Belarus and Russia in Minsk important and timely as he talked with the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko

photo: www.belta.by

“Thank you so much for the meeting. First of all, please accept greetings from Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. Actually, you meet with him… We have calculated: last year, you met in person ten times, in addition to telephone contacts. So we are lagging behind you at the level of foreign ministers. Actually, this is how it should be," Mr. Lavrov said.

“This year we will meet even more,” Aleksandr Lukashenko smiled.

“Of course, the meeting of our boards is more timely than ever,” Mr. Lavrov continued. “The issues that we will discuss relate to the situation that has developed as a result of our Western colleagues' policy of total domination led by Americans who have brought all others into subjection.”

As reported, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Minsk last night to participate in a joint meeting of the boards of the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries. The programme of the visit also includes Mr. Lavrov’s face-to-face negotiations with Belarus’ Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik. The foreign ministers will then visit the Uniform for a Hero exhibition at the National Historical Museum dedicated to the 210th anniversary of Victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. A joint meeting of the boards will follow. Among the issues on the agenda are foreign policy planning of Belarus and Russia, taking into account changes in the international arena; interaction on multilateral platforms on arms control issues; co-ordination of actions with respect to the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe and co-operation within the OSCE; interaction within international organisations, including those focusing on human rights and the economy, and opposition to the Western policy aimed at their politicisation. A resolution is planned for signing following the meeting, in addition to a plan of inter-ministerial consultations for 2023 and an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding on biological safety.