MINSK, 19 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia need to hold intensive talks to solve the issues in trade and economic cooperation, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at a media briefing following the talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Minsk on 19 June, BelTA has learned.
“We have the general understanding but we need intensive negotiations to settle the issues in trade and economic cooperation,” Vladimir Makei said.
Vladimir Makei said that the talks with Sergey Lavrov were fruitful. According to him, they discussed the most important issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda, including the most sensitive topics. “We have aligned our positions and discussed the goals for the future, the schedule of contacts and events at the high and highest levels,” the minister added.
Vladimir Makei and Sergey Lavrov also discussed the preparations for a joint session of the boards of the ministries of foreign affairs and the 7th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia that will take place in Minsk and Minsk Oblast in September.
“We have confirmed mutual desire to strengthen cooperation within the CIS, the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the CSTO. We have also spoke at length about interaction in the UN, OSCE, and other international organizations. We have agreed to continue aligning our approaches to activities within these and other multilateral organizations,” Vladimir Makei noted.