Opinions & Interviews

Finnish FM hails talks with Lukashenko as sincere, open

MINSK, 25 November (BelTA) – Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto spoke to the media after his meeting with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko together with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde on 25 November, BelTA has learned.

“This is my first meeting with the Belarusian president. We had a very honest and open conversation. We discussed not only our bilateral relations but also the relations between the European Union and Belarus in general. We touched upon the visa facilitation agreement, which we are yet to sign, and other issues, on which we may not always agree,” the minister noted.

The parties also discussed the role of Belarus, which the country plays in the peace process in Ukraine. The meeting took place in the same hall of the Palace of Independence which hosted the Normandy Four talks several years ago.

“We would like to increase cooperation with Belarus. We have been actively cooperating in such areas as forestry, environmental protection and contacts between our nations. We hope for further improvement in our relations,” Pekka Haavisto added.

In turn, Ann Linde said it was a very good conversation with the Belarusian head of state. “Belarus is a close country for us and our relations have recently improved,” she said.

According to the Swedish minister for foreign affairs, there are still issues on the agenda which have not been yet agreed upon, but they are openly discussed. The issues pertain to human rights and some other themes.

“We hope to further constructive relations with Belarus. We really appreciate the role that the country has played in the efforts to settle the situation in Ukraine. We would like to emphasize that we have reached the common position that every state has the right to make its own choice which union to join or not, and which security policy to choose. Our opinions coincide on this matter,” the minister said.

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