Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 8 June (BelTA) - Belarus has always viewed Russia as a strategic partner and will continue doing so, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei sad as he met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, BelTA has learned.

"Lately we have seen speculations in the media that someone is changing some foreign policy vectors. We have viewed Russia as our strategic partner, with which we have close relations in the framework of the Union State, and will abide by all the agreements,” said Vladimir Makei.

The head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the situation in the world is complicated and expressed confidence that during the negotiations the parties will discuss, in a constructive spirit, the issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the international arena.

For his part, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov stated that Belarus and Russia have developed intensive contacts at all levels. "We have genuine relations of the allies," he said.

Sergei Lavrov stressed that even after the launch of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Belarus-Russia Union State remains an important integration association which serves as a testing ground for integration processes.

Sergei Lavrov said that in the near future Belarus and Russia will hold a range of meetings, including at the highest level. He expressed gratitude to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko for accepting an invitation to participate in the summits of the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Ufa in early July.