Meeting with Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico

I am grateful to Slovakia for the contribution to the improvement of the relations between Belarus and the EU, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico on 25 November.

“I know what the position of your country was when there was a serious misunderstanding in Europe about Belarus’ policy, about the life in the country and our work. Your country communicated the information about the true situation in Belarus to the EU leadership,” the head of state said. He stressed: “You have done a lot to help normalize the relations with the EU. I am very grateful to you for this.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko also stressed that Belarus actively cooperates with Slovakia, especially in the field of joint projects. He assured that the Belarusian side will make sure that, with all other conditions being equal, priority is given to Slovak businesses.

The president expressed hope that the visit of the Slovak delegation will become a new stage in the development of relations between Belarus and Slovakia. He said he was ready to discuss all issues important for bilateral cooperation.

He emphasized that this time he arrived in Minsk as the prime minister of an independent country – Slovakia, the country presiding in the EU. He said that Slovakia views Belarus as a friendly country, and the visit of the Slovak delegation to Belarus will be a new milestone in cooperation between the two countries.

The talks focused on the prospects of bilateral contacts in trade and economy. Slovakia is interested in close cooperation with Belarus in at least five lines of business. The head of state supported the proposals of the Slovak side regarding the joint projects in the pharmaceutical industry, nuclear energy, tire manufacturing, wood processing, gas industry, and defense. The Belarusian side is ready to start discussing these projects in the near future.

Robert Fico spoke in positive terms about Belarus which praised for its stable and dynamic development. According to the Slovak head of government, Belarus has a constructive position on the Eastern Partnership initiative. Therefore, the opinion of the Belarusian side about the development of the initiative is important.