Aleksandr Lukashenko hears out report of Belarus' FM Sergei Martynov

On 24 May President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov to receive his report.

The Belarusian leader noted that Belarus needs to prepare for the landmark events that are about to happen in the foreign policy of Belarus. First of all, this pertains to the agenda of the forthcoming official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I would like to seriously discuss new cooperation opportunities with the Russian Federation," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. He reminded that he had already instructed Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich to work on Belarus-Russia cooperation prospects.

The head of state asked Sergei Martynov to brief him on the situation in the European direction. “I hear more and more statements that European diplomats are waiting for some amnesty here, raising the matter of political prisoners and so on,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “I would like to state it publicly right away that I am not going to revisit this topic. I also said everything publicly in my address to the Belarusian nation and the parliament. I see no reasons to change my position at the moment,” the head of state stressed.

" We expect concrete steps from the West, the European Union. The ball is on their side. I am strongly convinced of it. Therefore I am not going to wait again for old musical instruments to play old sheet music,” the President of Belarus stressed.

The head of state gave instructions regarding the policy Belarus should pursue to normalize relations with Western partners while meticulously observing national interests and taking into account normal and productive cooperation goals.

Another issue discussed at the meeting was possible reformation of the Foreign Ministry with a view to boost foreign trade. "I have already spoken about it. Foreign economic activity in the context of the legal framework is good. But today we need to promote foreign trade. Are you working on this issue?" the President asked.

Sergei Martynov presented a report on the major points of the foreign policy agenda. “We stick to the multi-pronged approach in our foreign policy; the next weeks and months will provide an excellent illustration of this multi-pronged approach,” the minister said.

Besides Belarus' cooperation with Russia and the European Union, the President was informed about the development of relations with Asian and Latin American countries. The President instructed the ministry to work out the agenda of a number of visits to these regions.