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Lavrov to depart for Belarus on visit

The main program of the visit is planned for August 15

MOSCOW, August 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday will leave for Minsk on a visit. The main program of the visit is planned for August 15.

At a meeting of Sergei Lavrov with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko the sides are expected to address important issues of interaction and cooperation in the international sphere.

At talks with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Martynov the RF foreign minister plans to exchange views on topical international issues, including issues of regional and European security, as well as “to discuss the possibility of further expansion of cooperation within the framework of integration structures in the CIS space, especially the Russia-Belarus Union State, the Customs Union, the Common Economic Space, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO),” the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. It is not ruled out that among international matters the parties will discuss the situation in Syria and the recent diplomatic conflict between Minsk and Stockholm.

In addition, the ministers will take part in the ceremony of cancelation of a memorable postage envelope that was issued for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“The Russian-Belarusian foreign policy dialogue is system-based and multifaceted,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Moscow and Minsk have virtually the same positions on major international issues, actively cooperate in the universal and regional organisations.”

“Our countries seek comprehensive strengthening of the UN role as a guarantor of the rule of international law, first of all the UN Charter, and condemn attempts to use the UN Security Council for purposes that do not serve the interests of maintaining international peace and security,” the RF Foreign Ministry stressed.

Russia and Belarus “are at the forefront of international efforts to find ways to prevent the weapons spread in outer space, aimed at maintaining international security, countering new challenges and threats,” the ministry emphasised. In addition, the countries develop “constructive cooperation at various international venues in the sphere of security and crisis response, on socio-economic, humanitarian and environmental issues.”

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