Rinkēvičs: Latvia will give a new impetus to Belarus-EU relations

On February 20, Minsk hosted a meeting of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. It was not so much about the relations between Belarus and Latvia, as it was about those of Belarus and the European Union.

"We, as a country that is the chairman of the EU in the first half of the year, would like to see further development of the Eastern Partnership, BELTA quoted Rinkēvičs. We will host a summit in Riga, and we would do everything possible to give new impetus to relations between the EU and Belarus."

The Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Riga on 21-22 May. The Latvian side has previously stated the desire to have Belarus at the summit of the Eastern Partnership represented "at the highest level." Alyaksandr Lukashenka did not represent Belarus at the summits in Prague, Warsaw and Vilnius.

On February 19, Euroradio asked the Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Uladzimir Makey, who will represent Belarus at the summit in Riga? He said that "the issue is being solved" and the decision must be taken by the head of state himself.

At today's meeting, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that he expects to cooperate closer with Latvia and other countries of the European Union "without any prejudice". He noted that the Belarus-Latvia political and diplomatic relations lag behind the trade and economic ones. The President expressed hope that the visit of the Foreign Minister to Minsk aims to "pull the political affairs to the highest level".

Lukashenka noted that Belarus hopes for Latvia's contribution in the Belarus relations with other EU countries and rapprochement with the EU.