Lavrov holds talks wIth Belarusian President, Foreign Minister
RFE/RL based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS 16 June 2014, 21:37
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka discussed bilateral ties on June 16 in Minsk.
Lukashenka said he is ready to discuss any issues with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and make any decisions necessary. He also spoke in favor of holding a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus in fall 2014.
Lavrov agreed with Lukashenka's proposal to call a meeting of the Union's Council of Ministers in fall 2014. The alliance has been established in April, 1996, but remained mainly dysfunctional since then.
While in Minsk on June 16, Lavrov also met with his Belarusian counterpart Uladzimer Makey. Lavrov said after the talks with Makey that Moscow and Minsk will be jointly standing against "the vicious practice of unilateral sanctions" against countries.
