"Russia has once again showed her support to Belarus. That's all," political analyst Valery Karbalevich commented to UDF.BY about the results of the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Minsk on August 14-15.
"Lavrov came to Minsk not because this visit was planned. Meetings under the Union State are held in Minsk from time to time. So I wouldn't make some large-scale conclusions from Lavrov's arrival," Karbalevich said.
Karbalevich: Foreign Relations are maintained with Belarus not by the foreign ministry of Russia, but it is the Russian government, in particular the prime minister and the deputy prime minister, who communicate with the presidential administration on the countries' bilateral relationship. Lavrov has a minor role here.
- But the visit of Sergey Lavrov in Minsk during the diplomatic war with the European Union looks like a support.
Karbalevich: The Russian government actively supports Belarus in all spheres including economy, political issues and foreign policy. This is the current trend of Russia's leadership. And Lavrov has shown this support once again.
Lavrov said that Russia would seek OSCE's recognition of the fothcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus. How realistic does this statement look for you?
Karbalevich: Russia will try to support Belarus in the elections and protect Belarus in all international organizations, it is beyond doubt. But I think that Russia's efforts will have a visible impact.
- And Lavrov's visit, will it affect the position of Minsk in the diplomatic war with Sweden and the European Union?
Karbalevich: Lavrov's visit gave Minsk a confidence in the correctness of actions in relation to the EU. But the conflict is frozen, because the EU is not going to take some actions before the end of October, before the parliamentary elections campaign in Belarus. There is nothing except a general stance of the Russian side. Lavrov once again testified on behalf of Russia that he supports Belarus.
