Lukashenka will not meet with Lavrov
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Minsk in the evening on November 22. The official aim of his visit is to participate in the common session of the Collegium of both countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs. However, the experts consider Lavrov's visit as "Moscow's last warning to Aliaksandr Lukashenka". Sergey Lavrov and his Belarusian colleague Siarhej Martynau will discuss relations with the EU and preparation for another OSCE summit. They will also discuss important issues of Belarusian-Russian cooperation.
The head of the Belarusian President's press-center Pavel Liohki has informed that Lukashenka's meeting with the Russian Minister is not in the plan. Belarusian leader's decision to ignore the visit of the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obviously a demonstrative gesture, as he used to always meet even with Russian governors, arriving to Belarus, according to the Russian newspaper "Commersant". The fact that Lavrov announced he was not going to meet with the Belarusian opposition leaders even before his arrival, did not help.
Apart from that, Lukashenka sharply criticized Moscow's approach to military cooperation a few hours before the Russian Minister's arrival.
The head of the Belarusian President's press-center Pavel Liohki has informed that Lukashenka's meeting with the Russian Minister is not in the plan. Belarusian leader's decision to ignore the visit of the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obviously a demonstrative gesture, as he used to always meet even with Russian governors, arriving to Belarus, according to the Russian newspaper "Commersant". The fact that Lavrov announced he was not going to meet with the Belarusian opposition leaders even before his arrival, did not help.
Apart from that, Lukashenka sharply criticized Moscow's approach to military cooperation a few hours before the Russian Minister's arrival.
