Development of dialogue with the European Union and new projects of official Minsk with Stockholm and Helsinki

Today, the President of Belarus held a meeting with foreign ministers of Finland and Sweden. During the conversation, Alexander Lukashenko noted that our country is interested in building mutually respectful and good-neighborly relations with the European Union.   It was positively perceived that the visit took place right now after the end of the parliamentary elections in Belarus.  As for the situation in the region and in the world, life in the current situation encourages closer and mutually beneficial partnership. 

Belarus constantly provides a platform for discussing the European security architecture. We seem to be moving in the right direction, but not always as fast as we would like to.  

Just a week ago, the Council of the European Union approved the decision to sign the agreement on visa facilitation with our country. After its entry into force, the fee for the Belarusians will be reduced to €35. 

Just before the visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden officially changed the name of Belarus instead of the former "White Russia" to emphasize the national identity and sovereignty of our country. 

Sweden is in the top ten importers of the Belarusian furniture. And the world-famous furniture company IKEA adheres to the strategy of business development in our country. It is expected that the amount of contracts at the end of the year will exceed 130 million euros. This company produces chipboard and furniture in the free economic zone "Mogilev". They work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, without days off and without stopping. Efficiency is monitored at all stages of production. High-quality raw materials (mainly Belarusian wood) are monitored online from abroad by the investors. And the products meet international environmental standards. 

This meeting may affect the development of relations between Belarus and other Nordic countries. Our President has invited ministers to Belarus once again, but together with their counterparts from Norway, Denmark and Iceland. 

After the reception, the ministers went to the Foreign Ministry of Belarus to meet with their counterpart Vladimir Makei and answer the journalists' questions.