Events

MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) – Belarus and Portugal will hold events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2017. Pavel Latushko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France with concurrent accreditation to Portugal, met with Antonio Sabido Costa, Head of the Department for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, in Lisbon to discuss preparations for the celebrations, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in France.

Pavel Latushko and Antonio Sabido Costa discussed a wide range of items on the bilateral agenda. They talked about the matters that will be in focus at the upcoming ministerial consultations, about preparations for signing bilateral agreements and implementation of cultural and educational projects. “The parties agreed to hold a number of joint events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Portugal in 2017. Pavel Latushko and Antonio Sabido Costa also considered the possibility of setting up an Honorary Consulate of Belarus in Porto,” the press service said.

The Belarusian diplomat informed the Portuguese side about the beginning of the work of the Honorary Consul of Portugal in Minsk and the progress in the cooperation in culture. Pavel Latushko said a few words about the recently organized exhibition From Lisbon to Vladivostok Via Minsk that features paintings by a Portuguese artist.

Pavel Latushko also met with the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs and with the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal. The parties agreed to hold ministerial consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

Ambassador Pavel Latushko attended the 2017 New Year reception hosted by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in honor of the heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to Lisbon. “At the meeting, Pavel Latushko had a brief conversation with the Portuguese head of state. The parties expressed interest in bolstering the cooperation between Belarus and Portugal in economy, including in the development of the legal framework. The Belarusian diplomat presented to the Portuguese leader a catalog of the international exhibition From Lisbon to Vladivostok Via Minsk that opened in the Belarusian capital on 21 December 2016. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised the initiative of the Belarusian side to hold such a large-scale cultural project,” the press service added.