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Russian MFA: Russian ambassador will arrive in Minsk in January

Boris Gryzlov. Photo courtesy of the Russian president's press service/TASS

MOSCOW, 20 January (BelTA)- The new Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov will arrive in Minsk before the end of January, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said as she answered a question from a BelTA journalist during a press briefing in Moscow on 20 January, BelTA has learned.

"Boris Vyacheslavovich [Gryzlov] intends to arrive in Minsk and start his duties before the end of this month," Maria Zakharova said. “As for the tasks of the new head of the embassy, it is to further advance cooperation between our countries and peoples in all areas. The specifics of our relations with Belarus, of course, poses additional tasks. The appointment of the prominent statesman to the post of ambassador in Minsk underlines the special importance that the Russian leadership attaches to relations with the fraternal country.”

Addressing primarily foreign journalists, Maria Zakharova recalled that Belarus is the key ally and strategic partner for Russia. “Together we are building the Union State, actively cooperating in the regional integration associations: the CIS, the CSTO, the EAEU," she said. “Of course, the economies of our countries are closely intertwined. Mutual trade, interregional and cross-border cooperation have been growing rapidly. Together we are implementing large-scale projects in industry, energy and science. Naturally, our states have the  joint defense arrangements to protect the western borders of the Union State. Our cooperation relies on the close relations between citizens of Russia and Belarus, shared history, culture, traditions and values. Our task is to advance them, to create equal opportunities for Russians and Belarusians in the Union State.”

Maria Zakharova stressed that the most important priority of the new ambassador, the embassy as a whole and all Russian missions in Belarus is to ensure the common foreign policy of Russia and Belarus. "It is well known that our countries hold similar views on key international and regional issues," she said. "Today it is doubly important that the countries closely coordinate foreign policy steps.”

Taking the opportunity, Maria Zakharova asked the BelTA journalist to convey greetings to Belarusian diplomats on the upcoming professional day on 22 January.

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