Belarusian officials expected to visit Czech Republic next month

Tomas Pojar, the Czech Republic’s deputy minister of foreign affairs who visited Minsk on Friday, told Euroradio that he had discussed the role of future Czech presidency of the European Union for relations between Brussels and Minsk, and Belarusian-Czech cultural, economic and other ties.

The Czech diplomat met with Belarusian foreign ministry officials and representatives of the opposition.

He said that official exchanges between Belarus and the Czech Republic will continue next month because his country wants Belarus to be a democratic state.

"Czech officials are likely to visit Belarus next month and officials from Belarus may come to the Czech Republic. There is not yet specific agreement as to what will be done. But there is a potential. Of course, I am certain if you look at what has been done in one year you will see results. It is in our interests to see Belarus a stable, free, democratic and sovereign country," Pojar said.

He noted differences in views of Belarusian and Czech officials on the situation with democracy in Belarus, and expressed hope that the country will make progress in the near future.