Sannikov and Nyaklyaeu meet with Swedish MFA representatives

• 23.11.2010, 8:53

Representatives of the Swedish MFA arrived in Belarus to hold consultations betweens the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Belarusian presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov and Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu met with Malena Mord, the deputy director and head of the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Martin Hagstrom, the head of Eastern Europe Department.

The Swedish party expressed its interest in the conditions of the election campaign. The asked in particular how the presidential candidates could use the television and state newspapers, and how agitation in the capital differed from that in other towns. The presidential candidates asked what the EU would expect from the upcoming election, how the EU would estimate the situation and in what degree the development of the relations with the EU would depend on holding the election in Belarus.

“A position of Sweden is vital for Belarus in particular because this country, along with Poland, is an initiator of the Eastern Partnership Programme. Sweden has influence on the European Union. The country closely follows the situation in Belarus. A decision of the EU regarding further relations with Belarus will much depend on the opinion of Swedish representatives,” Andrei Sannikov said after the meeting.