MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) – Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See Sergei Aleinik visited Vatican on 8-9 February, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sergei Aleinik took part in the annual audience of Pope Francis to the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See for the annual exchange of New Year greetings. On the margins of the event, Ambassador Sergei Aleinik had a brief conversation with the Pontiff.
The ambassador also met with Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Cardinal Kurt Koch, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. “The parties discussed the bilateral agenda, cooperation within international organizations and the situation in the region,” the foreign ministry informed.
“The parties reaffirmed their determination to intensify Belarus-Vatican cooperation in order to give a boost to bilateral contacts and strengthen interfaith dialogue,” the foreign ministry added.
In addition, during his stay in Rome, Sergei Aleinik met with Director General for Political and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Sebastiano Cardi. The parties discussed topical issues of the bilateral agenda, trade and economic cooperation and relations within the framework of the European Union, and exchanged views on regional developments.
