MINSK, February 19 (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is expected to meet with High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union Javier Solana on February 19, the presidential press service told BelTA. The EU official is currently in Minsk on a working visit. The EU representatives are set to hold talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov. The meeting is supposed to focus on the present state and prospects of cooperation between Belarus and the European Union. In September 2008, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. The talks highlighted a range of issues concerning the development of the Belarusian internal political situation and its cooperation with the European Union. The importance of opening a new page in the relations between Belarus and the EU was emphasized by both the parties. In October 2008, Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov met with Javier Solana. Then the Head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry stated that Belarus has always been interested in cultivating productive relations with the European Union. Javier Solana was born in Madrid in 1942. In 1964, he joined the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (SSWP). He held a parliamentary seat for SSWP in 1977 to 1995. After the SSWP victory at the elections, Javier Solana was the Minister for Culture, then for Education and Science, and later for Foreign Affairs. In December 1995, he took up the post of NATO Secretary General. In October 1999, Javier Solana was elected Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and reelected in July 2004. In November 1999, he was also appointed Secretary General of the Western European Union.
http://news.belta.by