Didier Reynders received his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov yesterday at Egmont Palace.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders met  with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a to visit fully devoted to  Belgium .

Bilateral relations between Belgium and Russia are excellent, according to Minister  Lavrov and Minister Reynders . Didier Reynders and Sergei Lavrov also expressed their determination to sign a Belgium -Russia triennial action plan soon . They also prepared the Joint Committee Russia – Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union to be held in Brussels in November.

Ministers Reynders and Lavrov exchanged views on  international issues like  relations between the European Union and Russia, the Eastern Partnership of the EU, the situation in Iran and Syria.  Diplomatic and  humanitarian aspects were discussed. They also discussed about  human rights as the status of non – governmental organizations and LGBT rights. 

Minister Reynders invited president Poutine to come to Brussels during the Russia-EU summit.

At the Egmont Institute , Sergei Lavrov made ​​a speech to an audience of about 500 people on “The role of Europe in a time of change” followed by a discussion during which he stressed the importance of international law and the UN framework , which are key principles of Belgian foreign policy as well.