Kupchyna: Vatican expects Lukashenka, just like Belarus expects Pope

In an interview with Euroradio, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, Alena Kupchyna, said that preparations for the visit of Aliaksandr Lukashenka to Vatican are under way. According to the official, the Belarusian leader is expected in the Holy See, but the exact date of the visit has not been determined.

"This visit, like the Pope's visit to Belarus, is always on our agenda. This visit, of course, will happen if the visit will bring significant results for the Belarusian national interests. I know that our President is expected in the Vatican and Belarus is expecting the Pope. We just want to make this visit as effective as possible," said Alena Kupchyna.

The readiness of the VAtican to accept Lukashenka was expressed by the Cardinal Pietro Parolin during a visit to Minsk in March this year. Previously, it was assumed that the visit could take place in September, but the Vatican representative said that the Holy See does not usually have an audience with the Pope on the eve of the election of political leaders in their countries. Lukashenka did not ask for an audience not to put anyone in an awkward position.