Alyaksandr Lukashenka appointed three ambassadors today.
According to his press service, Head of the Europe Directorate at the Foreign Ministry Ihar Fisenka has been appointed Ambassador of Belarus to Slovakia. It should be recalled that last year, after the government of Robert Fico came to power, Slovakia returned its ambassador to Minsk. The post was taken by Jozef Migaš, who had previously represented his country’s interests in Minsk.
Deputy Head of the Directorate — Head of the Africa and Middle East Office of the Asia and Africa Directorate at the Foreign Ministry Yury Nikalaichyk has been appointed Ambassador to Zimbabwe. He replaces Ihar Marshalau, a former deputy chairman of the State Control Committee and head of the Financial Investigations Department, who previously served in that position.
Belarus’ Ambassador to Kenya Dzmitry Krasouski has been given additional responsibilities. He will concurrently represent the state’s interests in Tanzania.
Addressing the new ambassador to Zimbabwe, Lukashenka described the country as a gateway to Africa.
“Zimbabwe is not geographically, but philosophically the entrance, the gateway to Africa,” he said.
Lukashenka recalled that the Belarusian side had helped Zimbabwe obtain the necessary grain harvest.
“They ensured their food supply. Gradually we are moving forward in healthcare, education and other areas. They are buying our equipment, we are training these guys, teaching them how to work with it, transferring technologies. And they are talking about this throughout Africa,” he said.
Lukashenka stressed that Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa enjoys authority in Africa and is the “best promoter and advocate of Belarus.”
“All presidents hear him and listen to him, and he says directly: the Belarusians saved us, they ensured our food security,” he said.
Speaking about Slovakia, Lukashenka noted that it is a friendly country that has its own voice.
