Estonian, Belarusian foreign ministers discuss support for Ukraine

At a meeting on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu and Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei discussed regional security, human rights, and support for Ukraine.

Reinsalu said that sovereign states have the right to make their policy and security-related choices without pressure from outside, The Baltic Times reports.

"We appreciate the fact that, despite pressure from Moscow, Belarus does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea," Reinsalu said, adding that finding a solution to the conflict was a common interest of both states.

The parties also discussed the issue of human rights protection. In turn, the Estonian minister stressed the importance of respect for democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

"Freedom of the media, protection of human rights and free elections are the mainstay of democracy. Therefore, I raised this topic also with my Belarusian colleague," Reinsalu said.

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