Sweden in talks with Belarus about embassy reopening

Sweden is in talks with Belarus about the reopening of its embassy in Minsk.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told reporters about it ahead of a meeting of the European Union`s foreign ministers in Luxembourg on October 15.

Mr. Bildt said that he could not give a specific date for the reopening of the diplomatic mission.

Belarus and Sweden closed their embassies in the other country as a result of a diplomatic row sparked by Swedish Ambassador Stefan Eriksson`s expulsion from Minsk in August.

Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Mr. Bildt said that the EU foreign ministers would prolong the existing restrictive measures against Belarusian officials until October 31, 2013 because of the existence of political prisoners in the country. According to him, the European Union hopes that Belarus will continue observing the principles of diplomatic cooperation and contacts that exist between all countries.