MINSK. Oct 22 (Interfax) - The boards of the special services of Belarus and Russia will meet in Minsk on Thursday, Director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
"I thank our colleagues for the fact that we're meeting here today and are once again holding a joint session of the boards of our special services. This comes at a difficult time," the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Naryshkin as saying.
Naryshkin said he shares the opinion on the situation surrounding the Russia-Belarus Union State that was voiced by the Belarusian president at the start of the meeting.
"I totally agree with the assessments on the extent to which the situation globally, including the situation around our countries, is tense. I'm confident that the special services can do a great deal more to ensure the interests of our states and our citizens and to protect them from the threats that we encounter from time to time," he said.
Naryshkin also thanked Lukashenko "for the opportunity to meet and discuss a wide range of issues concerning the countries' allied relations."
Naryshkin also told Lukashenko that Russian President Vladimir Putin sends him his best regards.
"I spoke to him before our meeting. He sends you his best regards," Naryshkin said.