<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that Minister Vladimir Makei has died suddenly at the age of 64.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Spokesman Anatoly Glaz made the announcement without providing further details.</div><div><br></div><div>Makei had held the post since 2012. Before that, he served as an aide to President Alexander Lukashenko and the president's chief of staff.</div><div><br></div><div>Lukashenko offered his condolences to Makei's family, according to the presidential office.</div><div><br></div><div>Makei was scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Minsk on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said officials of the ministry were shocked by reports of Makei's death. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>