Representatives from the European Union have arrived in Minsk for talks aimed at resolving a dispute that led to western diplomats being recalled from Belarus in June.

The Belarussian foreign minister, Ivan Antonovich, gave no details of the talks, but said that the Drozhdy diplomatic housing complex at the centre of the row was no longer an issue.

He said the compound -- where the ambassadors were housed until they were expelled by the authorities -- had been divided into two parts -- one for President Lukashenko's residence and the other for diplomats.