BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/05/2007

Iran Stresses Readiness to Expand Ties with Belarus

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on Monday, said that Tehran perceives no impediment to the expansion of relations with Minsk.

Ahmadinejad further expressed the hope that his current visit to Minsk would deepen ties and bolster cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economic sectors, reminding that his country perceives no restrictions on the expansion and development of relations with Belarus.

He voiced pleasure in his visit to Belarus and meeting with Lukashenko, and continued, "My colleagues and I are conveying a message of lasting friendship and cooperation between the Iranian and Belarusian nations."

Ahmadinejad viewed his current visit as a proper foundation for the development of the two countries' relations and cooperation, saying, "This visit could play an effective role in the expansion of relations and boosting of cooperation and it will portray a lustrous future for the two states."

He also stressed that Iran and Belarus share transparent and common views about regional and international issues, and stated, "We are (both) seeking to establish balance and justice in the world and we oppose unilateralism and unipolar trends in the world."

Ahmadinejad underlined that establishing ties with Belarus sets a top priority for Iran's foreign policy, and said, "We view Belarus through a strategic, stable and friendly outlook and the two countries have, fortunately, maintained successful cooperation with each other in the different spheres."

He further mentioned that Tehran-Minsk ties are based on friendship, justice and interaction, and added that the two countries can set a proper model for regional and international cooperation.

"Of course, we are just at the beginning of the road, yet we are taking our steps squarely and vigilantly," the Iranian president continued.

Also noting the common grounds existing for the two states' cooperation, he named energy, trade, transportation and joint and mutual investment as among the different areas appropriate for Iran-Belarus mutual cooperation.

Ahmadinejad pointed out that Iran-Belarus joint cooperation bill has been approved and become a law in Iran.

To conclude his remarks, he described Tehran-Minsk relations as good and progressive, and called on the two sides to neutralize the plots hatched by the enemies through vigilance and coordination.

Source:

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8602310465