BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/05/2007

Presidents of Belarus, Azerbaijan sign cooperation agreement

Presidents of Belarus and Azerbaijan have signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation.

Under the agreement, the sides reaffirm their commitment to ensuring favourable conditions for the development of mutually-beneficial Belarusian-Azerbaijani economic cooperation and pledge to take measures to perfect the mechanism of economic and trade relations.

Belarus and Azerbaijan say they are ready to continue the work on creating an enabling economic, financial and legal environment for promotion of small-business.

Under the agreement, Belarus and Azerbaijan say they intend to develop cooperation in transit and transport, communications, within the UN framework and that of other international organisations, to intensify interaction between parliaments, governmental and public organisations, local administrative and local self-government bodies.

The parties reaffirmed their desire to consistently pursue the policy of partnership in security sphere on the bilateral and multilateral basis. They also pledge to actively promote peace.

No close topics in Belarus-Azerbaijan relations

Belarus is willing to cooperate with Azerbaijan in all spheres. "We have no close topics for interaction," the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said today at a joint press-conference with President Ilham Aliyev after the Belarusian-Azerbaijani talks.

"Azerbaijan has found in Belarus a good fulcrum in the centre of Europe and reliable friends. And we have found it all here, in South Caucasus," the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko has thanked the Azerbaijani side for warm reception and readiness to cooperate on a mutually beneficial basis. "Thank you for the warmth - this will spur good economic results," the Belarusian leader said.

No unfair politics in Belarus-Azerbaijan relations

The relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan suffer from no unfair politics, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said at a joint press-conference with President Ilham Aliyev after the Belarusian-Azerbaijani talks.

"We are confident that if we cooperate in the spheres of oil, gas, manufacturing and other spheres, this will not entail any political pressure as happens in cooperation with other states," the Belarusian leader said.

"This is precious," he said. "We have everything to move forward," the President said.

Belarus, Azerbaijan start many projects

Belarus and Azerbaijan have started realization of many projects, which some claimed as mere PR, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said today while meeting with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliev.

"This is not PR today, but real manufactures created within a very short period of time. We do have ill-wishers who have their own view of such a pace of Belarusian-Azerbaijani cooperation and its certain areas, this view often being dissatisfactory. Such [ill-wishers] exist and we know them. But we have been firm and endured that tough period. And here, in Azerbaijan, we cooperate for the benefit, not to the detriment, of our peoples," President Alexander Lukashenko said.

Belarus and Azerbaijan have found common ground and mutual interest with regard to many issues, according to the Belarusian leader. "A special atmosphere has formed in the relations between the two countries; friendly and personal contacts have been established at all levels. This promotes the development of our relations. We are not going to make friendship against anyone. Others may also join our projects," the Belarusian leader said.

The Belarusian President called his current visit as a step forward in Belarusian-Azerbaijani interaction.

The two countries have made good progress in cooperation since Mr Ilham Aliev visited Minsk last time, Alexander Lukashenko said. The two Presidents believe the present-day Belarusian-Azerbaijani interaction is very intensive and fruitful.

Source:

http://www.today.az/news/politics/40389.html

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