BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/05/2007

Belarus Asks Iran To Help Alleviate Energy Dependence On Russia

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told journalists at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad on May 22 that Minsk has asked Tehran to help Belarus reduce its energy dependence on Russia, Belapan reported. "We talked about this honestly and have asked the Iranian side to help solve this problem," Lukashenka said at the news conference in Minsk. Lukashenka also said that Belarusian companies will receive "special treatment" in Iran in exchange for similar treatment of Iranian companies in Belarus. Ahmadinejad told journalists that the stances of the two countries on international and regional problems "coincide." "We've reached a perfect mutual understanding and will assist and support each other at the international and regional levels," he added. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/05/3-CEE/cee-230507.asp