BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/07/2007

Belarusian leader promises weapons cooperation with Iran

The Associated Press

MINSK, Belarus: Belarus' president promised aid to Iran's military Thursday, and held talks with the visiting Iranian defense chief.

"Our cooperation with Iran in the military-technical sphere is based on the development, above all, of high technologies," Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with Mostafa Mohammad Najjar.

He also said that Belarus would implement contracts it had signed with Iran, but it was unclear whether he was talking about weapons sales or other trade deals. Belarusian officials declined to comment.

Najjar said that "Belarus holds a special position in Iran's foreign policy" and that "cooperation between Belarus and Iran is developing thanks to mutual understanding on the presidential level."

Less than two months ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to the ex-Soviet republic and pledged solidarity in the face of foreign pressure.

Lukashenko and Ahmadinejad are vocal critics of the United States and have cultivated ties with other countries at odds with the West.

Source:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/05/europe/EU-GEN-Belarus-Iran.php