BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/07/2007

Belarus Hints at Iran Arms Deals

Associated Press

MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko promised aid to Iran's military on Thursday, holding 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," Lukashenko said during a meeting with Mostafa Mohammad Najjar.

He also said that Belarus would implement contracts it has 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."

Najjar's visit came less than two months after 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://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20070705&ID=7128257