BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/11/2006

Belarus to expand cooperation with Kyrgyzstan - Lukashenko

MINSK, November 27 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Belarus is willing to perceptibly expand its cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

"Trade turnover between the two countries is growing, but it still does not measure up to our potentialities," Lukashenko said at a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek Bakiyev here on Monday.

Lukashenko believes that the economic situation in Kyrgyzstan is being improved. "We are ready to offer help, if you need it," he told President Bakiyev.

Lukashenko pointed to the fact that the leaders of the two countries held similar stands in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Community and CIS.

In his opinion, the recent developments in Kyrgyzstan do not resemble the "orange revolution" in any way. "Kyrgyzstan has as its leader today a man with professional knowledge, who has walked a long and thorny way, and with whom one could maintain a dialogue and reach agreement," he said.

Bakiyev said, in his turn, that there were no differences between the two countries in a political sphere. They support each other in international organisations.

He stressed as well that trade turnover between the two countries was not large enough so far, and measures should be taken for boosting it.

"We should resume contacts and direct goods deliveries," Bakiyev said.

He expressed confidence that his visit would give an impetus to the development of economic relations between Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.

Bakiyev said as well that a constitutional reform had been implemented in their country. At present the situation there is being stabilised. "The prospects are good, and the maintenance of stability is the most important thing," he said.

A package of documents will be signed during the official visit of the Kyrgyz President to Belarus, including a treaty on friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Source:

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11022786&PageNum=0