BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/11/2006

Iran, Belarus keen to promote ties

Iran and Belarus here Monday stressed the importance of bolstering their bilateral relations in all fields.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, accompanied by a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, arrived here Sunday night for an official two-day visit, and held private talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Monday morning.

"We have no limitations for expansion of ties with friendly countries such as Belarus," Ahmadinejad told reporters after an official ceremony welcoming Lukashenko and his delegation at the Presidential Office Monday morning.

He said mutual relations between Tehran and Minsk were "very good and progressive" and described the two countries as "independent and powerful and enjoying very good ties in various fields." Moreover, the Iranian president said that the two countries enjoyed common stances on regional and international issues and were "determined to further boost their friendly ties in all fields." "We are keen to expand ties with Belarus in the political, economic, commercial, trade, education and tourist areas," Ahmadinejad said, noting the two countries' potentials and capabilities.

He hoped the visit to Tehran of his Belarussian counterpart would be a "turning point" in bilateral ties.

Lukashenko, for his part, said there were no obstacles to Tehran- Minsk cooperation.

He said he was heading a delebation of experts and captains of big economic companies of his country who were ready to hold talks with Iranian officials to find opportunities for all-out cooperation.

Iran and Belarus have good political and diplomatic ties as well as common stances on regional and international developments, he said.

The Belarussian president then called on both sides to use their good political ties as a stepping stone for promoting their trade and economic cooperation.

A first round of talks has just started between the Iranian and Belarussian delegations attended by the two presidents.

The Republic of Belarus, a former Soviet state, is a landlocked state in northeastern Europe with a population of 10.2 million. Its capital is Minsk.

It is bounded by Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest, by Ukraine to the south, by Russia to the east and by Poland to the west.

Source:

http://www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-24/0611066597112043.htm