A. Lukashenko: The core of Belarus's foreign policy is peacefulness and multi-vector approach, pragmatism and consistency.
20/09/20110 views
On September 20, Minsk / Alina Grishkevich - BELTA /. Belarus is open to mutually beneficial partnership based on mutual respect between states and peoples. This was stated by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on September 20 at the ceremony of presenting credentials by ambassadors of foreign states, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
Credentials were presented by 12 heads of diplomatic missions - Azerbaijan, Brazil, Greece, Zambia, India, Malaysia, Namibia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as the head of the European Union representation in Belarus.
"I cordially welcome you to the Belarusian land, which has always been famous for its cordiality and hospitality, hardworking and tolerant people," the President noted. "You will get acquainted with a country with a rich history and unique culture."
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus, during difficult trials and in peacetime, has consistently defended its right to its own development path. He said that Belarus looks to the future with confidence. "In a relatively short period of independence, we have achieved a lot," the President noted, adding that peacefulness and a multi-vector approach, pragmatism and consistency are the cornerstones of the republic's foreign policy.
Belarus has no secondary countries or regions, he stated. "We are ready for the closest and most intensive cooperation with any of our foreign partners, regardless of the distances that separate us. The main thing is mutual understanding and a focus on fruitful cooperation," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
In this regard, he sincerely welcomed to our country the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Belarus with residence in Minsk, Renato Luis Rodrigues Marques, in the history of bilateral relations.
Alexander Lukashenko stressed: "We highly appreciate the achieved level of dialogue with this dynamically developing state, whose role and weight on a regional and international scale are becoming increasingly significant. We can proudly say that today Brazil is one of our key partners on the American continent."
According to him, contacts at the highest level have been established, and bilateral trade turnover has exceeded the one billion mark. Alexander Lukashenko believes that such a result of mutual openness and painstaking pragmatic work is an example for many.
The Head of State emphasized that the Commonwealth of Independent States space is traditionally the closest and most important region for Belarus.
According to him, "Ukraine, our close neighbor and fraternal people, are united not only by a common centuries-old history but also by sincere friendly, good-neighborly relations." Similar geopolitical conditions in which our countries find themselves, common challenges and threats facing us, create objective prerequisites for closer and more trusting bilateral cooperation, the President said.
He stressed that "we expect consistent and systematic work from the new Ambassador of Ukraine to build genuine partnership relations in all areas of cooperation."
In a conversation with the Ambassador of Ukraine Viktor Tikhonov, Alexander Lukashenko said: "I do not hide that I asked Viktor Yanukovych to send us an intelligent, experienced person to raise our cooperation to a higher level and smooth out any rough edges in our relations." The head of the Belarusian state stated that in the near future "we will establish a dialogue with Ukraine at the highest level."
While accepting the credentials of the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belarus, Isfandiyar Vagabzade, Alexander Lukashenko asked him to "convey the kindest words of greatest gratitude to the Azerbaijani leader for the fact that in a difficult moment Azerbaijan was the first to lend us a shoulder." "This is worth a lot, and we will not remain in debt," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
He noted that the active and open dialogue between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Azerbaijan has given the cooperation between the two countries a special dynamic. The President noted with satisfaction the practical steps taken to implement previously reached agreements with Azerbaijan in the energy sector.
According to the President, the intensity of meetings and the list of issues discussed confirm the conclusion: Belarus and Azerbaijan are interested in and needed by each other.
"Our western neighbor - the European Union - is one of the key partners in the trade, economic, credit and investment spheres, an important source of advanced technologies," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.
According to him, "together we ensure reliable protection of the European region from the main challenges and threats of our time. Together we fight against cross-border crime, illegal migration, trafficking in persons, weapons and drugs."Alexander Lukashenko said that the Head of the European Union Delegation knows the situation in our country well, as she previously headed the diplomatic mission of Latvia here.
The President of Belarus, while receiving the letters of credence from the Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus, Ms. Mairead McGuinness, expressed hope that "her extensive experience in diplomatic service in neighbouring Latvia, which is not alien to us, will allow her to take an active stance in developing Belarusian-European relations and ensure their reset based on the principles of equality and mutual respect."
Speaking with her after the ceremony of presenting letters of credence, Alexander Lukashenko emphasized: "I hope you understand us, and this is very good. Do not believe what is said and written, that we will bargain with anyone over so-called political prisoners. We are not bargaining with anyone. If we can do something to alleviate their fate, including in the interests of the European Union, then we do not hide it – we will do it, and we will do it sincerely."
"Believe me, we are not in a situation where we need to run somewhere or fall to our knees," the President stated. He continued: "And the first days, when we moved towards a sharp normalization of the currency situation, showed that we did not have that crisis. We now need to ensure that the exchange rate of our currency does not fall sharply close to what it was, and it is tending towards that."
At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko noted: "We will get out of this situation without anyone's help."
Mairead McGuinness, in turn, said that "we will have something to talk about and something to work on."
While receiving the letters of credence from the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Russia and Belarus (concurrently), Mr. Michail Spinellis, the President declared an interest in full-scale cooperation with that country.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that our countries have the potential for significant intensification of relations, which is currently far from being fully realized. The creation of a solid foundation for Belarusian-Greek relations will be facilitated by the positive dynamics of interaction in such important areas as trade, investment, science, culture, and tourism.
Belarus intends to develop joint cooperation projects in the industrial sector with the Republic of Serbia, the President stated while receiving the letters of credence from the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Belarus, Mr. Stojan Jevtić.Alexander Lukashenko is convinced that the friendly and time-tested ties between the Belarusian and Serbian peoples are a reliable foundation on which our relations with the Republic of Serbia are built.
He stressed that the Belarusian side attaches great importance to the further successful development of a whole range of joint cooperation projects in industry, and counts on the arrival of advanced Serbian experience and innovations in Belarus.
The President also said that priority conditions for work will be created for Serbian businessmen in Belarus. He noted that the Serbian people are very close to us, and the Belarusian people empathize with everything that is happening in this country.
Alexander Lukashenko accepted the letters of credence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Belarus, Cevat Nezih Özkay.
The Head of State stated that Belarus welcomes the Turkish side's readiness to develop a more intensive political dialogue.
He stressed that we pay great attention to open and sincere dialogue with the Republic of Turkey. According to the President, the relations between our countries are based on the growing interest of Belarusian and Turkish business circles in establishing economic ties and implementing large-scale projects.
In his conversation with the Turkish Ambassador, the Head of State noted that both countries need to work on increasing the level of trade and economic cooperation, which today does not correspond to the existing potential.
In turn, the Turkish diplomat said that one of the main goals of his diplomatic mission is to develop comprehensive cooperation with Belarus. According to him, Belarus and Turkey are currently developing several joint projects, the results of which will be tangible in the near future.
Belarus intends to leverage its high economic and scientific-technical potential with India to implement joint projects. This was stated by Alexander Lukashenko when accepting the letters of credence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Belarus, Manoj Kumar Bharti.
The Head of State noted that Belarus associates great hopes with the appointment of the new Indian Ambassador. The President stressed that relations with this unique country have always been among Belarus's foreign policy priorities.
"Now we are striving to deepen our bilateral constructive dialogue," said the Belarusian leader.
In a conversation with the Indian diplomat, Alexander Lukashenko noted that "Belarus and India need to move to a new stage of development." He believes that close cooperation in the scientific and technical sphere should be followed by rapid development of projects in other areas.
Credentials were also presented to the President by the Ambassadors to Russia and Belarus (concurrently): from the Republic of Zambia - Patrick Nyilobi Sinjiza, from Malaysia - Zainol Abidin Bin Omar, from the Republic of Namibia - Ndali Che Kamati, from the Kingdom of Thailand - Chalermpol Tangchit.
The Head of State noted that Malaysia and Thailand are important partners of Belarus in Southeast Asia. He also said that there are no problems between our countries that would hinder the further expansion of political and trade-economic cooperation.
Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus is interested in developing ties with Zambia and Namibia, which it considers promising partners. The Belarusian side is ready for a qualitative leap in the development of economic cooperation with them and broad interaction in the field of industrial cooperation. According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus can offer these countries high-quality machine-building products and a wide range of consumer goods. And to begin with, it would welcome the establishment of mutually beneficial contacts between business representatives.
The President wished all diplomats successful work and assured that favorable conditions for their work would be ensured in Belarus.
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