News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko, Chavez see huge potential for Belarus-Venezuela relations

CARACAS, 27 June (BelTA) – Presidents of Belarus and Venezuela Alexander Lukashenko and Hugo Chavez stated in a meeting in Caracas that they see wide opportunities for building up bilateral relations, BelTA has learnt. 

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez talked to journalists ahead of the arrival of his Belarusian counterpart, thanked the Belarusian people for their help and praised the quality of Belarusian products.

The President of Belarus was met by the Venezuelan military orchestra that sang the national anthem of Belarus in Belarusian. Greeting the Belarusian President Venezuelan head of state Hugo Chavez said a few words about the Belarusian-Venezuelan cooperation. “We have built not just a strategic union, but a brotherhood,” he noted. Addressing Alexander Lukashenko, he took note of his visit to Cuba and Belarus’ intention to expand relations with the countries of Latin America.

Hugo Chavez thanked Alexander Lukashenko for the visit and expressed warm words to “the hardworking, modest, jolly and heroic” people of Belarus. He stressed that the two Presidents are to take stock of a great number of projects which are already underway in the areas of oil and gas production, petrochemistry, housing construction, industry, agriculture, energy.

Alexander Lukashenko, for his part, assured his Venezuelan counterpart that all the agreements which had been reached between Belarus and Venezuela would be implemented ahead of schedule.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus had come to Venezuela to help the country evolve. “We are a European country. We have come here not as colonizers. We have come to build the country and train Venezuelans,” the Belarusian leader said. “The decision to diversify the economy will be seen as a deed in the future,” Alexander Lukashenko said addressing Hugo Chavez.

Hugo Chavez also stated about his talk with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin who was in Israel on a visit then. The Venezuelan leader praised the fact that Vladimir Putin paid his first foreign visit as the Russian President to Belarus.

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