Events

Belarus forges ties with Africa, Middle East at Moscow forum

An archive photo

MOSCOW, 16 December (BelTA) – Belarusian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lukashevich held talks with ambassadors from a number of African and Middle Eastern countries in Moscow on 16 December on the sidelines of the Belarus-Africa business forum and told the media about their outcomes, BelTA has learned.

In particular, the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mozambique to Russia José Mateus Muária Katupha focused on signing a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. “We discussed the implementation of the roadmap signed this summer during the visit of the minister of agriculture, environment, and fisheries to Minsk,” Sergei Lukashevich noted. The humanitarian cooperation was also addressed, namely the education of Mozambican citizens in Belarus. “According to the Mozambican ambassador, this is top-tier education, well-known in Mozambique,” the first deputy foreign minister added.

During the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Jordan to Russia and concurrently to Belarus Khaled Shawabkeh, a double taxation avoidance agreement double taxation was signed. “This is a fundamental agreement that opens doors for cooperation across many areas. Without it, planning investment cooperation and developing trade and economic ties is difficult. The ambassador once again thanked Belarus, and specifically Belavia airline, for resuming regular tourist flights from Belarus to Jordan, which will commence in March next year,” Sergei Lukashevich said.

“There was a meeting with the Kenyan ambassador [Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kenya to Russia and concurrently to Belarus Peter Mutuku Mathuki]. Just recently, the head of the Kenyan parliament visited Belarus, and prior to that, the Belarusian president was in Kenya. So, we have a solid foundation to continue cooperation. We talked about a potential roadmap, about signing agreements that facilitate interaction not only on the political but also on the economic track. The ambassador suggested considering the possibility of organizing direct flights from Nairobi to Minsk,” the Belarusian first deputy foreign minister noted.

Sergei Lukashevich also met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uganda to Russia and concurrently to Belarus Moses Kawaaluuko Kizige. “This year was marked by very intensive interaction with this country for us. It began in February with the visit of our country’s prime minister to Uganda. It continued with various meetings at the level of the minister of foreign affairs and during the UN events,” Sergei Lukashevich recalled. “We discussed the agreements that were outlined during such planned meetings and extended our best wishes for a smooth electoral process in the country at the beginning of next year,” he added.

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