News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 1 March (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to cooperate with Georgia in all areas and fill the relations with the warmest emotions, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the one-on-one talks with Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili on 1 March, BelTA informs.

“We feel that we have good relations, therefore we are prepared for comprehensive cooperation with Georgia and its people. We will be always happy to welcome and see the citizens of Georgia in Belarus, to provide all-round support and assistance in recreation and business,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The head of state said that the countries have made a breakthrough in their relations over the years. For example, in 2016 the trade between Belarus and Georgia surged 63% to make up almost $100 million, which was a record high for the past five years. “Perhaps, this trade could be even higher. It is smaller than we have planned. We have once agreed that $200 million will be the first step in our trade that we must reach. However, we must acknowledge that we do not have such growth rates with any other country. Moreover, this is a very serious growth even against the backdrop of the Eurasian Economic Union where we, unfortunately, have seen a decline. Of course, the volumes are not comparable, but the trend gives us hope,” the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko also remarked that the inflow of Belarusian tourists to Georgia increased by one third last year. “I think that we will cooperate in the same way filling our relations with good and warmest emotions and feelings. We have never tried and will never try to use our friendship against anyone, but we have our own interests. We will respect the interests of the Belarusian and Georgian nations relying on the deep history of our relations and on their heroic past,” the head of state stressed.