News & Events in Belarus
Lukashenko urges to step up Belarus’ practical cooperation with Arab states
MINSK, 20 July (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in strengthening practical cooperation with members of the League of Arab States, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a meeting with Arab Parliament President Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi in Minsk on 20 July, BelTA has learned.
The delegation of the Arab Parliament that arrived in Belarus includes representatives of the UAE, Egypt, Libya, and Jordan. The Arab Parliament is the legislative body of the League of Arab States. It unites 22 countries of the Middle East, North and East Africa.
“It is very important that our relations with all Arab countries reach the same level as with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Libya, and Jordan. We would like to have such relations with other countries as well. But, to be frank, we do not always manage to build the same friendly relations as with the countries you represent,” the Belarusian leader noted.
The head of state noted that he personally has long-standing good relations with the leadership of many countries that are part of this organization, including those whose representatives arrived in Belarus on this visit.
“We have a foundation and a strong basis for strengthening our relations: a peaceful approach to resolving any issues and all matters diplomatically at the negotiating table,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He emphasized that parliamentary cooperation plays a major role in building close, friendly relations that must be based on the economy. “Therefore, meeting with you, I am very pleased to support the documents, the memorandum that you wish to sign with our parliament. We will be fully committed to these initiatives of our two parliaments. At any moment, if you wish, we are ready to meet with you and discuss pressing issues in our relations. We would like these relations to have a practical dimension,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko is confident that cooperation with Belarus may be of interest to Arab countries in many areas: “You know that Belarus is a strong machine-building country with developed agriculture, healthcare, education, pharmaceutical production, and other sectors.”
The president pointed out that the Iranian conflict demonstrated the need for Arab countries to orient themselves not only toward large wealthy states, but also toward countries of comparable scale, such as Belarus. “One must draw the appropriate conclusions from everything, acknowledge mistakes if they were made, and act in such a way that there are fewer of them in the future. Therefore, we offer you cooperation that would diversify your current relations,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also called on Arab countries to show greater unity on the international stage. “I am an advocate of Arab states being closer to one another. So that, taking a consolidated position on global and significant issues in the world, they stand united in defending one viewpoint or another. I have already shown such criticism, especially after the Israeli army bombed Gaza,” he said.
In turn, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for the meeting, noting that it was taking place on the 32nd anniversary of the Belarusian president’s first inauguration. Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi assured that the Arab Parliament will continue striving to strengthen and develop cooperation with Belarus. “We are following the active development of Belarus’ relations with Arab countries and hope that inter-parliamentary cooperation will continue to match this high level and support it,” the president of the Arab Parliament emphasized.
He also thanked the Belarusian side for supporting Arab initiatives, including those related to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Speaking to journalists, the president of the Arab Parliament described the meeting as effective and substantive. “We discussed trade and economic cooperation, political interaction, and also agreed to make every effort to further intensify our relations,” he said.
Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yammahi noted that this visit to Belarus is the first for the Arab Parliament. The delegation’s plans include negotiations with the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic on all areas of inter-parliamentary cooperation and strengthening partnership across all sectors.
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