Opinions & Interviews
FM: Belarus, Türkiye oppose interference in internal affairs of sovereign nations
An archive photo
MINSK, 30 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Türkiye consistently oppose interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov said at a ceremony to mark the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
“This holiday is a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Turkish people, who paved the way for freedom, progress, and unity,” stated Maxim Ryzhenkov. “I am pleased that our peoples have crossed paths along this way, bound by deep historical and modern roots – from the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road to our shared traditions of hospitality, respect for traditional family values, and common views on many issues of the modern world order.”
He emphasized: “Belarus and Türkiye consistently oppose interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, reject illegal unilateral sanctions, and advocate for a just world order. We are grateful to our Turkish friends for their principled – and negative – stance on illegal measures against Belarus.”
Maxim Ryzhenkov also echoed the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye: “‘As long as a nation stands united, no force on earth can destroy it.’ The history of the modern world confirms this.”
The foreign minister praised Türkiye's peace efforts in Ukraine: “In these challenging times, the efforts of our Turkish friends to resolve the armed conflict in Ukraine – from providing a negotiating platform to ensuring food security – are especially valuable. We are fully aligned with these efforts and stand ready to provide all necessary support to bring peace to the region.”
He referenced Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s congratulatory message to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which expressed confidence that “further positive dynamics in bilateral contacts will contribute to the deepening and intensification of relations for the benefit of the peoples of our countries.”
“Every year, the intensity of our interaction steadily increases through regular visits, ministerial contacts, mutual support in international venues, and business meetings,” Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
The minister emphasized: “This collaborative work is yielding good results: the trade in goods and services between our nations has been growing dynamically for four consecutive years and is now approaching the $2 billion mark. Our plans for the future include a series of official and business visits, as well as new investment projects. Concurrently, cooperation in other areas continues to develop. A prime example is the recent visit of chairman of the Supreme Election Council of Türkiye to Belarus, which resulted in a memorandum of cooperation with our country’s Central Election Commission. Furthermore, a delegation from the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, led by the head of the interparliamentary friendship group with Belarus, is currently visiting Minsk.”
In a personal note, the minister concluded: “Due to objective circumstances, my colleagues and I are now much more frequent visitors to Türkiye, as even our flights to Europe transit through Istanbul Airport. The Turkish side provides all these transit flights with maximum convenience, comfort, and friendliness.”
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