BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/05/2007

Ahmadinejad arrives in Belarus

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Belarus and held talks with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Greeted by an honor guard at Lukashenko's administration building, the Iranian President said he considers Lukashenko as one of his best friends.

"We have huge potential (for cooperation) in the long-term perspective,'' President Ahmadinejad said.

"The strengthening of relations between Belarus and Iran can support regional and global security,'' the chief executive stated.

Meanwhile, Lukashenko told Ahmadinejad at the start of talks, "Relations between Belarus and Iran have reached the level of strategic partnership.''

Lukashenko said Belarus is "ready for cooperation in all directions".

During the two-day visit, Ahmadinejad is expected to tour various Belarusian enterprises.

The Belarus Foreign Ministry said last week that the main issues to be discussed during the visit are energy, trade and science.

The visit comes after President Lukashenko held talks with the Iranian leadership in Tehran last November in which he offered support of Iran's nuclear program.

Both governments have been the target of sharp criticism from the West - Iran over suspicions about its nuclear program and Belarus over human rights abuses.

Source:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=10537§ionid=351020101