BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/10/2006

Belarusian FM Dismisses UNSC Sanctions on Iran

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergey Martynov said no country can be sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council unless it violates the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or poses a threat to the international community.

Speaking in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Martynov referred to his country's stance on Iran's nuclear activities and said Belarus has made great efforts in line with the NPT, and added, "As a republic of the former Soviet Union, we inherited a pile of nuclear arsenals, which we later transferred to Russia to fully comply with the NPT rules and regulations."

He said Iran, as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, can conduct any kind of activity which has been allowed by the NPT, adding, "There is no reason to suspect the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities."

Elsewhere, Martynov noted his meeting with Mottaki and said that the two sides' talks helped to the development of cordial ties and profound friendship.

Also pointing to Mottaki's recent visit to Belarus and the frequent meetings which have been arranged between the two countries' presidents, including the ones in the Cuban capital city of Havana at the time of the recent NAM summit, he said that his visit to Tehran is aimed at paving the ground for the next-month visit to Iran by his president.

The diplomat further referred to the two states' common view points about the international issues and the necessity of changing the present mono-polar world to a multi-polar one, and stressed, "To do so, Iran and Belarus are required to expand their cooperation and develop their relations with those countries which hold similar views."

He said that expansion of the two countries' bilateral ties serves the interests of the two nations and said that during the meeting, the two sides have studied mutual agreements and economic projects to be endorsed by the two countries.

The Belarusian Foreign Minister stated that the economic ties between relevant bodies of the two countries are developing, and pointed to the assembly of Iranian automobiles in his country and assembly of Belarusian trucks and heavy vehicles and machines in Iran as instances of the two countries' extensive economic cooperation.

He also mentioned that his country attaches much significance to the manufacture of tractors and running activities in the field of energy in Iran.

Martynov stressed the necessity for the two countries' banking and trade cooperation as well as enhanced relations and cooperation of the two states' chambers of commerce as among the other issues discussed by the two sides in today's meeting.

Martynov also mentioned that he and Mottaki have also discussed regional topics and other issues of mutual interest.

Belarusian Foreign Minister, who is in Tehran at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart on a two-day visit, is scheduled to also attend meetings with president Ahmadinejad, and Ministers of Industries and Commerce to discuss mutual issues.

Source:

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8507290481