BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/11/2006

Ahmadinejad: Iran, Belarus determined to expand bilateral ties

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Monday that Iran and Belarus are strongly determined to further expand bilateral ties.

Ahmadinejad told his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that Tehran is firm in making use of all the existing potential in different fields to upgrade cooperation with Minsk.

He hoped that Lukashenko's Tehran visit would open a new chapter in bilateral cordial ties, adding, "We would like to see mutual cooperation expand rapidly in different technological, scientific and economic fields."

He said Tehran is ready to transfer expertise to Belarus and benefit from all the country's potential in return.

He noted that Tehran-Minsk ties can serve as a good model of regional and bilateral ties.

He hoped the two sides would at the end of the Belarus delegation's visit to Tehran sign documents for cooperation in the energy, oil, industry, education and technology, trade, joint investment and defense sectors.

Thanking Lukashenko for his "brave and strong" stances on global and international issues, especially those in support of the Iranian nation's interests in nuclear field, Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic of Iran is interested in independence and progress of Belarus and supports the country's progress.

Lukashenko said, for his part, that his country can serve as a good friend and partner for Iran.

He added that his visit can provide a very good ground for drawing a long-term strategy for expansion of bilateral relations.

He said his country is ready to invest in Iran's oil exploration sector, while inviting President Ahmadinejad to pay an official visit to Belarus. The Iranian president welcomed the invitation.

Source:

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0611066839163158.htm