BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/03/2007

Leaders meet with Belarus president

WAM

Abu Dhabi/Dubai: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday held talks with President Alex-ander Lukashenko of Belarus, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.

Shaikh Khalifa and Luka-shenko explored new avenues of cooperation and ways to boost economic ties, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also held talks with Lukashenko yesterday.

They discussed ways to enhance commercial, economic and cultural relations between the two countries.

As he welcomed the Belarussian president and his delegation, Shaikh Khalifa expressed hope that the visit would contribute to opening new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.

Bilateral ties

The President and Luka-shenko exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments and a number of issues of mutual interest.

Lukashenko expressed his happiness at visiting the UAE and meeting Shaikh Khalifa, hoping his visit would enhance bilateral relations and cooperation for the best interest of the two countries and their peoples.

The meeting was attended by Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, in addition to other shaikhs and senior officials on both sides.

General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also reviewed with the Belarussian president the progressive relations between their countries and ways to boost them.

Banquet

Shaikh Khalifa hosted a banquet in honour of Lukashenko and his accompanying delegation.

As he welcomed the Belarussian President and his delegation, Shaikh Mohammad hoped that the visit would increase trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. He stressed on the balanced policy the UAE adopts when establishing relations with countries based on the principle of common interests and mutual respect.

Present at the meeting in Dubai were Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group; Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone; Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs; Dr Hanif Hassan and Vladimir Sulimsky, Belarussian Ambassador to the UAE.

Countries ink five agreements

The UAE and Belarus yesterday signed five agreements providing for cooperation in security, military, aviation and educational fields.

The agreements were signed by UAE ministers and their Belarusian counterparts accompanying the Belarussian President, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.

A twincity agreement has been signed between Abu Dhabi and Minsk. The security agreement provides for fighting crime and all forms of crimes and exchange of legislations and knowledge.

The air transport cooperation agreement provides for encouraging cooperation between national carriers in both countries.

Source:

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/03/06/10109115.html