BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

08/12/2007

Lukashenko, Chavez open Belarus' national exhibition in Caracas

Caracas, Dec 8, IRNA

Itar-Tass -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday opened a national exhibition of Belarus in Caracas.

The presidents took a tour of the exhibition called Expo Belarus 2007, which is expected to give a new boost to and enlarge Belarusian supplies to Venezuela.

Folklore ensembles greeted the presidents at the stands displaying Belarusian arts and crafts. The presidents watched a fashion show where Belarusian models presented new knitted wear.

In the first half of the day, Lukashenko and Chavez met for talks to discuss ways to deepen political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

In their brief statements after the talks, the heads of state confirmed the strategic nature of bilateral relations.

Lukashenko said Venezuela was one of the most consistent political and economic allies of his country.

"When (Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez made a visit to Minsk, he was very interested in Belarusian goods, because they are of good European quality and cheaper (than those in Europe)," Lukashenko said earlier, adding, "Prices of Belarusian goods are competitive on the world market, even despite long distances."

He stressed that Belarus would help Venezuela in all spheres where necessary. "We lack energy resources. My friend Chavez says we can produce oil on the same conditions as other countries, relaying on Venezuelans' goodwill," Lukashenko said.

In his words, Belarus has already carried out geological surveys at Venezuelan oil deposits that were assigned to Belarus.

"We drafted documents and set up necessary facilities. We do everything quickly. We have no bureaucracy like that in the European Union," Lukashenko said.

"Why should we not cooperate with Venezuela? Or with Iran? When we asked Iran for assistance, they showed us many deposits. We selected the most promising ones and we are setting up a facility there," he said.

Venezuela and Iran "are among the richest countries of the world," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko's visit to Venezuela is of exceptional importance, Chavez pointed to prospects for broadening economic cooperation with Belarus and said this country had a big technological and industrial potential.

Agreements on the setting up of joint ventures, dump truck and tractor assembly and manufacture facilities in Venezuela will be signed during Lukashenko's visit, Chavez said.

He also said that documents on the establishment of Venezuelan- Belarussian companies VenBELAZ, MAZVen, and VenMinsk were ready for signing.

Chavez attaches great significance to Belarus's technical assistance in the implementation of plans aimed at turning Venezuela into an "industrial and agricultural power."

During the visit, Venezuela and Belarus plan to sign more than 20 agreements aimed at boosting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, including in the field of joint oil prospecting and production in the rich Orinoco area.

Chavez and Lukashenko will visit oil fields in the basin of the Orinoco River, whose the oil belt of is estimated to have reserves of 35 billion barrels of heavy and super heavy oil.

On Saturday, Lukashenko and Chavez will visit the state of Anzoategui where a joint Venezuelan-Belarussian company is about to start oil production.

Source:

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-16/0712082786145241.htm