Miory Regional Executive Committee
The working schedule of the President of Belarus is always very event-rich. Alexander Lukashenko holds meetings and working sessions on the most pressing issues of the country's development, regularly visits regions, makes foreign visits and receives foreign guests himself, communicates with journalists, signs decrees and laws. And even when there are no public events, it does not mean that the head of state is not working. However, even during his leisure time, whether it's a hockey practice or chopping wood, Alexander Lukashenko finds an occasion for another assignment. As he likes to say, one must always proceed from life.
The "President's Week" project is for those who want to keep pace with the head of state, be aware of the most relevant statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.
- NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES. Who took the vacant command positions
- ON THE EVE OF NEGOTIATIONS. How Lukashenko's visit to Azerbaijan was prepared
- WITH A FOCUS ON THE LONG TERM. What Lukashenko and Aliyev agreed on in Baku
- NEW LIFE WILL BEGIN HERE. Details of Lukashenko and Aliyev's trip to Karabakh
- A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF RELATIONS. Results of Lukashenko's visit to Azerbaijan
- WHAT REMAINED BEHIND THE SCENES. What messages the President sent to Kazakhstan and Norway
Last week marked the end of the May holidays, but despite the extended weekend, the President's schedule turned out to be very busy and productive. Alexander Lukashenko paid a state visit to Azerbaijan, where the parties reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. Representative delegations from both countries also joined this work.
In Azerbaijan, the head of state not only held talks with his counterpart Ilham Aliyev but also visited the Karabakh region with him. And before his visit, the President managed to resolve several other important personnel issues. All the details are in the new issue of BELTA's special project "President's Week".
NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES. Who took the vacant command positions
On May 15, Alexander Lukashenko signed two personnel decrees. Colonel Mikhail Matrosov became the new Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces.
Major General Dmitry Mikholap, who previously held this position, was appointed Head of the General Staff Faculty of the Armed Forces - Deputy Head of the Belarusian Military Academy.
ON THE EVE OF NEGOTIATIONS. How Lukashenko's visit to Azerbaijan was prepared
In the evening of May 15, the President embarked on a state visit to Azerbaijan. The day before, a representative Belarusian delegation arrived in Baku. Before the talks between the two leaders, ministers, heads of state bodies, and enterprise directors held meetings with their Azerbaijani counterparts to align their efforts and outline future prospects.
The Future Belongs to Cooperation Projects
For instance, at a meeting with Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko noted that the countries have the resources to elevate economic partnership to a new level. He is confident that the future belongs to joint cooperation projects. "Speaking of existing developments, these primarily include expanding the range of jointly produced equipment at the Ganja Automobile Plant, as well as organizing joint production of veterinary drugs and pharmaceutical products," said Igor Petrishenko.
- Petrishenko: Trade Between Belarus and Azerbaijan Makes a Significant Contribution to Ensuring Food Security
- Petrishenko: Belarus and Azerbaijan Have Resources to Elevate Economic Partnership to a New Level
A working meeting at the level of heads of transport agencies also took place in Baku. Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus Aleksei Lyanovich noted that all necessary conditions are currently in place for the development of railway, air, and road transportation of goods and passengers between the countries. He proposed that Azerbaijani colleagues establish cooperation in the field of designing road and railways.
Belarus and Azerbaijan have also agreed on the equivalence of food security systems for meat and dairy products. This was announced to journalists by the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, Sergei Bartosh.
Thanks to this, he noted, Belarusian enterprises will be able to increase food supplies to the Azerbaijani market. "This will increase reciprocal product supplies and trade turnover," the minister added.
New impetus for strengthening relations
These days, another significant event took place in the capital of Azerbaijan - the largest agricultural forum in the Caucasus. Belarus also opened its national pavilion at the Caspian Agro and Interfood international exhibitions.
This time, Caspian Agro and Interfood Azerbaijan brought together about 500 companies from 38 countries. Belarus has been presenting its products here for the fifth consecutive year. More than 40 Belarusian companies arrived in Baku. They represent meat, dairy, confectionery, fish, alcoholic beverages, and other types of food products, as well as fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, and veterinary drugs.
According to the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mikhail Miatlikov, Belarus's pavilion is the largest among other national stands this year. "It occupies almost 300 square meters," he said.
During the exhibition, Belarusian enterprises signed two dozen contracts, memorandums, and agreements with Azerbaijani partners. According to the agreements, Belarus will supply products worth $43 million to Azerbaijan, and will also import raw materials and other goods worth $11 million.
In general, in 2023, trade turnover between the countries exceeded $400 million, with Belarusian exports amounting to $370 million, an increase of 77% compared to 2022.
"We exchange goods in the woodworking industry (we sell the entire product range in Azerbaijan: from sawn timber to wallpaper and toilet paper), cooperate in mechanical engineering, and jointly work in the oil refining industry (mutual trade in oil refining products). This includes pharmaceuticals and food products. We can talk about tourism, sports, and other humanitarian areas. That is, we have the entire spectrum of relations," emphasized the Ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan, Andrei Ravkov.
Ravkov: The effectiveness of cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan is truly impressive
The Ambassador is convinced that the state visit of the President of Belarus to Azerbaijan and the negotiations between the two leaders will provide a good impetus for strengthening bilateral relations in all areas.
WITH A VIEW TO THE LONG TERM. What Lukashenko and Aliyev agreed upon in Baku
- Conversation until midnight
- Two reliable friends and an offer that cannot be refused
- Agreements sealed by signatures and new twin cities
- Where will Belarus lend a hand to Azerbaijan?
- A very serious step - about the ambitious plans of Belarus and Azerbaijan
- On the Belarusian position regarding Ukraine and a powerful leader in the Caucasus
- A sweet gift for the President
By the end of the day on May 15, the Belarusian board number one landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. The state flags of Belarus and Azerbaijan were raised on flagpoles in front of the "Sharaf" government terminal, and soldiers of the honor guard company lined up along the turquoise carpet, awaiting the head of state.
A conversation until midnight
At the ramp, Alexander Lukashenko was met by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elnur Mammadov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus Mahirram Aliyev, as well as members of the Belarusian delegation - Vice Premier Igor Petrishenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Aleinik, and the head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission Andrei Ravkov.
"You live in paradise!" - the head of state noted immediately. The conversation, of course, was about the weather.
After exchanging a few words with the welcoming party, Alexander Lukashenko headed for the motorcade. The clock had long shown ten in the evening, the delegation had settled into their cars, but the President's working day was not yet over. The head of state got into the car with the ambassador - a traditional conversation before a big day of negotiations.
The substantive communication continued upon arrival. "The president's working day has just ended. It's 23:32 in Baku," reported the Telegram channel "Pool of the First."
Two reliable friends and an offer you can't refuse
Official negotiations between Alexander Lukashenko and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev took place on May 16. The meeting of the heads of state took place at the "Zagulba" presidential palace on the Caspian Sea coast. First, in a one-on-one format, and then in an expanded session, the parties discussed the entire range of bilateral relations.
According to protocol, the negotiations were preceded by ceremonial events with the participation of the honor guard company and the performance of national anthems. The ceremony also included
"We have no closed topics, everything is open for us. If someone heard what issues we are discussing, they would think: what kind of relationship do we have? The kindest, the closest. We communicate like brothers, we understand the world and its direction in the same way," Alexander Lukashenko noted.
The President emphasized that the most important thing for Azerbaijan now is the post-war restoration of territories: "The difficult time has come when these lands need to be revived, people need to be returned (and some of them have already been born in the city – it will probably be a problem)."
This work will indeed require a lot of time and effort. Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko stated, is ready to provide its support. "Equipment, agro-towns, jobs, certain technologies (your specialists, ministers know these technologies well) – if they are suitable, if our equipment can be present and work here… During one-on-one negotiations, I asked Ilham Heydar oglu: if it is possible – give us some place for Belarus. And Ilham Heydar oglu supported this approach," the Belarusian leader said.
Lukashenko offered Azerbaijan assistance in post-war restoration of territories
Ilham Aliyev, in turn, said that during the one-on-one meeting, the two leaders had a thorough discussion on many issues of the bilateral agenda, as well as on regional and international issues. The strategic nature of the relations between the two countries was confirmed.
"We cherish the trusting, creative partnership between our countries, which is based on mutual respect, friendship and cooperation," emphasized the President of Azerbaijan. "The relations have stood the test of time. I think no one doubts that Belarus and Azerbaijan are two reliable friends."
Aliyev: We cherish the trusting partnership between Azerbaijan and Belarus
Speaking about the prospects for further interaction between Belarus and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev stressed that he sees huge potential for the development of cooperation, including for increasing trade turnover, for continuing and expanding industrial cooperation. He noted that Azerbaijan would be glad if Belarusian companies and enterprises participated in the post-war restoration of territories.
Agreements sealed with signatures and new twin cities
On the eve of Alexander Lukashenko's visit, the state bodies of both countries carried out extensive work to update the treaty and legal framework. The developed draft international treaties were signed after the negotiations between the two leaders – this is also an obligatory attribute of an official meeting.
Among the signed agreements is an intergovernmental protocol on the mutual application of electronic systems for certifying the origin of goods. It is aimed at simplifying trade, increasing efficiency, and reducing the time for customs control. The heads of customs authorities signed the document.
Two more signed protocols introduce amendments and additions to intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in veterinary medicine and in the field of plant quarantine and protection.
A plan of measures to develop cooperation in the field of tourism for 2024-2025 has been signed, and the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus has concluded a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan in the areas of competition policy, public procurement, consumer rights protection, and advertising.
Another memorandum of understanding has been signed between the National Agency of Investment and Privatization of Belarus and the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan. This document creates a legal framework for the exchange of experience and improvement of the business climate in order to enhance the investment attractiveness of both countries.
Minsk, Gomel, and Grodno are establishing sister city ties with the Azerbaijani cities of Baku, Ganja, and Gabala, respectively. Memoranda between the parties were also signed following the presidents' negotiations.
Where will Belarus lend a hand to Azerbaijan?
The concluding part of the official negotiations was a statement for the media. Interestingly, neither Alexander Lukashenko nor Ilham Aliyev resorted to pre-prepared theses when summarizing the meeting.
"I have invited Belarusian companies to actively participate in the restoration of the Karabakh and East Zangezur zone. The scale of the work that we are carrying out and will carry out is grandiose."ый", - подчеркнул Президент Азербайджана.
According to him, a significant territory has to be restored from scratch. There is a need for both infrastructure development and the construction of housing, public buildings, and so on. "Therefore, we invite Belarusian companies to actively join this work," said Ilham Aliyev. "Belarus has very good urban planning experience, modern technologies, and experience in building agro-towns."
In turn, Alexander Lukashenko noted that Azerbaijan has achieved a lot in recent years, and above all, it has solved its main problem by returning lands that had been turning into a desert for a long time. "This is a difficult story. But the lands are returned, and they need to be revived. This will probably be a much longer and no less difficult task that Azerbaijan will have to solve," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
The head of state drew attention to the fact that it is not enough to simply return people to these lands. It is necessary to create jobs here and ensure a decent life for citizens, which will take many years.
"The fact that you have returned the lands and are reviving them will remain for centuries, for many times. If you find a place for us in this great cause of reviving these lands where we can lend a helping hand, and it will be beneficial for you, we will do it with great pleasure. Moreover, we will do it like no one else in the world can – because of the respect and our relations between the fraternal peoples of Belarus and Azerbaijan," the President stated.
A very serious step - about the ambitious plans of Belarus and Azerbaijan
Alexander Lukashenko recalled that Belarus and Azerbaijan are implementing a roadmap for the development of bilateral cooperation. Soon, a meeting of the intergovernmental commission will be held in Minsk, and in light of new agreements, the parties have decided to update this document.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, some things have become outdated, and there are projects that need not just to be worked out, but to be implemented. One of them is the joint production of complex fertilizers.
"We agreed on the joint production of complex mineral fertilizers. Why delay? We need to produce complex mixed fertilizers and start with the domestic market so that Azerbaijan does not ask for some fertilizers from elsewhere, but produces them here. We have the technologies, we are ready to do it and supply the entire region, and it is colossal: Iran, Pakistan, India - they consume a huge amount of mineral fertilizers. We will offer complex ones. We need to make progress by November. Such tasks were set," said Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus and Azerbaijan have agreed on the joint production of complex fertilizers
"We discussed all issues, there were no closed topics. This is not only about MTZ equipment – joint production, but also about joint production of MAZ equipment, fire-fighting equipment. Production of elevator equipment (old elevators in Soviet houses need to be replaced) – we have preserved this production and are ready to produce this equipment here with our Azerbaijani friends," the President stated.
Azerbaijan is also interested in the production of rolling stock for railways – both platforms and tank cars. Belarus is ready to share its experience in this area as well.
An equally important area is cooperation in agriculture. This includes the supply of elite breeds of cattle from Belarus, the construction of agro-towns and infrastructure, the creation of dairy farms, and the development of farms. This is particularly relevant for territories that need revival, the head of state noted.
A traditional area of interaction between Belarus and Azerbaijan is the supply of timber. Moreover, the Belarusian side is now ready to go even further and build wooden houses on the revived lands of Azerbaijan.
"As for pharmaceuticals, we are ready to start supplying the medicines you need as early as tomorrow, and to create joint production facilities here for medicines and veterinary drugs that we know how to produce in Belarus," Alexander Lukashenko said. "This is also a very large program. And a program that does not hinder anyone's work in Azerbaijan. We do not conflict with anyone here and do not compete with anyone. Although competition should exist."
Belarus offers Azerbaijan to create joint pharmaceutical production facilities
According to the head of state, Belarus and Azerbaijan can do much more in the humanitarian sphere, including in sports (regarding preparations for major events), healthcare, and education. "We are ready to revive and create on a new basis vocational education facilities. We have such experience. Today, skilled trades are in high demand. Ilham Heydarovich asked us to undertake this work. We will carry out this work together with your specialists," said Alexander Lukashenko.
It is expected that the implementation of the roadmap by the heads of state will be analyzed in November (at this time, the UN international conference on climate change will be held in Baku, and the President of Belarus plans to participate in it).
In addition, according to Ilham Aliyev, during the negotiations, the parties discussed the development of relations in the military-industrial complex, agriculture, and transport – all issues that will have practical significance for the development of the economies of the two countries.
As we have already mentioned, the trade turnover between Belarus and Azerbaijan in 2023 exceeded $400 million. However, the parties believe that they are capable, albeit not immediately, of reaching $1 billion.
"This will be a very big step. Perhaps we will do it in two stages. First, we will achieve a trade turnover of $500 million within a year or a year and a half, and after a certain time, we will reach a billion. We will do everything for this. If, for example, we buy some goods from unfriendly countries that are produced here, in Azerbaijan, we must abandon them without hesitation (this is the moment) and buy them here. Azerbaijan will meet us halfway in the same way," said Alexander Lukashenko.
On the Belarusian position regarding Ukraine and a strong leader in the Caucasus
One of the topics of the presidents' negotiations was security in the CIS space. The heads of state exchanged views on current global political issues. "The situation in the world is changing quite rapidly and, as a rule, in a n
"It has a negative side. New conflicts are emerging, new hotbeds of instability. Unfortunately, existing conflicts are generally not being resolved," Ilham Aliyev said on this matter.
"I informed about what is happening in our region in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. In great detail. Our assessments and viewpoints are either close or coincide. You know our position. It is not easy for us there now. But we will do everything to ensure peace there. And we will move in this direction. Azerbaijan's post-war arrangement, peaceful arrangement experience is very important for our region as well," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized in turn.
Lukashenko: We will do everything to ensure peace in Ukraine
The President noted that the situation in the Caucasus region is currently unstable. "Thank God that a very powerful, normal leader has emerged here in the person of Azerbaijan. You are capable of controlling the Caucasus region. This is no longer just responsibility for Azerbaijan - you are now generally responsible for the situation in the Caucasus, which we, the peoples who do not live in the Caucasus, greatly hope for. This is an additional burden on you, although you have enough problems of your own. Nevertheless, you have no choice: time has chosen you, as we say, and you bear responsibility for the Caucasus region as a leader," the Belarusian leader stated.
A Sweet Gift for the President
After the negotiations, Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev visited the international agricultural exhibition Caspian Agro in Baku. The heads of state familiarized themselves with the expositions of Belarus and Azerbaijan, studying the potential of enterprises and promising areas of cooperation in the agro-industrial complex.
"Every year, when I visit here, I take a special interest in Belarusians," noted Ilham Aliyev.
There were also gifts. The President of Azerbaijan was presented with a chocolate book as a souvenir, and his wife was asked to be given a chocolate bouquet.
"The President will take it right away, otherwise..." Alexander Lukashenko began.
"They'll eat it!" Ilham Aliyev continued.
At the open-air exhibition center, the presidents were presented with Belarusian equipment, as well as tractors of joint production.
"Is this equipment in demand here or promising?" Alexander Lukashenko clarified.
"All the equipment is in demand here. We don't work for stock. We must honestly say: a year or two ago, we had quality problems, and we dropped to 62% (the share of Belarusian tractors in the Azerbaijani market. - Ed. BELTA). But we have risen to 82% of the entire market: today the quality is good," the presidents were informed.
As part of the visit, Alexander Lukashenko also laid wreaths at the tomb of the National Leader
In the evening, the heads of state and both delegations met at the "Gulistan" Palace, which offers a charming view of the city and the Baku Boulevard. A state reception was held here in honor of the President of Belarus on behalf of the Azerbaijani leader.
A NEW LIFE WILL BEGIN HERE. Details of Lukashenko and Aliyev's trip to Karabakh
- How Aliyev was a driver and guide for Lukashenko
- Presidential gift for Shusha and an unexpected meeting
- What contribution Belarus wants to make to the restoration of Karabakh
As part of his state visit to Azerbaijan, Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev visited the reviving territories of Karabakh.
Lukashenko and Aliyev visited the reviving territories of Azerbaijan
How Aliyev was a driver and guide for Lukashenko
In the morning of May 17, the head of the Belarusian state arrived in Fuzuli. At the airport, the President of Azerbaijan met him at the foot of the plane. Ilham Aliyev briefly told his Belarusian counterpart about the ongoing restoration and development work in these territories and the construction of new infrastructure facilities. Alexander Lukashenko inspected the new airport, and the heads of state, accompanied by an impressive motorcade, headed to the city.
Fuzuli International Airport is one of the seven international airports in the country (soon there will be even more). This air harbor connects the capital of Azerbaijan with Karabakh. The airport began construction in January 2021, and the first plane landed here in September. The airport opening ceremony took place a month later with the participation of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Fizuli itself was returned under Azerbaijan's control on October 17, 2020. The city has great transport and logistics potential, as it is located at the intersection of the main transport arteries of the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions of Azerbaijan. According to the general plan, by 2040, the population of Fizuli will increase to 50,000 people (for comparison, in the late 1980s, about 17,000 citizens lived here, now - only a couple of thousand).
During the trip, Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev inspected the city's territories, destroyed facilities, and promising areas for development. The presidents traveled along the route in one car, with the Azerbaijani leader driving. On the way, he spoke about the region's history, the events that took place there, and the revival of settlements.
In Fizuli, Alexander Lukashenko familiarized himself with expositions reflecting the dynamics of the restoration of destroyed facilities, after which both leaders headed to Shusha.
Presidential Gift for Shusha and an Unexpected Meeting
In Soviet times, this city was part of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan SSR, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was controlled by the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. In November 2020, Azerbaijan restored control over the city, which was enshrined in a trilateral statement by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. Restoration work is currently underway in Shusha, and housing is being built for the return of Azerbaijani refugees.
"If it weren't for bad luck, it wouldn't be good luck. It will be a completely new life. Of course, the misfortune came at a high cost," noted Alexander Lukashenko.
The heads of state visited a residential area of the city, familiarizing themselves with housing conditions, memorable places, and a museum and exhibition dedicated to Heydar Aliyev's activities. Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev also inspected the tractor equipment gifted to the city by the President of Belarus.
"Use it. If you like it, we'll add more," said the head of state.
Of course, many things in the city are reminiscent of the tragic past: some houses cannot be restored, and memorial sites and churches are destroyed.
"The ruins are speaking... - noted Alexander Lukashenko. - But where buildings can be restored, they must be restored."
By the way, Shusha has been famous since ancient times for its rich cultural life, literature, music, and architecture. Various literary and musical societies operated in the city. In 2021, the international folklore festival "Kharibulbul" was revived in Shusha, and in 2024, the city became the cultural capital of the Islamic world. In this regard, part of the program was dedicated to familiarizing with the historical and cultural traditions of Shusha.
In the city, the presidents met the famous Soviet and Azerbaijani singer, and now the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia, Polad Bülbüloğlu, which greatly surprised Alexander Lukashenko.
"Polad, you are here? I thought: everyone is in Moscow and Moscow," said the President.
"This is a surprise for you!" - stated Ilham Aliyev.
"A magnificent place. That's why you still sing beautifully. What air there is here! I recently watched a show - he's singing!" - admired Alexander Lukashenko.
The house where the father of Polad Bülbüloğlu, the Soviet and Azerbaijani opera singer, and the founder of the national musical theater Murtuza Meshadi Rza oglu Mamedov, nicknamed Bul-Bul (meaning "nightingale" in Azerbaijani), lived has been restored in Shusha.
Now, this place houses a museum dedicated to the famous performer. Nearby, one can see a bust of Bul-Bul. It was installed during the Soviet years, and later was shot and dismantled. Until 2021, the bust was kept in the courtyard of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, and then it was returned to Shusha.
"Those who shoot at icons and monuments are barbarians," stated the Belarusian leader.
What contribution Belarus intends to make to the restoration of Karabakh
As Minister of Architecture and Construction Ruslan Parhamovich noted, Belarus plans to build a settlement for 420 families in Karabakh.
Belarus and Azerbaijan have been cooperating in the construction sector for several years. However, until now, the main focus has been on the development of urban planning and design documentation, and the exchange of regulatory frameworks and technologies.
"Now we have agreed on a new serious step. We have planned a specific settlement, something like an agro-town. We will work together with our colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, because it is very important here to provide people not only with comfortable housing, but also to ensure them decent workplaces," said Ruslan Parhamovich.
The facility is planned to be erected in the Agdam district in the central part of Azerbaijan. The settlement will be designed for 420 families. Belarusian flavor will be used in its architecture.
Belarus to build a settlement for 420 families in Karabakh
"We plan to engage in the construction of both housing and infrastructure: transport, engineering, and social facilities. These will be pilot projects. Within the next few months, we will develop and present a concept to our colleagues for their approval, and then we will actively move forward. If everything goes well, we will expand our work to several more facilities in the near future," the minister noted.
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF RELATIONS. Results of Lukashenko's visit to Azerbaijan
After visiting Karabakh, Alexander Lukashenko headed to Minsk. But at the airport before departure, the head of state managed to have another conversation with the ambassador and the ministers accompanying him – both from the Belarusian and Azerbaijani sides. After all, they have to implement everything that the two leaders agreed upon.
A Worthy Past and a Very Dynamic Present
"The head of state's visit to Azerbaijan has become a new and very important chapter in the history of bilateral relations – relations that have a very worthy past and a very dynamic present," emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik, summing up the results of Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Azerbaijan.
According to him, this is also confirmed by the dynamics of contacts with the Azerbaijani side, both at the level of the leadership of the two states, governments, and at the level of sectoral ministries and departments, public organizations, and in the humanitarian dimension. "There is practically no area where we do not interact, cooperate, or develop our relations," said Sergei Aleinik. "This dynamic allows us to look to the future with optimism."
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that during the visit, Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev spent a total of about 14 hours together and discussed the entire range of issues on both the bilateral and global, regional agendas.
Sergey Aleinik noted that important bilateral events aimed at implementing the agreements reached by the leaders of Belarus and Azerbaijan will take place in the near future. The next meeting of the intergovernmental commission is scheduled for early June in Minsk, where all the projects discussed during the visit will be substantively discussed.
Aleinik believes that Belarus and Azerbaijan may hold a forum of regions in the future"The task is to specify the roadmap of our bilateral cooperation, which was signed for 2024-2025, by filling it with additional specific projects that were discussed at the level of heads of state. This work will be done in the very near future," the minister informed.
In addition, in June, a visit to Minsk by the Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan is expected, and a visit to Belarus by the Prime Minister of this country is on the agenda.
"We are focused on serious joint work," the head of the foreign policy department summarized.
WHAT WAS LEFT BEHIND THE SCENES. What messages the President sent to Kazakhstan and Norway
On Friday, May 17, Alexander Lukashenko congratulated President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his birthday. The head of state expressed confidence that the traditionally open and friendly communication with the Kazakh leader will be filled with new constructive content, contributing to the further progressive development of bilateral relations in the spirit of strategic partnership for the benefit of Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Lukashenko congratulated President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his birthday
On the same day, the President of Belarus congratulated the people of Norway on their national holiday – Constitution Day. Alexander Lukashenko noted that both countries had been effectively developing humanitarian and trade-economic cooperation for a long time, including in the fields of mechanical engineering, food industry, science, and sports.
"We are united by concern for our citizens, a striving for peace and creation, coexistence in harmony with neighbors," the President pointed out. "I am convinced that the resumption of bilateral dialogue based on such a foundation meets the interests of the populations of both states, primarily their interest in strengthening stability in the region. Our doors will always be open to our Norwegian friends."
Lukashenko emphasized Belarus' openness to resuming dialogue with Norway
On May 18, the Belarusian leader sent congratulations to the President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The main achievement in bilateral relations over this period can be considered the strong friendship between the peoples of Belarus and Ethiopia, the Belarusian leader noted. "For all three decades, Minsk and Addis Ababa have adhered to traditions of goodwill and trust," the congratulatory message reads. "Both countries are consistent supporters of strengthening the principles of multilateralism in world affairs, collectively seeking answers to global challenges and threats based on international law, and respectful attitude towards the identity of peoples and their right to determine their own future. This has made it possible to lay a solid foundation for the progressive development of Belarusian-Ethiopian cooperation."
Lukashenko proposed raising cooperation with Ethiopia to a qualitatively new level
The Head of State emphasized that Ethiopia is currently a very significant and reliable partner for Belarus in the African region. "I believe that the time has come to raise bilateral interaction to a qualitatively new level, to fill it with substantial practical content in order to achieve tangible results in the economic and humanitarian spheres," the President noted.