Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly Ali Larijani

Belarus and Iran should restore the previous high level of interaction, including trade, economic, and investment cooperation. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he met with Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran Ali Larijani on 16 April.

“We have always considered Iran as a promising partner for cooperation. Moreover, we had and still have very tight and friendly relations,” stressed the President. He added that Belarus and Iran had reached certain results in the economic sphere and the mutual trade.

Yet Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the falling level of contacts. “Belarus-Iran trade has recently dropped due to external impact primarily on Iran although we are having a hard time, too. We have started losing some threads of cooperation. And your visit is very important for us in this regard,” said the President.

“We should restore the highest level of cooperation the way it was before as soon as possible,” said the head of state. He also said the visit was a landmark one for restoring the intensity of Belarus-Iran relations.

“I don’t have to mention our capabilities. You know Belarus well while we know Iran. Our capabilities and yours are colossal. It would be a good idea for us to resume cooperation by virtue of our capabilities,” said the head of state.

Aleksandr Lukashenko underlined that Belarus is interested in Iranian investments. “Before sanctions Iran was ready to invest up to $1 billion in Belarus. We understand that there are certain difficulties and hardships, including those that private investors experience. We would like the Iranian state to support investors. We can allocate land plots for them and these objects are located in prominent areas. Everyone knows that Iran is building them — logistic and trade centers, homes,” noted the Belarusian head of state.

Yet the President remarked: “I would like to see more movement, I would like you to demonstrate to everyone in the center of Europe that Iran is alive, will live for a long time and will prosper in spite of our enemies”.

Speaking about the importance of Belarusian-Iranian projects, including investment projects, which are being implemented in Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: “Those are gainful projects and they will pay for themselves”.

The President also said the visit was a landmark one for restoring the intensity of Belarus-Iran relations.

Iran is ready to develop all-round relations with Belarus based on the existing positive cooperation experience, Ali Larijani said. “We should use our experience and create a new atmosphere for cooperation,” Ali Larijani stressed.

He passed the best wishes to the President of Belarus from his country’s authorities. “Iran views Belarus as its friend and partner. You play a very important role in this,” the Speaker said. He assured that the new government and the parliament “are determined to develop all-round relations with Belarus”.

The Iranian guest shared the Belarus President’s opinion that the two countries had a huge potential in mutual cooperation. “We maintain a valuable political cooperation and international consultations,” Ali Larijani noted. “We value highly your position on stability in the region. I think the main thing for us is to find new cooperation areas,” he added.