Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro

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Belarus and Venezuela will work out a new roadmap for enhancing bilateral relations in the near future, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said after the negotiations with President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro on 3 July.

The two heads of state talked to each other for more than three hours. The presidents discussed the entire spectrum of Belarus-Venezuela relations, including trade, economic and political cooperation, the implementation of joint projects and promising avenues of interaction in various industries.

Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed hope that Belarus and Venezuela will maintain close ties that were established under Hugo Chavez. “We have established long-standing kind relations not only with our common friend, who is, unfortunately, not with us anymore, but also with you, the closest and most trusted friend of Hugo Chavez,” the Belarusian head of state told Nicolas Maduro.

“We hope and we are absolutely sure that you will proceed with the policy promoted together with Hugo Chavez. Not only me, the Belarusian government, but also the entire Belarusian nation associates you with the policy pursued by Hugo Chavez,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

The Belarusian President noted that it is easier to expand cooperation with Venezuela now, because a solid foundation has already been laid to promote bilateral cooperation. “This is why I am convinced and I really hope that we will do everything in memory of this great person to materialize the things we planned and the things he dreamt about,” the Belarusian head of state added.

“We perceive this first official visit of Nicolas Maduro as a confirmation of the policy aimed at advancing the strategic partnership between our countries. By the way, all today’s negotiations were saturated with this feeling. We are resolute to implement everything we outlined in the past,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said

The Belarusian head of state emphasized that the current president of Venezuela was present on all the negotiations and arrangements during the presidency of Hugo Chavez: “This is why he is perfectly aware of problems in the Belarusian-Venezuelan relations, the issues that have to be addressed. He was intimately involved in creating the foundation of our relations”.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the President of Venezuela had set a global task to diversify and modernize the economy before his people. “We can provide substantial support and can take part in this colossal historical process,” the President of Belarus said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus would like to see Venezuela as a support platform, through which Belarus could work with entire Latin America and certain countries. “The idea was formulated back in Hugo Chavez’ time. I am grateful to the Venezuela President for his promise of provide assistance in this regard. We would like to cooperate with major Latin American countries jointly with Venezuela in an economic manner, in trade,” the Belarusian President remarked.

“Venezuela has always been committed, friendly, has always lent a helping hand to us in times of need. I have promised to the President of Venezuela that the Belarusians will answer in kind. All the things we can do today and the things Venezuela is interested in should be transferred to the Venezuelan territory. Training Venezuelan specialists to use all that is the most important thing,” the Belarusian President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko assured that Belarus treasures friendly relations with Venezuela, which is one of the most influential and respectable countries in Latin America. “We have a lot in common, including the same attitude to international problems. Within a short period of time we built the foundation of the relations that will advance in the future,” the Belarusian head of state said.

The President of Belarus noted that mutual visits are not for the sake of decorum but are filled with concrete practical actions: “It will go on like that in the future, at least we have just agreed it will We have recognized the fact that a lot had been done but it is not much in comparison to what we should do”.

“We have made the main decision that we should accelerate the dynamics of the relations, should revise all the problems and questions that exist and existed in the past, and should work out a new roadmap to propel the relations as a result of the revision,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.

In his words, the sides have also agreed that on 4 August at the latest a Belarusian-Venezuelan commission will sit in Minsk to work out concrete proposals regarding the roadmap and then the proposals will be submitted for consideration of the presidents of Belarus and Venezuela.

The Belarusian head of state remarked that the implementation of the program will be closely monitored by the two presidents: “The revision of our relations, the development of a roadmap for the future, unwavering fulfillment of the roadmap’s measures and control by the presidents — all of it was suggested by the president of Venezuela”.

Nicolas Maduro, for his part, remarked that the present visit took place on the day of Belarusian major national holiday, Independence Day. “We confirmed fraternal relations between Belarus and Venezuela. On the basis of friendship and joint work we will work out a new roadmap of cooperation,” said the President of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan head of state emphasized that the foundation established by Aleksandr Lukashenko and Hugo Chavez relies on friendship and the foundation is very strong. Now it is necessary to use this foundation to promote the arrangements previously reached with Belarus.

“The late president Hugo Chavez was a generator of ideas, an adherent of all-round enhancement of cooperation with Belarus. Now we are beginning a new stage to secure new success along this way. You can count on us as true friends and followers of Hugo Chavez,” the President of Venezuela stressed.