Working visit to the United Arab Emirates

Belarus pays much attention to the development of cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and sees a considerable potential for the enhancement of this cooperation. The statement was made a meeting between President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 28 October.

At the meeting which lasted for more than two hours the sides discussed current projects and outlined tasks for the near future.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave instructions to determine 3-4 key projects which could help promote relations between the two countries to a brand-new level.

The sides praised positive results of the second session of the joint committee on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and Government of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE is the main trade partner of Belarus among Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Belarus exports car and tractor parts, tobacco products, synthetic fibers, engines and power supply units, potash fertilizers, bearings, trailers and semitrailers to the UAE. As of 2013, there were 14 organizations with the participation of the UAE capital in Belarus. Belarus raised $54 million in UAE investment.

Belarus and the UAE have a high level of political cooperation. The two countries have similar positions on key issues of the UN agenda.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan invited Aleksandr Lukashenko to stay in the UAE in order to continue bilateral contacts on the issues of mutual interest for the two states.

On 29 October President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that on 28 October he had a very productive meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “We have agreed on many things, we have new ideas which can be fulfilled to improve both economic relations between the two countries and relations between people,” the Belarusian leader said. He explained that the Belarusian side can provide specialists to work in the UAE.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in turn, remarked that Belarus has advanced industry and education. Therefore, the engagement of the Belarusian workforce will be one of the major projects in bilateral cooperation.

“All industries, namely manufacturing, agriculture, social sector and high-tech industry are well developed in Belarus. The only things that Belarus lacks in this situation are resources and to a certain extent investments which are abundant in the UAE. Therefore, we need to join efforts for the benefit of the two states,” the President stressed.

The meeting also focused on the development of cooperation in law enforcement. The interaction between laws enforcement bodies of Belarus and the UAE have been developing since 2005. The committee on cooperation with Belarus was established at the UAE Ministry of Interior last year. Emirati specialists attend short-term courses at the Academy of the Interior Ministry of Belarus.

On 29 October Aleksandr Lukashenko also met with Deputy National Security Advisor of the UAE Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Belarusian head of state remarked that Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan was present at the recent meeting between the Belarusian President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “You were present at our long negotiations, discussions. You are familiar with the trade and economic relations. I think that yesterday and today you could think through certain issues and avenues of cooperation, especially new ones, which were proposed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President stressed that upon the arrival to Belarus he will instruct the government to draft a list of products in demand in the UAE in order to boost the bilateral trade to $500 million next year. “We would like the Emirati side to do the same,” the Belarusian leader said.

“We must reach this level of bilateral trade in order to create the foundation, a certain trade and economic platform for the further cooperation,” the President of Belarus believes.

“We can do everything what your country needs; you have what we need. It would be great to join our efforts to expand and enhance relations in the economy, security and other areas,” the Belarusian head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he wants the top level agreements to be implemented effectively as soon as possible. The head of state noted that he will give a relevant instruction to the Belarusian government. “I would like you, a person who supervises relations between Belarus and the UAE, to do the same thing. Then we will be able to advance cooperation to the highest level,” the Belarusian leader said.

“We strongly hope that our intensive exchanges of visits at the top level and at the level of ministers and other officials will help make serious progress in our relations,” the Belarusian President emphasized.

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his part, remarked that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was satisfied with the meeting with the Belarusian head of state and was impressed by the openness of the dialogue. “I think that yesterday our relations saw a certain breakthrough,” the Deputy National Security Advisor of the UAE said. He added that the Emirati side worked hard on the agreements.

“As far as I can see, we managed to convince our partners from the UAE that we have serious intentions and are eager to build long-term relations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko visited Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque where he paid a tribute to the memory of first President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.