Makei: Belarus not to sever relations with its friends for the West

Minsk and Teheran are ready to face sanctions together.

Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Iran, held talks with Uladzimir Makei, Foreign Minister of Belarus. The meeting was held on December 28 in Teheran.

Eshaq Jahangiri stated that Belarus was "an amicable country and reliable partner". He added that "Islamic Republic welcomes an all-round development of relations with Belarus", Iranian news agency Tasnim reports (translated by charter97.org). During the meeting with Makei, he paid his attention to the development of relations between countries and said: "Belarus is of great importance for the Islamic Republic of Iran." "Bilateral relations both in political and economic spheres are gaining strength, but it is necessary to make solid steps in the economic sphere", he said.

Jahangiri also pointed out that both Belarus and Iran faced Western sanctions and said that the embargo could never prevent the country from achieving its objectives. He said that sanctions were not able to stop the relation extension between Teheran and Minsk.

The official also noticed that both countries should support each other in the international arena and added that they should also accept more effective measures on issues of mutual interest.

In his turn, Uladzimir Makei, called the political ties between Iran and Belarus close and said that two countries should focus on extension of trade relations, to make economic cooperation correspond to political one. "Belarus does not sever relations with its friends for the West", he said.

The official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus reports Makei's working visit in Iran, but it also reports the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif and Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines Mohammad Reza Nematze, as well as with entrepreneurship. No other details are disclosed.

Besides, Teheran Times reports that in March 2015 it is planned to hold the twelfth meeting of the Belarus-Iran Economic Committee, where the issue on increased cooperation in economic and trade sphere will be discussed. Mohammed Reza Nematze stated that Iran is ready to extend relations with Belarus in the sphere of stock exchanges, standardization, as well as in engineering exports and hosting exhibitions.

Photo by Reuters