Lukashenka leaves for United Arab Emirates :: Charter'97 :: News

Alyaksandr Lukashenka left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday. During the March 4-6 state visit, he is to hold talks with the UAE`s top-ranking leaders to discuss ways of "expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, economic and other areas of mutual interest," the Belarusian leader`s press office reported.

A number of documents that would form the basis for relations in many spheres are to be signed, the press office said.

Mr. Lukashenka is expected to visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The development of relations with the UAE is one of the priorities of Belarus` policy regarding the Middle East, the press office said. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on October 20, 1992. The UAE is Belarus` main trading partner among the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf. In 2006, trade amounted $26.1 million, with Belarusian exports totaling $24.3 million. Belarus mainly supplied the UAE with machine-building goods, petroleum products, bearings, tires and glass fiber.

Belarus and the UAE cooperate in the framework of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, "adhering to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other states and the inadmissibility of external pressure," the press office said.