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Lukashenka Met By Protocol Service Officials In Airport In Rome

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Lukashenka Met By Protocol Service Officials In Airport In Rome
ARCHIVE PHOTO, SB.BY

ROME, 20 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has arrived in Italy on a visit.

The aircraft with the Belarusian head of state on board landed in Rome Ciampino Airport, BelTA has learned. At the airport the Belarusian president was welcomed by Cristiano Cottafavi, the Director of the Diplomatic Protocol Department at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, a papal legate, Vatican's Secretary of Protocol Guillermo Karcher, and a representative of the Cardinal Secretary of State. On 20 May Alexander Lukashenko is expected to meet with Italy President Sergio Mattarella. During the meeting the sides are supposed to discuss the entire range of Belarusian-Italian relations, focusing on trade, economic and investment cooperation, the development of manufacturing cooperation ties. Close attention will be paid to the development of a full-fledged legal framework of the Belarusian-Italian cooperation. While in the Vatican on 21 May, Alexander Lukashenko is expected to meet with Pope Francis. The meeting will focus on further development of Belarus' cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church.

As he came off the plane, the Belarusian dictator proposed Italian business to invest in Belarus more actively.

In Rome airport Lukashenka had a short conversation with the Director of the Diplomatic Protocol Department at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Cristiano Cottafavi who welcomed him, charter97.org was informed by the press-service of the Belarusian ruler.

“We invite you to Belarus. We can breathe new life into our agreements on creation of an industrial zone in Brest. When I visit foreign states, I always propose to start with small things: two-three projects, supervised by me personally. If you like it, you can put forward more ideas,” – Lukashenka is quoted by the press-service as saying.

“In my opinion, if a businessman wants to develop a project, he takes the responsibility and knows where he sells his products. We will benefit from their presence in our country, they will create new jobs and pay taxes,” – Lukashenka said.

Cristiano Cottafavi, in turn, pointed out the resolution to enhance bilateral relations of Belarus and Italy. “It means that we need to launch these two or three projects in the industries of mutual interest,” – the diplomat noted.

The representative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that at the session of the Belarusian-Italian intergovernmental commission which was held in Minsk in February the sides expressed mutual interest in setting up the so-called business incubator in Brest which will help Italian companies implement start-up projects.

“I should say that Italy begins to revive from the crisis. I hope that it will have a positive impact on our economic relations,” –the Italian diplomat added.

In the airport Lukashenka also had a short conversation with papal legate, Vatican's Secretary of Protocol Guillermo Karcher.

Lukashenka’s visit to Italy and Vatican is to take place on May 20 – 21. It is his first visit to the EU after the EU lifted the sanctions against Belarus on February 15.

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