Belarusian Ambassador to Damascus: Our country will remain faithful friend to Syria, and relations are constantly developing

The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in Damascus, Yuri Sluka, affirmed that the friendly relations between his country and Syria are deep and constantly developing, prospecting more  bilateral cooperation in all fields.

In an interview with SANA on the occasion of his country’s national day,  Ambassador Sluka said that “the Republic of Belarus has remained and will remain a faithful friend to Syria, and true friendship appears in times of adversity,” stressing that Belarus and Syria will overcome all the difficulties that they face and will not allow for the West to interfere in their internal affairs.

He added, “We understand the situation that Syria has been going through since the beginning of the war on it until now. This gave us a greater motivation to provide all possible assistance to Syria to overcome these circumstances, as the two countries seek to enhance ways of cooperation between them in all sectors. But the economic sanctions imposed on both countries prevented us from reaching the required level of the volume of trade exchange.

On the mechanism for following up on the existing cooperation between the two countries, Ambassador Sluka noted that the existing mechanism between the two countries is the Joint Committee for Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, which held its eighth session this year in Belarus. At the end of the meetings a protocol for cooperation in all fields was signed, noting that the ministries in the two countries are working to implement this protocol including the educational aspect.

“Coordination has been made with the Syrian side on these mechanisms according to its needs and requirements. We will continue to cooperate with Syria and provide it with support,” he said, referring to the humanitarian aid provided by his country to Syria, which includes medicines, foodstuffs, electrical equipment, generators and transport trucks.

He revealed that preparations are currently being made to receive about 80 Syrian children to participate in recreational camps in Belarus in mid-August.

On the development taking place in Belarus, the ambassador pointed out that his country, since its independence, has been under siege and economic pressures, and despite that, it has managed to withstand and establish an independent state that is economically, politically and socially sovereign. It has also established advanced industries, including the manufacture of heavy machinery and technology.

Ambassador Sluka indicated that his country developed during the last five years the agricultural economy and achieved food sufficiency, which enabled it to withstand the economic sanctions, stressing that Belarus will remain a sovereign country that is not subject to any external pressures or dictates.

He asserted  that his country, in cooperation with the Russian Federation, is working to secure the country’s borders from any danger, especially after the escalation of NATO on the western and northern borders of the country.

The Ambassador of Belarus clarified that his country, since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, has always called for a political solution to the crisis in it through dialogue. Today, after the Russian special operation to protect the residents of Donbass, Belarus proposed its territory to carry out the negotiation process between the two parties, where three rounds of talks were held.

He said: Ukraine is a neighboring country and its people are brothers to us and  also for the Russians. It is not easy to see war, but the security of our republic is in the first place. Of course we are forced with our Russian partners to confront the Western campaign directed against us, as the West does not want to see our country in peace and prosperity. The Syrian state suffered from the same Western campaign against it.

At the conclusion of his speech, the ambassador stressed that Syria and Belarus will overcome all difficulties and will not allow the West to interfere in their internal affairs, way of life or the development of their people. We have no other choice but to cooperate and we must stay together because history forces us to do so,  and our countries have an  Old history and deep relationships on all levels.

Inas Abdulkareem