Belarusian Economy Minister: Syria is Important Political, Economic Partner

MINSK, (ST) – Belarusian Minister of Economy Vladimir Zinowski confirmed that his country stands firmly alongside Syria and refuses any interfere in its internal affairs, pointing out that his country’s policy is traditionally based on the foundations of international law and acknowledges the sovereignty of independent states and territorial integrity.

Mr. Zinowski, during a meeting with the Syrian official delegation chaired by Industry Minister Kamal Eddin Tomah, who is visiting Minsk to participate in the meetings of the Joint Syrian -Belarusian Governmental Committee of Economic Cooperation, expressed confidence that the Syrian people will come out of the current situation and said that “Syria is one of the most important of our political and economic partners in the Middle East”.

“The good relations between the two countries will develop later being based on mutual interest and cooperation of mutual benefit,” he stressed.

Mr. Zinowski explained that the Belarusian government has developed a program to work through this year aims to maintain political and economic stability at circumstances of danger and external challenges, indicating that his country is working to diversify its exports, including Syria, “and seeks to restore the volume of trade as it was in 2008, 85 million dollars, we hope the end of the crisis in Syria soon and the development of mutual relations.

For his part, Mr. Tomah expressed hope to promote cooperation between the two countries in the economic and commercial fields, pointing out that “the visits of President Bashar al-Assad to Belarus and Belarusian President to Syria have contributed to the strengthening of these relations.”

“We also want to develop appropriate mechanisms and the formation of specialized technical committees to follow up the implementation of the protocol to be signed in Minsk,” Mr. Tomah said.

He gave an explanation about the reality of the Syrian economy and the participation of private sector in the development process and entering the private sector in the development process.

For her part, Head of Planning and International Cooperation Commission, Rima al -Qadri, indicated the presence of “a lot of practical projects” that can achieve the two countries’ actual joint common interests.

Mrs. al -Qadri indicated the need to strengthen the infrastructure of the Syrian- Belarusian economic cooperation including facilitating the work of the private sector, pointing to the important role played by the finance, credit and insurance institutions in order to introduce an appropriate environment for the implementation of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Syrian ambassador in Minsk, Bassam Abdul Majeed, and Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr Mohamed Ayman Susan and members of the accompanying delegation.

Sharif al -Khatib