Belarusian Ambassador: Belarus is interested in expanding cooperation with Syria in political, economic and social fields

Damascus, (ST) – The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in Damascus Yuri Sloka affirmed that the relations between his country and Syria are stable and advanced and they have reached a very high level of coordination between the governments of the two countries.

Sloka added that there are good relations of cooperation and interaction with regard to joint work on the international arena, especially in the United Nations Organization, reaffirming his country’s support for Syria.

In an interview with SANA on the occasion of his country’s National Day, which falls on July 3,  the day of the liberation of Belarus from Nazism, Ambassador Sloka said that his country is interested in developing and expanding cooperation with Syria in all political, economic and social fields. He referred to the effective role played by the joint government committee and the direct meetings of experts in both countries in creating mechanisms and opportunities to develop cooperation between them. He added that there is coordination between the two countries to put the agreements signed between them into practice.

Sloka pointed out that the visit of the Prime Minister of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko to Syria last year, and the talks he held in Damascus, constituted an important step to strengthen and expand economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. He said that the legal bases for the existing contracts between the two countries are of a wide spectrum and include all fields.

The Belarusian ambassador reviewed a number of agreements and MoUs that were signed during Golovchenko’s visit to Damascus. He revealed that work is currently underway to prepare for a visit by the Syrian Minister of Transport to Belarus before the end of this year.

Within the framework of implementing the agreements signed between the two sides, Ambassador Sloka referred to the talks and discussions that took place last month with the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Loay Al-Munajjid about exchanging experiences.

He added that during the Syrian children’s visit to Belarus, within the current recreation and recovery project, their companions will be briefed on the existing experiences in Belarus in the sector of social affairs and work.

Within the framework of the project, Ambassador Sloka pointed out that at the end of last year, the number of Syrian children, who were received in Belarus has increased, as 150 children and 12 escorts were sent to Belarus last May and June. Next August, there will be a third group that includes 75 children, he added.

The Belarusian Ministry of Education is currently preparing a plan for the year 2024 to receive children, being the coordinator of the project to send Syrian children to Belarus, and no other country has been granted such a number to receive them in Belarus.

On future investments in Syria, Ambassador Sloka stated that Belarus is seeking to find investment opportunities in it, especially since the characteristic of the Belarusian economy and its production process focus on heavy industries, in addition to agricultural and food industries and everything related to technologies in these fields, as the Syrian side shows great interest in it.

Ambassador Sloka stressed that the will of Belarus is to submit full assistance to Syria and its people after the unjust war against it and the destruction that befell it, especially after Syria decided that its reconstruction would take place with the help of friendly countries, and this is something that Belarus is proud of as it is one of the countries on which Syria relies.

Sloka continued his speech by saying: The provision of humanitarian aid is also one of the factors of cooperation between the two countries, as in June and November of last year the fifth and sixth aid was shipped to Syria, and last February, after the earthquake disaster that struck Syria, humanitarian aid was sent.

The Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko also directed to send a mobile military field hospital consisting of 40 Belarusian military doctors of all medical specialties to Aleppo to provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake, and work is underway to prepare and prepare a new aid shipment that includes food for children, in coordination with the Syrian government.

Regarding foreign interference in the internal affairs of Belarus, Ambassador Sloka said: Our position is clear, solid and strong against interventionist actions.

Ambassador Sloka pointed out that the Belarusian economy has been subjected to sanctions since the 1990s, so the Belarusian leadership has taken many measures that regulate the building of the state’s economy, and has drawn up plans against economic disasters that Belarus may face, such as directing exports to new markets, localization and support for some products and industries. He added that sanctions are a destructive factor, and “we are against them, and our country wants to trade and live in peace with everyone”.

Ambassador Sloka affirmed that his country’s internal policy was and will remain strong and independent, and it always seeks to live in peace with all countries of the world in order to preserve the unity of the Belarusian people and to promote ideas of peace and creative work in its society.

Ambassador Sloka added that as a condition for the development of Belarus, President Lukashenko declared 2023 the year of peace and creativity, and that Belarus’ answer to militarization in the European region will be the peaceful creative work of citizens. He explained that the main areas of development in it are represented in improving the national military education system for the population and strengthening Peaceful initiatives of citizens and society, interfaith dialogue, and showing the advantages of the Belarusian economic model in the world.

Regarding the foreign policy of Belarus, Ambassador Sloka said: “Our country has once again become at the epicenter of global confrontation that includes all countries without exception, and our generation must once again defend our country and our right to the path of development of a sovereign future, and Belarus seeks to restore stability and calm in the region, and our main goal is to find new ways and methods to establish relations between the geopolitical forces in the region.”

Regarding relations with Russia, Ambassador Sloka affirmed that his country has been a strong ally of Russia and that the Russian and Belarusian peoples are brothers and the two countries are bound by a political union.

Sloka referred to the recent events in Russia as a result of the rebellion carried out by the “Wagner” group on the twenty-fourth of last month. He stressed that any internal provocation is a gift to Western countries.

Raghda Sawas