Serzh Sargsyan hosted Alexander Lukashenko

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: Today, the official ceremony of welcoming the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who has arrived to Armenia for an official visit, took place at the Presidential Palace. After the ceremony, the Presidents of the two countries held a one-to-one meeting followed by the negotiations in the extended format with the participation of the official delegations.

As reported by Armenpress, in the wake of the negotiations, the parties signed a number of the agreements aimed at the development and deepening of cooperation in a number of areas. In particular, signed were the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Government of the Republic of Belarus on Cooperation in the Area of Protecting Rights of the National Minorities,” “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and Government of the Republic of Belarus on Cooperation and Information Exchange in the Area of Nuclear Safety andRadioactive Protection,” “Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus,” Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia and Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus, and Program for Cooperation in Years 2013-2014 in the Area of Physical Culture and Sport between the Ministry of Sport and Youth Issues of the Republic of Armenia and Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus.

At the meeting with the representatives of the mass media, Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Alexander Lukashenko made a joint statement on the outcome of the negotiations.

Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan on the outcome of the negotiations with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

"Distinguished Mr. President,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am truly glad to welcome the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in our country. We are meeting regularly with President Lukashenko at the CSTO and CIS Summits, in the past also in the framework of EvrAzEs, and most recently we met at the December Session of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow and before that also at the Summit of CIS where Belarus, in the framework of its Chairmanship, has been implementing comprehensive measures aimed at the further enhancement of cooperation.

These regular meetings allow us to discuss in a working manner and provide solutions to the issues on the Armenian-Belarus agenda. However the high level reciprocal visits remain the main booster of the interstate relations. I would like to once again greet President Lukashenko in Armenia where he is always a welcome guest.

Next month, we will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. We are approaching this milestone not only with the corresponding level of bilateral cooperation but also with the strong realization that the positive experience of the interstate cooperation acquired through these years is our common property.

We also concur that the future of our relations should be in harmony with our historical past. We passed the hardships of the last century side by side, shoulder to shoulder fought in the Great Patriotic War, thousands of Armenian fell on the Belarus frontlines and hundreds of thousands covered their names with glory. Our friendship is cemented by the blood of our fallen heroes and we ought to preserve and multiply that legacy with care.

We have discussed the most diverse issues: we have spoken about economic and geopolitical issues, humanitarian ties. Naturally, we have also talked about the activities of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation which will hold its regular meeting in June. We have also recognized close interparliamentary relations in the framework of the specially formed Armenian-Belarus commission.

Special attention has been paid to our cooperation in the framework of international organizations. We have exchanged views on the development of cooperation in the framework of CSTO, spoke about processes going on at the CIS where we are ready to render the needed assistance to our Belarus colleagues to ensure success of their Chairmanship in the Organization.

I have also presented to Alexander Lukashenko the current stage of the NK peace process. I have underscored once again that the people of Karabakh want peace and opportunity to live freely in their historical homeland. They want equal opportunities will all those nations which have obtained international recognition of their sovereignty. I assured President Lukashenko that our position remains unchanged: we are ready for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

We have certain and promising programs in the area of economic and investment cooperation, mutual access of the goods and services to our respective markets, cooperation in the areas of tourism, agriculture, culture and science. We see great opportunities in the sphere of high technologies.

I trust President Lukashenko will agree with me that numerous contacts before this visit held on different levels contributed also to the signing a while ago of a weighty package of documents. We anticipate that they will provide the anticipated impulse to the bilateral cooperation. Thus, Mr. President, the visit is timely and is doomed to be a success.

I once again welcome the President of Belarus to Armenia and give him the floor".