Belarus, Venezuela agree on direct flights

MINSK. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Minsk and Caracas will organize direct flights, the Belarusian Transport Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The aviation authorities of both countries, namely, the National Institute of Civil Aviation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the [Belarusian] Aviation Department, signed a memorandum of mutual understanding during a visit of a delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Belarus, and a draft air traffic agreement was initialed. The signing of this document will result in direct flights between the two capitals, Caracas and Minsk," the ministry said.

"The draft has been submitted to government agencies for further coordination and will soon be prepared for signing by the both governments," it said.

The agreement has yet to be signed, but a plane will arrive in Belarus from Venezuela on Tuesday to pick up humanitarian aid being provided by Belarus to Venezuela, the ministry said.

"We are hoping that cargo flights between the two countries will soon become a regular occurrence, and Belarus will be a hub for the promotion of Venezuelan goods, as well as for Belarusian products on the market of Venezuela. We are aware of the hard pressure of U.S. sanctions on both Venezuela and the Republic of Belarus. This is why we are searching for new solutions to logistical problems, which are being effectively dealt with by our countries," Aviation Department Director Artyom Sikorsky said.