13 Mar 2023 12:54

Belarusian, Iranian presidents sign cooperation roadmap through 2026

MINSK. March 13 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have signed a roadmap of comprehensive bilateral cooperation for 2023-2026 following negotiations in Tehran, the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA said.

"The roadmap envisages comprehensive cooperation between Belarus and Iran in the political, economic, consular and scientific-technical fields, as well as in education, culture, art, mass media and tourism," the agency said.

It was agreed to draft the document at the Lukashenko-Raisi meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in September 2021.

Lukashenko said after talks with Raisi that Belarus and Iran were ready for a new stage of cooperation. "Speaking from experience of communication with the former presidents of Iran and our negotiations, I have noticed a specific feature of this visit: we are able to reach a new level, a new stage in our cooperation. The highest efficiency will be a specific feature of this cooperation. The achieved agreements allow me to make this statement," the presidential press service quoted him as saying.

Lukashenko said it was his third visit to Iran. He said he could see every time how persistent the people of Iran "are in resisting foreign pressure and attempts at pushing another's will," and how they develop modern technologies and nuclear energy despite everything.

Lukashenko said on behalf of both states that "Belarus and Iran can be of great use to each other if they truly combine their efforts."