Belarus FM: Nuclear Accord Should Lead To Economic Co-op With Iran

Tehran, March 17, IRNA – Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Sunday that the nuclear agreement struck between Iran and the western governments last November must lead to expansion of economic cooperation with Iran. He made the remarks in a press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran. Lifting visas for nationals of both countries is on the agenda of talks between both sides, he said. Makei is in Tehran at the official invitation extended by his Iranian counterpart. There is no political barrier in the way of expansion of relations and economic cooperation between the two countries, he said adding that the two sides are involved in exchange of views about the current international issues and enjoy highly profile political relations. In talks with Zarif, both sides decided to spare no efforts to increase current level of ties and co-op, he said. The current political relations must lead to expansion of economic cooperation between countries, he said. ˈWe are now cooperating with Iran in various cultural, scientific and sportsb fields and in January five technical committees were held between the two countries to help broaden academic cooperation.ˈ Establishment of direct flight between the two countries will help enhance level of ties, he added. ˈWe hope that the Geneva deal would help promote economic cooperation and also increase volume of trade between the two sides as current level of trade is much lower than level of political relations.ˈ Trade between Iran and Belarus stood at dlrs 60 million a year so far, he said. This volume could be increased through directives and decisions made by Iran-Belarus Economic Commission. Belaus opposes to dictatorship as well as global hegemony, he said. Belarus believes in balance in global relations, he said adding that the Belarus government is willing to develop reade relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran and Belarus have suffered from the sanctions and this should not incur loses to a third country, he said. He said that Iran and Belarus can help expand cooperation in the production sector as well. On business visa, he said Belorus tries to ease procedure fpr visa issuance based on the accord reached by the Belarus Chamber of Commerce. On Ukraine developments, he said we call for an independent, stable and peaceful Ukraine. Use of force in such issues is totally out of question and the dispute should be resolved through peaceful negotiations, he said. The phenomena such as radicalism and extremism of some western countries has led to extremism, he said./end