Lukashenko: Armenia - Belarus trade grows by 140 percent
30.09.2019,
19:13
Belarus' policy towards Armenia will never change. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said when he met with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan today, BelTA has learned.
YEREVAN, 30 September. /ARKA/ Belarus' policy towards Armenia will never change. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said when he met with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan today, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I follow closely the situation in Armenia from the point of view of the attitude towards Belarus. I know that Armenians have always treated Belarus well.”
He stressed that Belarus is interested in building up relations with Armenia the more so since the two nations have a similar history. Belarus-Armenia trade is small for now (about $50 million in 2018), but there was no trade at some point in the past, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
He went on saying: “Today's trade growth rate of 140% is a very good pace. I have to assure you that it will be like that in the future, too. We will support your business in Belarus if you are interested in ours. We are going to come to Armenia, set up joint ventures. I am saying it because I don't want you to think our policy towards Armenia has changed. Even if you refuse to cooperate with us, we will still insist on maintaining close and friendly relations.” Aleksandr Lukashenko assured Nikol Pashinyan that Belarus is always ready to lend a shoulder to Armenia and will never befriend someone at Armenia's expense.
“It turns out you are a very good friend just like the president of Azerbaijan has been since distant past. What am I to do? I like Armenia a lot just like I like Azerbaijan. We are ready to work in Armenia's interests.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko added he may have raised a topic one should not have raised due to reasons of diplomacy, however, he does not want any lack of clarity to linger in relations between the leadership of Belarus and Armenia.
“This is not a simple conversation. Rest assured we will always treat you like family, like brothers,” the Belarus president pointed out. In turn, Nikol Pashinyan noted he was glad the two countries can work together and discuss the most complicated issues in order to arrive at an agreement.
“We have sufficient wisdom, bravery, and will to resolve all the issues in a way to develop friendship and brotherhood between our nations and countries,” the prime minister of Armenia said. In 2018 Belarus-Armenia trade totaled $50.1 million. In January-July 2019 it increased by more than 40% in comparison with the same period of last year to reach $37.2 million. Belarus' staple exports to Armenia are milk and cream, tractors and truck tractors, medications, tires, furniture, paper and pasteboard, butter. Imports from Armenia include distilled spirits, tomatoes, oil products, and furniture. -0-
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I follow closely the situation in Armenia from the point of view of the attitude towards Belarus. I know that Armenians have always treated Belarus well.”
He stressed that Belarus is interested in building up relations with Armenia the more so since the two nations have a similar history. Belarus-Armenia trade is small for now (about $50 million in 2018), but there was no trade at some point in the past, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
He went on saying: “Today's trade growth rate of 140% is a very good pace. I have to assure you that it will be like that in the future, too. We will support your business in Belarus if you are interested in ours. We are going to come to Armenia, set up joint ventures. I am saying it because I don't want you to think our policy towards Armenia has changed. Even if you refuse to cooperate with us, we will still insist on maintaining close and friendly relations.” Aleksandr Lukashenko assured Nikol Pashinyan that Belarus is always ready to lend a shoulder to Armenia and will never befriend someone at Armenia's expense.
“It turns out you are a very good friend just like the president of Azerbaijan has been since distant past. What am I to do? I like Armenia a lot just like I like Azerbaijan. We are ready to work in Armenia's interests.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko added he may have raised a topic one should not have raised due to reasons of diplomacy, however, he does not want any lack of clarity to linger in relations between the leadership of Belarus and Armenia.
“This is not a simple conversation. Rest assured we will always treat you like family, like brothers,” the Belarus president pointed out. In turn, Nikol Pashinyan noted he was glad the two countries can work together and discuss the most complicated issues in order to arrive at an agreement.
“We have sufficient wisdom, bravery, and will to resolve all the issues in a way to develop friendship and brotherhood between our nations and countries,” the prime minister of Armenia said. In 2018 Belarus-Armenia trade totaled $50.1 million. In January-July 2019 it increased by more than 40% in comparison with the same period of last year to reach $37.2 million. Belarus' staple exports to Armenia are milk and cream, tractors and truck tractors, medications, tires, furniture, paper and pasteboard, butter. Imports from Armenia include distilled spirits, tomatoes, oil products, and furniture. -0-
