President of Belarus: Belarusian-Iranian relations reach the level of strategic partnership

The bilateral relations between Belarus and Iran have reached the level of strategic partnership, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said today during a narrow-format meeting with President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “Your very prompt visit to Belarus coming shortly after my visit to Iran attests to the fact that we have established the relations of strategic partnership,” the Belarusian leader said to the President of Iran. There has been a lot of “talking” over Belarusian-Iranian relations, the Belarusian leader said. “Everyone interprets this relationship in his own way. But I would like to emphasize once again: Belarus and Iran are subjects of international law. And there are no closed topics between Belarus and Iran today. We are prepared to cooperate in all areas,” Alexander Lukashenko said. Belarus will remain firmly committed to the agreements reached. “If we promise Iran something, we will fulfil it for certain,” the President said. Before the talks there was the official welcome ceremony for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is on a two-day official visit to Belarus. The visit will run through May 22. Belarus and Iran have achieved a high level of political relations, an official at the Presidential Administration said. In March 1998 and November 2006 President Alexander Lukashenko visited Iran. In September 2004 the former President of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, visited Belarus.