Republic
06.03.2007
Belarus and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed at the highest level their readiness to promote bilateral cooperation in many spheres. This is the main result of the March 4-6 visit of president of this country Alexander Lukashenko to the UAE, BelTA was told in the presidential press service.
On March 5, the Belarusian leader met with president of the United Arab Emirates, ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE vice-president, prime minister, defense minister, ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
On March 6, Alexander Lukashenko visited the mausoleum of the first president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan, who is a descendant of the al-Nahayan family ruling the emirates for more than 250 years. He played a key role in forming the federation of the emirates back in 1971 which turned into one of the most economically developed countries in the world. The Belarusian president signed the guest book.
Before leaving Abu Dhabi for Minsk the Belarusian head of state answered questions of mass media outlets. “I am deeply impressed. It is a fabulously rich country, which is dynamically developing. At the same time the UAE has bigger proceeds from investments than from oil supplies. The UAE invests money only in serious projects”, the president said.
Belarus and the United Arab Emirates have many areas of common interest in oil refining, machine engineering, hotel construction, Alexander Lukashenko declared when summing up the results of his visit. At present the sides have been negotiating projects and offers estimated at $100 million, the president added.
Belarus will consider “every offer of the UAE”, the Belarusian head of state said. The two countries could develop scientific, military and technical cooperation, investments in infrastructure and oil refining. “There is a company in the UAE running airport and seaport businesses, Belarus is so much interested in. The UAE is ready to give us loans and to invest funds”, Alexander Lukashenko underlined.
According to the president of Belarus, he had friendly relationship with the UAE previous leader - Sheikh Zayed Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan, who was strongly revered in the Islamic world. The current meetings with the UAE leadership were fruitful as well. “This is a country ruled by people who respect Belarus and Belarusians,” the president added.
Alexander Lukashenko suggested, the UAE should build several buildings and infrastructural facilities in Minsk and, maybe, near national parks for accommodation and recreation. The idea kindled the interest of both the UAE president and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, who would like to come to Belarus. “I am sure we will manage to accomplish the project”, noted the head of state.
The sides reached an agreement that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will visit Belarus in May 2007. Three-four extremely important pilot agreements are supposed to be signed. The agreements are now being worked out.
BelTA has been told, during the Belarusian president’s visit to the United Arab Emirates a joint commission was set up, with the Belarusian side headed by state secretary of the Security Council Viktor Sheiman. The commission has already started working.
Alexander Lukashenko believes the utilisation of the UAE experience for the promotion of Belarusian products to other states of the region will be promising, as the country earns up to $25 billion from re-export of commodities alone.
“I brought an entire landing party of Belarusian businessmen and company executives with me to the UAE. They have been conducting negotiations, assessing the market. I think after this we will expand the utilisation of the country for the promotion of our economic interests and commodity sales through a local distribution network”, said the president.
The head of state was also asked about the attraction of a $1.5 billion Russian loan for the Belarusian economy. Alexander Lukashenko explained, the loan issue had been unearthed when Belarus and Russia “argued very hard and ended with the gas and oil conflict”. “At that time I bluntly and honestly told the Russian leadership: you can raise prices up to the sky, but be aware we will not be able to pay out for natural gas and oil fast until the economy is mature. We told the Russian government to support us for a proper interest rate and through us they will actually support their own companies. The Russian side said, it will consider the issue”, noted the Belarusian leader.
Yet according to the president, the situation “is not that catastrophic, as we expected it to be”. “There is no catastrophe. We even hold the GDP growth at almost 10%. However, the loan will allow us to prevent the possible destabilisation of some branches of our economy in the future. Thank god, we did without the loan, but we would still like to have it”, Alexander Lukashenko added.
According to the president, lending money to Belarus is profitable for Russians, too. “Look at the UAE: these people don’t keep their money in a till. They invest in real estate, projects, lend money to other countries”, concluded the president.
During the Belarusian delegation’s visit to the United Arab Emirates Belarusian officials held successful negotiations with their UAE counterparts and partners, signed six bilateral legal documents.