Tazeen Akhtar
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergey Lukashevich has said that his country is keen to enhance cooperation and friendly relations with Pakistan. We will intensify bilateral cooperation and take it to the next level.
He said this in his address to the guests at the Independence Day celebration of Belarus in Islamabad. Ambassador of Belarus to Pakistan Andrey Matilissa hosted a reception at Serena Hotels on 03 July in this regard.
Federal Minister of Pakistan for Education and Technical Training Rana Tanvir Hussain was the chief guest at this occasion. Ambassadors of Russian Federation, Trukiye, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Nepal, Oman, Syria,Iran, Palestine, Jordon, Morocco, Yemen, and other countries were also present. Military officials also attended the event.
Sergey Lukashevich shed light on the independence of Minsk from Nazis 80 years ago.
“Third of July is a holy and symbolic date in the history of the Belarusian people. Exactly eighty (80) years ago the last battles for the capital of our Belarus fell silent and the city of Minsk was liberated from the Nazi invaders. We pay tribute to the memory of the soldiers and everyone who stood to death in the name of the peaceful future of Belarus.”
He expressed his gratitude for hospitality he enjoyed in Pakistan.
Belarus and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1994. Both are celebrating the 30th anniversary this year.Sergey Lukashevich cherishing the three decades of cooperation added that both countries are moving forward in various fields including trade, economy, education.
He said both countries have signed 80 papers of bilateral cooperation.
He referred to Islamabad Declaration as strong basis for mutual ties. He said, Islamabad Declaration of Belarus-Pakistan Partnership and the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation are talking themselves. He also shared the details of sixth political consultation held in Islamabad on only one day before the reception.
” This year also is milestone for the bilateral relations between Belarus and Pakistan. In 1994, thirty (30) years ago, two countries established diplomatic relations. Over the past years, relations between our countries have steadily strengthened. We have made progress in trade and economy, education and culture. Since then, more than eighty (80) bilateral have been signed.”
The visiting dignitary specially noted for bilateral relations :
“The meetings of joint commissions and groups on trade, economic, military-technical, industrial and agricultural cooperation held in 2023-2024.All this became possible thanks to the efforts of the leaders of our countries.I assure our Pakistani friends that Belarus are sincerely interested in further strengthening a sustainable friendly partnership with Pakistan in all spheres.”
Sergey Lukashevich said, Nowadays, we conducted Political Consultations and proved that we have everything, that is necessary to intensify dialogue in all areas.We will continue close contacts this year. I am confident that we will reach a new level of cooperation in the months to come.
He concluded his address with ” Belarus Pakistan Dosti Zindah Baad.
Celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus
Rana Tanvir Hussain, in his address recalled his memories of his two visits to Belarus with Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and short interaction with President Alexander Lukashenko. He admired the valor and resilience of the Belarusian people. He congratulated the people and government of Belarus and said that Pakistanis are sharing the joys of Belarus on their national day.
The minister said that both countries have laid foundation for strengthening the bilateral cooperation in political consultations. He expressed hope that bilateral friendship and people to people contacts will be enhanced in the future.
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergey Lukashevich spent a busy day in Islamabad on 02 July. He had a meeting with Federal Minister of Trade Jam Kamal Khan. Ambassador of Belarus to Pakistan Andrey Matilissa accompanied him.
History
Republic of Belarus celebrates the main holiday of the Belarusian statehood – Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus, which is celebrated annually on the day the Red Army liberated the city of Minsk from German occupation during the Great Patriotic War. This year, this date is an anniversary – the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Republic of Belarus from the Nazi invaders.
President Belarus will come to Pakistan to sign the MoUs with Prime Minister Shehbaz
He shared in the meeting that The President of Belarus will visit Pakistan in October to sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Mr Lukashevich also announced a meeting of the Joint Trade Commission in mid-September to boost bilateral trade ties. 35 Pakistani businessmen will visit Belarus in July for a food and agriculture exhibition.
On 02 July the Sixth Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Belarus was held in Islamabad .The two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations covering political relations, high-level engagement and dialogue, trade and investment, military and security cooperation, education, and people-to-people contacts.
Sergei Lukashevich also called on Foreign Secretary, Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi. Bilateral areas of cooperation and important regional and global developments were discussed.
Here it is worth mentioning that both ministers especially described people to people contacts but matter of fact is the Belarus side is not welcoming in this area. There is hardly any chance for the journalists even to get a visa of Belarus , let alone the common tourists.
Therefore , it seems that both sides refer to P2P only as a tradition of typical speeches at the diplomatic events. Otherwise , no mechanism exists on both sides to facilitate any such contact. Both sides may strengthen the cooperation in all other sectors but P2P should also be prioritized that is the least attended presently.
Pakistan Belarus to Cooperate in Trade, Investment, Military, Security, Education
