Azernews.Az

Representatives of Azerbaijan and Belarus on Tuesday signed a number of intergovernmental agreements aimed to expand the bilateral cooperation. following the talks between President Ilham Aliyev, who is on an official visit in Minsk, and President Alexander Lukashenko.

The two countries signed a package of agreements on cooperation, including the intergovernmental agreement to create favorable legal, economic and organizational conditions to expand leasing activities. The sides concluded three intergovernmental cooperation agreements in the law enforcement field. These are the agreement on combating crimes involving cultural valuables, the agreement on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism and the cooperation agreement on combating illegal production and trade in firearms, ammunition and explosives.

Cooperation agreements were signed between ministries of the two countries. The justice ministries concluded a cooperation agreement in forensic examination, while the health ministries signed cooperation agreements in registration and quality control of medicines. The administrations of Brest and Nakhchivan signed a cooperation agreement in trade, economy, culture and humanitarian fields.

Cooperation prospects

Belarus and Azerbaijan outlined prospects of developing manufacturing cooperation and the expansion of direct deliveries. The presidents of Belarus and Azerbaijan reached the relevant agreement at the meeting on Tuesday, BelTA news agency reported.

Lukashenko said that Belarus expects support for joint ventures, including support taking into account their involvement in government programs.

Lukashenko pointed out that the joint ventures created in Azerbaijan had done well. At present they manufacture tractors, trucks, municipal vehicles, optical devices, and LED lamps. The production of wheeled tractors and MAZ buses dominate the new areas of cooperation.

Lukashenko said he was confident the present meeting would become another important stage in the bilateral relations and would allow outlining new avenues of cooperation. "I think if we move our relations as fast, the neighbors will have the right to envy us," he said.

Lukashenko thanked Aliyev for the invitation to visit Baku.

President Aliyev, in turn, thanked his Belarusian counterpart for support at the UN Security Council in autumn 2011.

Aliyev praised Lukashenko for developing fruitful cooperation in politics, economics, energy, transportation and industry.

Lukashenko awarded Aliyev with Belarus highest state award - the Order of Friendship of Peoples for contribution to development of relations between the two countries.