Araghchi: Tehran, Minsk to draw roadmap to make best use of capacities
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran and Belarus have agreed to draw a cooperation roadmap over the next year to make the best possible use of the capacities of both countries.
The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov in the capital Minsk.
“We agreed to draw a roadmap for cooperation between the two countries over the next year, specifying what steps should be taken so that we can make the best possible use of the capacities of both countries,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi added that he held very good, constructive, and fruitful talks with the Belarusian foreign minister, as well as with Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, which played an important role in advancing bilateral relations.
Referring to the two countries’ shared views on many international and regional issues, he said that Iran and Belarus maintain close cooperation in international forums and that there are also common perspectives between the two sides on regional matters.
Araghchi noted that Belarus holds a special place in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic, stating that within the framework of expanding relations with independent countries interested in joint and constructive cooperation, Iran is ready to employ all existing capacities in both countries to secure the interests of the two nations.
He described last year’s visits by the Iranian president to Belarus and Belarusian president to Tehran as important turning points in bilateral relations, adding that such visits led to a significant leap in political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Referring to a joint economic commission that was held in Tehran last week, the Iranian foreign minister said that important and valuable agreements were reached at the meeting, which reflects the serious determination of both sides to continue cooperation and make use of existing economic capacities.
Araghchi also noted that Iran and Belarus cooperate within the framework of regional and international institutions and mechanisms, including the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, and are determined to use the capacities of such institutions in pursuit of their common interests.
Earlier in the day, the Iranian top diplomat also held a meeting with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.
During the meeting, Lukashenko referred to the very good relations between Minsk and Tehran and expressed his country's readiness to expand relations with Iran in all areas, especially in the economic field.
The two countries also signed three cooperation agreements on strategic principles for countering unilateral measures and ways, strengthening the role of international law in international relations as well as cooperation program between the two countries’ foreign ministries.