Opinions & Interviews

Vladimir Andreichenko noted that the two countries had established efficient contacts in the humanitarian field and culture; cooperation in the defense sector is pretty vibrant, too. However, he deems it necessary to boost cooperation in trade and economy. Indeed, in 2014 the trade between Belarus and Syria was estimated at slightly more than $30 million, while in 2008 the figure stood at over $85 million.

Vladimir Andreichenko emphasized that today’s meeting is a testimony to a serious attitude of Syria to the bilateral parliamentary contacts. “Belarus, just like Syria, is interested in promoting and strengthening the cooperation. We have amassed great experience of interparliamentary and interstate cooperation across all walks of life, and we should keep it up,” Vladimir Andreichenko noted.

The Syrian diplomat responded: “The trade between our countries is really small and the reasons are the crisis and the situation in Syria”. He expressed hope that the cooperation in trade and economy will gain momentum after the recent visit of Belarus' Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei to Syria where a series of arrangements was reached and several agreements were signed.

“A session of the mixed intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation is due to take place in about a month. The Syrian delegation will be accompanied by a great number of businessmen who plan to come to Belarus to improve the economic relations between the two countries,” the diplomat added.