Opinions & Interviews

TBILISI, 22 March (BelTA) – The Georgian side is strongly interested in and active at advancing relations with Belarus. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement during the reception held by Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili on 22 March, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian head of state said: “Honestly, today I was greatly surprised by the brotherly Georgian nation. I have been a politician probably longer than anyone else here. All the more so, in my position. I’ve met with various people and various delegations. At times I heard a lot of promises, talks, messages, and the eagerness to move heaven and earth. But two or three years down the road even basic problems were still unresolved.”

According to Alexander Lukashenko, he initially thought that Georgians might be that kind of people. “Sincerely speaking, I didn’t expect how our Georgian colleagues had done things. This is why I tell you without any flattery: you’ve pleasantly surprised me, you are great people in this regard, and it is likely that a great future awaits you,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Lukashenko once again thanked the Georgian side for the warm welcome the Belarusian delegation had been given. He noted the readiness to continue advancing mutually beneficial cooperation. “The Georgian nation deserves a good life. You are hardworking, enterprising people, who know how to work in market economy much better than Belarusians,” he said. “We are pleased to have you as partners. If we can do something for you, you can rest assured we will.”

“We should progress as fast as we have been going up till now. I invite you to visit Belarus more often. We will come here more of them in order to rest, to work, to learn the best practices from each other. Everything in the name of our peoples. It is our policy. I think it is yours, too,” added the Belarusian leader.