Opinions & Interviews

BAKU, 28 November (BelTA) – Belarus is ready for long-term cooperation with Azerbaijan in oil sector, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the wider-format talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on 28 November, BelTA has learned.

“If you have an interest in the market of Europe, and not only Europe, let us sit down and talk. We are ready for long-term cooperation with Azerbaijan if we reach such an agreement,” the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko thanked the Azerbaijani head of state for the recent shipment of oil to Belarus. Around 85,000 tonnes of oil was delivered to Mozyr Oil Refinery. “That was not the first time that you supported us, but that was a one-time help. I understand that any oil producer should have a strategy. We are ready to go as far as Azerbaijan is ready to go,” Alexander Lukashenko pointed out.

He noted that the partnership in the oil sector is not the main focus in the relations and talks between Belarus and Azerbaijan. “Still, this is an important avenue of our cooperation. We have two modern high-capacity oil refineries. Their modernization has almost been completed. We are close to a 90% oil refining rate. And we are ready to consider a processing agreement,” the head of state said.