Opinions & Interviews

ISTANBUL, 14 April (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in the enhancement and development of the ties with the Islamic world, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the 13^th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on 14 April, BelTA has learned.

“The interest in the enhancement of the ties with the Islamic world is an absolutely conscious choice of Belarus. By implementing the multi-vector policy and being open to the external world, by not willing to be constrained in the narrow bounds of Eurocentrism at the end of 1990s we became the only full-fledged member of the Non-Aligned Movement among all European countries at that moment in time,” the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the representatives of various religions live in peace with each other in Belarus. “We are proud of the fact that there have never been any interethnic or religious conflicts in Belarus. It was made possible because of the consistent promotion of the ideas of tolerance, peaceful and harmonious co-existence of various nationalities and religious denominations,” the President remarked.

“It is deeply symbolic that I can tell you about an important event for all Belarusian Muslims at this high-profile forum in Istanbul. The construction of the Cathedral Mosque will be completed in the Belarusian capital in the near future,” the Belarusian leader added.