Belarus develops bilateral cooperation with Iran

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus shortly intends to discuss the deepening of bilateral cooperation with the Iranian leadership. The Belarussian leader declared this on Friday at a meeting with Mehdi Karobi, Chairman of the Iranian Parliamentary Assembly.

"In the context that the Belarussian-Iranian relations rest on the principles of international law, there are no closed subjects for cooperation," said Alexander Lukashenko. He noted that the Belarussian side will build its bilateral relations, provided it suits the Iranian side, proceeding from the interests of the two peoples.

RIA Novosti has learned from the press-service of the head of the Belarussian state that the possibility of organizing an official visit of president Mohammad Khatami of Iran to Belarus in the latter half of 2002 is currently being worked on. To give it concrete content, visits at a high level are being exchanged.

Alexander Lukashenko has reaffirmed the invitation to pay an official visit to Belarus.

According to Lukashenko, Mehdi Karobi's current visit to Belarus evidences the two countries' interest in expanding cooperation. Mehdi Karobi noted in his turn that the positions of the two countries "are close in many respects. "