Belarus Marks 10th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyztan (press release by MFA press service)

On January 21 Belarus marks the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyztan.

Over the ten years in question the states have laid a firm basis for the development of fruitful co-operation, expanded political and economic contacts.

The first official visit of the Belarusian leader to Turkmenistan, which took place in May 2002, testifies to the intensification of co-operation. 6 international agreements were signed during the visit.

In January-October 2002 trade turnover between the two states amounted to $20.6 million, which is 6.2 times more as against 2001. Positive foreign trade balance between Belarus and Turkmenistan amounts to over $19 million.

The official visit of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko to Uzbekistan in December 1994 became a landmark in the development of the Belarus-Uzbekistan bilateral relations.

The Declaration on further strengthening of friendship and co-operation, which determined the basic ways of development of relations between the two states for the near future, and a number of other important agreements were signed during the visit.

Over the ten years the countries have created a firm contractual-legal base of bilateral relations, which comprises 25 international agreements and treaties. The last two years have seen a tendency of restoration of positive dynamics in mutual trade. As to trade turnover, Uzbekistan is Belarus’ second trade-economic partner among the countries of Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

In January-November 2002 Belarusian exports to Uzbekistan went up by 4% as against the same period of 2001 to make more than $16.4 million. Positive balance in trade with Uzbekistan amounted to $5.4 million. The total trade turnover - $27.4 million – does not yet correspond to the parties’ potential and interests.

Belarus exports to Uzbekistan plastic goods, medical equipment, drugs, synthetic threads, refrigerators and freezers, varnishes and imports cotton fibre, fur raw materials, grapes and tobacco raw stuffs.

Intensive contacts are carried out between legislative branches of power of Belarus and Kyrgyztan.

Over the period in question Belarus and Kyrgyztan have created a good contractual-legal base for bilateral relations, which comprises over 30 international agreements and treaties.

Belarus is interested in Kyrgyz tobacco raw stuffs and cotton fibre and ships machine building produce there.

In January-November 2002 the Belarus- Kyrgyztan trade turnover amounted to $5 million.