OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2010. Belarus and Syria confirmed their readiness to bring their relations onto a qualitatively new level of strategic partnership in order to use a considerable potential of the bilateral cooperation, according to the joint declaration of the Presidents of Belarus and Syria.

The sides expressed satisfaction of traditionally friendly relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Syrian Arab Republic based on trust, mutual respect and similar positions on the issues of cooperation in the international arena. According to the statement, successful implementation of the agreements reached during the official visits of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to Syria in March 1998 and December 2003 and an exchange in visits of different delegations gave additional impetus to the bilateral cooperation.

The two parties also confirmed readiness to further exchange of high-level visits in order to coordinate bilateral, regional and international cooperation. The sides agreed to improve the joint mechanism of holding consultations between the ministries and other interested parties as a key element in reaching strategic partnership between the two countries. The two sides also agreed to continue negotiations and consultations between the heads of the foreign political agencies and foreign ministries at least once a year.

Belarus and Syria will continue cooperation within the bilateral intergovernmental commissions on trade, economic, sci-tech and other forms of cooperation for coordinating the development of the Belarusian Syrian relations.