OREANDA-NEWS.  June 21, 2012. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko gave an interview to the Venezolana de Television TV channel in the run-up to the forthcoming visit to Venezuela.

The interview focused on Belarus-Venezuela bilateral cooperation, politics in Latin America, and the international situation.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that big projects have been implemented in Venezuela jointly with Belarusian specialists.

“We have agreed with Hugo Chavez that by purchasing from you and producing minerals according to your laws, we will take an active part in the industrial development of your state. We are ready to contribute to the development of a powerful industrial and agro-industrial complex in your country,” Alexander Lukashenko said addressing the Venezuelan reporter.

The head of state also said that Belarus is ready to partake in new projects in Venezuela.

“We stand ready to further develop the construction of facilities to produce chemical and petrochemical products, household appliances, TV sets,” the head of state said. "Next in line is the construction of cogeneration plants, natural gas pipelines, a huge number of homes in Venezuela," the President added.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, in the future Belarus may participate in the projects in Venezuela to develop the fields of natural resources, in particular phosphates and produce nitrogenous fertilizers in the long term. Being a big producer of potassium fertilizers, Belarus is ready to create a huge center in Venezuela to mix fertilizers and sell them across Latin America. The need for that is big, said the President of Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus had started setting up joint trading companies in Venezuela.

"We are helping your economy to diversify. I am confident that we will obtain impressive results in the future,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus views Venezuela as a gateway to Latin America.

“Speaking of our interest, I consider Venezuela a huge platform to work in entire Latin America. I suggested my friend Hugo Chavez to view Belarus as a platform to develop into Europe,” the Belarusian head of state said.

“Our cooperation is based on the economy. The fact is that we need each other. Our economies are complementary, and this promoted us to cooperate,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that when cooperating with Venezuela, Belarus also relies on such major world players as Russia, China, Iran, many countries in Asia and Africa. “So one way or another, cooperation involves other powerful states, and this gives us confidence in the future,” the head of state added.

The President of Belarus stressed that this close cooperation of the two countries is not a threat to other states. “We are not against anyone. We are not going to interfere or fight with anyone. We want to ensure the independence and prosperity of our own states and peoples,” the head of sate said.