ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Thursday on two-day official visit.
He was received by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif, and was given a salute of 21 canons - the highest level of state reception by all diplomatic standards of the Green Book of Pakistan.
This is first visit of Alexander Lukashenko to Pakistan, and he was invited by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain with whom he had a meeting on the first day of his state visit.
Belarus and Pakistan should work hard to improve the economic component of their bilateral relations. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made this statement after his meeting with Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday.
Mamnoon Hussain greeted Alexander Lukashenko at the entrance of the Pakistan President’s official residence Aiwan-e-Sadr. The two heads of state talked in private first. Later on, the negotiations continued together with members of the delegations, reported the BelTA news agency of Belarus.
The Belarusian head of state pointed out the very effective advancement of relations between Belarus and Pakistan. “We have virtually no problems in the sphere of politics. We cooperate in international organizations and support each other. I think we should follow this way and involve members of the parliaments and heads of government agencies,” said the Belarusian leader.
“As far as economy is concerned, serious work is ahead of us,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
“The opening of the embassy in Islamabad is the first significant step on our part. It testifies that with your permission we have come here with serious intentions in order to stay for a long time,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
Sources in the Foreign Office maintain that Alexander Lukashenko is an important link to Eastern Europe for Pakistan, and Pakistan also respects him as a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sources claim that Alexander Lukashenko expresses his eagerness to work for closer relations of Pakistan with Russia, because the Pakistan government, despite tremendous pressure from the United States and certain diplomatic circles within the Foreign Office, wishes to develop reliable and close relations with Vladimir Putin.
Belarus is also known in Pakistan for heavy agriculture machinery including popular Belarusian tractors and harvesters. Foreign Office circles indicate that a number of important agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) are expected to be signed between the two countries during this high-profile visit.
President Lukashenko was scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 26, but later his visit was delayed for 2 days due to death of his mother.
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko was born on August 30, 1954 and assumed charge of the President of Belarus on July 20, 1994. He is one of the most veteran politicians of Eastern Europe, enjoying the power as President.
Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as a director of a state-owned agricultural farm and spent time with the Soviet Border Troops and the Soviet Army. He was the only deputy to vote against the independence of Belarus from the Soviet Union.
Lukashenko opposed Western-backed “shock therapy” during the post-Soviet transition. He has retained Soviet-era policies, such as continued state ownership of key industries, despite objections from Western governments. Observers also contend that Lukashenko presides over a regime steeped in Soviet nostalgia. He responds that his policies are the only alternative to instability, and have spared Belarus from the poverty and oligarchy seen elsewhere in the former Soviet Republics.
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko played a pivotal role to mend walls between Russia and Ukraine during the last 2 years and hosted international meetings to resolve Eastern Ukraine crises.
Western media is against him for his pro-socialism stance and his tilt towards Russia. He is against uncontrolled free economy and a free market economy, as he believes that a free market economy is the tool of multinational firms to control all resources of any country, including out of the country, in the name of the free movement of goods, money, resources, and manpower.
It may be mentioned that the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus was open in Pakistan on November 13, 2014, and both the countries are moving fast for their cordial relationships.
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