Iranian FM Holds Meetings with Top Belarusian Officials


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate meetings with Belarusian prime minister and speaker of the upper house of parliament in a bid to promote bilateral ties.

Zarif, who arrived in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Monday night, held a meeting with Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Belarusian official hailed Tehran’s international supports for his country, and described Iran as a "reliable friend and influential partner" at the international scene.

“There is capacity and serious will for the exchange of political and trade delegations between the two countries,” Kobyakov said, adding that Tehran and Minsk should plan to increase the level of cooperation and investments in different fields.

Zarif, for his part, referred to the two countries’ good capacities in energy and transportation sectors, and expressed Iran’s willingness to promote bilateral relations with the East European country.

The Iranian diplomat also met with the Speaker of Upper House of Parliament Mikhail Myasnikovich, who expressed Belarus’ readiness for the expansion of parliamentary cooperation with Iran.

Earlier, Zarif also held talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on a whole host of issues, including the ways to strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres.