Turkey-Belarus ties reach 'new level'

MINSK

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey on Thursday said the ties between Turkey and Belarus had reached a “new level”.

Speaking exclusively to Anadolu Agency ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Minsk, Makey said relations between Belarus and Turkey had developed dynamically.

"The trust-based, warm and friendly contacts between Belarusian President [Alexander] Lukashenko and Turkish President Erdogan helped us to move to a new level in relations between the two countries," Makey said.

Describing Erdogan's visit as "an important step in furthering existing relations", Makey said they expected the trip "to give a strong impetus to economic relations".

"The economies of Turkey and Belarus are complementary to each other and the two countries have similar positions in the international arena," said Makey. "It is important for us to assess regional and global issues with the Turkish government."

Makey emphasized that Turkey had a very important place in Belarus's foreign economic policy and added:

"We are trying to balance the countries we cooperate with so as not to be tied to a country in foreign economic and commercial relations. Turkey has a very important place in our foreign economic policy."

Abolition of visas

Stressing how the mutual abolition of visas between Turkey and Belarus contributed to the development of tourism as well as to economic and commercial relations, Makey said removing the travel requirement had been a correct decision and mutually beneficial.

"This happened not only in Belarus but also in Turkey. Belarusian citizens started to visit Turkey more. This is the same for Turkey. This affects the business world positively as well," he said.

*Reporting by Mikalai Anishchanka; Writing by Sibel Ugurlu