Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA – Syria and Belarus signed on Monday three cooperation agreements in the fields of emergency situations, judicial cooperation in civil and penal affairs, administrative cooperation, and customs.
The agreements, which were signed by the Syrian Ministries of Local Administration, Justice, and Finance, are on the sideline of a visit by Foreign Affairs Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei to Syria.
The first agreement focuses on preventative and reactive measures for natural or man-made emergency situations, as well providing reciprocal assistance in such situations or even mutual assistance to a third country.
The second agreement on exchanging authentication documents for judicial cooperation seeks to simplify procedures for legal cooperation in civil and penal affairs, while the third agreement aims at facilitating and expediting the exchange of goods between the two countries.
Attending the signing, Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Minister of Local Administration Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji said that the two countries have strong cooperation relations within a legal framework encompassing around 57 memos, agreements, and executive programs.
Ghalawanji said these relations are further developed by periodical meetings of the Syrian-Belarusian joint committee for commercial, economic, and technical cooperation, noting that the committee will meet within the first quarter of 2015 to discuss developing relations in the fields of trade, investment, industry, petroleum, mineral resources, transport, health, and communications.
He added that these relations will be expanded further by signing a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union whose membership consists of Belarus, Russia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.
On a relevant note, Makei and the accompanying delegation met with Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi, with the latter affirming the government’s commitment to boosting cooperation with Belarus and other friendly countries.
Al-Halaqi said that recent trade agreements between the two sides show that Belarus is committed to alleviating the repercussions of the terrorist war waged on Syria, calling on Belarusian companies and businessmen to carry out projects in Syria.
Talks during the meeting focused on means of implementing signed agreements and signing new ones on establishing factories and on participating in the reconstruction of Syria.
Makei also met Grand Mufti of the Republic Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, with the two sides touching on the role of inter-cultural dialogue and religious figures in bringing people together.
Hazem Sabbagh
