BELARUS, ARMENIA INCREASE TRADE TEN TIMES FROM 2000 – GENNADIY NOVITSKIY

National Legal Internet Portal, Belarus
Feb 5 2007

The trade between Belarus and Armenia has increased ten times from
2000, Gennadiy Novitskiy, the chairman of the Council of the Republic
of the National Assembly, has said when meeting today with Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Belarus Oleg Esayan.

Gennadiy Novitskiy noted the bilateral cooperation has been developing
successfully in all areas. In particular, the matter concerns the
economic and political cooperation. The countries cooperate actively
in international organizations where, according to the speaker,
Belarus will always remain Armenia’s reliable partner.

Gennadiy Novitskiy emphasized that the two countries have developed
the legal framework featuring 55 interstate agreements.

In turn, Oleg Esayan said that Belarus and Armenia have similar
positions on the main issues of international politics. Armenia would
like to expand bilateral cooperation. At the same time having noted
the high trade growth, the ambassador said that the level of mutual
trade of $20 million does not meet the potential of the two countries.

BelTA reference: Armenia ranks 7th in the trade turnover of Belarus
with the CIS countries. In 2006, the trade with Armenia amounted to
$23,6 million, or 57.7% up from 2005. Belarus had a foreign trade
surplus to the tune of $15,4 million.