OREANDA-NEWS. September 30, 2009. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Franco Frattini discussed urgent issues of the Belarusian-Italian relations during a meeting in Minsk on 30 September.

According to Franco Frattini, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will visit Belarus in the near future.

“We should get prepared for the visit and address all the issues which, probably, exist in our relations,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Alexander Lukashenko thanked the Italian guest for his visit to Belarus. “It is very important that you see this country with your own eyes, talk with our people, with the Italian representative in Belarus and draw relevant conclusions. I remember our meeting in Italy very well. Back then we had a long conversation. We discussed a lot of issues. I understood that the Italian leadership and you personally had a certain interest in Belarus,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

“Back then we identified a number of the issues in economy and policy which may be of mutual interest. Time has passed and it is very good that you are here and we may revisit the issues which we have agreed about earlier,” the President said.

The head of the Italian Foreign Ministry underlined that “We highly appreciated the visit of the Belarus President to Rome”. “We have indeed determined the matters that invoke mutual interest and bring Italy and Belarus closer,” said the Minister. He suggested discussing many matters during the meeting that will be worked on in the near future. Those are economic and political matters.

In European institutions Italy will continue promoting the idea of rapprochement with Belarus and building an atmosphere of trust with the country, assured Franco Frattini.

Franco Frattini remarked that in recent years very friendly relations have been established between hundreds and thousands of Belarusian and Italian families. The relations are of great importance for the Italians.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy spoke in favor of promoting cultural ties with Belarus.

Italy and Belarus promote humanitarian cooperation. For more than 20 years since the Chernobyl catastrophe Italy has been Belarus’ key partner in the recreation of Belarusian children abroad. In 1991-2009 following invitations of Italian non-governmental organizations 383,200 Belarusian children have enjoyed recreation in Italy, including 13,000 children in January-September 2009 alone.

The sides also discussed the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. In 2008 Italy was Belarus’ eighth biggest trading partner among non-CIS countries.