Lukashenko sends New Year greetings to foreign leaders

MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko sent New Year and Merry Christmas greetings to foreign leaders, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian head of state.

“On the occasion of Christmas and New Year the Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko sent congratulatory messages to the leadership the Russian Federation, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimukhamedov, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and other leaders of the CIS countries, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America,” the press service said.

Congratulations on behalf of the President of Belarus have been also sent to the heads of international organizations, Russian regions, prominent political and public figures, representatives of the business community.

"It is gratifying to note that for Belarus and Russia the outgoing year was the year of an active political dialogue and constructive cooperation within the framework of the Union State and the Single Economic Space,” reads the congratulatory message of Alexander Lukashenko to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I am convinced that in the coming year, through the joint efforts, we will implement new large-scale projects, reach the agreements on the topical issues of bilateral relations, which will be an important contribution to the integration of our countries, strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between fraternal peoples,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

In the message to Nursultan Nazarbayev, Alexander Lukashenko noted the high level of mutual understanding between the two countries and robust Belarusian-Kazakh cooperation. The head of state expressed confidence that for Belarus and Kazakhstan the year 2013 will become a new productive stage towards the strategic partnership in all areas. The President of Belarus also receives numerous Christmas greetings from foreign leaders, heads of international organizations, prominent state, political and public figures.

“I am convinced that in 2013 the two countries will further deepen constructive cooperation and multilevel integration. This certainly meets the fundamental interests of the brotherly peoples of our countries," Vladimir Putin said in the message addressed to Alexander Lukashenko.