Portugal seeks closer cooperation with Belarus

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) – President of Portugal Anibal Cavaco Silva expressed interest in developing a dialogue with Belarus both in the bilateral relations and between Belarus and the European Union. The statement was made at the meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus Pavel Latushko and Anibal Cavaco Silva on 10 September. The Belarusian diplomat presented his credentials to the Portuguese President, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian embassy in France.

The new Ambassador in Portugal on concurrent stressed that he would do his level best to promote the development of constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and humanitarian areas between the two countries. Pavel Latushko handed over to the President of Portugal a unique edition of the book The Song about the Bison by outstanding Belarusian poet and educator Mikola Gusovsky. It is one of the copies of the edition made by hand in Italy in 2008 with 13 original graphics by contemporary Belarusian painter Yuri Yakovenko.

The Belarusian diplomat also met with Foreign Minister of Portugal Rui Machete to discuss approaches towards the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation as well as an opportunity to resume the dialogue with the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.