Key to energy security

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko paid a working visit to the Russian Federation on September 25th–26th 

During the visit, the Head of State took part in the international forum World Atomic Week, held under the theme From a New Technological Paradigm to a New Worldview, and had bilateral meetings 

BELTA

Together with other high-profile visitors before the plenary session began the President examined the exposition in the Atom pavilion. Director General of the Russian state corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev acted as the tour guide. He presented the pavilion and talked about capabilities of Russia’s nuclear industry.

In his speech at the forum the Head of State first drew the attention of the event participants to the fact that Russia is holding the current forum amid the challenging international situation. 

The President said that the foes of Russia and Belarus are spreading all sort of tales about the countries, accusing them of everything and calling them aggressors and co-aggressors, “Well, let’s be honest: Russia, like all other countries that are present here, has plenty of problems. This is especially relevant about the Russian Federation, there are many questions, problems and there is much struggle that will be appreciated in the future. I am absolutely convinced of this. Nevertheless, what are we talking about today? Are we talking about the war and military problems? No. At the suggestion of Russia, which has a lot of problems, we are talking about peaceful nuclear development. We have gathered at a forum where Russia is sharing its experience. Name other countries that have similar technologies, that would openly and honestly declare ‘come and look at’ the most advanced technologies.”
As noted by the Belarusian leader, the talk is about the technologies that are not openly shared. “Believe me, I am already an experienced politician and I know almost all the countries that deal with such things. I have visited some of them, but I do not know a country that would openly invite in difficult times to come and see, offering co-operation and training. 

Russia has no secrets in its most non-public industry today. I am saying this not because it [Russia] is our older brother, as I often joke, or because Vladimir Vladimirovich and I are friends. Try to refute my thesis. In difficult times, Russia is opening up its most secret sphere to us, and this is demonstrated most of all in Belarus,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko added that Russia had built many nuclear power plants, “Probably more than any other state. It will build many more nuclear power units. Meanwhile, as for coming to another country and saying: ‘Here is a loan for you, we will build a state-of-the-art power plant for you, with the involvement of your builders’… We constructed a nuclear power plant together, implementing the most advanced project. We created the most modern (and I am proud of it), the most beautiful nuclear power plant, and it is operating now. Everything happened during our work: we had to equip and put it into operation. Those in the West stopped supplying us with some equipment, and Russia immediately provided a replacement, we were involved into the improvement of the operation of the plant. Therefore, Mr President, thank you very much for that decision.”
The Head of State congratulated the Russian friends and partners of the forum on the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry, “The World Atomic Week is another vivid evidence of Russia’s indisputable leadership in the field of atomic science and high multidisciplinary technologies in the international arena.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko invited Rosatom to continue its work in Belarus. The President said, 

“We need to continue working in many areas — peaceful one and, above all, in the field of healthcare. I kindly ask that we resume our movement with regard to a nuclear centre in Belarus. I have preserved it as I inherited it from Soviet times. Under the supervision of Grossi [IAEA Director General], a lot of good materials are kept there, and you know this. We follow our agreements faithfully.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko also sincerely thanked Rafael Grossi for his principled position and support of Belarus in the construction of the nuclear power plant — ‘for being a real man, a real person’. “Our station, as you remember, was seriously politicised, with views voiced that we were building something wrong and in an improper place. Americans were against it, and Europeans were generally furious. You have visited our station many times, and you openly told reporters: ‘Do not attack Belarus. It is building the most advanced station together with Russians’. You have done a great job. You have never set us up with Russians or forced us to justify ourselves. You were a sincere and decent person. That is why Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] said that if Mr Grossi wants to head the United Nations, then why would we object. Thank you so much for all that you have done. Everything that a person lived in the past works for the future. This concerns you first of all,” the Belarusian leader said.

CO-OPERATION ROADMAP IS TO BE ADOPTED 

Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on the sidelines of the World Atomic Week forum

“It is good that we have met. There is a lot to discuss, especially when it comes to shaping the future. The agenda for our bilateral relations is rather extensive. We have identified the areas where we can and must co-operate. We understand what Ethiopia needs, and we have it. Just as we clearly know what Belarus needs, and Ethiopia has it. We need to deepen co-operation and increase our trade, because our economies are capable of that,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “In terms of trade and economic relations, I want to publicly state that no topic is off-limits for us: we can liaise in all sectors, including agriculture, food production, the establishment of joint ventures in Ethiopia, and military-technical co-operation. We are ready to work with you across all areas where we have expertise.”
The President proposed that Belarus and Ethiopia develop a co-operation roadmap by the end of the year. “We should outline not only the areas of co-operation, but also specific targets: from overall trade to the number of units of equipment and machinery Belarus plans to provide, and vice versa, Ethiopia’s deliveries to Belarus,” he emphasised.
He assured that the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is prepared to promptly carry out this work and draft an action plan for the coming years.
Aleksandr Lukashenko invited Abiy Ahmed Ali to visit Belarus to explore relevant industries and areas of interest. “We will not hide anything from you,” the President added.
In turn, the Ethiopian prime minister remarked, “We would like to strengthen our co-operation in trade and the economy. There are several areas where we can work together. One such area is agriculture. We know Belarus has strong tractor manufacturing, and joint production could benefit not only Ethiopia, but the entire East African region.”
He also named construction as another key area. Ethiopia is willing to engage in joint production of construction equipment, with a focus on markets in third countries. “We are also fully aware of your expertise in the military-technical sector and the support you can provide to our country,” Abiy Ahmed Ali added.
Previously, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Abiy Ahmed Ali met during the BRICS summit in Kazan in October last year. At that time, the Belarusian leader reaffirmed Belarus’ readiness to actively develop co-operation and share technologies necessary for Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is the most elevated country on the African continent. With an area of over one million square kilometres, it is home to more than 130 million people, making it the second most populous country in Africa, after Nigeria. 

Ethiopia is interested in virtually every aspect of Belarus: its experience in machinery, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and the education of Ethiopian students in our universities. There is also interest in joint work in the textile industry, mining, the humanitarian sphere, as well as in Belarusian technologies for the sugar industry and the supply of fertilisers. Ethiopia plays a key role in the politics and economy of the African region, being one of the hubs of the African Union, whose headquarters is located in the country’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by