MINSK, 30 March (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in developing closer cooperation with the U.S. State of Utah, Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko said during his visit to the USA, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the visit, Oleg Kravchenko took part in the official inauguration ceremony for Honorary Consul of Belarus in Utah Dennis Neuenschwander. Oleg Kravchenko noted long-standing links between Belarus and Utah and expressed interest in a closer partnership with the State in the areas of mutual interest.
The event was attended by the representatives of the Utah Government and Legislative Assembly, major universities and companies, clergy, and prominent public figures.
During the visit to the U.S. State of Utah, the Belarusian deputy minister of foreign affairs met with member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah Chris Stewart, representatives of both the chambers of the Utah Legislative Assembly, the Utah International Relations and Trade Commission and Office of Economic Development to discuss cooperation in the political and economic sectors.
Oleg Kravchenko also addressed the group of professors and students at The University of Utah with a speech on Belarus and its role in the region. Steps to implement joint programs with the leading Belarusian universities were discussed.
At the meeting with President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Russell Nelson, prospects of joint work in promoting family values, educational and humanitarian cooperation were discussed.
On 27 March Oleg Kravchenko met with Wess Mitchell, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, to discuss the Belarusian-U.S. cooperation and ways for further improvement of bilateral relations.
Oleg Kravchenko met with Michael Kozak, the Senior Official of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the State Department, to discuss human rights issues. The deputy minister also held a meeting with a group of experts from the RAND Corporation. He laid out Belarus' main foreign political approaches and vision of the regional situation, answered the questions of American analysts.
