Screenshot from the ONT TV channel broadcast
MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) - In an interview to the ONT television channel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Serbia Sergei Malinovsky spoke about the Belarusian goods which are known and valued in Serbia, BelTA has learned.
As noted during the broadcast, Minsk and Belgrade have serious plans to expand cooperation. Economy, trade, culture — there are significant projects in each area.
According to the diplomat, the words “brother”, “friend”, and “partner” carry very deep meaning in Serbia. “And each of these words today applies to the relations between Belarus and Serbia, to the relationship between our citizens, between our people,” he emphasized.
Speaking about the visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Yugoslavia on 14 April 1999, which was at that time subjected to constant NATO bombings, Sergei Malinovsky stressed: “This visit by the president plays a very important role. I think it is now simply ingrained in the genetic code, in the consciousness of Serbian citizens, the people of Serbia,” he said.
“At many meetings, very often the very first reaction upon hearing that I am the ambassador of Belarus or that I am from Belarus is: ‘Your president visited us during the most difficult times for us, we remember that very well’,” the ambassador said.
Today, he said, many Belarusian brands are very well known and valued in Serbia. “First, it’s the BELARUS tractor. It is the machinery, I believe, that is present in the largest quantity in Serbian agriculture. During one of our trips we even came across a tractor that is over 30 years old,” the diplomat shared.
“BelAZ and MAZ vehicles are very well known in Serbia. In Belgrade and other cities, Belarusian trolleybuses are still in operation, although purchased quite some time ago. But nevertheless, they continue to work,” Sergei Malinovsky emphasized.
Serbia exports raspberries, blueberries, and fruits to Belarus, the ambassador said. “But Belarusian berries are also present in large quantities on the Serbian market. Furthermore, there remains significant interest in Belarusian dairy products in Serbia. Belarusian condensed milk has been gaining increasing popularity lately. There are some other items as well. Primarily, these are Belarusian cheeses,” the diplomat highlighted.
Humanitarian contacts are also developing. “Cultural ties hold special significance for Belarusian-Serbian relations. A delegation from the Slavianski Bazaar Directorate is currently here. We are working together with Serbian partners on the possibility of a significant presence of Serbian art and culture at the upcoming anniversary Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk festival this year. There is an interest in language study. The Serbian language is studied at a Belarusian university, and the Belarusian language is studied at a Serbian university,” Sergei Malinovsky said.
He recalled that in previous years there was a direct flight between Minsk and Belgrade. “Many people remember this flight with nostalgia. We, together with our Serbian partners, are working on giving this flight a new lease on life. I hope we will succeed,” the ambassador concluded.
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