Bzhaniya: Belarusians in Abkhazia are perceived as dear friends, kin people

MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) - Belarusians in Abkhazia are perceived as kin people, President of the Republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhaniya told the media after a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.

"Belarusians in Abkhazia are perceived as dear friends, kin people. Most citizens still have the Soviet memories. Largely due to the sanctions of Western states, we have been isolated for a long time. Thanks to Russia, we are in the process of being de-isolated. Contacts with Belarus in this sense are very important. We want our relations to develop in a good-neighborly manner, with the emphasis on economic cooperation," Aslan Bzhaniya said.

In this regard, the parties have already reached agreements across a number of areas. For example, a trading house has been set up to supply products from Abkhazia to Belarus and in the opposite direction. Tourism is a promising avenue of cooperation especially since Belarusians do not have to have visas to travel to Abkhazia. The corresponding decree was recently extended by Aslan Bzhaniya.

During the visit of the Abkhazia leader to Minsk, an agreement was reached on the possibility of advanced training of specialists from Abkhazia in the Hi-Tech Park in Minsk. Abkhazia also intends to purchase Belarusian agricultural products, equipment made by the Belarusian tractor manufacturer MTZ and the Horizont plant of electronics and household appliances.

"I am sure that we will bring home positive energy and it will definitely translate into a a new impetus, even greater sympathy for the people of Belarus, the Belarusian state," Aslan Bzhaniya summed up.

As for personal impressions of the trip to Belarus, Aslan Bzhaniya said that he was in Minsk 40 years ago. He worked on the construction of the runway in the Minsk airport during his student years. "It immediately catches the eye that Minsk and Belarus have the care of the country's leadership; everything is very nice, well-groomed. It is clear that this is a great coordinated work," Aslan Bzhaniya said.