MINSK. March 11 (Interfax) - During a recent visit to Caracas by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Venezuela's acting President Nicholas Maduro assured him that Venezuela will maintain close political and economic relations with Belarus.
"What was started under Hugo Chavez will continue," Maduro said after brief negotiations with Lukashenko in Caracas, according to the Belarusian president's press service.
"During his visit to Caracas, the Belarusian president had brief negotiations with Venezuelan Executive Vice-President Nicholas Maduro and National Assembly Chairman Diosdado Cabello. Both parties confirmed their readiness to continue active cooperation," the press service said.
While in Caracas, Lukashenko also had negotiations with Bolivian President Evo Morales, during which "an agreement was reached to develop Belarusian-Bolivian relations using the Venezuelan model."
The presidents agreed to discuss with the new administration of Venezuela several trilateral projects worth $2-$3 billion, the press service reported. An appropriate working group is expected to be created in the Belarusian Embassy in Venezuela in the first half of 2013, which will be coordinated by Viktor Sheiman, the head of the Belarusian president's property management office and co-chairman of a high-level Belarusian-Venezuelan commission.
While in Caracas, Lukashenko also met with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Delgado.
"Alexander Lukashenko also met with Raul Castro, chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers of Cuba. Michel Martelly, president of Haiti, also expressed a wish to work with Belarus. He said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had spoken very warmly about Belarus," the Belarusian presidential press service reported.
Belarus has carried out several significant joint projects, including projects in the sphere of oil extraction, housing construction, the launch of machine-building equipment assembly lines and gas supply in Venezuela since 2008.