BELARUSSIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES DOYEN OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN MINSK








MINSK, MARCH 13. /RIA NOVOSTI'S CORRESPONDENT OLESYA LUCHANINOVA/ -- Cooperation between Belarus and Turkmenia, problems facing foreign diplomats accredited in Belarus were discussed at a meeting between Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and doyen of the diplomatic missions Ilya Veldzhanov, ambassador of Turkmenia in Minsk.


	In focus were the preparations for President Lukashenko's upcoming visit to Turkmenia and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov's visit to Belarus. "We have what to talk over with the Turkmen president. It is, for example, the strengthening of trade and economic relations. We have no political problems", said Alexander Lukashenko.


	The trade turnover between Turkmenia and Belarus in 2000 increased two times from 1999. Still, the share of Turkmenia in the trade turnover of Belarus with the CIS countries in 2000 was a mere 0.44 percent. The bulk of Belarussian export to Turkmenia is tractors, trucks and tyres. (nov/nog)