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Qatar-Belarus relations take a leap forward

04.07.2016

July 3rd – National Day of the Republic of Belarus

On July 3rd, 2016 the Republic of Belarus celebrates its National Day – Day of Independence.

The Republic of Belarus became a sovereign state in December, 1991. Belarus National Day, July 3rd, is Independence Day. That day in 1944 the Belarusian capital city – Minsk was liberated from Nazi occupation. The World War II was the cruellest conflict in the Belarusian history and the hardest trial of the Belarus nation. Our country was among those which suffered the most in this dreadful World War II. About 2,3 million Belarusians were killed, representing one third of country population, including civilians and non-combatants, who were systematically exterminated as part of the Nazi plans of occupation. Hundreds of cities and thousands of villages were ruined. Industry and agriculture were fully destroyed. A big part of the Belarus nation (even women and young people) took up arms and went to fight against the Nazi invaders as solders, officers and partisans. Many of them participated in the capture of the German Third Reich capital – Berlin.

That is why the date of the liberation of Belarusian capital was chosen to be the National Day of Belarus. This does not mean that a Belarusian State did not exist before. On the contrary, Belarusian history goes back for centuries. Belarusian statehood dates back to Slavonic principalities of Polotsk and Turov of the 9th – 10th centuries. In the early Middle Age today’s Belarus was known as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its official language was Old Belarusian. In the 14th – 15th centuries the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became one of the largest States in Europe and was an important political player in the region. In the Soviet Union epoch our country were referred to as “Belarus”. After the World War II ended Belarus became the founder-member of the United Nations.

Nowadays Belarus is a middle-sized East-European country with a population of about 9,5 million people. It is situated on the crossroads of major transport routes between the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Western Europe, sharing borders with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine.

Belarus strongly committed to regional and global security and peace, stability and social harmony, which are at the heart of our principled approach to the domestic life and international relations. Under the wise leadership of H.E. the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko fully supported by the whole Belarus nation much has been done during the last 20 years to strengthen Belarus’ sovereignty as a nation and to build a modern economy to support the aspirations of all Belarusians.  

 
Political relations between Belarus and Qatar
 

This year the Republic of Belarus and the State of Qatar have celebrated the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between two friendly countries, which were established on February 16, 1996.

During last 20 years joint efforts of both friendly states aimed at facilitating political dialogue, strengthening economic ties, expanding people-to-people contacts as well as deepening mutual understanding and supporting each other at the international arena have been making Belarus and Qatar closer to each other step by step

As a result a highest level of strategic partnership and political dialog between Belarus and Qatar were achieved on the basis of friendly bilateral relations.

H.E. the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had paid official visits to the State of Qatar in 2001 and 2011 which provided an impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors.

In 2009 a reciprocal official visit of H.H. the then Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (now the Father Emir) to the Republic of Belarus took place and strengthened bonds of deep-rooted friendship.

There has been regular exchange of other high-level bilateral visits in the recent years.

The State of Qatar was visited by H.E. the Deputy Prime-Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. the Minister of Taxes and Duties, H.E. the Minister of Defence and H.E. the Minister of Interior of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus was visited by H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and H.E. the then Minister of State for Defence Affairs Maj. Gen. Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah (now the Advisor to the Emir for Defence Affairs)

The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus was opened in Doha in June, 2014. Since that the political dialog has become more dynamic. H.E. The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the UAE Roman Golovchenko is accredited as a non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the State of Qatar.

In 2014 – 2016 during several visits of H.E. the Assistant to the President of Belarus for National Security Affairs Victor Lukashenko (son of the President) to Qatar the entire range of issues of bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Qatar was discussed on the highest state level.

In 2015 H.E. the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus visited Qatar and political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar were organized in Doha.

The meeting between H.E. the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and H.H. the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was held in Istanbul in April, 2016 within the framework of the Islamic Cooperation Organization in the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation, the most important issues of bilateral ties were examined and discussed.

Two friendly countries enjoy coincidence of positions on topical issues of the international agenda. Belarus and Qatar cooperate constructively and support each other in the UN Organization and its bodies. Both states fruitfully participate in the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking and the Group of Friends of the Family in the UN.

Belarus and Qatar have many things in common. Thanks to that both friendly states have been continuously widening the range of cooperation and friendship since 1996.

Trade and economic relations
 

The Republic of Belarus has achieved a rapid economic development having hard-working and a well-trained manpower. While Belarus has achieved a lot economically, there is still a lot of hard work to be done. The structure of the Belarusian economy has greatly changed during the past two decades. Services are now the major sector but industry still plays a very important role, accounting for about 40% of the Belarus’ GDP. Belarus has preserved its industrial potential from the past when it was the “assembly shop” of the whole Soviet Union.

Having an open and export-oriented economy Belarus modernized the majority of industrial enterprises which can successfully compete on world markets in terms of quality and cost. Almost 90% of industry in Belarus is manufacturing. Major branches are petrochemicals, engineering, machine building and radio electronics. The bulk of our manufactured goods, food products and services (especially IT and transport) are exported. A considerable part of the Belarusian industrial products are high-tech products, and in the field of IT Belarus ranks first in the world in production per capita.

Being a very prominent country for foreign business and investments with a well-developed industrial production sector, Belarus is one of the global leading exporters of world-famous potash fertilizers, freight vehicles, tractors, road construction and municipal equipment. Here are just some figures: the share of Belarus in world exports of heavy duty trucks is 25%; of potash fertilizers – 20%; of harvesters – 17%; of tractors – 6%; of flax – 6%; of potatoes – 3%. Belarus accounts for about 5% of the global export of dairy products and almost 11% of butter export. The share of huge BelAZ rock haulers and dump trucks in the global market makes 30%.

 

Bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation between Belarus and Qatar is developing successfully. Belarus exports to Qatar potash fertilizers, electrical devices for measuring or checking, glass kitchenware and tableware, furniture, women's textile garments, plastic products, artificial flowers, ceramic and porcelain tiles, metal structures, aluminium products, locks, glues and adhesives, tools, cosmetic and hygiene products etc. Qatar traditionally exports to Belarus mostly ethylene polymers.

Due to encourage many state and private companies of two countries to create mutually advantageous ties and provide the best favourable conditions for the bilateral trade volume growth the Governments of the Republic of Belarus and the State of Qatar established the Joint Committee in 2009. The Third Meeting of the Belarusian-Qatari Joint Committee was held in Doha in April, 2016. The Belarusian delegation was headed by H.E. the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Koltovich and the Qatari delegation was headed by H.E. the Minister of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatar Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani. In the course of the visit, H.E. the Minister of Trade of Belarus was received by H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the State of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The state and prospects of development of the Qatari-Belarusian cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, investments, transportation, sports, higher education, science and technology were discussed. Existence of huge opportunities for further development of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries was confirmed.

Cooperation between business circles of the two countries is expanding. In April 2016 the Second Meeting of Belarusian-Qatari Joint Business Council took place in Doha under the aegis of the Qatari Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Investments
 

In early 2016 the Qatari big pilot investment project in Belarus – the new 5-star internationally rated Marriott Hotel was opened in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus.

 

This impressive project is a fruit of cooperation in the field of investments between Qatar and Belarus, which started in June, 2012. The unique falcon-shaped design was inspired by the logo of the owning company – the falcon is the national bird of Qatar and a symbol of force and courage in the Middle East.

H.E. the Assistant Minister of State for Defence and Financial Affairs and the Director of Falcon Investment in Minsk Dr. Thani A. Al-Kuwari, noted during his visit to Minsk in December, 2015, “This Minsk Marriott Hotel Development is just the start of many investment opportunities in Belarus and we already have lots more new ideas. We have invested around $200 million in the development including 217 guest rooms, a sport and entertainment complex, Falcon Club, with facilities such as an arena, tennis and squash academy, fitness club, spa centre, cinema, 4-storey parking with 284 car places and energy centre, which serves energy for the whole complex. It will offer an exceptional full service hotel experience to guests.”

A number of new interesting Belarusian investment proposals have been passed for consideration of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatari Diar, Barwa Real Estate, Nebras Power, Hassad Food Company and other companies and state bodies.     

Sports
 

Belarus has a growing level of cooperation with Qatar in different spheres of sports, especially in the area of the Winter Sports. Having a huge experience, but especially after the World Hockey Championship in Minsk in 2014 (Belarus is the highest-division team) with a number of records (the most visited hockey championship ever – 650 thousand people, the best organized hockey championship ever – position of International Ice Hockey Federation, etc.), Belarus is a recognized expert in holding big international winter sports events.

2016 Gulf Ice Hockey Championship held in Doha had only Belarusian referees and the H.E. the Head of Belarus President’s Club Dmitry Lukashenko (son of the President, who is in charge of cooperation in sports with key allies) was the honorary guest, opening the Championship with H.E. Qatari Olympic Committee Secretary General Dr. Thani Al-Kuwari.     

Regional and cultural cooperation
 

In order to develop regional cooperation in October, 2010 a delegation of Al Rayan municipality visited the Belarusian city of Mogilev and Twinning Agreement between Mogilev and Al Rayan was signed. The city of Mogilev and Al Rayan municipality became the twin cities.

Cultural ties between the two countries are established. In March, 2012 Days of Belarusian Culture were held in Qatar. The Belarusian cultural delegation was headed by H.E. First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus. In June, 2012 Days of Culture of the State of Qatar were organized in the Republic of Belarus. The Qatari delegation was headed by H.E. Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of the State of Qatar. Thanks to these reciprocal Days of Culture the peoples of two friendly states familiarized themselves with original, traditional and contemporary cultures and modern cultural achievements of each other.

Tourism
 

Tourism is one of the priorities of the Belarusian social and economic development. The Belarusian Government takes special care of this industry.

Belarus is world well-known as VIP-hunting, ecological tourism, medical tourism and historical tourism country, as well as “hotel-club-casino” rest country.

Belarus has the first biggest untouched by man natural area in Europe. Several National parks are a UNESCO heritage. More than 40% of territory of Belarus is forests; there are hundreds of big and thousands of small lakes and rivers with beautiful small eco-hotels on their shores. Hunting is organized not only for traditional duck or dear etc. but, for example, European bison. Word War I and World War II and some other big more ancient wars were mainly happening on the territory of Belarus (half of main battles) so visiting museums, castles, participating in battle-reconstruction plays or shooting from a tank attracts many people each year. Definitely a number of places are UNESCO heritage sites. Lowers of art and history visit numerous museums, galleries, theatres or music halls.

Belarus has a well-known medical academies and science centres preparing thousands of doctors and medical scientists each year for friendly countries. It is among the only countries (depending on the sphere usually these countries are Russia, Belarus, USA, sometimes Germany and Israel) which can provide any most complicated medical care services like heart or eye surgery, transplantation etc. Using this basis Belarus has (from early 19th century) a known all-over-Europe unique combo-service called “sanatorium” – a medical centre in a form of a hotel, devoted to any concrete problem (like general rehabilitation, respiratory, endocrine or cardio-vascular diseases, etc.), providing a rest in the most appropriate natural place and specialized high-technological medical care at the same time.

In 2015 more than 4 million foreigners have visited Belarus and usually anyone who ever comes visits Belarus again and again because of a unique combination of safety, quality of life and services, prices, easy procedures and warm welcome.

Visas and visiting Belarus
 

Belarus has a visa-free regime for citizens of 21 neighbour and key ally countries, including Qatar, UAE. Qatari nationals just receive a stamp to their passports on arrival at the airport and can stay in Belarus up to 30 days. If they need more time they can easily get visa inside Belarus (in the nearest department of the Ministry of Interior) basing on an invitation of friends, relatives or business partners and stay up to 90 days.

In Belarus English-speaking level is rather high, especially among the youth. If needed an Arabic-speaking interpreter can be hired easily, by the way a big part of them had language practice in Qatar. In Minsk there are enough halal restaurants, the internet and mobile communication are very good, credit cards are accepted everywhere with no any special charges. The safety level is the highest in Eastern Europe and in TOP-20 in the whole world. There is high level of hotels in general and really 5-stars hotels in particular (one of them is a brand-new Marriott Hotel in Qatari Falcon complex in Minsk). The same auspicious situation is about all needful infrastructure and services.

Slavonic hospitality is well-known all over the world as Arab’s. Every guest from Qatar is most welcome and can be sure that in any case the police, a tourist agency or just local people around will be sincerely trying to help.

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