Conference on the cooperation between Belarus and Turkey held in Minsk on 8 december, 2009. The conference was organized with the support of the Foreign Policy and Security Research Center (FPS). About 20 speakers made presentations at the conference.
Historical issues in the bilateral relationships between the two countries, the status and prospects of bilateral negotiations at the present stage, the cooperation in international organizations, trade and economic relations, contacts in the field of culture, education, science, social communication became the objects of discussion.
Historian Andrew L. Kishtumov talked about trading activity of Turks, who lived in Minsk 100 years ago. Mikhail Koshelev, a member of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, told the audience about the journey of the Belarusian woman from Novogrudchina (Belarus) to Turkey in 18 century. Oleg Dernovich, a member of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, talked about road of Turkish coffee to Belarus.
Veka Inal, the Turkish ambassador to Belarus, recalled that Turkey was the first country which recognized the independence of Belarus in 1991, and noted that "since that time, relations between the two countries have been developing based on respect and mutual benefit”. Ms. Inal said that she believes that such conference will bring new results in the development of relations between the two countries and will contribute to world peace.
”The conference information package based on materials which has been presented today will be published,” noted Victor G. Shadurski, the FPS’s expert.
