Łukašenka pledges “necessary assistance” to Syria

April 17, BPN. Belarus will continue to provide the “necessary assistance to fraternal Syria” to help it overcome the hardships, says Alaksandr Łukašenka’s congratulatory message to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Evacuation Day marking Syrian independence.

Syria has been “bravely coping with the ordeal in conditions of strict sanctions and political pressure of the aggressive West,” his press office quoted him as saying.

Belarus intends to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Syria, Łukašenka said, noting the upcoming 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Minsk and Damascus.

Two months ago, Belarus sent humanitarian aid to Syria in response to the February 6 earthquake that affected Turkey and Syria, while Belarusian military doctors assisted over 3,000 Syrians including 312 children. The earthquake death toll was estimated at 50,000, including about 8,000 Syrians.