INTERVIEW: Belarus and Egypt deepning political collaboration

Al-Ahram Weekly

4 days ago

Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko stressed that political collaboration between Belarus and Egypt began to deepen during President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's presidency.
During the interview with Ahram Online on the sidelines of his visit to Cairo, Sergeyenko highlighted the good and trusting personal contacts established between the heads of state of Belarus and Egypt, President Aleksandr Lukashenko and President El-Sisi.
Ahram Online: Egyptian-Belarusian relations extend to all fields and are embodied in the exchange of high-level visits. What is your opinion on the development of these relations?
Igor​ Sergeyenko: Dialogue at the highest level underlies the political relations between our countries. Visits are exchanged. The first visit of the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, to Egypt was held in June 1998. He paid official visits to Egypt in January 2017 and February 2020. In June 2019, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi officially visited Belarus.
We have achieved good results thanks to mutual support and productive cooperation between our countries at various levels. It is important to maintain this momentum, including with the support of legislative bodies. During my visit, I carried a message from President Lukashenko to President El-Sisi. This distinguished friendship greatly enhances bilateral relations.
AO: What are the objectives of your current visit, and what are the most important outcomes?
IS: Our visit to Egypt is vivid proof of the strong friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries. An integral part of the political dialogue between our countries is inter-parliamentary cooperation. The current visit will allow us to discuss the prospects for developing friendly relations with the leaders of Egypt and exchange opinions on several topical international issues. In addition, representatives of business circles will be a part of the delegation. The visit shows that with the help of parliamentary diplomacy, much can be done to expand trade and economic ties.
AO: What is required to launch these relations to broader horizons?
IS: Personal contacts between government officials in our countries contribute to further strengthening relations. We are confident that our meetings and negotiations will intensify contacts in all areas of mutual interest. Moreover, the agreements reached during the high-level talks in Minsk and Cairo created a new mechanism for bilateral political interaction: the High-Level Commission on Bilateral Cooperation and Political Dialogue between Belarus and Egypt at the Ministers of Foreign Affairs level.
AO: Is there joint coordination between the parliaments of the two countries in international forums and towards global issues?
IS: I would like to mention the constructive interaction between Belarus and Egypt in international organizations. Egypt has been a member of BRICS for over a year and actively participates in its events. This organization's activities aim to form a fair multipolar world order and build a fair system of economic cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
Belarus has been a BRICS partner state since November 2024. We thank our Egyptian friends for their constructive approach to promoting our country in the association.
Belarus fully shares the values and principles of BRICS. We will purposefully promote them in the parliamentary dimension of BRICS. Belarus generally strives for full membership in this international structure and is ready to expand its interaction with Egypt.
We intend to continue interacting with the UN on pressing global and regional issues, especially unlawful sanctions policies against the most vulnerable countries, the politicization of human rights issues, and the problem of ensuring global food security.
AO: Can you share your country's vision on the Palestinian issue, the Gaza reconstruction plan, and preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians?
IS: Belarus supports the creation of the State of Palestine. According to the block of Middle East resolutions, Belarus remains the only European country that provides support to the Palestinians comparable to that of Arab countries. We are shocked by the increase in the number of victims and injured persons among the civilian population, women and children, as a result of the escalation of the Middle East conflict. We believe that the continuation of terror and disproportionate use of force, including against civilians, can lead to irreversible consequences not only in this region but also in the world as a whole.
The US's attempts to displace the Palestinian population from its original territories are unacceptable and contrary to the objective of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We support Egypt's diplomatic efforts and activities to resolve the crisis and assist the Gaza Strip population.
The solution to such a crisis undoubtedly lies in diplomatic mechanisms and the Palestinians' realisation of their legitimate right to full-fledged statehood. Belarus is ready to participate in the Gaza Strip reconstruction projects as a co-executor. We have proven and well-known equipment, technologies, and engineering competencies in the region, all of which can benefit the Palestinian people.
We are grateful to the Egyptian side for its assistance in the successful and safe evacuation of Belarusian citizens and their relatives from the war-torn Gaza Strip to Belarus. Part of the humanitarian efforts to support the Palestinian people is the decision of the President of Belarus to organize the rehabilitation of a group of Palestinian children at the National Children's Educational and Health Center "Zubrenok." In addition, a group of Egyptian children has been invited to visit the centre in the summer of 2025.
AO: The Russia-Ukraine war has been going on for years and is affecting the global political and economic landscape. Many peace initiatives have been put forward; how do you view that?
IS: The military actions on the territory of Ukraine are a tragedy. For many years, our country has been constantly and persistently warning about the dangerous escalation of the military-political situation in this region, the degradation of the decades-long international security system, and the devaluation of international treaties and agreements. We see the tragic result of this position today in Ukraine.
Despite the collapse of the European security system, Belarus remains a responsible participant in international relations. We believe that strengthening security—national, regional, and global—should not be achieved through building up NATO's military potential but through bilateral and multilateral arms control mechanisms and confidence-building measures, as well as through equal and mutually respectful dialogue aimed at eliminating differences, reducing risks, and preventing the growth of confrontation in the military sphere.
Belarus is interested in the earliest possible agreement between Russia and Ukraine and the restoration of peace. In this regard, the Belarusian side consistently advocates for negotiations. Let me remind you that three rounds of Russian-Ukrainian talks took place in 2022 in Belarus and the Minsk agreements, which were not implemented.
AO: During your visit, how did you see the developments in major national projects, and how can Belarus leverage this progress?
IS: During the short time we have been on the very ancient and hospitable Egyptian land, we have seen that your country is a state of new opportunities. Under challenging conditions, huge, ambitious construction work is underway. The New Administrative Capital of Egypt removes all doubt. We appreciate the changes taking place in your country.
Of course, Belarus is ready and able to use this progress in the interests of both countries. Belarus has advanced developments in various fields and is prepared to promote them in Egypt on a mutually beneficial basis. Such fields as information technology, agriculture, health care, education, and tourism are promising.
When discussing trade and economic cooperation, we always note that it is not situational. We do not act opportunistically or for selfish reasons; on the contrary, we work for the benefit of the friendly people of our countries. Our two countries have great potential in tourism and cultural cooperation. Egypt is an excellent tourist destination for Belarusian citizens, especially the cities of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. We also wish to introduce Egyptians to more information about Belarus in various fields, such as education, tourism, and cultural exchange.
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