Виктор Лукашенко в составе беларусской делегации в Омане.
Press Secretary Natallia Eismant said on Belarus 1 television that the elder son of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Viktar Lukashenka, is overseeing relations with Oman. “This is customary in these countries,” she explained.
Eismant noted that talks between the Belarusian and Omani sides were held behind closed doors because this is the practice in the region.
“In this region they are used to working quietly, and there is no need to look for hidden meanings. This is the format in which they work in this region,” the press secretary said.
Speaking about the involvement of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s sons in the negotiations, Eismant said this was another very important signal for the Gulf states.
“For them this is truly a sign of special respect, special attention and a special attitude toward the development of bilateral cooperation, when the person designated for interaction between countries, for cooperation, is a member of the family. In this case, it is the president’s elder son,” she said.
Eismant added that for Viktar Lukashenka, who heads the National Olympic Committee, overseeing relations with Oman is a serious additional workload and responsibility. “But this is customary in these countries. And it really helps. It adds special attention and additional oversight. It gives a strong push to the development of bilateral relations. That is why the sons were present at the meeting,” the press secretary said.
As for the specific projects pursued by Belarus and Oman, these relate primarily to agriculture and woodworking. However, the scope of interest is much broader.
“The main word we hear from the president is speed. That is the most important thing right now. The president stresses: under no circumstances should there be delays, under no circumstances any bureaucratic obstacles. Nothing should get in the way. Speed, speed, speed. The sectors are defined, the projects exist. There will be more of them. But speed is needed. The times now require not walking but running,” Eismant concluded.
The Omani Foreign Ministry’s statement on Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s meeting with the Belarusian delegation described Viktar Lukashenka’s position as “special representative of the president” or “special envoy of the president.” It is in this status that long-time associate of Alyaksandr Lukashenka Viktar Sheiman conducts international meetings.