Foreign Minister of Belarus Maksim Ryzhankou held a telephone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The conversation took place on the instruction of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry’s press service said.
Ryzhankou expressed support for the leadership and people of the UAE “in connection with the losses and destruction caused by the Middle East conflict,” and also voiced concern over attempts to extend the conflict to the territory of the Emirates. The sides stressed the importance of an immediate diplomatic settlement of the conflict.
The Belarusian foreign minister also said that Belarus, “through its contacts with the parties to the conflict, is promoting the need to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table.”
“Serious concern was expressed by the Belarusian side over attempts to expand the conflict to the UAE, which is a reliable partner and friend of the Belarusian people, as well as reports of civilian casualties and the damage caused. The negative consequences of the conflict for the regional and global economy were emphasized,” the press release said.
Ryzhankou thanked the Emirati side for assisting Belarusian citizens who were forced to remain in the UAE. Abdullah bin Zayed assured that such assistance would continue and expressed readiness to strengthen coordination with Belarusian diplomatic missions in the UAE.
He also expressed gratitude personally to Alyaksandr Lukashenka and the Belarusian side “for their support and efforts to de-escalate the conflict.”
