"Friendship is a gift from the Almighty." Lukashenko's article on cooperation between the two countries was published in Omani media.

December 15, Muscat. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's article, "Belarus and Oman: Traditions of Friendship in a Changing World," was published on the Omandaily website. The publication coincides with the Belarusian leader's working visit to Oman. BELTA presents the full text of the article. An Arabic proverb says, "Friendship is a gift from God, and we must cherish it."


Belarus and Oman have enjoyed friendship for over 30 years. Over these years, we have consistently strengthened it, seeking new opportunities to develop our relations. Carefully, with Eastern prudence and thoughtfulness, trying not to cause harm. I first visited your beautiful, historical country with its amazing nature and wonderful, welcoming people in 2007. And the more I learned about Oman, the more I realized how similar our mentalities are. And yet, we are thousands of kilometers apart.
During the meeting between ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO and Qaboos bin Said, April 2007. But it is not surprising that our views on life and worldview are very similar. Time was not kind to our ancestors, who, by the will of fate, found themselves on the paths of human settlement in Eurasia and Africa, at the crossroads of trade routes and the intersection of civilizations.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we do not have deep disagreements; we have similar opinions on many pressing issues on the global agenda.

The modern world has not become simpler. It is torn by contradictions. Today, no one can guarantee our security and well-being. The current generation, just like a couple of centuries ago, must solve very complex universal human problems.

MINSK and Muscat have set a course to ensure the inviolability of two basic priorities.
First, and most importantly, building a socially oriented state, where realCaring for people isn't just a slogan, but a policy. We once proclaimed that Belarus is a state for the people.

In this, Belarus and Oman are similar. The Oman Vision 2040 state program, impressive in its scale and ambitious goals, lays the foundations for social well-being, demonstrating the profound strategic thinking of the Sultanate of Oman's leadership and its concern for future generations. We are very impressed with this. Our

second priority is building conflict-free relations with all countries, both near and far, regardless of their size, political weight, and influence in international affairs. Belarus and Oman, each in their own region, are well known for their efforts to de-escalate tensions and their initiatives for peace talks. Experience daily proves that investing in peace and security is today's most urgent and wise decision, allowing us to plan development in many areas.
Belarusians, by nature, are exceptionally hospitable and peaceful people. We always welcome good friends and want to live in peace with everyone. Our national anthem begins with the words, "We, Belarusians, are peaceful people..." And this is not a play on words. It is the quintessence of our historical path.

What is Belarus? What is it like? Perhaps it would be appropriate to begin with a brief description of my country.

The Republic of Belarus occupies a vital geopolitical position, being the geographical center of Europe. Our territory has historically served as a bridge between East and West, North and South of the Eurasian continent.

This circumstance, on the one hand, has always determined Belarus's key role in regional politics, and on the other, has been the source of many troubles for the Belarusian people. For centuries, our land has been at the epicenter of wars and military conflicts.

As a result of World War II, which went down in our history as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, we lost a third of our population. The Belarusian economy was almost completely destroyed, cities lay in ruins, thousands of villages were burned, many along with their inhabitants. For the enormous sacrifices made in the war, our republic was honored to become one of the founding countries of the UN.
Thanks to the Soviet Union, of which Belarus was a part, we were able not only to quickly restore our pre-war level of development but also to achieve impressive exponential growth.

The next disaster befell us in 1986, when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred, becoming the man-made disaster of the century. Despite the fact that the nuclear power plant did not belong to our republic and was located on neighboring Ukrainian territory, the greatest damage was inflicted on the Belarusian people. Suffice it to say, the cost exceeded 25 times our republic's 1986 budget.

It was precisely during this period that a profound economic crisis occurred , caused by the collapse of the USSR, which disrupted vital cooperative ties, cutting off supplies of affordable raw materials, and cutting off markets for finished goods.

Amid these economic and political challenges, the Republic of Belarus gained independence in 1990. The primary objective then was to literally pull the country back from the brink.
We didn't just do that. We completely rebuilt the economic system, preserved key enterprises and research and development schools, and ensured the unity of power and governance.

Today, the Republic of Belarus is a state with a competitive, export-oriented economy, whose products are renowned worldwide. We fully ensure food security for the country on our own and EXPORT agricultural products worth approximately $8 billion . Despite being landlocked, Belarus has managed to develop its own fishing fleet and fish processing industry, built on the latest technologies. Our powerful BELAZ trucks account for 30 percent of the global market for mining trucks. And the BELAZ-75710 with a payload capacity of 450 tons was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Belarus, like Oman, is among the countries implementing space programs. We are developing nuclear energy and exploring Antarctica.

And this despite the fact that Belarus has no natural resource deposits of its own (primarily hydrocarbons).

I know that Oman has chosen a strategic path of gradually strengthening the role of the non-oil sector in the national economy, which reflects the wise vision of Oman's leadership.

From my own experience, I can say that the most important resource is always people.

It is through their labor that Belarus manages to overcome the incredible political and economic pressure placed on our country and achieve success.

The people are the backbone of the state. Our gold andOil is the nation's intellectual potential.

I am convinced that further deepening Belarusian-Omani relations could become a new growth point for both economies and a stimulus for the development of human capital. This is evidenced by the current level of political contacts and the groundwork we have created. But there is also colossal untapped potential.

Trade and economic relations are the solid foundation upon which we can build a edifice of bilateral cooperation of any scale.

What can Belarus offer Oman?
This primarily concerns the supply of Belarusian mechanical engineering products, chemicals, food products, and light industry.
We have world-leading petrochemical plants.
Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals are among our priority development vectors. Let me cite just one fact: more than half of the country's medications are domestically produced. And this share is growing. Belarus offers a range of unique drugs for the treatment of oncological, immune, and cardiovascular diseases.

The high quality of Belarusian medicine and advanced treatment technologies have become another hallmark of the country. Our infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. Modern Belarusian transplantation is a cutting-edge industry; patients flock to us from all corners of the world, even in the most hopeless cases. We are ready to offer our Omani friends the opportunity to receive treatment from highly qualified doctors, cooperate in medical training, and share best practices.

Belarus can offer a wide range of developments in the new technology cluster—from electric buses and software solutions for smart cities to drones, nanomaterials, and satellites.

Belarusian exporters are ready to jointly develop new markets as part of Oman's national program to attract foreign investment.

Thanks to its location, Minsk is also committed to strengthening investment cooperation by attracting high-quality foreign direct investment to achieve its ambitious goal of becoming an international player. This represents an excellent opportunity for Omani companies seeking investment opportunities in non-resource sectors. This partnership will contribute to the development of production facilities across various economic sectors and increase the contribution of exports to our countries' GDPs.

In previous years, Belarus and Oman have effectively collaborated on Arabic language studies. The time has come to expand our capabilities, including by training management and blue-collar workers for the Omani economy in engineering, medical, and other fields at Belarusian educational institutions.
Our governments are currently working to create the most comfortable travel conditions possible. Plans for the near future include the launch of a direct air route between the two countries. We invite businessmen, students, and tourists to Belarus. We have much to offer!

You, like all our partners, will appreciate the commitment of the Belarusian people. We remain firmly committed to our agreements, even under the most challenging circumstances.
I am convinced that the positive dynamics of Belarusian-Omani relations will soon yield wonderful results that our people will be able to fully benefit from and that will enhance the well-being of future generations.