Belarus suggests purchasing oil from Azerbaijan using a swap scheme, said President of Belarus Alexander
Lukashenko as he met with President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev.
The Belarusian head of state was thankful to the President of Azerbaijan for supporting Belarus through difficult times.
"We remember it, we will always remember it and will always act in the future in the best possible way to benefit Azerbaijan," stressed the
Belarusian head of state.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus and Azerbaijan have a great interest in each other. In particular, Belarus-Azerbaijan trade develops
rapidly. "I think if we come to terms regarding an obviously very profitable avenue of Belarus-Azerbaijan cooperation, we will considerably
boost the trade turnover. I think we will be able to reach an agreement," said Alexander Lukashenko. The two countries are negotiating to promote cooperation for profitable economic projects.
The Belarusian head of state said that Belarus is interested in purchasing Azerbaijan oil, primarily using swap schemes. "You will earn dozens of
dollars per tonne, we will benefit as well. I think it is only natural. Your oil will be pumped to Belarusian oil refineries using the Odessa-Brody pipeline with an access to the Druzhba pipeline".
Alexander Lukashenko made it clear that Belarus is ready to consider any variants of cooperation with Azerbaijan in supplies of hydrocarbon resources. "I think we can build enterprises for liquefying natural gas while Azerbaijan can liquefy natural gas on the shore of Georgia or Russia just like Qatar does. We will be pleased to buy natural gas from you," remarked Alexander Lukashenko.
The Belarus President underlined: "We are not trying to conceal all these avenues of cooperation and would like Azerbaijan to be our partner in this business".
According to Alexander Lukashenko, the idea has been discussed with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev more than once. "Ilham Geidarovich Aliyev is okay with the idea and I think it is time for us to make several steps forward," said the Belarusian head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko said he was confident the cooperation will be beneficial for Azerbaijan and Belarus. "We would like to do business with our friends," stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
In turn, Rovnag Abdullayev said that the idea to raise the trade turnover and use the swap scheme had been discussed already. "We worked hard and
found a solution," he said.

AzerTAc