MINSK, SEPTEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian Ambassador to Belarus O. Yesayan gave a press conference at the Republican Press Center in Minsk on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Armenia's independence. As Yerkramas newspaper of the Armenians in Russia reported, citing the website of Belarusian Armenians, the ambassador spoke about the development of economic relations between Armenia and Belarus, noting that the commodity turnover between the two countries grew to over 30 million dollars. Projects on assembly of Belarusian tractors are being implmented in Armenia. Four firms on supply and bottling of Armenian brandy have been set up in Belarus. Cooperation in the spheres of health care, pharmaceutics and culture is expanding. The ambassador announced that a visit of Belarusian officials, parlamentarians and businessmen to Armenia is expected this year. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is likely to pay a visit to Belarus, and the date of his visit is now being specified. Four Armenian cities are establishing ties with Belarusian cities at a regional level. O. Yesayan also touched upon the tourism sector's development and the trips of Belarusian citizens to Christian sacred places in Armenia. Issues related to the activities of Armenian community in Belarus and the constriction of an Armenian church in Minsk were discussed as well.

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