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Belarus's Ambassador to Ankara, Anatoly Glaz, praised Türkiye's mediation role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that his country is "sincerely pleased" with Turkish negotiation achievements and "grateful" for their contributions to peace efforts.
"We sincerely rejoice in Türkiye's successes in the field of negotiations and are grateful for their contributions. As a neighboring country, we wholeheartedly want the conflict to be resolved as soon as possible, and we think Türkiye plays an excellent mediating role in this regard," Glaz told Anadolu Agency in his first interview since taking office.
The ambassador emphasized that Belarus understands Türkiye's mediation challenges better than any other country due to its own experience hosting initial negotiations.
Ambassador Glaz noted that the first three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place in Belarus, giving his country unique insight into the complexities of peace mediation.
"Therefore, our country understands Türkiye's role better than any other country can. We know how difficult it is to organize meetings and advance dialogue," Glaz stated.
He emphasized that both Minsk and Ankara have been working for a peaceful solution and regional stability since the first days of the war, adding, "That's why we fully support the efforts of our Turkish colleagues."
The ambassador revealed that prisoner and body exchanges between the two sides have been taking place in Belarus, including recent exchanges based on agreements reached in Istanbul.
"Two weeks ago, as a result of the agreement reached in Istanbul, a prisoner exchange with the 1000-to-1000 formula took place again in our country. So there is a direct connection," Glaz explained.
He noted that approximately 400,000 Ukrainians have come to Belarus since 2022, with many choosing to remain there, making the Ukrainian conflict "a humanitarian and personal issue" for Belarus.
Ambassador Glaz expressed great optimism about the expected June 2 talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, wishing success for the negotiations.
As a neighboring country to Ukraine, Belarus feels the human impact of the conflict deeply, with the ambassador stating that losses concern them and they are happy with every progress made in the negotiation process.
The ambassador highlighted strong bilateral economic ties, noting that Türkiye-Belarus trade volume approaches $2 billion, which he described as "quite impressive."
"We need each other mutually. If some other countries had not prevented us, this figure would have been even bigger. However, we are in complete understanding with the Turkish side, and we will increase the trade volume, thus raising the welfare of our people," Glaz stated.
He indicated that business delegation visits are expected this year, with the agenda being "quite optimistic and active," and bilateral commercial and economic cooperation mechanisms set to begin operating.
Glaz described Türkiye as a "unique country" with diverse geography, noting, "Türkiye is a unique country; everything is there: mountains, seas, snow, and warm climate."
He pointed out that visitors can ski in Türkiye while also enjoying local avocados and bananas for breakfast, emphasizing that not every country has such potential.
The ambassador compared Ankara to Belarus's capital, Minsk, saying he feels almost no difference between the cities, which he considers important for his diplomatic work.
Ambassador Glaz attributed the high level of Türkiye-Belarus relations primarily to the "close and friendly" relationship between the two countries' leaders.
He noted that during his credential ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized his special interest in Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and conveyed his greetings.
The ambassador stressed that the friendship between the two leaders must be "worthily represented" by diplomats, with both countries' diplomatic approach being to develop, deepen, and activate relations.
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