Question: During the 11-12 September, 2017, the President of the Republic of Belarus remained on the State Visit of India. The President of Belarus is-
(a) Mikhail Chigir
(b) Alexander Lukashenko
(c) Vladimir Yermoshin
(d) Andrey Kobikov
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:
- During September 11-12, 2017, President of the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Mr. A.G. Lukashenko, was at a State visit to the Republic of India.
- This visit took place in a year when Belarus and India are celebrating 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
- It is known that India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial.
- India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as independent country in 1991.
- Formal diplomatic relations were established and the Indian diplomatic mission in Minsk was opened in 1992 and Belarus opened its Mission in New Delhi in 1998.
- President Alexander Lukashenka was formally welcomed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 12, 2017.
- After that he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
- During this visit, he met President Ramnath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
- On September 12, 2017, delegation-level bilateral talks concluded at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lukashenko.
- After the talks, 10 MoUs / agreements / treaties signed between the two countries were signed-
1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for Cooperation in the Field of Vocational Education and Training.
3. Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
4. MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Gorki, Belarus for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education.
5. Protocol amending the Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus signed on April 16, 2007.
6. Programme of cooperation between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of Republic of Belarus in the field of culture for 2018-2020.
7. MoU between M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas of the Republic of India and Belarusian State Concern of Oil and Chemistry in the Oil and Gas Sector.
8. Memorandum of Understanding between JSV “Belzarubezhstroy” and National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd.
9. Memorandum of Understanding between JSC Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL).
10. Agreement on the implementation of MoU signed between OJSC Minsk Tractor Works and Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. India in Pune.
Reference:
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?28934/Visit+of+the+President+of+the+Republic+of+Belarus+1112+September+2017
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?28940/Press+Statement+by+Prime+Minister+during+State+Visit+of+President+of+Belarus+September+12+2017
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?28942/IndiaBelarus+Joint+Statement+during+the+State+visit+of+the+President+of+the+Republic+of+Belarus+to+India+September+1112+2017
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?28939/List+of+MoUsAgreements+signed+during+State+visit+of+President+of+Belarus+to+India+September+12+2017
http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Belarus_August_2017.pdf