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MINSK: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik arrived in Minsk on Monday on a two-day state visit to the Republic of Belarus.

President Alexander Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus led the welcoming party for His Majesty the Sultan upon his arrival at the Independence Palace in Minsk. He wished His Majesty the Sultan and his accompanying delegation a pleasant stay.

President Lukashenko accompanied His Majesty the Sultan to the dais of honour where the Omani Royal Anthem and the Belarusian national anthem were played. Then, His Majesty the Sultan, accompanied by the President, inspected the Guard of Honour, which saluted His Majesty.

After that, His Majesty the Sultan shook hands with senior Belarusian officials, while His President Lukashenko shook hands with members of the official delegation accompanying His Majesty the Sultan.

Upon his arrival earlier at Minsk International Airport, His Majesty the Sultan was received by Viktor Karankevich, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs and senior government officials.

The visit is made in response to an invitation received by His Majesty the Sultan from the Belarusian President. It comes within the context of advancing bilateral relations and boosting areas of cooperation and partnership in various economic and investment fields.

On Monday morning, His Majesty the Sultan was seen off at the Royal Airport by HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council, Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Ash’shura, Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidy, Minister of Interior, Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan al Busaidy, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary-General of the Royal Court Affairs, Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education, Shaikh Al Fadhl bin Mohammed al Harthy, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Lt Gen Hasan bin Mohsin al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, Lt Gen Said bin Ali al Hilali, Head of the Internal Security Service, Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, Vice Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raisi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, Maj Gen Matar bin Salim al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman, Air Vice Marshal Khamis bin Hammad al Ghafri, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman and Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman. His Majesty the Sultan is accompanied during the visit by a high-ranking official delegation comprising HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, Dr Hamed bin Said al Aufi, Head of Private Office of His Majesty the Sultan, Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Hamood bin Salim al Towaiya, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Russian Federation and non-resident to the Republic of Belarus. — ONA