Lukashenka to get Order of the Liberator from Chavez

Aliaksandar Lukashenka arrived to Venezuela with a two-day official visit. The Belarusian head of state was given a solemn reception, Interfax reports.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro met the Belarusian leader by the ladder. A military orchestra played the national anthem of Venezuela, weapons fired 21 volleys. Aliaksandar Lukashenka accompanied by the Foreign Minister passed along the guard of honour.

The Belarusian leader is expected to meet with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. A set of documents is also planned to be signed - first of all, documents on the cooperation in trade and economy spheres.

Lukashenka is supposed to be awarded with the Order of the Liberator (Libertador) which is Venezuela’s highest honour. As the agency’s interviewee said, the order “is given for extraordinary merits to the motherland.”

Venezuelans regard the order the highest honour, and it’s only Venezuela’s president who has the exclusive right to award it. The award was established by Venezuelan president Gustav Blanko o 14 September 1880. Previously only Chili president Michael Bacheli and 51st president of Venezuela Rafael Rodriguez were granted the order.

Moreover, Lukashenka is expected to participate in the opening of a joint Belarusian-Venezuelan oil refining venture in Orinoco valley. The enterprise is located in the state of Ansoategi where Lukashenka is to arrive on a plane.