Belarus approves draft air services agreement with Maldives

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved a draft air services agreement with the Maldives, paving the way for negotiations on arrangements governing air transport between the two countries.

Lukashenko signed Decree No. 361 on October 14, authorising Belarus’s Ministry of Transport and Communications to negotiate the proposed agreement and sign it.

The draft was approved as the basis for those negotiations, rather than as a final agreement between the two governments.

According to the Belarusian President’s press service, the proposed agreement sets out conditions for flight operations and the boarding and disembarkation of passengers.

It also covers international passenger, cargo and mail transport for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.

The move follows the signing of a separate agreement on mutual visa exemption between the Maldives and Belarus on September 23, on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

The visa agreement provides for stays of up to 30 days per visit, with multiple visits limited to a combined total of 90 days within a calendar year.

The arrangement is intended to facilitate travel and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.