(Radio Free Europe) - "Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his Belarusian counterpart, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, say they want to increase cooperation between their countries.

The two met after Chávez arrived in Minsk during a regional tour that has already taken him to Russia.

'We are making serious progress in developing relations,' Chávez said. 'We need to work out how to raise our cooperation to the next level.'

Lukashenka's website quoted him as telling Chávez, 'It's with pleasure I note that relations between our two countries are developing in a dynamic and fruitful manner. They have reached the level of strategic partnership.'

Chávez began his trip in Moscow June 28 and had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a closed-door meeting with Russian lawmakers (...)".