India and Belarus on Wednesday signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters during Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's visit to the east European country. The agreement was signed by Secretary (Coordination) Vijay Kumar and Belarus Justice Minister V G Golovanov in the presence of Shekhawat and First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko. The pact was the highlight of the first ever two-day Indian Vice-Presidential visit to Belarus.
Belarus belongs to the Commonwealth of Independent States. It came into existence after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The two countries that share their concern on the issue of terrorism have been for some time, also discussing the draft of an extradition treaty.
Shekhawat, who flew to Minsk from Bucharest on Tuesday on the second leg of his three-nation tour, had a "very successful" meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, official sources said. Belarus, which has close ties with Russia [Images], has been supportive of India's candidatutre for permament membership of the United Nations Security Council. Lukeshenko told Shekhawat that his country has been supportive of India in all international fora.
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