You're reading: Lukashenko going to Caracas to attend Chavez funeral

MINSK - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will attend the funeral ceremony of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, the presidential press service told Interfax. 

“Taking into account the special friendly nature and strategic level of Belarusian-Venezuelan relations, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has decided personally to take part in the mourning ceremonies in Caracas related to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s death,” it said.

Lukashenko has decided to attend the funeral “regardless of a series of coming international visits and considerable workload,” the press office said.

“This is due to the fact that Hugo Chavez didn’t have such close relations with any other foreign leader as he did with the Belarusian president. Thanks to the friendship of the two leaders, our countries managed to achieve impressive results in developing ties in all spheres in a relatively short period,” the press office said.

Lukashenko’s traditional reception dedicated to Women’s Day is postponed, the press office said.

Chavez died in Caracas on Tuesday and will be buried on Friday.