Belarusian President took a decision to render humanitarian aid to the countries of Southeast Asia and Africa hit by tsunami disaster. 

Diesel fueled electric power plants, tents, food and other essential articles will be delivered to the region.

MFA of Belarus Makes Statement in Connection with Disaster in Southeast Asia 

Belarus is deeply concerned about the huge loss of life caused by the natural disaster in Southeast Asia, the statement reads. 

"This disaster has become an international tragedy involving many other countries. It once again shows the fragility of the world we live in and reminds of the necessity to consolidate efforts of the international society on prevention of natural disasters and liquidation of their consequences," the statement of the foreign ministry of Belarus says.

The Belarusian party expresses sincere condolences to the governments of the affected countries as well as to the bereaved families. 

Belarus Cooperates with OSCE

Belarusian representative joined a special expert group which was set up in order to reform the field activities of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe. The principal points of Belarus, as the country which is an active member of the organization, are to strengthen practical and expert cooperation with the OSCE and to fill declaratory statements with specific content.

It is essential to consider the functioning of the OSCE Office in Minsk as a proof of openness and readiness to constructive cooperation in all directions, said MFA Press Secretary Andrei Savinykh. "Taking into account comparatively modest financial possibilities of the Office, about 10 joint projects were realized in 2004", noted Andrei Savinykh.

The Press Secretary also stated that the Belarusian side is not considering any adjustments to the mandate of the Office in Belarus. "At the same time, we still believe that it is necessary to review the entire complex of issues concerning the establishment and activities of the OSCE field missions", Andrei Savinykh said.

Belarus to Start Liquidating Antipersonnel Mine Stockpiles in Q1 2005

In 2005 Belarus will start to destroy antipersonnel mine stockpiles. Belarusian military plans to eliminate 240,000 conventional TNT-based mines in 2005.

In line with the Ottawa Convention on antipersonnel mines Belarus is to destroy around 4 million antipersonnel mines by March 2008. Before joining the Ottawa Convention Belarus had voluntarily destroyed around 170,000 TNT-based mines.

Destruction of antipersonnel blast PFM-1 mines presents the major difficulty of fulfilling the Ottawa Convention obligations. Since the ammunition contains around fifty chemical compounds, the most dangerous of which are lead and aluminium oxides, such mines cannot be blown in the open air, as the ecological impact can exceed the norm 2,000 times.
Of the four million mines Belarus has to destroy by March 2008 over 3.5 million mines are PFM-1.

Belarus Plans to Finish the Process of the WTO Joining in 2005-2006

Belarus plans to finish the process of WTO joining in 2005-2006, MFA Press Secretary Andrei Savinykh said. "Belarusian economy is on the rise today and that creates favorable background for conclusion of the WTO joining process in 2005-2006", the Press Secretary stated.

Major trade partners of Belarus are not members of the WTO yet but after Russia joins the WTO that situation will be changed and we will be ready for it, Mr.Savinykh noted. As long-term practice shows the organization cannot accept more than two countries in one year. Usually the priority is given to countries with lager economic potential such as Russia or Saudi Arabia which are already candidates for joining the WTO. 

The conditions for joining WTO are very important for Belarusian side. It is essential "what kind of economy regulation instruments will be in the Belarusian Government hands after joining WTO", - Mr.Savinykh underlined. 

American-Belarusian Joint Venture Is Created In FEZ Grodnoinvest 

American-Belarusian joint venture PolyUnipack, plastic window-sill producer, became a resident of free economic zone Grodnoinvest. Free economic zone administration informed that the investment volume of the new resident will exceed $1.2 million. The company plans to spend $100,000 in 2004. PolyUnipack will start serial production in November-December 2005.

PolyUnipack became a FEA Grodnoinvest resident within the framework of the import-replacing program. The company will create 34 jobs. The FEZ administration is getting ready to sign an agreement with Polish EuroPackets LLC. The company plans to produce argon-filled double-glazed windows. The agreement will be signed in January 2005. 
FEZ Grodnoinvest was created on April 16, 2002. Nowadays the FEZ has 23 residents, 19 of which were founded using foreign investments. There are 16 operating resident companies in FEZ Grodnoinvest. Since the FEZ Grodnoinvest foundation and as of October 1 it has been able to attract $24.5 million in investments. FEZ residents have been able to attract $7 million in investments, including $3.2 million in foreign investments. In January-September 2004 residents of free economic area Grodnoinvest attracted BYR 7.3 billion in fixed capital investments or 350 percent up on the corresponding period of 2003. In January-September FEZ residents produced BYR 28.8 billion of commodities (10 times up) and exported $12.6 million worth of merchandise (200 percent up against the respective last year period). The import totalled $10.4 million (200 percent up).

"Kommunarka" Expands Chocolate Production

OJSC "Kommunarka" (Minsk), the second largest Belarusian confectioner, is expanding the production of milk and bitter chocolate with fillings. In particular, they will start making chocolate with raisings and nuts. For this purpose, the enterprise will re-equip its production line. 

"Kommunarka" produces various types of milk, dark and dessert chocolate, 4 kinds of chocolate with fillings and 2 types of candy bars. In 2004 the enterprise made 1.67 thousand tons of chocolate (39% up in a year).

The company exports around 40% of its total production.

President Confers State Awards and Opens Children's Cardiosurgery Center 

On December 29, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko conferred the state award, the Order of Francysk Skaryna, on pediatric cardiac surgeon William Novick, M.D. in recognition of his great humanitarian and charitable work. Dr. Novick is founder and medical director of the International Children's Heart Foundation, and Paul Nemir Jr. MD endowed professor of International Child Health at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in the United States. Dr. Novick thanked the President for the great appreciation of his work. 

On December 31, 2004 the President participated in the opening of the Children's Cardiosurgery Center in Minsk. At the ceremony, Alexander Lukashenko noted that the health of the people, particularly children, is the matter of primary concern the State and is the best New Year present for over 1,000 children who urgently need heart operations for. 

According to the statistics, between 1990 and 2000 the incidence of congenital heart disease has doubled in Belarus, and 800-900 of children are born annually with heart disease that have to be operated on. 

Chernobyl Children's Project International (www.chernobyl-international.org) provides financial and logistical support to the International Children's Heart Foundation to enable them to make at least three surgical trips per year to Belarus. The medical trips, led by Dr. Novick, provide surgery for many Belarusian children. The program provides state-of-the-art equipment and technology to work with and train local physicians. Alexander Lukashenko in his speech expressed his thanks to doctors from the United States and other countries for helping Belarusian cardiac surgeons to master their profession.

On International Cooperation of Belarus in Cultural Sphere

In 2004 Belarus reached a new level of international cooperation in the cultural sphere, Minister of culture Leonid Guliako stated.

Many cultural events became highlights last year. One of them is the Year of Culture of Belarus in Russia whose program included over 200 shows. The event was even more important as it was devoted to the 60th anniversary of Belarus liberation from the Nazis. This year the Ministry of Culture concluded interagency agreement on cooperation in culture with Poland for 2005-2006. This is the first document of the kind in the last eight years, Leonid Guliako underscored. 

Leonid Guliako noted that the international festival of arts "Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk" is traditionally the cultural highlight of Belarus.