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President of Belarus Delivers Annual Address to Parliament
Alexander Lukashenko
delivered the Nation Address to the National Assembly and the Belarusian
People at the joint meeting of the Chamber of Representatives and the
Council of the Republic of the National Assembly held on April 14, 2004.
In his Annual Address
President Lukashenko analyzed the situation in Belarus and in the world and
defined the main tasks of foreign and domestic policies (Full text of the
Nation Address may be found at
www.president.gov.by).
Overcoming Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe: the
Recovery Period
18 years have passed
since the tragic date of April 26, 1986. Today we can state with confidence
that the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has turned into the
factor that forced the international community to revise approaches in such
fields as development of nuclear power sector, radiation safety of
population, cooperation in overcoming the consequences of wide scale
emergencies. Chernobyl vividly demonstrated that radiation accidents, unlike
other calamities, turn the affected territories into zones of crisis. As
stated by the Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland, who visited the Republic
of Belarus in February 2004, we have to remind all that consequences of the
Chernobyl disaster shall not lose their urgency for many generations to
come… (Full text of Press Release on Overcoming the Consequences of the
Chernobyl catastrophe may be found at
www.belarusembassy.org/urgent.htm).
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Belarus Concerning the Situation in Iraq
The Republic of Belarus
perceives with deep concern the escalation of tensions and aggravation of
humanitarian situation in Iraq. It is intolerable when peaceful citizens
become victims of military operations, and children perish.
Belarus strongly
advocates an immediate cessation of military actions and release of
hostages. The occupation powers bear special responsibility for observing
humanitarian law.
Prompt restoration of
the state sovereignty of Iraq and transfer of all power to the Iraqi
government that is duly elected and recognized by international community
will contribute to the settlement of the situation.
In this regard the need
to attach to the UN the central role in the post-war Iraqi settlement is
becoming even more apparent.
On Participation of Delegation of Belarus in IPU Assembly
An official
parliamentary delegation of Belarus headed by Chairman of the House of
Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vadim Popov will take
part in the 110th Assembly of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) in Mexico
scheduled for April 18-23.
Vadim Popov will deliver
a speech at the plenary meeting of the Assembly on the issues of universal
policy, and economic and social development.
Vadim Popov will also
have a meeting with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico Juan
Castro.
The Belarusian Speaker
is expected to meet with heads of parliamentary delegations from Russia,
Poland, Mexico, China, Syria, Belgium, and Austria.
The EU enlargement will
not adversely affect the Belarusian economy, said Deputy Foreign Minister
Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Alexander Mikhnevich stated that Belarus managed to reduce
the negative effects of the EU enlargement. After 10 new members complete
their accession to the European Union, the share of Belarus-EU foreign trade
will rise from 18% to 35% of the total foreign trade turnover.
Alexander Mikhnevich
predicted that in 2005 the surplus of Belarusian foreign trade will rise by
$150-$200 million (at present, the annual surplus of foreign trade amounts
to $1 billion).
The Deputy Minister
explained, that after the EU enlargement average customs tariffs will be
scaled down from 7.1-7.5% to 3.2-3.5%. Thus, “major Belarusian exports,
including oil products, chemical goods, trucks, agricultural equipment and
optics, will be offered a more favorable regime.”
Alexander Mikhnevich
also said that the Foreign Ministry of Belarus positively assessed a good
neighborhood concept developed by the European Union in the view of its
enlargement.
The concept includes
joint actions countering crime, terrorism and drug trafficking.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Belarus Proposes to Start
Visa Consultations with the EU
Belarus proposed to
start consultations about easing visa regime with the European Union.
“The Belarusian side
will welcome any initiative of the European Union aimed at simplifying the
visa regime. We also propose to start large-scale consultations about the
issue, particularly, in view of the European Union enlargement,” noted
press-secretary of MFA Andrei Savinykh.
Belarus “has always
spoken against European borders being separating lines”. |
