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Belarus to Cooperate with EU in the Framework
of Neighbor Concept
Belarus plans to cooperate with the European Union in the framework of its
regional and humanitarian programs, Belarus’ Foreign Ministry’s spokesman
Andrei Savinykh stated.
"Belarus participates in such EU programs as the program of the Baltic Sea
Region development, neighboring programs Lithuania-Latvia-Belarus and
Poland-Ukraine-Belarus,” Savinykh said.
EU
is expected to help in overcoming the Chernobyl disaster consequences,
providing humanitarian aid and facilitating mutual visits of people from the
border areas.
In
April, Belarus signed new trade and economic agreements with Poland and
Latvia, and amended current agreements with Slovakia and Estonia. These
countries agreed to keep intergovernmental commissions, which are considered
an effective means to promote economic cooperation. The similar negotiations
will be held with Hungary and the Czech Republic.
At
the same time, Belarus is negotiating with the European Commission on the
revision of quotas applied to Belarusian potash fertilizers and textiles.
According to Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the EU
enlargement the share of EU in Belarusian foreign trade will rise from 18%
to 35%. Currently, Belarusian trade surplus with EU is at about U.S. $ 1
billion, and it may increase by $150,000-200,000.
Belarus Plans to Invest $116 Mln in Druzhba,
Adria Project by 2010
Belarusian plans to invest $116 million in the integration of the oil
pipelines Druzhba and Adria to pump an additional 15 million tones of crude
oil via the integrated pipeline by 2010.
It
is planned to construct 34 kilometers of pipeline and two underwater
passages under the rivers Dnepr and Sozh, worth a total of $24 million. The
first phase may be completed by mid-2005 and will allow pumping an
additional 5-6 million tones of oil per year.
The second phase provides the construction of 52 kilometers of pipeline and
an underwater passage under the river Pripyat.
During the third phase, which is to cost $30 million, it is planned to
complete the 45-kilometer long linear pipeline portion.
Besides, it is planned to upgrade two oil-pumping stations, which is to cost
an additional $40 million.
The House of Representatives ratified the agreement on cooperation in the
integration of Druzhba and Adria pipelines.
On 57th Session of World Health Organization
Belarusian delegation headed by Minister of Health Lyudmila Postoyalko will
take part in HIV/AIDS session of the World Health Organization (WHO) in
Geneva on May 17-22, 2004.
The management and role of the state health care for raising the quality of
HIV-AIDS treatment as well as realization of the Global Nutrition, Physical
Activities, and Health Strategy will be discussed at the session.
The participants will discuss reproductive health, quality and safety of
drugs.
Several organizational issues of the World Health Organization will be also
discussed at the session.
Belarus Submits Application to Join UN FAO
Belarus submitted an application to join the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hopes to become a member of
that organization during the 33rd FAO Conference in 2005.
Having submitted its application, Belarus can start drafting programs of
technical assistance from FAO in agriculture development, provision of food
security and rehabilitation of Chernobyl affected regions.
The accession to FAO is to help step up the reformation of Belarusian
agrarian sector, which is especially important in the light of WTO accession
negotiations.
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