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On Belarus-EU Relations
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Belarus has been
carefully following international processes developing at the moment both in
the West and East. The participation in international processes corresponds
to the interests of the open economy of Belarus.
First of all, Belarus tends to lead constructive and
effective work in the framework of building the Union State, Single Economic
Area, Euro-Asian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States, and in
relations with the dynamically developing EU. At the moment, the integration
processes on the territory of the former USSR – first of all with the main
partner, the Russian Federation – correspond to the interests of the
Republic of Belarus.
Growing role of the European Union on the international arena
makes it very important for Belarus to establish more active contacts and to
launch new mechanisms of trade-economic co-operation with EU member-states.
Belarus counts on co-operative work within the European
Neighboring Policy and continuation of co-operation with the European Union
in all mutually beneficial directions.
Integration processes to the East and West of the Republic of
Belarus are not developing in vacuum. Efforts of the Russian Federation and
EU, aiming at the development of the concept of common economic space,
testify to that fact. Belarus welcomes this work which we follow with great
interest. These issues were discussed at the joint sitting of senior
officials of the foreign ministries of Belarus and Russia in February. The
combination of the integration efforts in Europe would meet the interests of
all states and nations, Belarus included.
Belarus and NATO Reached an Agreement
to Cooperate in the Field of Military Supplies
Belarus and NATO reached an agreement to cooperate in the
field of military supplies. A memorandum was signed at the headquarters of
the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in Luxembourg on July 7.
The signing of the memorandum opens new prospects for
developing mutually beneficial practical cooperation between Belarus and
NATO, including under the Partnership for Peace program and the Euro-
Atlantic Partnership Council.
NATO experts have already started to provide assistance to
the Belarusian military in disposing of the stocks of anti-personnel mines
in line with Belarus commitments under the Ottawa convention, which the
country joined in 2003.
First International Science Laboratory
Opens in Minsk
On June 29, 2004, the Stepanov Institute of Physics in Minsk,
Belarus, hosted the official opening of the International Science
Laboratory, a joint scientific research venture between the Stepanov
Institute, The Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing (Saarbrucken,
Germany) and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).
The International Science Laboratory (ISL) is a research
center providing long-term and sustainable cooperation between CIS and
Western scientists, aimed at the achievement of significant results both in
fundamental and applied science. The cooperation is based on joint
exploitation of research equipment, scientist exchanges, and combined
competence of all parties engaged in ISL. The ISL will address research and
technology development issues toward progress on optical and laser
diagnostics, creation of new marketable high tech equipment and products for
industry and health care.
The ISL Program was adopted by the ISTC in 2002 to further
integrate former CIS weapons scientists in the world scientific community.
The agreement on establishing the ISL in Minsk was signed by its parties in
December 2003. The ISL will be located at the premises of the Stepanov
Institute of Physics of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences (NAS),
and is funded by the European Union.
"Creation of this International Science Laboratory marks a
new stage in the integration of Belarus into international science. It
recognizes the high level of Belarusian science, and provides a framework of
efficient cooperation between scientists of different countries, setting a
precedent for other initiatives possible through ISTC", Academician
Myasnikovich, President of NAS said in his opening address.
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