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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
December 16, 2004
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NATIONAL NEWS
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Concerned over EU Visa Restrictions for Officials
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over further visa restrictions imposed by the European Union on certain Belarusian officials, MFA spokesman Andrei Savinykh stated.
"We view this step as the continuation of the policy of pressure on a sovereign state. The policy of restrictions, as the record has repeatedly shown, is senseless and has no prospects," Savinykh noted.
"Belarus favors a dialog with the EU, but only on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We hope the understanding that the successful construction of a Greater Europe is impossible without Belarus will prevail in the EU," the statement said.
Belarus President Approves New Version of Foreign Trade Control Law
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a new version of the law on state regulation of foreign trade, which meets the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The law was included in the national register of legal acts.
The law defines the key principles of state regulation performed by the President, National Assembly, Government and other authorized agencies, and specifies the powers of the President of the Republic of Belarus regarding the regulation of foreign trade.
The bill provides four methods of state regulation of foreign trade, including customs and tariff, non-tariff regulation, restrictions in trade in goods, services and intellectual property and foreign trade development measures.
Among the WTO requirements is the ban to backdate regulatory acts, collect an interest from the contract as transaction costs and fix various tax rates depending on the country of origin.
As was stated earlier by Belarusian officials, WTO accession talks might be completed by late 2006 or early 2007.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
On Participation of Belarus in International Forum “Nuclear Non-proliferation: Review Conference of Non-proliferation Treaty-2005”
Belarusian representative took part in the International Forum “Nuclear non-proliferation: Review conference of the Non-proliferation Treaty-2005”.
Participants to the forum considered issues concerning emerging of global threats and circumstances contributing to the non-proliferation as well as problems of preventing terrorists from taking hold of nuclear weapons.
Belarus supports efforts and initiatives aimed at strengthening the present nuclear-free zones and creating new ones. As the Belarusian party sees it, special attention should be paid to control over transportation, account and physical protection of the nuclear material. |
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
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On
Main European Economic Partners of Belarus
"European vector is a priority direction in the foreign policy of
Belarus”, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Andrei
Savinykh noted. The main economic European partners of Belarus are Germany,
Great Britain, Poland, Netherlands, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, France,
Sweden, and Belgium, Mr. Savinykh reported.
Belarus is seeking to develop equal, mutually beneficial relations with
European states. Trade economic sphere remains the most important avenue of
cooperation.
10 intergovernmental commissions on trade and economic cooperation with
European countries were set up.
Belarusian Government Extends List of Equipment Subject
to Zero Import Duty
The Belarusian Government included another 14 items in the list of equipment
subject to zero import duty from January 1, 2005.
Pipes, tubes and shapes from corrosion-resistant steel for gas and fluid
supply, reservoirs and containers from ferrous metals for fluids,
condensers, pumps and compressors, liquid fuel furnaces, bottle washing or
drying equipment, soil and general warming electric appliances, and assembly
construction units from ferrous metals are subject to zero import duty now.
“The decision aims at creating favorable conditions for companies’
technical upgrade,” the official from the Belarusian Government stated.
In case the equipment should be re-exported, the customs duty will be
collected in accordance with the established procedure.
Before the extension of the list, it included 270 items and was approved by
the Government on August 12, 2004.
MasterCard, VISA Account for 85.5% of Cards in
Circulation in Belarus
The share of MasterCard and VISA bankcards in circulation in Belarus rose to
85.5% as of November 1 from 79.8% as of January 1, the National Bank of
Belarus (NBB) payment system department reported.
The NBB is planning to work out the concept of the development of the
national system of retail payments in January 2005, Chairman of the NBB’s
payment system department, Vladimir Zhukov said.
The number of plastic bankcards being used in Belarus rose by 72.9% in
January-October to 1.976 million.
Belarus’ Belavia Opens Tender to Lease Boeing
737/300-737/400
Belarusian National Air Carrier Belavia announced an open tender to
lease a Boeing 737/300–737/400.
The plane is to be leased for 5 years. The deadline for applications was set
at January 10, 2005. The Boeing is to be delivered to Belarus in May-June
2005. The plane will service international flights.
Belarus operates two Boeing 737/500 aircraft, leased from the U.S.’
International Leasing Finance Corporation.
Belavia started replacing its aircraft fleet in order to meet the EU
stricter noise standards to be introduced in 2006. At the moment Belavia has
nine Tu-154, six Tu-134, three An-24 and two Yak-40 aircraft, all of which
are Soviet-made and subject to the EU ban.
Belavia plans to lease three or four Boeings and two Embraer aircraft by
2006.
Belarus Announces Tender to Buy Veterinary Medications
for 2005
Belarusian Agriculture Ministry announced a tender to purchase veterinary
biological products, diagnostic and cleansing medications for 2005.
Both domestic and foreign companies may participate in the tender. The bids
are accepted until January 10, 2005.
It is planned to purchase 150,000 doses of rabies vaccine, 400,000 doses of
anthrax vaccine and 70 tonnes of disinfectants.
Belarus imports about 80% of veterinary biological products and spends up to
500 billion Belarusian rubles on purchases.
(2,175 Belarusian rubles - U.S. $1)
CULTURE
AND SOCIETY
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Minsk to Open National Tourist Information Center
On December 21, 2004 the National Tourist Information Center will be opened in Minsk.
The Center will be well equipped with PCs, qualified staff and necessary information materials. The center will be located in the building of Minsk hotel Yubileinaya.
There Are over 170 Public Centers of Legal Information in Belarus
The Centers of Legal Information are created on the basis of public libraries and aim to ensure free access of citizens to legal information.
The project is implemented by the National Center of Legal Information and its regional offices, culture ministry, National Library of Belarus, republican board of lawyers, oblast and city executive committees, and rural councils. The access to legal information is provided through establishing legal information computer databanks in the libraries. Associates of legal information centers organize free juridical consultations and lectures. |
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