BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05.07.2005

Good perspectives for development of Belarus-Uzbek relations

UzReport.com [12:44]

Belarus has recently celebrated a national holiday - the Day of Independence. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the country Nikolay Demchuk spoke about the event and the bilateral relations of Belarus and Uzbekistan:

- The population of Belarus celebrated the Day of Independence and freedom from fascist aggressors on 3 July. Following the Republican Referendum of 1996, these two events have been celebrated together as the main national holiday of Belarus - the Day of Independence.

During the Second World War, Belarus suffered great losses - over 2.2 million people died. Every fourth Belarus citizen died. The invaders burned down and destroyed 209 cities and district centers, and over 9,200 villages. They destroyed practically all industrial enterprises, farms, schools, scientific and cultural sites, and hospitals: We remember this tragedy and the people of Uzbekistan who participated in liberation of our country.

On this day theatrical performances, concerts, fairs, and festivals are organised on the main squares across Belarus.

- Belarus and Uzbekistan are bound by the ties of friendship, bilateral trade, economic and cultural relations rooted in the traditions of the two countries. Could you please speak of the development of the Belarus-Uzbek cooperation for the past several years, its most prominent results and perspectives? What is being done in terms of implementation of the international projects in the sphere of economy, transport, culture and art?

- The development of Belarus-Uzbek economic relations has quite good perspectives. Uzbekistan is a state holding the key position in the Central Asian region, with a significant human and economic potential. This country has a rich ancient history that contributed greatly into the development of world civilization.

Our countries are bound by the past of the two nations that have always lived in peace and friendship, as well as the history of the young states that face similar problems on their way to building democracy.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Uzbekistan were established on 21 January 1993. In February 1994 the Embassy of Belarus opened in Tashkent.

The visit of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to Uzbekistan in December 1994 was an important step in the development of political and economic relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan. One of the most noteworthy results of this visit was the signing of the Declaration on Further Strengthening of Friendship and Cooperation between the two states. It defined the main directions in the development of bilateral relations for the nearest perspective.

In the late 2004, the Premier of Belarus Sergey Sidorskiy paid a visit to Uzbekistan. This allowed comparing the positions of the two countries and determining new perspectives for the development of bilateral cooperation. In January and May of this year, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Alexander Gerasimenko visited Uzbekistan and held meetings in the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

In the sphere of bilateral cooperation, it is worth pointing out th notable potential of still idle possibilities in economic relations and investment programmes.

For this potential to be used at full capacity it is necessary to establish and activate direct economic relations between Uzbek producers and potential consumers of Belarus.

Our tireless work in this field is producing positive results. Thus, in 2004, the turnover increased up to US$51 million. Undoubtedly, we are increasing our efforts for further growth of these indicators. And the strategic results for the current year prove their effectiveness. The turnover for the period of January through April 2005 made up over US$17 million (136% against 2004), with Belarus's export of some US$13 million (152% against 2004), and Uzbek - of US$4 million (101.1% against 2004).

Another mechanism of further development of economic relations is the holding of sessions of joint commissions on bilateral cooperation.

First session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was held on 12-14 August 2001 in Minsk. The second session of the commission is scheduled for late 2005.

So far, Belarus and Uzbekistan have signed 26 agreements. Another 23 are in the process of development and revision. The signing of the Agreement on Economic Cooperation for ten years between the two countries and the events on implementation of the Programme of Economic Cooperation will stimulate further development of economic relations and take them to a quality new level.

To stimulate further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, great attention will be given to the singing of intergovernmental agreement on regional cooperation.

Contemporary condition of the economic relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan could be assessed as gradual dynamic development, which is of interest to the economic entities of both parties.

Participation of the Uzbek representatives in the International Art Festival "Slavic Fair in Vitebsk", young artists content, as well as in the children's musical contest will be another result of effective joint work of the two countries.

The cinematographs of Uzbekistan are regular participants of the Minsk International Cinematography Festival "Listopad", and thus are contributors to the development of bilateral cultural ties.

Cooperation is also initiated between the sports federations of our countries. Sportsmen of Belarus participate in the international tournament on synchnronised swimming "Suv - Parisi".

The Embassy of Belarus assisted the shooting of a full-length documentary "The son of two nations" about a hero of the Soviet Union Mamadali Topibolidiev, the native of Uzbekistan, who was a partisan of the fifth guerilla squadron of Mogilevskaya oblast. The film was presented in May of the this year on the "Lad" TV channel in the framework of the campaign "Movie Chronicles of the Victory: 60 movies for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus".

Describing the bilateral cultural ties, I would like to stress their gradual development and mutual interest of the both states in them.

- Please tell about the main domestic and foreign economic achievements of Belarus for the past few years, in particular, in the sphere of further development of economy, industry, transportation, telecommunication and other spheres.

- As you know, at this time, the economic results achieved by Belarus are not surprising event to those skeptics who predicted the failure of the course selected by the republic as early as ten years ago. The policy that the country adhered to was focused on strong government rule in the country, which would be capable of producing clear economic results. Life proved the effectiveness of this approach for the country's development. Today, we are confident about our future and only rely on ourselves.

The country's GDP grew by 8.9% in January-May 2005, compared to the same period of 2004.

According to the data of the Belarus Ministry of Statistics, in January-May 2004 the volume of the industrial and agricultural production increased by 10.6% and 11.1% respectively.

The volume of investments in the capital stock increased by 16.4% in January-May 2005, compared to the same period of the previous year. The volume of consumer goods production grew by 10% in the reporting period; production of foodstuffs - by 12%, and production of nonfoods - by 7.9%. The growth of the retail trade volume made up 18.5%. Production of services to the population increased by 12%.

Foreign trade turnover (calculated on standardized conditions taking into account the changes in the principle of levying indirect tax in trade with Russia) grew by 20.2% in January-April 2005, against the same period of 2004, including the increase in export of 28.3%, and in import of 11.9%.

In January-April, the profitability of the sold industrial products made up 17%, and energy intensity of the GDP decreased by 7.2%, against the same period in 2004.

- If possible, could you please provide more details about the experience of Belarus in the development of transportation and communication (railroads, air routes, sea-routes, as well as post and telecommunication)? What results have been achieved in this field of economic infrastructure development and what needs to be done in the future?

- Transportation complex of Belarus has exclusively high importance in the life support of its multi-industrial economy and implementation of the state's social policy.

Approximately 6.8% of the country's total workforce is engaged in the transportation complex. This segment includes 17.4% of the production funds and over 10% of all capital investments in the country are made in the development of this sphere annually.

Moreover, it is the largest consumer of fuel and energy resources. It annually consumes over 5% of the total volume of consumption of electric energy, over 80% of petrol, 54% of diesel fuel, 7% of natural and 5% of liquefied gas. It contributes for over 8% of country's GDP.

Stable and effective functioning of the transportation complex is a necessary condition for stabilization, growth and structural reformation of the country's economy, provision for the country's national security, and improvement of the conditions and level of the population's living standards.

The process of the implementation of economic reforms in the Republic of Belarus is conditioned by the formation of socially oriented market economy in the country, integration of the country's economy in the economy of the world. These reforms determine the necessity to improve the system of transportation complex in Belarus with the condition of its integration in the international transportation system.

The distribution of cargo turnover among several types of transportation in the country is as follows: railroad -77.1%, motor vehicles - 22.6%, river - 0.2%, air - 0.002%. And distribution of the total volume of freight transported is correspondingly: railroad - 23%, motor vehicles - 76.1%, river - 0.2%, air - 0.001%. The share of passenger turnover is: 58.3% in railway, 38.5% in motor vehicles, 0.1% in river transport and 3.2% in air transportation.

Automobile transportation is one of the most important components of the country's production infrastructure. There are positive changes in the approach of the Government to the development of motor and river transportation.

Thus, in 1996-1998 capital investments increased 2.1 times in motor and 2.2 times in river transportation.

Transportation of freight and passengers in Belarus is done by six types of transport: motor transport, railway transport, air transport, water transport, pipeline transport, and city electric transport, including trolley buses, trams, and metro. The total of 381 transportation enterprises are operating in the country.

In 2004, the share of motor transportation in the total volume of cargo transportation made up over 76%, railway - 23.3%, river and air - 1%, and cargo turnover correspondingly made up 22.6%, 77.1%, and 0.3%. The share of motor transportation in the total number of transported passengers made up 54%. The shares of city electric transport, railway transport, and air and water transport made up 40.9%, 5.8%, and less than 1% respectively. The shares of transports based on passenger turnover were 38.5% for motor transportation, 58.3% for city electric, and 3% for railway.

The stock of trucks in Belarus totals to some 250,000, of buses - to over 38,000, and cars - to over 2 million units.

The demand for passenger transportation by water transport is fully satisfied by the enterprises of the inland water transport. Passengers are transported to the cities of Gomel, Brest, Pinsk, Mozyr, Grodno, Mogilev and Loev.

Belaurs has a network of navigable river-ways about 2,000 km long, which connects it to the neighbouring countries. Navigable ways go over the rivers of Soj, Berezina, Dnepr, Pripyat, Neman, Western Dvina and Dnepro-Burg Channel.

Although Belarus is an intra-continental state, nevertheless, it puts a lot of effort into putting on the way its own trade shipping. With this aim in mind, it has prepared a relevant normative-legal base. The government has adopted the programme of organising trade shipping.

Situated in Europe, the Republic of Belarus is a transit, connecting element in the trade between East and West. It attracts the attention of the many countries of the world, including the countries of Central Asia to the problem of transport communication.

The shortest roads connecting the countries of Western Europe, Scandinavia and Baltic with the countries of CIS, as well as Southern and Central Europe with the North-Western districts of Russia go through the territory of Belarus.

- Could you please share your opinion about the Andijan incident?

- Belarus was sorry to find out about the confrontation in Andijan. Undoubtedly, the death of peaceful citizens, shot by the armed gunmen cannot be simply forgotten or justified by any "lofty" aims.

Commenting on the Andijan developments, Belarus supported the administration of Uzbekistan, and it stresses that the activity of terrorist and extremist organisations carries danger not only for Uzbekistan or the Central Asian region along, but for the whole world.

Agreed and weighed decisions and joint actions against this threat of the 21 century should bring positive results.

The article was prepared with the informational support of the press-service of the Embassy of Belarus in Uzbekistan.

Source:

http://www.uzreport.com/E/index.cfm?sec=1&subsec=1&n_ID=17281


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