BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/07/2006

Belarus supports Tharoor for top UN job

Minsk, July 14 (PTI): Belarus has extended its support to India's nominee for the post of United Nations Secretary General, Shashi Tharoor.

The support for Tharoor's candidacy was conveyed by Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sirdorsky to visiting Minister of State for Industry Ashwani Kumar.

The writer-diplomat is among four Asian candidates who have so far registered with the UN for the candidacy. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathiarathai and Sri Lanka's Jayantha Dhanalapa are among the other candidates.

The UN Security Council is expected to conduct an informal meeting next week to select a candidate to be recommended for approval at the UN General Assembly. The final results are expected in September.

During the talks Sirdorksy assured Kumar that Belarus would work with India on major global issues including G-4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) resolution on expansion of United Nations Security Council, according to a release.

He also condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and expressed solidarity with the people and government of India.

Belarusian Prime Minister also invited Indian IT and manufacturing companies to collaborate with Belarus and set up facilities there.

Kumar offered India's help in developing IT and pharma industry in Belarus through joint ventures between suitable partners identified by two sides.

The Indian Minister also offered line of credit to Belarus to enable BHEL to upgrade thermal power station on Minsk. He also evinced interest in assembling Belarusian heavy duty dumpers in India.

Kumar also met Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martinov and exchanged views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

He said the visit of President Aleksander Lukashenko early next year would give a boost to ties between the two countries.

Kumar also chaired the Third Session of Indo-Belarusian Inter-govermental Commission for Economic, Trade, Industrial, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation along with his Belarus counterpart Anatoly Rusetsky.

Bilateral trade and investments, cooperation in industrial, scientifc fields and cultural exchanges was discussed during the meeting.

It was decied that Belarus will showcase its industrial capabilities at the India International Trade Fair in November next year while the Indian industry chamber FICCI will organise a similar roadshow in Minsk in September this year.

Both sides also agreed to encourage and facilitate frequent exchange of business delegations and purposeful interactions between captain of industries which would help in creating partnerships in the field of pharma, machine tools, tractors and earth moving equipment.

Source:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200607141421.htm