BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

06/12/2007

Belarus Opens Doors To European Commision Delegation

Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Varanetski and Ian Boag, head of the Kyiv-based European Commission delegation to Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, on December 5 initialed a draft agreement on the establishment of a European Commission delegation in Minsk, Belapan reported. The European Commission asked the Belarusian authorities for permission to open an office in Minsk in 2005, and at the same time sent a draft agreement to the Belarusian government. The Belarusian authorities gave their consent in April 2007, and the European Commission sent the draft agreement once again. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in October approved the draft as a basis for further negotiations, and appointed Varanetski to negotiate the terms with the Commission. Varanetski said that the December 5 agreement will now be submitted to Lukashenka for his signature. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-061207.asp