The Belarusian Emergency Ministry’s aircraft has delivered humanitarian cargo to Hmeymim Air Base in north-western Syria, notes Vitaly Novitsky, the Ministry’s Press Secretary
Humanitarian cargo from Belarus has arrived in Syria
45 tonnes of humanitarian assistance was divided into three parts in Belarus in order to send it in three different directions. The majority will go Aleppo while part of the aid will be sent to Latakia and Damascus.
The Belarusian humanitarian cargo was based on Syrian requests, since the country is primarily in need of basic essentials such as children’s clothes and shoes, baby food and tinned goods and medication. All goods were produced in Belarus.
“This is not the first such operation to Syria for the Belarusian Emergency Ministry. In 2015, we also sent humanitarian assistance. This time, on the way back, our humanitarian mission will also bring citizens of Belarus and the CIS, who wish to leave the Syrian Republic,” explains Mr. Novitsky.
At present, a ceasefire regime is operating in Syria, which was introduced on September 12th in line with agreements made by Russia and the US.
Concrete projects needed
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, pays official visit to Minsk
On meeting his Belarusian colleague — Belarus’ Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, he expressed confidence that Belarus and the EU are moving in the right direction. The diplomat also invited Mr. Makei to pay a visit to Luxembourg.
After the meeting, the Belarusian Foreign Minister noted that our two countries should turn this co-operation into concrete economic projects which would benefit both sides. “I hope regular meetings between different structures of Belarus and Luxembourg will become commonplace,” he said, noting that Belarus pins its hopes on the expansion of economic contacts between countries. In particular, co-operation with Luxembourg in the financial, banking and IT spheres is planned.
Power engineering high on the agenda
Belarus and France to boost co-operation in energy sector
Opportunities for collaboration were discussed at a meeting with representatives of Finnish businessmen, headed by Christer Michelsson, the Ambassador of Finland to Lithuania with concurrent accreditation to Belarus. On behalf of Belarus, attending the meeting were representatives of the Energy Ministry, as well as Belenergo and Beltopgaz production associations. The Finnish side was represented by Valmet Technologies, HansHeat Oy, Fortum, Biofire Oy amongst others.
The meeting tackled many possible variants of mutually beneficial co-operation in power engineering while outlining promising areas for strengthening bilateral ties. The Finnish businessmen were briefed on the status and prospects of the Belarusian power industry in the context of the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant.
“The parties have agreed to exchange information about the power engineering projects that are underway in Belarus and Finland and to explore other opportunities for interaction in industrial and investment sectors” notes the press service. After the meeting, the Finnish partners were provided with information about the organisations subordinate to the Belarusian Energy Ministry and about investment projects that are being implemented in Belarus’ energy sector.
Advanced technology as an aid to co-operation
Belarus and the Republic of Korea will open a centre for co-operation in the area of information technology
The agreement was signed in Minsk to enable co-operation between the Belarusian Communications and Informatisation Ministry and the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea, to establish and ensure the operation of the Belarusian-Korean centre. The document was signed by the Belarusian Communications and Informatisation Minister, Sergey Popkov, and the Executive Director of the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea, Jeongwon Yoon.
The centre is expected to open in 2017. Its primary purpose is to help Belarus develop an information society, taking into account the successful experience of the Republic of Korea in assimilating cutting-edge technologies. A number of events and measures will be arranged as part of the centre’s operation. In particular, best practice will be shared, technical support will be available, and projects to create and introduce state-of-the-art electronic government technologies will be fulfilled. Mr. Popkov commented, “Belarus views the Korean experience of developing information and communication technologies as a priority. The establishment of the information technology co-operation centre will allow continuing interaction in this field at a new level.”
In turn, the Executive Director of the National Information Society Agency of the Republic of Korea said that Belarus and Korea have already made great progress. For instance, Korea has helped Belarus to prepare a strategy for developing information and communication technologies in Belarus. “I believe that the establishment of the centre offers excellent opportunities, since the Republic of Korea has already provided similar assistance to other countries with good results,” he added.
