BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

12/02/2009

Belarus: German FM Steinmeier encourages further reform

Even now, children are still suffering the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Thanks to various private initiatives, some of these children are able to travel to Germany for recuperation. The Belarusian Foreign Minister, Sergei Martynov, and Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier agreed that this should remain possible. In addition, Steinmeier welcomed the reforms undertaken in Belarus in recent weeks and months. Belarus today also became a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, numerous private initiatives have enabled affected children to travel to Germany, many other EU countries and the United States for recuperation. Since October 2008 the Belarusian Government has been calling for intergovernmental agreements to allow this. So that these trips remain possible, an agreement has now been reached, but without imposing rules for civil society engagement.

Steinmeier said: "I am delighted with today's agreement, which will allow Belarusian children to continue to travel to Germany."

Foreign Minister Martynov's visit was the first bilateral contact at this level for almost 14 years. High-level contacts with the Lukashenko Government had been frozen since 1997 in accordance with an EU decision. However, civil-society contacts between Belarus and Germany remained close throughout this period. German aid for Chernobyl victims in particular helped to create a dense network of relations. The "Minsk Forum", an annual international conference in Minsk first held in 1997, also promotes exchange and dialogue.

Seeking sustainable reforms

Steinmeier welcomed the reforms undertaken in Belarus in recent months. Now, he said, the aim must be "to develop these initial steps into a sustainable process of reform".

Steinmeier said: "Further democratic reforms remain the precondition for a fresh start in relations between Belarus and the EU and for the complete lifting of sanctions." The forthcoming launch of the EU's Eastern Partnership would also open up opportunities for Belarus, Steinmeier said. It was up to the leadership in Minsk to make use of them.

Over recent weeks and months Belarus has taken a number of positive steps. These include allowing a number of independent newspapers and non-governmental organizations to operate, as well as discussions between the Government and OSCE experts on electoral law reform.

Belarus joins the International Renewable Energy Agency

During his visit Foreign Minister Martynov also signed the Statute establishing the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The Founding Conference of IRENA was held in Bonn on 26 and 27 January 2009. The conference was a great success: 75 states signed the IRENA Statute, and 125 delegations participated. Belarus is the first country to sign the Statute in the wake of the conference.

Germany is the depositary for the Statute, which is open for signature at the Federal Foreign Office.

The depositary for an international treaty is a state which has been charged by the contracting parties involved in the treaty with ensuring the proper execution of all actions relating to the implementation of the treaty. Its tasks include keeping the originals of the treaty, accepting instruments of accession and ratification, and informing all the contracting parties of new accessions.

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/Osteuropa/AktuelleArtikel/090211-Wei_C3_9Frussland-Artikel,navCtx=23336.html

Source:

http://www.isria.info/en/diplo_12february2009_117.htm

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