Events

MINSK, 29 September (BelTA) – Belarus and Poland have plans to sign five international cross-border cooperation agreements, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Shestakov told reporters after the 11th session of the Belarus-Poland intergovernmental coordination commission for cross-border cooperation on 29 September, BelTA has learned.

“The sides confirmed their intention to sign at least five international cross-border cooperation agreements no later than 2017,” Yevgeny Shestakov noted.

As he commented on the results of the session, Yevgeny Shestakov noted that its participants summed up the results of the work of four sub-commissions operating as part of the Belarus-Poland intergovernmental commission, and agreed to set up a fifth sub-commission for the protection and rescue of people in emergency situations.

The parties exchanged information about the implementation of the large-scale infrastructure project to build an additional road bridge over the Svisloch River between the border checkpoints Berestovitsa (Belarus) and Bobrowka (Poland).

Special attention was paid to the suggestions regarding the improvement of the bilateral legal framework. The parties agreed that it is necessary to further amend the agreement on border crossings signed by the Belarusian government and the government of Poland on 24 April 1992.

The competent authorities will continue to exchange information and coordinate their activities to halt drug trafficking, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs added.

Yevgeny Shestakov thanked the Polish colleagues for their active preparations for the session. He stressed the importance of constructive approaches to the cross-border cooperation between Belarus and Poland.

For his part, Polish First Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Jakub Skiba praised the work of the Belarus-Poland intergovernmental coordination commission for cross-border cooperation and said that this work will yield results. “I am pleased to see that both sides are interested in this. I am happy that we have strengthened our relations in this field, and that Belarus and Poland continue the pragmatic search for opportunities to solve financial issues and implement projects,” Jakub Skiba said. The intensification of the work of the commission is a sign of the strengthening of the relations between Belarus and Poland.

After the 11th session of the Belarus-Poland intergovernmental coordination commission for cross-border cooperation, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Shestakov and Polish First Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Jakub Skiba signed a protocol.