Press releases

MINSK, 11 January (BelTA) – The Eurasian Bureau of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) may be set up in Belarus, Mariya Germenchuk, head of the National Center of Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Pollution Control and Environmental Monitoring of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Belarus, told a press conference on 11 January, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus has every chance to become a negotiating venue to expand regional cooperation in the CIS and the European Union. We hope that this process will be more effective,” noted Mariya Germenchuk.

In her words, the contribution of the national hydrometeorological service to the common hydrometeorological security of Belarus and the Union State, as well as the regional security of Europe is considerable. “The importance of our information can be proved by the visit of the World Meteorological Organization representatives in December 2015. The mission studied the level of our observations, assessed the potential of our service as a coordinator of the hydrometeorological activity at the regional level of the Baltic states and Northern Europe. The possibility of setting up the Eurasian Bureau of the World Meteorological Organization in Belarus is under discussion today,” said Mariya Germenchuk.

“This process is drawing the attention of Russia, as well as Mongolia and Turkmenistan. We hope that Belarus, as a country lying in the center of Europe, will be able to implement such interactive functions,” said the head of the center.

Speaking about the Belarusian-Russian hydrometeorological program in the Union State, the head of the center noted that proposals regarding hearing out the results of the three previous programs should be submitted to the Union State Permanent Committee by March 2016. After the hearing, a new concept of the program will be approved. “The coordination of the concept of the program proceeded with difficulties at the Russian Ministry of Social Development. There were no problems as for our Finance and Economy Ministries. Our government bodies have approved the concept. We are expecting the finalization of all the official procedures by the Russian Federation,” she explained. It is planned that the new program will be launched in 2017.

According to Mariya Germenchuk, the Belarusian center expanded its international activity in 2015. “Last year we concluded a number of agreements on mutual cooperation, including with Turkmenistan and Mongolia. We are resuming agreements with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland,” she added.

Mariya Germenchuk also added that close attention is attached to the cooperation with Ukraine. “We have a lot of common cross-border problems that cannot be left unattended. For example, hydrometeorological issues: intakes of Pina and Pripyat are located in Ukraine. In 2015 we closely cooperated with Ukraine in emergencies, for instance, when the Chernobyl Pushcha was in fire. I hope our cooperation will be continued next year,” she said.