OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2008. Belarus hopes to expand cooperation with the UNECE in transport, power engineering, ecology, innovation, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said at a meeting with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Marek Belka. Belarus has been a full-fledged member of the UNECE since the inception of the commission in 1947, reported the Official website www.government.by.

According to the Premier, recently the interaction has intensified; bilateral contacts have been expanded. The first official visit to Belarus of the UNECE Executive Secretary Danuta Hubner in July 2001 played its positive role in that.

In turn, Marek Belka thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation to come to Belarus. According to him, the UNECE was and remains “one of the bridges between the West and East”. The activity of the European Commission for Europe is aimed at, first of all, stimulating the economic cooperation between the countries. Marek Belka called Belarus one of the most active participants of the UN Economic Commission for Europe. According to him, transport, trade and innovation are the priority cooperation areas.

According to Marek Belka, the programme of the visit is very tight. Various projects need to be considered; the possibilities of expanding the UNECE presence in Belarus will be discussed as well.

As for the participation in the meeting of the CIS heads of government, Marek Belka said it is a good opportunity to expand contacts and influence of the UNECE in transition economies.