Agreement on opening European Commission’s office in Minsk to be signed on March 7

• 6.03.2008, 14:00

Signing of an agreement of the EU and Belarus on establishing, privileges and immunities of the European Commission’s office in Minsk is planned for March 7 in Brussels.

It has been stated by the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Andrei Papou at a briefing on March 6.

As said by him, the agreement is to be signed by Valery Varanetski, deputy Foreign Ministry and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy.

The reports that the agreement will be signed on March 7 emerged last week. Radio Svaboda was informed about that today morning by an anonymous high-ranking official of the EU. However, Belarusian Foreign Ministry hadn’t confirmed or denied the reports.

As reminded by BelaPAN, back in 2005 the European Commission requested whether it was possible to open an office in Minsk. However, only on October 19, 2007 Alyaksandr Lukashenka by his decree agreed upon the agreement to open the European Commission branch. On December 5 the draft document was initialed in Minsk.

“Belarus agrees to establish an office f the European Commission at its territory”, and “recognizes each European country’s legal personality, including the right to enter into contracts, buy property and administer the estate,” he agreement reads.