КНІГІ ОНЛАЙН
Старяыня Вярхоўнага Саяета С. Шужкевіч і Прэзідэпт Б.Клінтан выказалі агульнае меркаванне, ято візіт ІІрэзідэнта Б. Клінтана ў Рэспубліку Беларусь значна спрыяў умацаванню адносін дружбн, супрацоўніцтна і ўэаемаразумеіііія паміж дзвюма дзяржавамі. Прэзідэнт Б.Клінтан выказаў глыбокую ўдзячнасць Старшьші С.Шушкевічу, Вярхоўнаму Савсту, ураду і народу Рэспублікі Беларусь за цёплы і дружалюбны прыём, аказаны яму і яго сям'і і уссй дэлэгацыі. 14 15 BELARUSUSA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS The Republic of Belarus and the United States of America have established diplomatic relations on December 28, 1991. The USA was among the first countries to begin developing cooperation with Belarus in all areas and directions. To date the Republic of Belarus and the United States of America have concluded more than 20 agreements. On February 4, 1993 the Republic of Belarus ratified the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START2) and the Protocol to the Treaty, signed in Lisbon on May 25, 1992. Besides, the Republic took the decision to accede to the NonProliferation Treaty as a nonnuclearweapon state. This decision of the Belarusian Parliament was highly appreciated by the US Administration and opened a new stage in the relations between Belarus and United States. A specific feature of the development of bilateral relations is the particular attention the two sides pay to cooperation aimed at arms reduction and prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons and related nuclear technologies. The November 1992 Minsk visit of US senators S. Nunn and R. Lugar (authors of the famous "NunnLugar" law) became an important milestone in the elimination of obstacles on the way to mutual understanding and stronger cooperation in this area. Negotiations were held on the matters of bilateral cooperation, the implementation of agreements within the framework of the NunnLugar Law and the support of economic reforms in Belarus during the visit of Belarus Foreign Minister Mr. P. Kravchenko to the USA (April 1922, 1993). On July 21 to 23, 1993 the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus Mr. S. Shushkevich was on an official visit to the United States of America. He was the first leader from the newly independent states to be invited to Washington for an official meeting with the US President. This summit demonstrated the utmost significance attached by the United States and Belarus to the broadening and deepening of their bilateral cooperation. Having agreed on cooperation in the attainment of mutual political and economic goals, and cooperation in the sphere of security, the leaders of both states laid a foundation for strong and friendly relations. On October 26, 1993 the US Secretary of State Mr. W. Christopher was on a visit to Minsk. During this visit he had meetings with the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus Mr. S. Shushkevich and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus Mr. V. Kebich. The arrival of the head of the US State Department demonstrated the intention of the American side to continue contacts at the highest level and showed the USA’s interest in a successful course of economic and political reforms in Belarus. On October 25 to 29, 1993 a delegation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, headed by Belarus Defense Minister ColonelGeneral P. Kozlovsky, was on a visit to the United States. During this visit the sides held negotiations to discuss the issues of broadering cooperation within the framework of the NunnLugar Law and the matters of cooperation in the elimination of conventional weapons and the implementation of the CFE Treaty and rendering assistance to Belarus in the course of economic reforms. The visit resulted in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in the Military Sphere between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus and the US Ministry of Defense. The forthcoming visit of US President Mr. B. Clinton to the Republic of Belarus will give a new important impetus to the development of bilateral relations. BELARUSUSA ECONOMIC RELATIONS In 1993 Belarus exported its products to 87 countries of the world. The main foreign partners of the Republic in exports were Germany (12.8 per cent of total exports), Poland (11.3 per cent), Austria (6 per cent), USA (6 per cent), China (4.1 per cent). In imports the main partners were Germany (23.7 per cent of total operations), Austria (7.8 per cent), Poland (7.8 per cent), USA (10.2 per cent) and the United Kingdom (5.9 per cent). During the first nine months of 1993 exports from Republic of Belarus to USA reached the figure of the 32189.0 thousand US dollars, while import amounted to 56227.0 thousand US dollars. On February 16, 1993 the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Belarus and USA came into force. According to this agreement, the two states will enjoy the mostfavoured nation treatment in trade with each other. 17 16 REPRESENTATIONS OF US COMPANIES IN BELARUS As of December 1, 1993 there were 16 representations of US companies stationed in Belarus. Out of them the most prominent are MonsantoEurope S.A. (subsidiary of the international MONSANTO Co.), Industrial Chemical and Dye Group Inc. (ICD Group), Texas Timber and Exporting Co. (TTE) and Tower Research International. These companies have their representations and branches in various countries of the world, including Russia and other CIS states. MonsantoEurope S.A. cooperates with Belarusian partners from the year 1986. By now the company products for the protection of farm crops have been tested at all farming facilities of Belarus, and a number of contracts have been signed. Texas Timber & Exporting Co. (TTE) was established with the goal to promote goods and technologies from more that 40 US production companies to the Soviet market (later it became the CIS and Eastern Europe market). TTE has several largesize contracts in various fields in Russia, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine. In Belarus the company concentrates its activities on the supply of diagnostic and treatment equipment for hospitals, specialized clinics, etc. In Minsk there is a representation of the Belgium branch of UPJOHN Corp. This US corporation produces medical preparations, equipment for clinics and other products necessary in the sphere of medical services. The company already supplies its products to Belarus and has plans for direct investments. Tower Research International company works in Belarus on the development of the most advanced computer technologies. This company helped to computerize a number of large Belarusian banks and enterprises. There are other US companies working in Belarus. Although their potential is not so strong in comparison with the companies listed above, they are quite active on the Belarusian market. These are, for instance, Logine International, Sovtex International and Elegant Logic. Some of these companies have established a joint venture such as the DUPLET, in which Login International is a cofounder. The law firm Miller, Kenfield, Paddock and Stone plans to expand its activities in Belarus in order to help Belarusian producer companies in their promotion to the US market. This firm suggested several specific projects aimed at protecting the interests of Belarus in the USA. Besides representations of US companies, Belarus has an agency of US charity organisation City Hope International. This organisation has already carried out several projects of delivery of humanitarian aid from the USA to regions of Belarus struck by the Chernobyl disaster. The total value of delivered cargo amounted to five mln. US dollars. JOINT AND FOREIGN OWNED VENTURES WITH US CAPITAL As of December 1, 1993 1131 joint ventures were registered in the Republic. Declared contribution to the ownership capital of joint ventures reached 573.7 mln. US dollars, including the share of foreign investors equal to 266.5 mln. US dollars. The majority of joint ventures were established with partners from Poland (393), Germany (171), USA (93), Italy (60) and Austria (32). American investors contributed 52.3 mln. US dollars to the ownership capital of joint ventures established in Belarus. BelarusianUS joint ventures are engaged in various kinds of activities, such as the production of consumer goods, manufacture of items for industries and production processes, construction, agriculture, trade, procurement trade, research and development work, information services, creation of software, medical services, recreation services, advertising and publishing. The first ten most productive companies during the first nine months of 1993 included the following ventures with US capital: Summit Systems (computer production, founded by Chips and Technologies JV Limited, MPI Management Partnerships International), BELPAK (polyacetalia and polyethers production, founded by Ekota Fibres Ltd, Eastman Credit Union Bld.). Today there are 279 ventures in Belarus registered as 100 per cent owned by of foreign investors. Declared ownership capital of foreign ventures constituted 14.8 mln. US dollars. The major part of these ventures belong to Polish (107), German (49), US (24), Dutch, Swiss and Austrian (7 each) companies. Declared ownership capital of US investors is 2.4 mln. US dollars. These ventures are engaged in the production of consumer goods, manufacture of items for industries and production processes, agriculture, trade, procurement trade, design and recreation services. Export to USA in 1993 (9 months) thousand US $ Synthetic fibres 55.00 Sweaters and jumpers 141.00 Glass fibres 5.00 Nickel, nontreated 1256.00 Compasses 100 Tshirts 8.00 19. 18 Packing bags 1.00 Equipment for rubber processing 5.00 Cotton cloths 65.00 Synthetic fabrics 19.00 Artificial cloths 486.00 Flax cloths 21.00 Tractors 5060.00 Bedclothes and table linen 20.00 Outerclothes 105.00 Slack wax, paraffin 1153.00 Engines & motors 182.00