КНІГІ ОНЛАЙН
Nowadays, besides the troops, relevant to the proper armed forces, the units of strategic nuclear forces of Russia are located on the Belarus territory. Carrying out the obligation in consecutive order according to the Lisbon Protocol, Belarus ratified START Treaty, joined the NPT Treaty and transfered the strategic nuclear forces under the jurisdiction of Russia. The legal grounds for the stationing of these forces on the territory of Belarus are laid out in the Treaty on the status of the strategic forces, signed in 1993, and the period of their stay and order of their withdrawal in the Agreement on the order of the srategic forces withdrawal. According to the Agreement on the order of withdrawal the nuclear forces must leave the territory of Belarus by the end of 1996. The troops are leaving along with their armaments and military equipment, but many military officers choose Belarus as the place of their permament residence. The elimination of the abundant military potential and removal of the consequences of residence of the strategic nuclear forces on the territory of the Republic of Belarus create a long line of problems: military personnel resigned in connection with the reduction of the armed forces needs reeducation and new jobs and in many cases logings should also be provided. Thus,the number of military men, who ought to resign from the armed forces, is about 0,1 of the whole country population; in the course of reduction of the armed forces more than 100 military sites are being vacated and the populated areas, connected with them are in a great need to find their civil role because in previous times the majority of them was not included in the economic structure of the state; the places of location of the former military bases need an expensive rehabilitation of the natural surroundings, before they could be used for the needs of civilian economy; the complicated economic situation in the Republic threatens the implementation of the military reform and disarmament programs. Пасольства Рэспублікі Беларусь y Злучаных Штатах Амсрыкі Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United States of America 1619 New Hampshire Avenue. N.W. Washington D.C. 20009 Phone; (202) 9861604 Fax; (202) 9861805 March 21,1994 PRESS RELEASE Strategic Missiles Being Removed from Belarus The removal of the group of the Strategic Rocket Forces from the territory of Belarus to Russia continues. The group consisted of two divisions (eight rocket regiments) equipped with the mobile land based missile complex "Poplar", known in the West as SS 25. There were 72 launchers. The two major sites were the areas of Lida and Mozyr. The first rocket regiment (9 launchers), stationed In Postavy, was removed to Russia in summer 1993. The next four regiments (36 launchers) will be removed during 1994 and the rest of them will leave Belarus in 1995 according to the schedule coordinated by Defense Ministries of Belarus and Russia. By the middle of 1996 Mozyr and Lida rocket divisions will be totally disbanded in accordance with the START I Treaty. As reported, the missile complex "Poplar” will form the basis of Strategic Rocket Forces of Russia. The military personnel of withdrawn regiments which stays over in Belarus will be transfered to the reserve. They will enjoy the same rights as the citizens of the Republic of Belarus. After the removal of missiles is completed the former missile bases will be transfered under Belarusian control. After sending away the "Poplars" Belarus will become the first post Soviet state which meets in deed its commitments to world community without any preconditions and reservations, accedes to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as a truly non nuclear state. 58 59 Embassy of llic Republic of Belarus to the United States of America FROM EMBASSY OF BELARUS Пасольства Рэснублікі Беларусь y Злучапых Штатах Амсрыкі 1619 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Wellington D.C. 20009 Phone: (202) 9861604 Fax: (202) 986 1805 PRESS RELEASE March 25, 1994 Secretary of Defense Visited Minsk Secretary of Defense W.Perry was on an official visit to the Republic of Belarus March 23, 1994 and held talks with Minister of Defense of Belarus P.Kozlovski. He was also received by the leaders of Belarus. The issues of the US support for Belarusian efforts aimed at implementation of denuclearization and the realization of the Nunn Lugar program for the Safe and Secure Dismantlement (SSD) of nuclear weapons were discussed. The US assistance to Belarus under the SSD program reached $ 100 million. The first meeting of the US Belarusian Joint Commission on Defense Conversion took place. Secretary Perry announced contracts between American and Belarusian enterprises. It was stated with great satisfaction that Belarus has been in the forefront of nuclear disarmament among the CIS states. In 1993 Belarus and the US concluded pioneering breakthrough agreements which allowed for extensive cooperation in areas of defense conversion, ecological rehabilitation of former missile sites, etc. Belarus also enjoys advanced cooperation with the US in establishing a tight export control system. The issue of fair compensation to Belarus for the value of the highly enriched uranium in nuclear warheads was discussed also. The further development of militaryto military cooperation between Belarus and the US was among important subjects of discussion. Secretary of Defense W.Perry announced the United States' Intention to assist Belarus in carrying out conventional demilitarization. The announced program is the first and unique. The Partnership for Peace Initiative was discussed at length during the talks. Secretary Perry was Informed that the issue of the possibility and the extent of Belarus’ participation in the Partnership for Peace was being closely studied by Commissions of the Supreme Soviet. According to Defense Minister Kozlovski" today Belarus closely cooperates with the USA F, 00 I 2 and other NATO states'. Speaking of PFP developments the Minister stressed:"This will remove apprehensions that the frontier between East and West would lie along the Bug river.The Berlin wall should not be moved over to our border". William Perry was received by Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus Vyacheslav Kebich. Chairman Kebich highly assessed the Secretary's visit as a sign of considerable changes in bilateral relations. Secretary Perry also met with First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus Vyacheslav Kuznetsov. The Document on Principles of US Belarusian Joint Commission on Defense Conversion was signed by Minister Kozlovski and Secretary Perry. F. 0 0 I FROM EMBASSY OF BELARUS Пасольства Рэспублікі Бсларусь y Злучаііых Штатах Амсрыкі Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the United States of America 1619 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20009 Phone: (202) 9861604 Fax: (202) 9861805 March 28, 1994 PRESS RELEASE The Belarusian Diplomacy Is SO. The Belarusian diplomacy celebrates its halfcentury jubilee. 50 years ago, at the end of March 1994 the Sixth Session of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR which took place in Ghomel, liberated of Nazi occupants, decided to reestablish the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of BSSR. In this connection the corresponding article in the Constitution of Belarus of 1937 was amended. A week later the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of Belarus, K.Kiselev was appointed People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the republic. Since then Belarus became an active participant of international cooperation. 60 61 The Republic of Belarus is one of 51 founders of the United Nations Organization. On June 26,1945 the representatives of Belarus K.Kiselev, A.Zhebrak, V.Pertsev, G.Baidakov, F.Shmygov signed the Charter of this authoritative international organization. Belarusian diplomats actively engaged in the process of settling actual problems of the European and world policy. Hundreds of important decisions initiated by BSSR were adopted by the UN. Among them are the UN resolutions concerning extradition and punishment of perpetrators of military crimes; nonspreading of the term of prescription for military crimes and crimes against humanity; protection of persons arrested or imprisoned for their struggle against aparteid, rasism and racial discrimination, colonialism, aggression and foreign occupation. In 1947 Belarus joined the International Telecommunication Union and Universal Postal Union and a year later the World Meteorological Organization. Along with 60 other states of the world Belarus founded the World Health Organization. As a whole Belarus is represented in approximately 60 international organizations, it has become participant in 200 bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties on disarmament, peaceful exploration of space, nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, international cooperation including the use of scientific and technical progress for peace and social development, human rights. Proclamation of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus by the Supreme Soviet of BSSR on July 27,1990, elevating it to the constitutional status in August 1991 and proclamation of political and economic independence of the Republic opened a qualitatively new period in international and foreign policy activities of Belarus. Within a short period of time between September 1991 and the end of 1992 the Republic of Belarus was recognized by the international community. At present Belarus is officially recognized by 117 countries of the world, 90 countries among them have established diplomatic relations with it. Belarus has become a fullfledged member of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Mr.Krauchanka, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus, stated the basic principles and priorities of foreign policy of the Belarusian state at the 46th session of the UN General Assembly in October 1991. They include sovereignty, achieving real independence, desire to live in a neutral, nuclearfree state, strengthening goodneighbour and constructive relations both with East and West and integration into the European process. Vital interests of the Belarusian people will remain the basis of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus.