Belarus Establishes Cooperation With World Bank

Prospects for cooperation between Belarus and the World Bank (WB) were in the focus of the meeting between Vice-Premier of Belarus Valery Kokorev and first vice-president of the WB Johannes Linn held in London in the course of the annual assembly of the EBRD Board of Directors. This was disclosed by Nikolai Zaichenko, first deputy economy minister of Belarus. According to him, the meeting with Mr Linn became an important part of a constructive dialogue Minsk maintains with the World Bank. In the course of the meeting the sides continued discussing the WB strategy with regard to Belarus, which is slated for adoption in January 2002. According to Mr Zaichenko, the meeting also focused on possible projects which may form the basis of the future WB strategy with regard to Belarus. At the same time, it was noted that such projects may have both the grant and the loan character. A loan project to modernise social sphere, in particular energy saving at the objects of social importance - schools, hospitals, was called as the most real. The agreement may be signed already this June, the Belarus' government representative explained.

Visit www.rian.ru for RIA 'Novosti' news.