Lukashenko: Belarus to launch its own space satellite

Belarus plans to launch its own space satellite in the nearest future.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko who spoke at the World Summit on Information Society in Geneva.

"At present we are forming the National Space System for Distant Probing of the Earth. Along with the development of the Earth-based infrastructure for procession of the space information we plan to launch our own space satellite," Lukashenko said.

"With the high technologies, experts and net infrastructure Belarus is ready to participate in the fulfillment of international space programs as an active partner and not as a passive consumer of foreign product," Lukashenko noted.

Belarus is also ready "to render its assistance in solution of complicated tasks, in monitoring of radioactive safety and protection of the environment," he added.

At the same time he called on the countries to join their efforts "in order to create reliable and qualitative IT products." "One of the possible solutions of this issue is the formation under the UN aegis of a Foundation for the compensation of expenses to software manufacturers upon delivery of products to developing countries at low cost," he said.

"The world community must unite its efforts in order to create mechanisms for protection of information systems from terrorists," the Belarus President concluded.