Belarus to receive observer status in CBSS

MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) – Belarus will receive an observer status in the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) on 1 July, 2009. The unanimous decision was taken by the ministers of the CBSS member-states in the 15th ministerial session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States in Denmark in June, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

Founded in 1992, the Council of the Baltic Sea States is an overall political forum for regional inter-governmental cooperation. The members of the Council are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Russia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden as well as the European Commission. Several states such as Great Britain, Italy, the USA, France and others enjoy an observer status in the Organisation.

Ministerial sessions and CBSS heads of state summits are held twice a year. The presidency of the Council rotates among its member-states on an annual basis.

According to the experts, CBSS has developed a wide network of cooperation in economy, environmental protection and monitoring, education, culture and cultural heritage preservation.