On April 18, Minsk /Tatsiana Paliezhai - BELTA/. High mutual interest in further developing partnership cooperation was confirmed at a meeting in Minsk on April 18 between the Head of the Belarus President's Administration, Uladzimir Makei, and representatives of foreign humanitarian non-governmental organizations participating in the partnership conference "25 Years After Chernobyl". This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the President's Administration. Uladzimir Makei expressed sincere gratitude to the representatives of the humanitarian movement for the support they provide to Belarus in overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP accident. Although this assistance is insignificant compared to the funds allocated for these purposes by the state, it is in demand in Belarus and has its specific recipients. The parties expressed a high mutual interest in further developing partnership cooperation, which should be based on the principles of transparency, equality, and mutual respect. In this regard, the Head of the Belarus President's Administration emphasized the unacceptability of attempts at political speculation on the tragic Chernobyl events. "For us, an approach where 'humanitarian' aid is burdened with political conditions or accompanied by various politicized statements is unacceptable," noted Uladzimir Makei. According to him, the main efforts should now be focused on updating and subsequently implementing specific humanitarian projects in Belarus, primarily in contaminated areas. In this regard, an agreement was reached to identify priority initiatives in close cooperation, which, among other things, will receive all possible assistance from the state. -0-

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