MINSK. April 18 (Interfax) - Belarusian deputies have passed a bill ratifying an agreement with Russia on the implementation of a military-technical cooperation program through 2025 at a session of the House of Representatives.
This is a bill ratifying an agreement between the Belarusian and Russian governments on the implementation of a program of military-technical cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation through 2025, the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA reported.
"In accordance with the provisions of the agreement, from the date it comes into force, the agreement between the Belarusian and Russian governments on the implementation of the program of military-technical cooperation between the two countries until 2020, dated December 25, 2013, will be terminated. This agreement was ratified by the Republic of Belarus on July 14, 2014," the statement said.
In accordance with the clauses of the agreement, the two countries' governments will provide assistance to the authorized organizations of the state parties and ensure equal conditions for fulfilling the measures of the program, which rules out competitive procurement procedures and drastically cuts the time for obtaining authorization documents from the authorized bodies of the state parties for transporting military products.
In particular, ratification of the agreement will allow the Russian side to lift bans and restrictions on access to industrial goods, activities or services originating from foreign countries for procurement purposes relating to national defense and national security, reduce the timeframe for obtaining authorization documents from the state parties' authorized agencies to transfer military products, to deliver military products and to provide services for the activities included in the program based on a simplified procedure.
According to the conclusions of the Belarusian Justice Ministry and the National Center of Legislation and Legal Research, the agreement does not contain any provisions which are at odds with the Constitution, but stipulates other rules than those contained in Belarusian laws and presidential decrees.
The bill was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Council of Ministers on March 27. Upon ratification of the agreement, a program of military-technical cooperation between Belarus and Russia through to 2025 will take effect.
The program involves mutual supplies of military products in the interests of Belarusian and Russian law enforcement agencies, as well as their industrial and scientific organizations; conducting scientific research and R&D projects for creating new and upgrading existing weapons, military hardware, and military, dual-purpose and special-purpose products; taking measures as part of the joint policy in technical regulation, standardization and cataloging of defense products; joint implementation of projects for the benefit of other countries, and involvement in activities as part of military-technical cooperation undertaken in Belarus and Russia.