Final Protocol of Latvia-Belarus state border demarcation be signed

The Final Protocol of the Latvia-Belarus state border demarcation is to be signed on 6 November in Riga, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The signing of this document will formally end the process of determining the border between Latvia and Belarus which has lasted for more than ten years. The legal conclusion of demarcation is to be considered a significant step towards developing friendly neighbourly relations, and it is a contribution to ensuring the efficient functioning of the border. The latter is a crucial factor in developing co-operation between the two states, amongst other things stimulating the economic and social development of border regions.     

The demarcation of the state border was commenced in June 1997, two years after the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Belarus on Determination of the State Border entered into force. A significant contribution to the completion of the border demarcation has been made by the Joint Latvia-Belarus State Border Demarcation Commission which was co-chaired by Irina Mangule, the Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Colonel Alexander Arhipov of the Commission of the Belarus Border Guard. When carrying out demarcation, 417 border signs were erected and the border infrastructure was brought up to standard. The demarcation was financed by Latvia and Belarus, with assistance from the EU TACIS programme. (TACIS or Technical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Independent States is a programme for the provision of support for the economic restructuring of Russia and other countries formerly in the USSR.)    

 

Media information

Media representatives are welcome to attend the Latvia-Belarus state border demarcation Final Protocol signing ceremony at the Press Conference Hall of the Foreign Ministry on 6 October from 3:00 to 3:30 pm. Between 3:30 and 3:45 pm the media will have an opportunity for individual interviews. Media representatives are requested to register participation with the Foreign Ministry Press Centre by telephone 67016198 before 2 pm on 6 November.

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