India, Belarus sign Extradition Treaty

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) India and Belarus today signed an Extradition Treaty and four other agreements while Belarus said it will work with participating governments of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to create conditions for cooperation with India in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The two governments also agreed to strengthen defence ties and set up an India-Belarus Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.

The agreements which were signed after discussions between visiting Belarus President A G Lukashenko and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today, also include those on cooperation in Agriculture, Programme of Cooperation in culture, arts, education, mass media and press for 2007-09, Executive Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology for 2007-2010 and Protocol on accession of the Republic of Belarus to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Belarus President, who arrived here yesterday on a three-day State visit, also held talks with President A P Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Belarus reaffirmed its support to India as a candidate with strong credentials for permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council.

A Joint Statement issued after the talks said the two sides stressed that activities aimed at strengthening the role of the UN in achieving peace, stability and security in the world, and at enhancing the authority and efficiency of the world body, constituted important elements of India-Belarus cooperation at international level.

The two sides agreed on the need for greater efforts by all member countries to accelerate the process of UN reform, including the expansion of the Security Council to reflect contemporary realities.

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