MINSK, 2 March (BelTA) – Belarus would like to cooperate with the Baltic Sea countries in fight against contraband, Deputy Head of the Belarus State Customs Committee Vasily Dementei stated as he met with a delegation of the Finnish National Board of Customs led by Head of Intelligence Sami Rakshit in Minsk on 2 March, BelTA has learnt. The meeting is being held within the framework of implementation of the intergovernmental agreement between Belarus and Finland on the mutual assistance in customs matters. The agreement was signed in Helsinki in late 2009. The sides intend to discuss the cooperation in fight against contraband and other crimes against the customs legislation. Finland cooperates with the Baltic Sea countries including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and also with Great Britain in this area. “Belarus would like to participate in the program of the joint measures aimed at fighting against contraband and exchanging the information in this area,” Vasily Dementei said. In turn, Rakshit Sami noted that the problems of the Belarusian and Finnish customs services related to the fight against contraband are similar. According to him, there are a lot of issues to be discussed within the framework of rendering assistance in fighting against contraband. This work should be done in time, he underscored. With a view to creation of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, the Belarusian customs services operate in a new environment. “Finland is a member of the EU Customs Union. So, we have something to share with the Belarusian Customs Service,” Rakshit Sami said. The cooperation between the Belarusian and Finnish customs services will include the information exchange, the joint inspection of trans-border movement of cargoes, professional training. The developing measures are aimed at counteracting the trafficking of drugs, tobacco and alcohol, cars and illegal international trade. БЕЛТА
Written by belta.by
