Russia to help Belarus establish polar station in Antarctica
MINSK. February 15. KAZINFORM Belarus, with Russia's assistance, will begin setting up its own polar station in Antarctica. The arrangement in principle about that was reached when Artur Chilingarov, the special envoy of the Russian president for international Arctic and Antarctica cooperation, and Vladimir Tsalko, the Belarusian minister of natural resources and environment, met on Monday; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
"The interest lies in Belarus, with certain experience of work in polar zones, having a station of its own in Antarctica. We have actually agreed on that. Russia will assist Belarus in that in every way," Chilingarov told reporters after the talks with the Belarusian minister.
Tsalko, in his turn, said: "We want Russia to help us and to transfer Gora Vechernyaya station to us where we are basing now. A Belarusian flag is flying over that station. Russia's Molodyozhnaya station is situated nearby. We cannot operate without the Molodyozhnaya station. We wish to work in tandem."