MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – The Aarhus regional center will be opened in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry. The center may be opened in one of three regions – Grodno, Brest or Vitebsk. The new organization will be set up in line with the joint project of the European Union and the UNDP to develop international cooperation in environmental protection in Belarus. The primary objective of the Aarhus regional center is to raise the awareness of regional agencies, Belarusian non-governmental organizations, scientists, students and ecologists of the environmental status. The center will handle people’s petitions on environmental issues and provide legal consultations. “National and international experts jointly with regional authorities will compile the project feasibility study and put forward proposals regarding the location of the center,” according to the press service. The analysis of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the European Union and the UNDP will help choose the location of the Aarhus center. The oblast executive committee which will operate the center will be provided with annual action plans and information assistance. Personnel of the Aarhus regional center will be trained in Belarus and abroad.

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