The Forestry Ministry of Belarus has formalised membership in the European Forestry Commission of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Valery Pobirushko, the chief of the law, personnel policy and science department of the Forestry Ministry, told BelTA. According to him, membership-related legal and diplomatic procedures were handled by the Embassy of Belarus to Italy in close contact with the Forestry Ministry. Valery Pobirushko said that a big preparatory work preceded the accession to the European Forestry Commission. The application was filed; all necessary materials were collected. The membership of Belarus in the FAO European Forestry Commission will enable the Forestry Ministry to take a more active part in the events under the auspices of the organisation – symposiums, conferences, workshops. The Forestry Ministry of Belarus has been cooperating with FAO for many years. The international organisation would like to help the forestry companies of Belarus in training of specialists, organisation of probation courses for Belarusian students in universities of Europe.