Belarus approves draft agreement with Russia on navigating inland waterways

MINSK. Dec 13 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko by decree has approved the intergovernmental draft agreement between Belarus and Russia on navigating inland waterways, the president's press service said in a statement.

The intergovernmental draft agreement has been approved as the basis for negotiations. The republic's transport ministry is authorized to conduct negotiations and sign the agreement.

It was reported in November that Russia had approved the draft agreement with Belarus on navigating inland waterways. Russia's Transportation Ministry was instructed to hold corresponding talks with the Belarusian side and later, upon reaching an agreement, to sign said agreement on behalf of the Russian government.

The published draft agreement stipulates the procedure, as well as the terms and conditions, for implementing the navigation of inland waterways.