MINSK, Aug 18 (NNN-BELTA) -- Venezuela is interested in importing Belarusian technologies and know-how, says Ramon Carrizales, the Deputy Prime Minister of
Venezuela.

He told a plenary session of the joint Belarusian-Venezuelan High-Level Commission here Monday: "In trade and economic relations with Belarus, we do not want to be just a buyer of goods. Venezuela would like to import your technologies. This is one of the most important issues of our negotiations."

Carrizales said during the session, the Venezuelan side would like to discuss the strengthening of co-operation with Belarus, noting that bilateral co-operation in the energy, industry and foodstuffs production had reached the strategic level.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Environment Minister Yubiri Ortega, who is in Belarus on an
official visit, said his country was interested in co-operating with Belarus in the area of environmental protection.

He told reporters here Monday that Venezuelan experts were deeply interested in co-operation with Belarusian specialists in cartography. "The main objective of our visit is to study the experience and advanced technologies of the Belarusian cartographic
companies, said Ortega.

The two sides are ready to consider all possibilities for co-operation between the two environmental ministries in mineral exploration, hydro-meteorology, protection and utilization of water resources, biodiversity and others, he added.

According to Belarusian Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
Vladimir Tsalko, Belarus and Venezuela, and the environmental ministries of the two countries in particular, had been showing mutual interest in joint activities.

"Belarus is very serious about the issue regarding the environmental protection and utilization of water resources. We have far less mineral resources than in Venezuela and take every effort to save them and use rationally," he noted.

The Environment Ministry of Venezuela and the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus are planning to sign a memorandum of intentions.

The Belarusian Ministry is ready to offer the up-to-date technologies for geologic exploration in Venezuela, said Vladimir Karpuk, director of the geology department of the ministry.

He noted during negotiations with the Venezuelan delegation: "We keep track of the geological exploration in Venezuela. We have joint projects on prospecting and extraction of oil. We know the problems of your geologists in Venezuela and we are ready to offer our help."

In particular, he proposed to study the Belarusian experience of organization and use of the results of airborne magnetic and gravimetric survey. The Venezuelan side has been also proposed to get familiar with the results of the work on fresh water prospecting in
Belarus.

"We have highly skilled personnel, up-to-date technologies and equipment to implement such projects," noted Karpuk, who paid special attention to the success of Belarusian geologists in prospecting of sticky oils.

"We are ready to share experience in this area," he said.

In turn, Ortega noted that Venezuela was interested in purchasing the up-to-date technologies to minimize negative impacts on environment after oil extraction. "Venezuela
is one of the biggest oil producers. At the same time Venezuela is one of the biggest contaminators of nature as the oil extraction causes the environmental pollution." he said.

"At present we are looking for the up-to-date technologies to minimize such negative impacts." -- NNN-BELTA

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