May 31, 2001
INF inspection and monitoring activities cease: On 31 May 2001 all inspection and monitoring activities related to verifying the provisions of the INF Treaty officially stopped. In the 13 years of the treaty's existence, INF-inspectable sites in the United States underwent over 440 inspections, whereas INF-inspectable sites on the territory of Soviet Union and successor states were visited over 770 times. In addition to the on-site inspections, the United States and Russia maintained permanent groups of observers at monitoring portals at plants that formerly produced treaty-banned missiles in Votkinsk (Udmurtiya) and Magna (Utah), respectively. While the inspection and monitoring activities have ended, the treaty remains in force.
--"O zavershenii inspektsionnoy deyatelnosti po Dogovoru mezhdu SSSR i SShA o likvidatsii ikh raket sredney i menshey dalnosti (RSMD)," Announcement by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative A.V. Yakovenko, 1 June 2001.

June 22, 2001
Lukashenka affirms full agreement with Russia in ABM treaty issues: In a 22 June 2001 interview with Interfax, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that Russian and Belarusian positions on the ABM Treaty are in full agreement, and that any practical US steps in the direction of abandoning the ABM Treaty could lead to changes in Russian and Belarusian policies. According to Lukashenka, Belarus is categorically against making changes to international agreements, and would take the necessary steps to protect its national security.
--"Lukashenko zayavlyayet, chto vozmozhnost vozvrashcheniya yadernykh raket v Belorussiyu poka ne izuchalas," Interfax, 22 June 2001.

May 2, 2002
Lukashenka against NPP contruction in Belarus: Belarusian television reported on 2 May 2002 that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that Belarus would not construct a nuclear power plant (NPP) on its territory. However, according to Lukashenka, Belarus was interested in purchasing electricity generated by NPPs in Russia if the price was sufficiently low, and even in the possibility of constructing a Belarusian-owned reactor at the Smolensk NPP in Russia.[1] Lukashenka's statement followed the rumors that Belarus was negotiating to purchase the Ignalina NPP, which was denied by Lithuanian officials, who said that Lithuania had not received any official proposals from Belarus.[2]
--[1] Belarusian Television, 2 May 2002; in "President rules out nuclear plant construction in Belarus," FBIS Document CEP20020502000226. [2] BNS, 25 April 2002; in "Lithuania casts doubt on proposals to sell nuclear plant to Belarus," FBIS Document CEP20020425000293.

June 5, 2002
Lukashenka on Belarusian nuclear energy expertise: ITAR-TASS reported on 5 June 2002 that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka visited the United Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research in Sosny and named Russia as Belarus' main partner in the area of energy and nuclear research. Lukashenka said that Belarus had managed to preserve Soviet-era expertise in nuclear power engineering, and voiced the hope that Belarusian and Russian scientists would collaborate with Western countries. According to Lukashenka, although Belarusian scientists have a bright future, they also have to adapt themselves to new circumstances, a phrase that suggests serious financial problems in the Belarusian nuclear research field.
--ITAR-TASS, 5 June 2002; in "Belarus: Lukashenka says Russia main partner in energy-nuclear research," FBIS Document CEP20020605000321.

June 10, 2003
Report on Cesium seizures: In the first five months of 2003, the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) seized two containers of cesium-137, Vechernyy Minsk reported on 10 June 2003. KGB Chairman Leonid Yerin noted the seizures in a report to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on seizures of illegal materials made by the security agency between January and May 2003. The report did not disclose any details about the two containers, but they are probably the same ones that were reported on by RIA Novosti on 13 February 2003. (For details, see abstract 20030190 in the NIS Nuclear Trafficking database.)
--"Doklad predsedatelya KGB Aleksandru Lukashenko," Vechernyy Minsk, 10 June 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.

January 2005
In a January 2005 session of the Belarus Security Council, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko reportedly stated that construction of a nuclear power plant was only “a matter of time.” While Belarusian officials have expressed interest in nuclear power as early as 1993, the matter had not been considered in earnest due to potential difficulties in financing the project. However, the 2005 row between the Belarusian government and Russia’s Gazprom gas company highlighted the need for diversification of energy sources and prompted consideration of alternative energy sources, particularly, the nuclear option.

Reportedly, some Belarusian officials were considering importing technology from Germany and France, while others insisted that purchasing technology from Russia, particularly, the VVER-640 or the VVER-1000, would be the best option for Belarus. Initial estimates indicated that in order to finance the project, worth several billion dollars depending on technological choices, Belarus would have to seek external investment. Leadership of the opposition movement of Belarus called for adoption of the IAEA Additional Protocol and expressed doubt that Lukashenko would be able to make the best technological choices, instead of launching into a “great ‘Nuclear Belarus’ project.” While members of the opposition stated that they were not opposed to promoting nuclear power, they expressed uncertainty in regards to public support for nuclear energy.
--Source: Alexei Breus, “President Lukashenko calls for building nuclear plant in Belarus,” Nucleonics Week, 17 February 2005; in Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://global.lexisnexis.com/us.

15 November 2005
On 15 November 2005, Belarus signed the IAEA Additional Protocol. As of December 2007, ratification is still pending.

June 2006
The Belarusian government approved a working plan for construction of the first nuclear power plant (NPP) in the country after the 10-year moratorium on nuclear construction expires in 2008. While Belarus president Lukashenko reportedly stated that a referendum on the matter would be held before the decision is finalized, in April 2006 he called NPP construction an issue of “national security.” Two potential sites for the plant have figured in discussions – one in Gomel and one in Mogilyev. Officials at Sosny Institute of Power Engineering Problems reportedly expressed preliminary support for a PWR reactor design; however, there are indications that Belarus is willing to consider American and French designs, while reserving the Russian right to participate in the project.
--Source: Alexei Breus, “Belarusian government okays plan to build first power reactor,” Nucleonics Week, 6 July 2006; in Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://global.lexisnexis.com/us.

October 2006
Belarus not planning to build nuclear power plant in near future: Belarusian First Deputy Energy Minister Eduard Tawpyanets announced on 3 October 2006 that the government is not planning to announce a tender for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the near future, citing sensitivity over the "Chernobyl syndrome."
--Source:"Belarus Not Planning to Build Nuclear Plant in Near Future - Official," BBC Monitoring International Reports, 3 October 2006; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe.

February 2007
Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich announced that Belarus intended to begin construction of an NPP in 2008. No decision has yet been made on reactor designs; however, the tender documentation has already been started and Myasnikovich stated that Areva and Atomstroyexport were the two leading contenders. Reportedly, Lithuania, Iran, and Kazakhstan have expressed preliminary interest in assisting with financing of the construction. [1] Moreover, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Leonty Khoruzhik was quoted as reassuring the public of the lack of potential hazards resulting from construction and operation of the NPP. Stated Khoruzhik, “If work is organized properly, nuclear power plants are assessed to pose a much lower environmental danger than other sources of energy.” [2]
--Sources: [1]Alexei Breus, “Belarus sets 2008 target to begin construction of first nuclear plant,” Nucleonics Week, 22 February 2007; in Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://global.lexisnexis.com/us. [2] “Minister: Belarus Nuclear Plant to be Environment Friendly,” Interfax, 26 February 2007.

November 2007
While Russia expressed its desire to participate in the construction of the Belarusian NPP in August 2007, on 1 November 2007 Russian Ambassador to Belarus Aleksandr Surikov was quoted as saying that Moscow was waiting for an official announcement of the tender as well as IAEA authorization for the project. Surikov also stated that Russia could potentially cooperate with France in construction of the NPP, the construction of which is projected to start in 2008, and conclude in 2017 and 2020, for the first and second block, respectively. [1,2]

On 12 November 2007, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree on measures to build the NPP, which created a unit within the Ministry of Energy to oversee the construction. Moreover, the presidential press service reportedly indicated that Belarus was establishing a legal foundation—creating the regulatory and licensing body Gosatomnadzor—all in accordance with IAEA recommendations. The Sosny Institute of Power Engineering Problems would provide scientific support for the nuclear project, while Belnipienergoprom would be responsible for design and engineering work. [3] On 15 November 2007, members of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus reportedly endorsed Russia’s participation in the NPP construction project; however, they stated that Belarus would not necessarily depend on uranium fuel supplies from Russia. Belnipienergoprom head Andrei Rykov stated that selection of the construction site was expected to conclude in April-June 2008. Rykov, however, indicated that Mogilyev was still considered to be the leading site for construction of the 2,000 megawatt NPP unit.
--Sources: [1] “Russia ready to take part in Belarus nuclear plant tender,” 27 August 2007, Interfax. [2] “Russia waits for official authorization of Belarusian NPP construction – diplomat,” 1 November 2007, Interfax. [3] “Lukashenko signs decree on preparatory work for NPP construction,” Interfax, 12 November 2007, OSC Document CEP20071112950387. [4] “Russia – Belarus’ priority partner in n-plant construction – expert,” ITAR-TASS, 15 November 2007, OSC Document CEP20071115950187.

	Updated December 2007