present Record of Negotiations.During the negotiations the Delegation of the European Community requested the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus to give assurances that the customs duties presently applicable to imports into the Republic of Belarus of textile and clothing products originating in the European Community would not be increased, and furthermore requested a reduction in customs duties applicable to carpets originating in the European Community. In response the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus issued the statement in Annex 2.The negotiations took place in a spirit of cooperation and in a friendly atmosphere.Brussels, 7 November 1995For the Delegation of the Republic of BelarusFor the Delegation of the European CommunitySTATEMENT of the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus addressed to the Delegation of the European Community Brussels, 7 November 1995Dear Sirs,We have the honour to refer to the negotiations held on 6 and 7 November 1995 between the Delegations of the European Community and the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus concerning the renewal of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Belarus on Trade in Textile Products, initialled on 1 April 1993, as last amended and extended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 21 December 1994.In connection with these negotiations we would like to make the following statement.The Republic of Belarus takes progressive steps towards its integration into the world economic community by means of its accession to the international economic organisations, including the World Trade Organisation. To this end the Government of Belarus undertakes practical measures to liberalise the trade regime of the country.At present there are no quantitative limits, licensing systems or other non-tariff barriers applicable to imports of textile and clothing products originating in the European Community to Belarus, and the existing measures of tariff regulation of these imports correspond to the practice existing in the European Community.Desiring to further improve cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Member States of the European Union we hereby confirm that Belarus will maintain and improve its foreign trade policy, including further reduction of its customs duties applied to the import of textile and clothing products originating in the European Community.As far as the specific categories of textile products originating in the European Community are concerned, the proposals of the Commission Delegation, put forward during the negotiations, will be submitted to the concerned authorities of the Republic of Belarus for their thorough consideration and adequate measures which would facilitate the development of our further mutually beneficial cooperation.Yours sincerely,Alyaksei MAISEICHYKAUDeputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Delegation