Move to resolve Belarus adoption problem. :: Charter'97 :: News

The Adoption Board has welcomed moves to resolve difficulties over 18 applications by Irish couples to adopt children from Belarus.

The applications have been in suspension since the Belarus authorities stopped all inter-country adoptions last October.

The issue came up in discussions between Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Belarus foreign minister Sergey Martinov last week.

Mr Ahern was visiting the Belarus capital Minsk in his role as special envoy of secretary general Kofi Annan on UN reform, and the adoption difficulties arose as a "side-issue".

Mr Martinov offered to arrange a meeting in Minsk between the Belarus authorities and an Irish Adoption Board delegation. The Department of Foreign Affairs has written to the board about the invitation, and it is expected that a delegation will visit Belarus soon.

Originally there were about 50 Irish applications for Belarus adoptions still outstanding, but due to the uncertainty many Irish couples withdrew. Eighteen applications remain.

It is understood that all the couples have been approved as adoptive parents by the Adoption Board, and considerable paperwork would have been exchanged with the Belarus authorities before the surprise move to suspend adoptions.

A spokesman for the board told The Irish Times yesterday: "We would welcome the opportunity to meet the Belarus authorities and discuss items of mutual interest regarding inter-country adoption between the two countries."

Legislation was enacted in Belarus in January specifying the people who can consent to a child being made eligible for foreign adoption.

The legislation means greater emphasis on providing for adoption within Belarus itself.