Feed news minsk.gov.by http://minsk.gov.by/news/ Last news by portal minsk.gov.by minsk.gov.by EN Computer Centre of Minsk City Executive Committee ® 2001—2008 Sun Sep 5 21:00:00 2010 GMT During the City Day celebration festivities will take place at more than 60 sites http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/09/06/2656/ More than 60 sites will be arranged in the capital at which celebration festivities will be held during the City Day. This, as "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent reports, was said today at the weekly planning meeting at the Minsk City Executive Committee by the Acting Head of the Department of Culture Valentina Rudikova. As is generally known, the City Day is traditionally marked on the second Saturday of September.

The prologue to the festivity will be honouring the winners of the Minsk city competition "Minsk Master" to be held at the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre on September 10. On Saturday, September 11, the event will begin with laying flowers at the memorial "Minsk – Hero City". On the platform adjoining the National Library there will be held a fair of goods produced by Minsk City enterprises. Here, the city residents will also be offered a musical program.

According to Valentina Rudikova, a new tradition in arranging chamber festive programs in the Upper City is born. On Saturday, near the Museum of the History of Minsk, the city residents will be offered a theatrical fancy-dress show and concert. Revolutsionnaya street will turn into an Opening Day in the open air where they will exhibit works of modern Belarusian artists and students studying at departments of arts of higher educational institutions. A concert of brass band music will take place near the City Hall. Here, actors and actresses of the Minsk city theatres will arrange their performances for the residents and guests of Minsk. At the Palace of Sports there will be held a holiday of sport and art in which artists of various art are going to participate. And in the evening the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre will be the venue of a solemn ceremony of presentation of awards "Minsk Citizen of the Year". At 22.00 the sky above the "Minsk – Hero City" memorial will flood with lights of festive fireworks.

On 11 and 12 September concerts, contests, sports competitions are to be held in all the districts of Minsk.]]> Society Sun Sep 5 21:00:00 2010 GMT Cheluskintsev Park of Minsk recognized best amusement park in CIS http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/08/25/2527/ The Cheluskintsev Park of Minsk has been recognized the best amusement park in the nomination of the city parks in the CIS with the number of visitors from 500,000 to 1 million people a year at the Crystal Wheel 2010 Contest which is held annually in the Russian city of Sochi, BelTA learned from Lydia Vezhnovets, head of the culture department of the City Parks Company.

The main goal of the Sochi-based contest is to identify and promote the activities of the best amusement parks in the CIS countries.

Over the seven years, more than 200 participants have attended the contest. Taking part in it are representatives of the city parks from various countries including Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Russia.

The jury of the contest analyzes the work of the parks taking into consideration the professional level of their personnel, the safe operation of amusement rides and visitors’ safety.

The awarding ceremony will be held at the annual session of heads of the CIS parks in Sochi on 20 September. Three parks-winners will be recommended for participation in the international Golden Pony Amusement Parks Contest which is annually held in Italy.

]]> Society Tue Aug 24 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host Yuri Bashmet Musical Festival 6-13 October http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/08/19/2456/ According to Council of Ministers’ resolution N1199, the 5th Yuri Bashmet International Musical Festival will be held in Minsk on 6-13 October, BelTA learned from the Council of Ministers’ Office.

The Yuri Bashmet festival will be organized by the Belarus Culture Ministry and the Minsk City Council jointly with famous Belarusian pianist Rostislav Krimer. Along with the festivals of classic music in Austrian Salzburg and Swiss Verbier, the Yuri Bashmet festival is considered to be one of the most important events in the world culture.

Along with the outstanding musicians including Yuri Bashmet taking part in the festival will be young pianists, violinists and cellists from various countries of the world.

]]> Culture Wed Aug 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host first leg of International Handball League http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/sport/2010/08/11/2361/ The first leg of the International Handball League featuring six teams from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine starts in Minsk on August 11, BelTA has learnt.

Belarus will be represented by the two-time national champion, Minsk Dinamo, and the country’s most winning SKA Club. SKA will play Kaustik from Volgograd (17h00) and Dinamo will meet with Portovik from Yuzhny (19h00). The tournament will open with a match between ZTR from Zaporozhie and Krasnodar SKIF (15h00). The matches will be held at the Republican Center of Olympic Reserve and the Minsk Sports Palace.

The second leg will be held in Ukraine in January and the third one – in Russia in spring.

]]> Sports Tue Aug 10 21:00:00 2010 GMT Digital technology center to open in Minsk in October 2010 http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/08/11/2362/ A digital technology training center will open at the High-Tech Park in Minsk with the assistance of the Indian government in October 2010, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Ramesh Chander told a press conference in Minsk.

The ambassador reminded that the memorandum of intentions to set up the center was signed in September 2009 during a visit of the Indian Foreign Minister to Belarus.

Ramesh Chander said that Belarus joined the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Every year Belarusian citizens are offered a variety of training courses in India. The program is aimed to share knowledge and expertise in the area of human resources, technology and science with friendly states.

According to the diplomat, Belarus and India have developed excellent relations in culture and education. According to the information he possesses, about 400 Indian students study at Belarusian medical universities and other educational institutions. Ramesh Chander is convinced that the two states can deepen cooperation in this area.

He also pointed out to a great interest in Indian culture in Belarus. More and more people want to study Hindi; about 500 young people in Minsk alone attend Indian dance classes. The ambassador added that many Belarusian girls come to India to take part in musicales and cheerleading performances at football and basketball matches.

]]> Society Tue Aug 10 21:00:00 2010 GMT Magnificat festival to open in Minsk 7 September http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/08/10/2346/ The 6th international festival of Christian cinema and television Magnificat is to open in Minsk on 7 September. The festival will stay open till 11 September including in the town of Glubokoye, BelTA learnt from the Minsk curia of the Roman Catholic Church.

Magnificat will be a display of Belarusian and foreign cinema and television works directly related to gospel ideals and universal values. This year partaking in the contest will be representatives of 15 countries: Belarus, Australia, Germany, Georgia, India, Spain, Italy, Canada, China, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, the USA, Ukraine and Croatia.

The festival’s major objective is missionary enlightenment of the society and support of the universal values.

]]> City executive board Mon Aug 9 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk-Tehran flight might be operated every day http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/08/04/2280/ The Minsk-Tehran flight might be operated on a daily basis, Deputy Director General of the Belavia national carrier Igor Cherginets told reporters on 4 August, BelTA has learnt.

“This is quite an ambitious goal. But if the present day trends remain in place, this goal might be materialized in summer 2011,” he said.

Belavia has launched regular flights from Minsk to Stockholm and Tehran. A Belarusian airplane flew to Stockholm on 3 August (80% of the tickets were sold) and to Tehran the same day. The plane has come back to Minsk today carrying 66 passengers (about 70% of the tickets were sold).

“These flights were opened simultaneously for a reason. Otherwise, we would not be able to sell enough tickets to operate these flights. The transit flow from the Middle East and Scandinavia open great opportunity for the Belarusian national airline,” Igor Cherginets said. “This experiment is very interesting, and so far successful,” he added.

The Deputy Director General noted that Sweden alone is home to 130,000 Iranians. There are large Iranian communities in Denmark, Norway and other countries of North Europe.

Minsk-Tehran flight is operated twice a week; a two-way ticket costs from €330 (airport taxes not included).

]]> City executive board Tue Aug 3 21:00:00 2010 GMT Junior Eurovision to gather young talents from 14 countries in Minsk in November http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/07/29/2225/ Young talents aged 10-15 from 14 countries will compete at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Minsk on 20 November, representatives of Belarusian Teleradiocompany told BelTA.

Latvia and Moldova will debut at the eighth junior Eurovision. The Lithuanian company LRT and the Swedish one SVT will re-enter the contest after a lengthy break. The number of competing countries will increase by one in comparison with Kyiv’s junior Eurovision last year.

The competitors are Belarus (BTRC), Armenia (AMPTV), Belgium (VRT), Macedonia (MKRTV), Georgia (GEGT), Latvia (LTV), Lithuania (LRT), Malta (PBS), Moldova (TRM), the Netherlands (AVRO), Russia (RTR), Serbia (RTS), Sweden (SVT), and Ukraine (NTU).

Belarusian Teleradiocompany has been entrusted with arranging the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Minsk. Eurovision Executive Supervisor Svante Stockselius said: “Belarusian colleagues are preparing a tremendous show for millions of families across Europe. Apart from the best young performers of the continent participating in the magnificent show we are preparing an unforgettable week full of joy and friendship for all the participants”.

Ralf Mackenbach’s Click Clack song from the Netherlands was named the best at the junior Eurovision song contest in Kyiv in 2009. Unlike in Eurovision where the winning country is entitled to arranging the next year’s show, in junior Eurovision it is the European Broadcasting Union that chooses the country for a next year contest. More information is available at www.junioreurovision.tv.

]]> Culture Wed Jul 28 21:00:00 2010 GMT International Hockey Tournament Starts In Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/sport/2010/07/26/2188/ International tournament of youth hockey teams will take place in Minsk Palace of Sports from 27 to 29 July.

The host of the competitions will be "Minskie Zubry" – the Minsk "Dynamo" youth team which in the coming season will be making their debut in the Youth Hockey League. The Belarusian capital will be visited by Youth Hockey League teams: Ice Hockey Club "SKA-1946" (St. Petersburg) and "Mytishchenskie Atlanty". The tournament will also be attended by "Dynamo Shinnik" – farm club of Bobruisk Shinnik which will play in the Highest League of Belarus.

Admission to the tournament will be free.]]> Sports Sun Jul 25 21:00:00 2010 GMT Nikolai Ladutko appointed member of Council of Republic http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/07/20/2139/ Minsk Mayor Nikolai Ladutko has been appointed member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. The relevant decree was signed by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 19 July, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.

Nikolai Ladutko was appointed member of the Council of the Republic in line with Part 2 Article 91 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

]]> City executive board Mon Jul 19 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk international conference to discuss innovation development of vegetable farming http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/07/19/2126/ The international research conference timed to the 85th anniversary of the Vegetable Farming Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus will be held in Minsk on 19-21 July. Taking part in the forum will be scientists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, BelTA learned from Dr. Alexander Autko, director of the institute.

The participants of the conference will get familiar with the innovation development of the Belarusian vegetable farming, new heavy-productive varieties production. They will discuss the up-to-date high technologies to produce vegetables, mechanical means for outdoor and protected area vegetable farming. The foreign guests will visit experimental plantations of the institute, research labs. After this, they will attend a plenary session to discuss the economic problems of the innovation development of vegetable farming in the CIS countries.

According to Alexander Autko, as of 2010, the Belarus State Register has included 86 vegetables varieties of hybrids selected by the Potato Growing and Horticulture Research Center of the Belarus National Academy of Sciences. Annually the center produces 2300 kg of original seeds and more than 40 tonnes of duplicate seeds and planting stock.

The Vegetable Farming Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus developed 23 resources-energy-saving and environmentally benign technologies to plant vegetables and savoury herbs.

In 2010, the institute set up a new agrochemical laboratory. Its equipment allows researchers to assess the productive capacity of soils, analyze the biochemical performances of the vegetables planted in outdoor areas.

]]> Society Sun Jul 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT The remains of unknown soldiers were buried with full military and church honours in the crypt of the Memorial Church of all the Saints http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/07/03/1976/ In the evening of July 2 in the crypt of the Memorial Church of all the Saints the remains of unknown soldiers who laid down their heads for freedom and independence of their motherland were buried with all due military and church honours. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Thousands of Minsk citizens participated in the commemoration of the soldiers who died for their home land. The ceremony was broadcast on large photodiode screens set on both sides of the Memorial Church.

Sarcophagus with the remains of soldiers who died during the War of 1812, World Wars I and II were delivered to the Church by armored carriers. Then the military honour guard set them on special pedestals. The ceremony was accompanied by music played by the brass band of the Ministry of Defence.

Philaret, Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus pronounced the solemn words, read the prayer of absolution and sprinkled holy water on the remains.

Then to the toll of the Church bells the soldiers of the honor guard brought the sarcophagus into the crypt of the Memorial Church where the burial ceremony took place. Proclamation of Eternal Memory was accompanied by six salvoes. A wreath on behalf of the President of Belarus was laid to memorial wall. In the center of the crypt the Head of State and Metropolitan Philaret lit an ever-burning lamp from the fire that had been brought from Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Simultaneously thousands of candles were lit on the central staircase.

After the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus was played the Head of State made a formal speech.

"The soldiers whose remains have found eternal peace were not born heroes. However they became heroes when, without any hesitation, they went to defend their country and the people", said Alexander Lukashenko. "Let the Memorial Church, where the remains of the heroes of three wars have been buried, become the embodiment of our memory and sorrow for all the innocent victims. I think it will turn into a national memorial which will be attended by people willing to comprehend their existence, to pray for their relations and native land, to find peace and serenity of mind."

Then The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky was played by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. In the final part of the Overture the battery of artillery gunfire produced 12 salvoes and 10 volleys of fire. The ceremony completed by a symphony concert.
]]> Society Fri Jul 2 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk City Executive Committee Top Officials Met Representatives of the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/07/01/1950/ A multipurpose complex is be built in the historical part of the capital

On 1 July the Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutko met the Executive Director of the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman Mr. Warith Mubarak Al-Kharusi, "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent reports. The sides discussed issues pertaining to the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of 01.03.2010 № 93 "On condition for construction of a multipurpose complex in Minsk within the boundaries of Kupala – M.Bogdanovich streets – the River Svisloch" and exchanged investment agreements.

The multipurpose complex will be built on the designated territory by "Arol Properties Four" Foreign Limited Liability Company. The building of the project will be invested by the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman.

Nikolai Ladutko pointed out that luxurious residential apartments, a five-star hotel and shopping centers will be built in the center of Minsk. There will also be so called area of art where folk handicrafts will be exhibited, sculptures will be installed.

According to the Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee the project will transform the historical part of the capital. However, N.Ladutko stressed that the buildings of the Second Municipal Hospital representing architectural and historical value will remain. They will be rebuilt and renovated. It is planned that the development of the project will start next year.

   
]]> City executive board Wed Jun 30 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk intends to hold Festival of Belarusian Natives Abroad http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/28/1915/ The Festival of Belarusian Natives Abroad is expected to be held in Minsk in 2011 for the first time, Culture Minister of Belarus Pavel Latushko told the first session of the advisory council for Belarusian natives abroad in Minsk on 25 June, BelTA has learnt.

The festival will be organized by the Belarus Culture Ministry, the Office of the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities of Belarus under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry, local authorities and public organizations.

The festival is expected to be held once in two years. Around 300 participants from various countries plan to take part in the first festival. Festival’s concerts will be given not only in Minsk but in other cities of the country.

The concerts will be organized on the most important stages of the country including the Palace of the Republic and the Belarus State Philharmonic Hall. The Belarus National Museum of Arts will host an exhibition of the Belarusian artists who live in foreign countries. The National Museum of History will hold the photo exhibition which will tell about the life and activity of the Belarusian natives abroad. Belarusian writers and poets will take part in the literary festival. The festival will last three-five days.

The Regulations on the Festival of Belarusian Natives Abroad is expected to be drafted in the near future. The document will be introduced before the Belarusian unions abroad until 1 September.

]]> Culture Sun Jun 27 21:00:00 2010 GMT Graces of the Continent Will Come to Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/sport/2010/06/28/1920/ European Championship 2011 in rhythmic gymnastics will be held in Minsk. As the "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent was told at the Belarusian Gymnastics Association, this decision was taken at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Union of Gymnastics. Note that it is the first time that Belarus has been given possibility to hold such a big competition as European Championship, although Minsk has already hosted Grand Prix and World Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics.

The Continental Tournament in Rhythmic Gymnastics doesn’t practically yield in its level to the World Cup, as all the world’s strongest gymnasts are representatives of European countries: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Italy. Suffice it to say that on the pedestal of the World Cup – 2009 that was held in Japan there were European gymnasts only.

It is planned that European Championship-2011 will be held from 24 to 29 May in Minsk Palace of Sports.]]> Sports Sun Jun 27 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk hosting 5th CIS forum of law firms http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/06/24/1897/ Over 130 heads of the firms from the CIS, Europe, America and Asia are taking part in the 5th CIS forum of law firms. The forum is taking place in Minsk on 23-26 June, BelTA learnt from the organizers of the forum.

The programme of the forum includes a Belarusian section on the opportunities for foreign investors in Belarus and privatization prospects in the country.

The forum is a unique platform for communication. Representatives of the CIS international and regional law business have an opportunity to meet, exchange experience and establish partnership.

The first meeting was organized by the Ukrainian law group in 2006. Since then the forum has turned into an informal club of managers and chief partners of the leading law firms of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The forum gathers representatives of the best law firms of the CIS and international law firms all over the world, corporate lawyers of the leading international companies. The previous forums showed a colossal need in communication and business exchange between the CIS law firms as well as a great interest of the international law community in the region.

]]> Society Wed Jun 23 21:00:00 2010 GMT Chinese BUCC invests over $300m in Minsk residential area Lebyazhy http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/06/21/1854/ Beijing Uni-Construction Group Co. Ltd (BUCC) invests over $300 million in the construction of the residential area Lebyazhy in Minsk, Chairman of the BUCC Board of Directors Zhang Guilin said during a foundation stone ceremony of the future residential district on 18 June.

Attending the event was Chairman of the State Control Committee Zenon Lomat, who co-chairs the Belarusian part of the Belarus-China Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, Acting Mayor of Minsk Nikolai Ladutko and Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong.

The BUCC representative noted that the company makes the list of the 200 large international contractors. This is the first commercial project related to real estate in Belarus for the company.

An estimated 300,000 square meters of houses will be built up in four years. “We will send the best managers, designers and constructors to the Belarusian capital. Our motto is world quality and Chinese technologies,” Guo Jinlong stressed.

According to Nikolai Ladutko, the Lebyazhy residential area construction project is one of the most important documents signed during the official visit of Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Minsk (on 24-25 March – BelTA). “It will become another picturesque place in Minsk,” the Acting Mayor of Minsk. The residential area will consist of three parts, therefore the Belarusian constructors will work alongside the Chinese specialists. “I think it will raise healthy competition and increase the quality of the works,” Nikolai Ladutko said.

The Mayor of Beijing expressed confidence that the implementation of this joint project would open a new page in Belarus-China relations and make Minsk even more beautiful for 2014 IIHF World Championships.

The general contractor of the project is Beijing Uni-Construction Group Co. Ltd (BUCC).

]]> Economy Sun Jun 20 21:00:00 2010 GMT Official Visit of Mayor of Beijing Guo Tszinlun http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/06/17/1839/ At the invitation of Nikolai Ladutko, Acting Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee, from 17 to 20 June 2010 the Mayor of Beijing (China) will be on an official visit to Minsk.

The program of the visit envisages ceremonial laying of wreaths at the Victory Square Obelisk, meetings and talks at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus and Minsk City Executive Committee, visits to the city’s infrastructure projects ("Minsk-Arena" Multifunctional Cultural and Sports Complex, "Komarovsky Market" Municipal Unitary Enterprise, the City Hall), laying of the foundation stone at the construction site of "Lebiazhy" residential area.

Letter of Intent between Minsk City Executive Committee and People’s Government of Beijing Municipality Is Signed

Letter of Intent between the Minsk City Executive Committee and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality was signed in the Belarusian capital on 18 June. The document was signed by the Mayor of Beijing Guo Tszinlun and the Acting Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutko, "Minsk-News" Agency reports. The Letter of Intent provides for the development of joint activities directed at enhancing and deepening bilateral economic cooperation and implementing joint projects. In particular, it envisages organization of meetings of business circles of Minsk and Beijing as well as all-round support for the realization of mutually agreed projects, including the construction of "Lebiazhy" residential area and the Beijing Hotel in Minsk. The two sides have also agreed to promote humanitarian, cultural and sports cooperation - to establish and develop direct contacts between educational institutions, youth associations, libraries and museums, arrange days of culture, exchange artistic groups, develop partnerships in the field of physical culture, sport and tourism.

According to the Mayor of Beijing, the Belarusian-Chinese relations are entering a new phase of all-round development and strategic cooperation. During the visit of the Vice-Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Belarus an agreement on cooperation in the field of architectural construction was signed. It covers 15 infrastructure projects totaling over 1.2 billion US dollars. Mr. Guo Tszinlun expressed hope that the construction of "Lebiazhy" residential area (today the Mayor of Beijing is going to take part in laying the foundation stone at the construction site) opens up a new page in the bilateral cooperation between the two cities.

]]> City executive board Wed Jun 16 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk puppet theater wins best director award at festival in Poland http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/16/1811/ The Belarusian puppet theater won the best director award at the 23rd international theater festival Walizka in Poland for the production titled as Why People Age?, BelTA learnt from Darya Vizner, the chief of the literary and drama department of the theater.

The production of the Minsk theater was recognized best among the performances presented by 17 theaters from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, and Spain. The production by Aleksei Lelyavsky was highly acclaimed by the professional jury and the audience. The 23rd international theater festival Walizka was held in Lodz on 8-11 June.

Aleksei Lelyavsky and artist Tatiana Nersisyan are now working on a production based on Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. The new performance will be premiered at the start of the new season in September.

]]> Culture Tue Jun 15 21:00:00 2010 GMT Colorful painting expo at international biennale in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/16/1812/ A palette of colors and techniques is in full bloom at Colorfest, the 2nd Minsk international biennale of modern pictorial art. The opening ceremony took place at the National Library of Belarus, BelTA has learned.

More than 120 works by artists from Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Serbia, Italy and other countries are located in four galleries of the National Library. The Italian collection is the largest one and features 75 pictures. Italian artist Raffaele de Rosa is a guest of honor at the biennale. He won the grand prix at the first Minsk international biennale of modern pictorial art in 2008. His personal exhibition is located in the Panorama gallery of the National Library.

The biennale will stay open till 13 August. Timed to the biennale is the book expo Pictorial Art Without Borders. It features books about the life and works of many painters from different countries.

Supervisor of the project, President of the International Guild of Painters Fyodor Yastreb said, such expos help overcome borders not only between countries but between human souls.

]]> Culture Tue Jun 15 21:00:00 2010 GMT Tea house to open in Minsk in 2013 http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/06/16/1813/ A tea house may be opened in Minsk on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of twin city relations between Minsk and the Japanese city of Sendai, said Acting Minsk Mayor Nikolai Ladutko as he met with a delegation from Sendai on 15 June.

“The Friendship Clock in Sendai public garden functions precisely, the cherry trees are growing, all we need is to open a tea house,” Nikolai Ladutko said. The Minsk architects can implement this project taking into account the blueprints of their Japanese colleagues. “In 2013 we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of twin city relations between Minsk and Sendai. The tea house may be opened on this occasion.

Minsk and Sendai established bilateral relations in1972. In April 1972 a delegation of Sendai led by then-mayor Takeshi Shimano visited Minsk. The sides signed a joint communique. On the 30th anniversary of the twin city relations the Minsk City Council decided to name the public garden near Belarusian State Music Theater in honor of the twin city of Sendai. Later a walkway of mountain cherry trees was planted there. Since 2001 a delegation of the Minsk athletes partakes in the annual Sendai international semi-marathon.

A delegation of Sendai’s University of Physical Culture led by its rector Hozawa Taiji is set to visit Belarusian State University of Physical Education and sports facilities of Minsk.

]]> City executive board Tue Jun 15 21:00:00 2010 GMT Belarusian-Chinese project for Minsk industrial house-building venture unveiled http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/06/15/1797/ The Belarusian company Minskstroy and the Chinese company Beijing Uni-Construction Group Co. Ltd (BUCC), one of the world’s largest developers, plan to sign a contract by September 2010. In line with the contract an industrial house-building enterprise will be set up in Minsk, Minskstroy Director General Yevgeniy Vovna told BelTA.

The Belarusian and Chinese companies have signed an agreement on cooperation in implementing the investment project. The Chinese side is now busy working on the draft contract, said the source. If the sides come to terms, the contract may be signed in Q3 2010, approximately by September.

According to preliminary arrangements a Chinese loan will be used to build the enterprise. The Chinese company will also be the primary contractor, with one third of the equipment Chinese-made.

Apart from that, Minsk City Hall plans to spend Br2 billion out of the innovations fund on the project.

The new enterprise will be able to build 400,000 square meters of housing annually. It will be commissioned step by step. Once the first startup complex is operational, the output capacity will be close to 200,000 square meters per annum. It is the construction of the first startup complex that will be accomplished as part of the investment project.

BelTA reported earlier that the new enterprise will be located in the industrial area Shabany. The enterprise will manufacture all the components required for building homes such as mixed concrete, exterior wall panels, ceiling panels, staircases, elevator shafts. The manufacturing lines will be tuned to make components for uninhabited premises. The components will be a new product on the Belarusian market. The manufacturing process will be energy-saving. Among other products the company will offer new-generation assembled frames. The product allows building more comfortable homes with adjustable layouts.

]]> Economy Mon Jun 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk puppet theater wins best director award at festival in Poland http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/15/1798/ The Belarusian puppet theater won the best director award at the 23rd international theater festival Walizka in Poland for the production titled as Why People Age?, BelTA learnt from Darya Vizner, the chief of the literary and drama department of the theater.

The production of the Minsk theater was recognized best among the performances presented by 17 theaters from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, and Spain. The production by Aleksei Lelyavsky was highly acclaimed by the professional jury and the audience. The 23rd international theater festival Walizka was held in Lodz on 8-11 June.

Aleksei Lelyavsky and artist Tatiana Nersisyan are now working on a production based on Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. The new performance will be premiered at the start of the new season in September.

]]> Culture Mon Jun 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT Belarus hosts Week of Iranian Culture http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/15/1801/ Iranian folk arts are represented at the Week of Iranian Culture that opened at the Palace of Arts in Minsk on 14 June. The event is supposed to strengthen Belarusian-Iranian friendly relations and cultural cooperation, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Belarus at the opening of the forum.

Deputy Culture Minister of Belarus Viktor Kurash noted that Belarus and Iran are actively developing cultural cooperation. Iran’s representatives regularly partake in Belarusian cinema and arts festivals. The cultural cooperation is sustainably developing owing to close high-level contacts between the two countries.

At the Palace of Arts the Iranian culture is represented as a large workshop in a street of Tehran. Taking part in this cultural forum are more than fifty Iranian craftsmen.

The program of the Week of Culture includes exhibitions of photos, paintings, carpets and traditional clothes of Iranian ethnic groups. The Iranian artists demonstrate their calligraphic skills.

Belarusians may also get familiar with Iranian sculptures and paintings, mirror furnishings, gold plating, embossing, wood engraving, and mosaics.

The exhibitions are accompanied by traditional Iranian music and national dances. The guests may also enjoy performances by actors of Iranian puppet and mummery theaters.

]]> Culture Mon Jun 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT June 15, 2010 – Meeting with Delegation of Sendai University http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/06/15/1804/ On 15 June Acting Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutko had a meeting with a delegation of Sendai University (Japan) headed by the Rector of the University Mr. Hozava Taiji. The delegation consisted of representatives of the University rhythmic gymnastics team and their coach – Maria Makarova from Belarus.

During the meeting Nikolai Ladutko stressed that the development of sister-city relationship between Minsk and Sendai which will be 40 years old in 2013 would continue.

"The fact that our athletes have possibility to hold joint training in rhythmic gymnastics in Minsk is great luck for us", said head of the Japanese delegation Mr. Hozava Taiji.

The bilateral relations between the cities of Minsk and Sendai began to establish in 1972, and in April 1973 the city of Minsk was visited by the Sendai delegation headed by the Mayor of the city Mr. Takeshi Shimano. During the visit a joint communiqué was signed. In 2001 the public garden that is located along Myasnikov Street, near the Belarusian State Musical Theatre, was named after the sister-city of Sendai – "Sendai Square". On 13 September 2002 there was an official ceremony of opening of "The Clock of Friendship" in Sendai Square. The clock was donated to the inhabitants of Minsk by the residents of Sendai.
]]> City executive board Mon Jun 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT Around 100 foreign journalists to participate in 5th Belarusian International Media Forum http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/06/08/1751/ Around 100 foreign journalists from 18 countries will participate in the 5th Belarusian International Media Forum, Belarus: Partnership for the Sake of Future, which will be held in Minsk on 8-11 June, BelTA learned from the Information Ministry of Belarus.

Apart from Belarusian media, taking part in the forum will be journalists from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

A ceremony in Victory Square of Minsk will open the forum. Participants of the gathering will lay wreathes on the Victory Monument.

On 11 June the Belarus National Library will host a plenary meeting, The Republic of Belarus: Partnership for the Sake of Future, which will bring together about 500 participants. All in all, several thousands of specialists will take part in various master-classes and roundtables which will be held within the framework of the event.

A Summer School of Journalism will be held as part of the forum at the Journalism Institute under Belarusian State University. The program of the Summer School will include master-classes from such media persons as Anatoly Lysenko, president of the International Academy of Television and Radio, Valery Yakov, editor-in-chief of Novye Izvestiya Newspaper, Vladimir Kasyutin, editor-in-chief of Mediarynok Magazine, Anthony Halpin, the Moscow Bureau Chief of the Times, Alexei Nikolov, deputy editor-in-chief of Russia Today channel, etc.

During the forum, the foreign journalists will visit various Belarusian companies to get familiar with the economy of the country, to see cultural sites. They well-informed about the Belarusian companies such as MAZ, BELAZ, Horizont, Atlant, MTZ and others.

Representatives of foreign mass media would like to visit various regions of the country. On 9 June, within the framework of the media forum, the project, Modern Belarus: Outside Perspective, will be launched. The foreign journalists will visit various regions of the country to tell about Belarus in their radio and TV programs, newspapers and magazines.

The media forum will finish its work in the Khatyn Memorial Compound. There a meeting dedicated to the victims of World War II will be held.

The forum is organized by the Information Ministry of Belarus, the International Federation of Journalists and Belarusian Association of Journalists. The event will be held under the aegis of the International Academy of Television and Radio, the Permanent Committee of the Union State, the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation, the Foreign and Culture Ministries of Belarus, the CIS Executive Committee, and the Minsk City Council.

]]> Society Mon Jun 7 21:00:00 2010 GMT Belagro 2010 to present new agricultural technologies http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/06/07/1740/ The 20th international exhibition, Belagro 2010, will draw 430 firms and companies from 19 countries, BelTA learnt from the organizing committee of the exhibition.

The exhibition will feature participants from Belarus, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, China, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United States, Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Moldova. Representative delegations headed by agriculture ministers from the CIS countries and Europe are expected to attend the exhibition this year.

The exhibition will be held on 8-13 June in Minsk and also at the Gastellovskaya demo site in the Minsk region.

Belagro is the biggest agricultural exhibition in Belarus. The exhibition features the best achievements of the national agricultural industry and also the advanced international technologies in the agriculture machinery building, innovative solutions in the production of eco-friendly materials and waste-free technologies.

The exhibition will feature the equipment, technology and farm machines, new technologies in agro-chemistry including new plant and soil protection agents, seeds, plants, technological equipment to process grain crops. A big section will be dedicated to the technologies and equipment for the cattle breeding and poultry farming.

The program also includes conferences, workshops, press conferences, business meetings, presentations of national and foreign companies.

The exhibition has been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Industry Ministry, MinskExpo company and the BelExpo national exhibition center of the President’s Property Management Directorate.

]]> Economy Sun Jun 6 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host Swedish Film Festival 9-13 June http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/06/03/1708/ A Swedish Film Festival will be held in Minsk on 9-13 June, BelTA learnt from the Embassy of Sweden in Belarus on 2 June.

The festival will be held as part of the Days of Swedish Culture in Belarus. This year the Belarusian film fans will be able to watch five Swedish films shot in 2005-2008.

The festival will open with Bjorn Runge’s drama, Moth To Mouth.

On 10 June, the Belarusian cinema-goers will be able to watch Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In.

A thriller Storm by Bjorn Stein and Mans Marlind will be screened on 11 June.

Leif Lindblom’s thriller, Sunstorm, will be demonstrated on 12 June, and the Everlasting Moments drama by Jan Troell will conclude the festival on 13 June.

All films will be demonstrated at the Tsentralny cinema theater in Swedish with Belarusian subtitles.

]]> Culture Wed Jun 2 21:00:00 2010 GMT Opera and Ballet Theaters of Belarus, Georgia to sign memorandum of cooperation http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/05/25/1606/ The National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus and the Tbilissi State Opera and Ballet Theater are set to sign a memorandum of cooperation in Minsk on 25 May, Director of the Tbilissi theater David Sakvarelidze told a press conference on 24 May.

Besides, the director of the Tbilissi theater plans to invite one of the Belarusian dramas to partake in the festival of theater arts slated for October in Georgia. David Sakvarelidze was also interested in the Belarusian Opera and Ballet Theater which has been recently reconstructed.

According to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Belarus Giorgi Chkheidze, the mutual relations in culture have always been close between the two countries. In his words, the Belarusian and Georgian people can take pride in the outstanding cultural and art figures whose works are well-known both in Belarus and Georgia and abroad. The Ambassador believes that the organization of cultural days is a promising area of the bilateral cultural cooperation.

]]> Culture Mon May 24 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host Belarus-Armenia Business Days http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/25/1607/ The Belarus-Armenia Business Days will be held in Minsk, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

An Armenian delegation composed of representatives of seven companies arrived in Minsk on 24 May. The delegation is chaired by President of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Martin Sarkisyan. On 25 May, the Armenian delegation will meet with the leadership of the Minsk City Council, have talks with a group of the Belarusian businessmen. On 26 May, the Armenian delegation is expected to have talks at the Belarusian Industry Ministry.

According to Belarusian experts, the Armenian companies are interested in cooperation with Belarusian partners in farm machinery construction, radioelectronics, trade and etc. The Armenian delegation will be represented by representatives of the Armelectromash Company which specializes in production of transformers, generators, electric power substations, electrical machines, the Electron Company (automobile accumulators and radioelectronic devices), Insi (therapeutic wipes), the Arminko Company (information technologies), ChinVan (tractors).

The Armenian delegation will also include representatives of the BelAR Trading House and the Koala Company. These companies would like to import Belarusian construction materials and furniture.

]]> Economy Mon May 24 21:00:00 2010 GMT Belavia, Air France sign interline-agreement http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/19/1562/ The Belarusian carrier Belavia and Air France have concluded a bilateral interline-agreement. Now the airline partners can accept each other’s travel tickets, BelTA learnt from the national air company.

This cooperation opens up new opportunities for travelers. “They will be able to buy electronic air tickets on the flights of the airline- partners all over the world,” Belavia said.

E-ticket has many advantages over a paper one especially for businessmen, who value their time. With an e-ticket technology, there is no need going to a Belavia office or traveling to an airport in advance to have a ticket issued. Moreover, e-ticket cannot be left behind or lost, while check-in with such a ticket is easy and time-saving.

Nowadays e-ticket is successfully used practically on all regular routes of Belavia. Belavia has signed more than 20 interline-agreements including with Аeroflot - Russian Airlines, CSA, LOT, Austrian, Air Baltic, Аerosvit, British Airways, KLM, Alitalia, Finnair and others.

Belavia was set up on 5 March 1996. The air company operates regular flights to 30 airports in 20 countries. Belavia is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The company meets the highest international safety standards.

]]> City executive board Tue May 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT Graces from 29 countries will take part in the World Cup Series in Rhythmic Gymnastics BelSwissBank in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/sport/2010/05/19/1553/ Competitors from 29 countries will take part in the World Cup Series in Rhythmic Gymnastics to be held in Minsk Palace of Sports from 21 to 23 May. This was informed at a press conference by the head coach of the Belarusian team Irina Leparskaya, BelTA informs.

It is expected that among the participants in the Minsk World Cup Series there will be gymnasts from Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Finland, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, USA, Uzbekistan, Brazil, India, Canada China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Israel, Mexico, Venezuela and Hungary.

According to Irina Leparskaya Eugenia Kanayeva, Beijing-2008 , as well as prize-winners of the Olympiad and world sports forums will also come to Minsk. "Besides spectators will be able to see representatives of the new generation who are already preparing for the Olympic Games in London-2012", added Irina Leparskaya.

At the tournament Belarus will be represented by the national team in the group exercises and by the strongest individual gymnasts who will fight for the top places in certain sports - Liubov Cherkashina, Melita Stanyuta.

As part of the World Cup BelSwissBank an international tournament "Crystal Rose" will traditionally be held. Junior age gymnasts (1995-1997 years of birth) from 14 countries will participate in the tournament. The number of participants is limited. An exception will be made only for Belarus which, as host country, will be represented by four athletes born in 1997.

By tradition the World Cup BelSwissBank will culminate in a grand spectacular performance under the name of "World Gymnastics Stars Show" in which the winners and all competition prize-winners will take part. This format is a Belarusian know-how. "It's our creation. We invented it when in 2003 we started to hold Grand Prix series in Minsk every year, and which in 2008 received the status of the World Cup. And the best gymnasts of the world are pleased to participate in this show. We receive many requests that is why we have to select because of the program. After all if the program is too big, it will be tedious for the spectators whom we usually wish to surprise with something new", promised Irina Leparskaya.

The tickets price to the World Gymnastics Stars Show will remain at the level of the previous shows. Depending on the location of seats the ticket cost will make up 5000, 10.000 and 15.000 Belarusian rubles. Admission to the competition is free.

Competition Program:

21 May, 16.00 - the opening ceremony and competition in group exercises (skills). Admission is free.

21 May, 19.00 - competition in individual exercise "Crystal Rose" (all-round). Admission is free.

22 May, 16.00 - competition in the individual exercise (skills). Admission is free.

23 May - Finals. Admission is free.

At 11 a.m. - group exercises.

At 12.30 - individual exercises.

23 May, 19.00 - World Gymnastics Stars Show (tickets are sold at the box office of the Palace of Sports).

Tournament organizers are: the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian Association of Gymnastics, the Presidential Sports Club, the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, Republican unitary enterprise "Belsportobespechenie". The General sponsor of the competition is JSC "BelSwissBank".]]> Sports Tue May 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host international puppetry festival 24-30 May http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/05/19/1563/ The 6th Belarusian international puppetry theater festival will be held in Minsk on 24-30 May, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian State Puppet Theater.

Partaking in the festival will be theaters from Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Slovenia and Belgium. All Belarusian puppet theaters will demonstrate their latest premieres.

Both little art amateurs and sophisticated theater goers will have a chance to see the original plays from different countries. The fun-packed programme includes well-known productions A cunning fox and a silly wolf (Riga, Latvia), Sleeping Beauty (Tallinn, Estonia), Cinderella. Extracts of Her Diary and Thumbelina (Ljubljana, Slovenia). Belarusian puppet theaters will entertain both kids and adults with their shows Little Mermaid (Brest), Kvetachka-Vyaselka (Vitebsk), Living Water (Gomel), Poison (Mogilev), Konek-Gorbunok (Molodechno) and Why do People Grow Old? (Minsk).

Adults will be able to enjoy Facade (Bialystok, Poland), Yevgeny Onegin (Kemerovo, Russia), Antigona (Poltava, Ukraine) and many more.

The performances will be shown at the Belarusian State Puppet Theater, the Yanka Kupala Academic Theater, the Maksim Gorky Academic Theater and New Theater.

]]> Culture Tue May 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk hosts session of Saxony-Belarus Business Council http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/17/1538/ Representatives of 12 German companies are taking part in a session of the Saxony-Belarus Business Council which is being held in Minsk on 17 May, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A delegation of the Saxonic business circles is led by President of the Leipzig Chamber of Commerce and Industry Wolfgang Topf. The German delegation includes representatives of the Leipzig Fair, LBBW Bank, specialists engaged in production of vacuum technique, companies which provide support for small-sized companies.

On 17 May, a business matchmaking session for the Belarusian and German businessmen, presentations of Belarusian companies Technochance, Fortex-Water Technologies, Bellesizdelie will be held. The Saxonic guests are expected to visit the Belarusian Autoworks (BELAZ).

The Saxony-Belarus Business Council was founded in December 2009 by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Leipzig Chamber of Commerce and Industry in line with Belarus Council of Ministers’ resolution. Its main goal is promotion of economic contacts between Saxonic and Belarusian companies.

]]> Economy Sun May 16 21:00:00 2010 GMT Lesdrevtech 2010 expo in Minsk to present new logging technologies http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/17/1539/ New logging technologies will be displayed at the 11th international specialized exhibition Lesdrevtech 2010 that is to open at the pavilion of the BelExpo National Center (14 Pobeditelei Avenue) in Minsk on 18 May, BelTA learnt from the organizing committee of the exhibition.

Over 80 firms and companies from ten European countries along with the national leading forestry and logging producers are set to partake in the forum. The sector of bio-energy and energy saving technologies will be widely presented at the expo.

Innovation development will be the expo’s major theme. The program of the forum will include two international conferences: “Investment and innovations in Belarus’ forestry area” and “Sustainable and rational forest management”, practical forestry and logging sections, presentation of the advanced equipment.

The exhibition will cater for both the professionals and individuals. The organizers have prepared a big trade fair of the goods made by the forestry companies. The best woodcutters will compete at the Timber Show on 19 May.

The expo will stay open till 21 May.

]]> Economy Sun May 16 21:00:00 2010 GMT International conference in Minsk to discuss ethnocultural development of Belarus http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/17/1540/ Scientists will discuss the ethnocultural development of Belarus in the 19th – early 21st century at the international conference in Minsk. The two-day international research conference will open in Belarus State University (History Department) on 19 May, BelTA learned from the press service of the university.

Attending the conference will be more than 80 researchers from Poland, Ukraine, Germany, professors of a number of Belarusian universities, representatives of Belarus’ museums and travel agencies.

Rector of Belarus State University Sergei Ablameiko, Culture Minister of Belarus Pavel Latushko, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism Cheslav Shulga, Professor of Warsaw University Elzbieta Smulkowa will take part in the opening of the conference.

The conference will include five sections: “Ethnical Communities of Belarus”, “Traditional Belarusian Culture”, “Ethnocultural Processes”, “Museology and Tourist Science”, “Arts History and Critics”. Participants of the sections are set to discuss the principles of the modern Belarusian ethnology, the development of the traditional Belarusian culture, ethnocultural processes in Belarus, analyze the role of museums, their heritage and research activity.

The conference will be organized by the Historical Department of Belarus State University.

]]> City executive board Sun May 16 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk to host Lesdrevtech 2010 exhibition 18-21 May http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/05/15/1524/ Nearly 80 companies from the European countries are set to partake in the 11th specialized international exhibition Lesdrevtech 2010 in Minsk on 18-21 May, BelTA learnt from the organizing committee of the exhibition.

Specialists from Belarus, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovenia and Poland will be able to get familiar with the novelties of the world’s leading producers of the forestry and logging equipment. “It, first of all, concerns Belarus’ representative offices of such companies as Ledinek Engineering, Mebor (Slovenia), Serra Maschinenbau, Weinig Gruppe, Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG (Germany), Wood-Mizer (Poland), Husqvarna (Sweden) and others. A section of refuse wood processing and the use of local fuels will be presented by the permanent participants of the exhibition: RMP, SIA (Latvia), UMP, JSC (Lithuania), Polytechnik (Austria), the Chistota Linii and Bioenergetika companies”.

According to head of the exhibition Yevgeny Kireyenkov, a wide business program includes a demonstration of new forestry developments and technologies. The exhibition will cater for both the professionals and individuals. A big part of the forum will be dedicated to the wooden housing. “Wooden house building is one of the primary businesses of the National Wood and Paper Association, one of the organizers of the exhibition. The companies subordinate to the association will display a wide range of proposals,” Yevgeny Kireyenkov said. Besides, the companies of the Association of Woodworking and Furniture Companies of Belarus will feature their products for the first time.

The best woodcutters will compete at the Minsk state forestry association. Partaking in the tournament will be the teams of the forestry ministries and departments of Belarus. The program will also include the Forwarder and Harvester Shows.

The international specialized exhibition Lesdrevtech 2010 will take place in Minsk at the pavilion of the BelExpo National Center (14 Pobeditelei Avenue) on 18-21 May. The exhibition is organized by the BelExpo center of the Property Management Directorate of the President of Belarus under the auspices of the Forestry, Industry, Utilities Ministries, the National Academy of Sciences, the department for energy efficiency of the State Standardization Committee, the Bellesbumprom Concern, the National Wood and Paper Association, the Association of Woodworking and Furniture Companies of Belarus.

]]> Society Fri May 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT MTZ contracts to ship batch of tractors to Vietnam http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/15/1525/ Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) will sell a batch of tractors to Vietnam. MTZ and the Vietnamese company Mekong Corporation signed the contract at the Belarusian-Vietnamese business forum in Minsk on 14 May.

In addition, at the business forum Minsk Automobile Plant and the Vietnamese company Beam signed a contract to deliver truck assembly sets to Vietnam in 2010. Bellakt and the Vietnamese company HAPACO Group signed a contract for the delivery of a batch of dry blends for kids to Vietnam. Belarusian Potash Company signed two framework contracts for the delivery of potash fertilizers to Vietnam in 2011. The Vietnamese company Vinaxuki and Minsk Motor Plant signed a memorandum of cooperation.

]]> Economy Fri May 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk City Executive Committee and Prefecture of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow Signed a Document on Wider Cooperation http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/12/1479/ Program arrangements to the Agreement between the Minsk City Executive Committee and the Prefecture of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow have been signed in Minsk.

The document was signed by Nikolai Ladutko, Acting Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, and Andrey Yefimov, Vice-Prefect of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow.

Partnership relations between the Belarusian capital and the Southern Administrative District of Moscow have been maintained since 2004, "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent reports. It is the fourth program that the Parties have signed. It provides for cooperation in different spheres of activity: education, public health, science, trade, municipal economy, exchange of commodities and services as well as a wide exchange of information. Much is to be done for the further arrangement of exhibitions and fairs. On the territory of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow it is also planned to realize a large investment project - the construction of the trading house "Minsk" for which a plot of land has already been assigned.

A delegation of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow visited Minsk from 8 to 10 May. During the visit the guests had meetings with the citizens of Minsk, participants in the defense of Moscow, took part in the festive events dedicated to the 65th Anniversary of Great Victory.]]> City executive board Tue May 11 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk Specialists to Participate in the Construction of Hanoi Underground http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/12/1480/ Possibilities of realization of a number of joint projects were discussed by the participants in the meeting. Thus it is planned to use Vietnamese capital in the construction of a three-star hotel, a trading house "Hanoi" and a restaurant in Minsk. Joint production of road-building machines is to be organized in Vietnam. Possibility of opening of Minsk trading house in Hanoi is also under consideration.

Possibilities of importing Vietnamese sea products to Belarus and exporting Belarusian goods to Vietnam were also discussed at the meeting.]]> City executive board Tue May 11 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk City Delegation to Participate in Festive Events on the Occasion of the Thousandth Anniversary of Hanoi http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/12/1481/ A Minsk City delegation will take part in the festive events to be dedicated to the Thousandth Anniversary of the City of Hanoi (Vietnam). According to "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent an official invitation to the festivities was handed over to Nikolai Ladutko, Acting Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee during his meeting with the delegation of Hanoi.

The festive events are to take place from 1 to 10 October, this year. Among the participants in the festivities the Vietnamese would like to see not only Belarusian folk groups but businessmen too.

About 30 countries, including Japan and South Korea, have already confirmed their decision to participate in the festivities dedicated to the Thousandth Anniversary of Hanoi. Mr. Nguyen The Thao, Mayor of Hanoi, Chairman of the People's Committee, said that during the festivities it would be possible for the delegations to hold weeks of their national culture and economy.

The Belarusian capital has been maintaining close partnership relations with the Vietnamese capital since November 2004 - the time when the Agreement on the establishment of friendly relations and cooperation between the two cities was signed.]]> City executive board Tue May 11 21:00:00 2010 GMT Vietnam ready to build hotels and restaurants in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/11/1456/ Vietnamese businessmen are considering an opportunity to construct a network of hotels and restaurants in Minsk, Mayor, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Nguyen The Thao stated at a meeting in the Minsk City Hall on 11 May.

Vietnam is also interested in building a trade and cultural center in the Belarusian capital. Minsk will be offered a similar construction site in Hanoi. Besides, the sides discussed transport cooperation, export/import of goods and, in particular, the delivery of seafood to Minsk and milk powder to Hanoi. An organization of joint ventures in Vietnam can be another way to develop cooperation between the two capitals.

“Minsk and Hanoi have been developing friendly relations. We are glad to have such cooperation and are ready to discuss any opportunity to develop cooperation,” said Nguyen The Thao and added that the two cities started their bilateral relations in September 2004. In November 2004 a government delegation led by Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Mikhail Pavlov paid a visit to Hanoi to sign an agreement on friendly relations and cooperation.

Acting Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Nikolai Ladutko, on his part, noted that despite a long distance, Minsk and Hanoi are close to each other. The two cities have been implementing joint projects, developing contacts between the businessmen. The representatives of the Minsk City Hall are ready to take part in the celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of Hanoi on 1-10 October 2010 (today Nguyen The Thao has handed over the invitations to the Minsk authorities to attend the celebrations).

]]> Economy Mon May 10 21:00:00 2010 GMT Portuguese designers to debut at Fashion Mill 2010 Festival in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/05/07/1443/ Designers from Portugal will make a debut appearance at the 19th international fashion and photo festival, Fashion Mill 2010, which is held in Minsk on 6-8 May. The Portuguese collections will be shown on 8 May, Belarusian fashion designer Sasha Varlamov told BelTA.

All in all, 207 collections by Belarusian designers will be demonstrated as part of the competition program. Twelve experts from Russia, Lithuania, Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, Portugal, Czechia, Belgium, Italy and France will pick up 10 best women’s collections, 5 men’s, 5 teenagers’ and 5 children’s collections.

“The main distinguishing feature of the Fashion Mill festival is that we do not have a jury panel. It is impossible to choose the one and only collection out of 207. Every designer has his own vision on the fashion trends. Thus we give the beginners a chance to find their audience and earn the recognition of the peers,” Sasha Varlamov said.

The semifinal of the international contest of young designers of the Russian Silhouette charity fund will be held on 6-7 May. Director of the fund Tatiana Titkova will choose the two best collections which will represent Belarus at the finals in Moscow in September 2011.

The festival will conclude with the show of the best collections made by Belarusian designers, an award ceremony and a show of guest collections. The concluding chord will be the True Fashion Parade featuring 32 Belarusians pop singers, theater and cinema celebrities, television personalities and athletes. The project has been organized by the youth fashion center of the Belarusian State University.

“This project is interesting as ordinary people whose parameters do not fit in the 90-60-90 standard will do the runway. The main goal for the designers was to highlight the individuality of every person, to find an approach to each participant. We will know how well the designers have coped with the task by watching the reaction of the audience,” Sasha Varlamov said.

]]> Culture Thu May 6 21:00:00 2010 GMT CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra to perform at UN Headquarters http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/culture/2010/05/06/1428/ The CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra will play a concert dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War at the UN Headquarters in New York on 7 May, BelTA learnt from the spokesman for the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation (IFHC) Alexander Kalugin.

Established in 2007, the CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra is one of the most prominent IHFC projects. The orchestra brings together talented musicians from the CIS countries and Georgia. Among the members of the orchestra are eleven Belarusian musicians.

This year the orchestra will be conducted by the People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov. Taking part in the concert will be also classical music celebrity Denis Matsuev.

The concert is organized by the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN and the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation under the auspices of the permanent missions of the CIS countries to the UN.

The CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra is set to perform at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 10 May. Taking part in the concert will be Ukrainian piano-player Alexander Gavrilyuk.

]]> Culture Wed May 5 21:00:00 2010 GMT Estonian investors to finance spa hotel project in Minsk Region http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/05/06/1429/ A spa hotel in the Minsk Region will be built in 2012, BelTA learnt from Elena Brok, deputy chief of the physical education, sport and tourism department at the Minsk oblast executive committee. The official is attending the international workshop, Sustainable Rural Tourism: Learn It, Use It.

The spa hotel, the only one of its kind in Belarus, will be located in the premises of the Urozhajny equestrian center in Sennitsa, Minsk Region. The documents necessary to start the construction have been already signed. A contractor organization will soon get down to work. The construction will take two years.

The project will be financed by Estonian investors. The hotel will attract both Belarusians and foreign citizens. “A beautiful area surrounded with century-old forests, horse rides and spa treatment will make it an irresistible vocation spot,” Elena Brok said.

]]> Economy Wed May 5 21:00:00 2010 GMT Belarus Mass Media International Exhibition opens in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/05/04/1395/ The 14th Belarus Mass Media International Exhibition has opened in Minsk, BelTA has learnt.

The exhibition is held in the Belarus National Exhibition Center Belexpo on 4-7 May. The forum is timed to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory. On 5 May, the round table, Great Patriotic War in National Consciousness of Belarusian People. Historical Truth as Earnest of Future Development, will be held within the framework of the forum.

Attending the mass media forum are more than 600 exhibitors from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, China, Cuba, India, Iran, Belarusian diaspora’s mass media from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and other countries, the MIR TV and Radio Station, Belarus-Russia Union State’s mass media. Russian regions are among the most active participants of the exhibition. The Moscow, Smolensk, Bryansk and Nizhny Novgorod Oblasts will be represented by delegations of journalists, representatives of news agencies and publishing houses.

The international specialized salon, Content and Telecommunications, will be held within the framework of the exhibition for the first time. It will display new developments and technologies in the field of cable, mobile and IP-television.

The business program of the forum includes various roundtables, seminars and press-assembles to discuss legal and economic activity of mass media, professional development, practices exchange.

A number of forum’s events will be held with the participation of representatives of the Belarusian diaspora abroad. On 4 May, the round table, Dialogue of Diasporas: Diaspora and Mass Media, will be held.

The forum also includes the round tables to discuss international and inter-confessional relations, the intercultural dialogue in Belarus and the cooperation with the Belarusian natives abroad.

The program of the first day of the forum includes the presentation of the Journalist Magazine and the Minsk-News Agency.

On May 5, an award ceremony of the winners of the 6th National Mass Media Contest will be held within the framework of the exhibition.

]]> Society Mon May 3 21:00:00 2010 GMT Minsk companies-importers should create their own manufactures in Belarus - N.Ladutko http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/hall/2010/05/03/1370/


Minsk-based companies-importers should develop their own manufactures or start exporting goods, acting mayor of Minsk Nikolai Ladutko said at a session of the mayor’s office. The session summed up the social and economic development of the capital city in Q1 this year. Taking part in the session were chiefs of the companies-importers.

According to Nikolai Ladutko, the issue of increasing sales on foreign markets is getting to the forefront today. Importers need to develop the manufactures in the capital city, in the Minsk free economic zone and start exports. “We are not saying ‘no’ to you business. We are saying ‘yes’. But we would like you to get involved in export operations,” Nikolai Ladutko said. He instructed the chiefs of the privately-owned companies-importers to develop business plans on creating manufacturers inside the country.

In January-February this year more than 6,600 economic entities were involved in import in Minsk. Of them more than 5,800 do not have any departmental subordination. They imported goods to the tune of $764 million. The Minsk total import came to $1 billion.

There are 150 large importers in Minsk. The Minsk City hall recommends them to start exporting or to create their own manufactures. Certain results have been already achieved. In 2010 over 10 import-substituting manufactures will come on stream. The plans on the table are to start producing children’s and women’s hygiene products, metal constructions, housewares and so one. According to preliminary estimates, this will reduce import by $55 million a year.

In January-February Minsk had a trade deficit of 563.2 million, down $32.3 million as compared to the same months a year ago. Minsk is set to get a trade surplus by the end of 2012.

]]> City executive board Sun May 2 21:00:00 2010 GMT Red Church to present Turin Shroud copy 3 May http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/religious/2010/05/03/1371/ The Roman-Catholic Church of Sts Simon and Helen (the Red Church) is expected to be displaying a copy of the Turin Shroud from 3 May, priest Wladyslaw Zawalniuk told BelTA.

The copy of the artifact will be delivered to Minsk on 3 May. The church will hold excursions on Wednesdays and Saturdays in May at 2h00pm.

The copy has been made in Turin, Italy. The original Turin Shroud is a linen cloth of 4.36 meters long and 1,11 meters wide. According to the Catholic Church, the original shroud was placed on the body of Jesus Christ at the time of his burial and the face image on it is the Holy Face of Jesus. The Turin Shroud is sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel”.

]]> Religious news Sun May 2 21:00:00 2010 GMT Municipal unitary enterprise "MINSKVNESHTORGINVEST" to arrange three fairs of goods of capital producers in Russia in May http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/economy/2010/04/27/1310/ In May the municipal unitary enterprise "MINSKVNESHTORGINVEST" is to arrange three fairs of goods of Minsk producers in the Russian Federation, Ruslan Mikhtiyev, Deputy Chief of the Department of Fairs and Innovation Research of the enterprise told "Minsk-News" Agency correspondent. According to Ruslan Mekhtiyev the fairs are to be held on the territory of the Russian capital and in Moscow Region. Two of these fairs are to be held from 10 to 14 May and from 24 to 28 May accordingly in the Southern Administrative District of Moscow, and the third fair is to be arranged in the city of Noginsk from 17 to 21 May.

On the whole in the current year thirty-five fairs are to be organized by the municipal unitary enterprise "MINSKVNESHTORGINVEST" on the territory of Russia. Most of these fairs will be held in October and December. Besides Moscow some fairs are to take place in Saint-Petersburg, Nizhni Novgorod, Noginsk and Balashikha (Moscow Region).

Traditionally participation in similar fairs is taken by around fifty Minsk enterprises, such as: "MINSKGORPISHCHEPROM" municipal unitary enterprise, JSC "Slodych confectionary", JSC "GALANTEYA", JSC "ELEMA", JSC "ALESIA", LLC "ALADEN".]]> Economy Mon Apr 26 21:00:00 2010 GMT Tribute to the memory of the victims and heroes of the Chernobyl catastrophe was paid in Minsk http://minsk.gov.by/en/news/society/2010/04/26/1294/
On the 26th of April in memory of the victims and heroes of the Chernobyl catastrophe a mourning ceremony was held in Minsk, BELTA correspondent informs.

The ceremony began in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking Out of the Lost" from the prayer in tribute to the memory of the Chernobyl catastrophe victims. The service was conducted by Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Filaret. He prayed for the repose of the brothers and sisters who in time of peace fought against the Chernobyl disaster and showed their courage while defending mankind and life on Earth. "Lest we forget. We will remember them and pray for them", said Bishop Filaret. He thanked everybody who every year comes to this Church on the day of the Chernobyl catastrophe in order to commemorate those who died as a result of the catastrophe at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station.

After the service flowers and wreaths were laid to the Memorial Sign "Stone of Memory to the Victims and Heroes of the Chernobyl Catastrophe". The ceremony was attended by Vladimir Makey, Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus, representatives of the Council of Ministers, members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, representatives of Minsk City Executive Committee, Belarusian Republican Youth Union, diplomatic corps, as well as by those who participated in those tragic events that took place 24 years ago.

As BELTA correspondent was told by Mikhail Obrasov, Chairman of the Minsk Relief Fund for the Victims of the Catastrophe at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station, near the Memorial Sign and the Church there will soon appear the Wall of Memory on which there will be carved the names of the settlements that were wiped out by the Chernobyl tragedy, as well as the names of the Chernobyl heroes. "That will be a uniform memorial complex", said the Chairman. According to Mikhail Obrasov when he happened to visit the place of the catastrophe he was mostly struck by the deserted houses and schools which, the day before, had still been full of children’s voices and laughter.

Nikolai Sereda, police Major-general, underlined that after the catastrophe at the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were the first to face the tragedy (at that time he was Deputy Chief of Homel Police Department). Police officers were responsible for the people’s evacuation, the safety of their houses. They were also responsible for providing food and accommodation for specialists who came to the place of the tragedy. "We had to make pillars for fencing of the ten-kilometer zone of tragedy", said Nikolai Sereda. He is sure that the April events of 1986 will never be forgotten by their participants.









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