Feed news minsk.gov.by — Society

During the City Day celebration festivities will take place at more than 60 sites

Sun Sep 5 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Cheluskintsev Park of Minsk recognized best amusement park in CIS

Tue Aug 24 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Digital technology center to open in Minsk in October 2010

Tue Aug 10 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Minsk international conference to discuss innovation development of vegetable farming

Sun Jul 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

The remains of unknown soldiers were buried with full military and church honours in the crypt of the Memorial Church of all the Saints

Fri Jul 2 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Minsk hosting 5th CIS forum of law firms

Wed Jun 23 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Around 100 foreign journalists to participate in 5th Belarusian International Media Forum

Mon Jun 7 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Minsk to host Lesdrevtech 2010 exhibition 18-21 May

Fri May 14 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Belarus Mass Media International Exhibition opens in Minsk

Mon May 3 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Tribute to the memory of the victims and heroes of the Chernobyl catastrophe was paid in Minsk

Sun Apr 25 21:00:00 2010 GMT

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.

Territory near all military glory memorials and monuments in the capital to be improved by Victory Day

Wed Apr 21 21:00:00 2010 GMT

The territory where all military glory memorials and monuments of the capital are located is to be improved by Victory Day. A "Minsk-News Agency" correspondent has been informed by Irina Novitskaya, leading specialist of the department of ideology and social security of the Minsk military commissariat that in the city there are 114 burial places of which 42 burial places belong to the period of the Great Patriotic War. Officers of the Minsk city district administrations, active members of the public organization "Belarusian Youth Union", students and schoolchildren are to be involved in the restoration and improvement work.

Minsk war veterans leaving for St Petersburg

Sun Apr 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT

A delegation of veterans of the Great Patriotic War from Minsk is leaving for Saint Petersburg on 19 April, BelTA learnt from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

The Belarusian delegation consists of seven people and is led by head of the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans Anatoly Adonyev.

The program of the visit that will last from 19 to 23 April is packed with events. Apart from the reception at the Petrograd district administration, the visit features meetings with the leaders of the public association of veterans of the Petrograd district, activists of the public organization “The residents of the besieged Leningrad”. The Belarusian veterans will also visit military burial sites and monuments. High on the agenda will be the discussion of the role of veterans’ organizations in enhancing the social security of veterans and the preparation for the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory. Belarusian veterans will share best practices employed by veterans’ associations of Belarus.

The visits of veterans are held within the framework of intergovernmental agreements. The money for the trips are allocated from the national budget.

Delegations of Belarusian veterans are going to visit Volgograd and Kyiv for the Victory celebrations. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security informed that the delegation consisting of seven veterans (mainly from the Gomel Oblast) will go to Volgograd, while Kyiv will receive a delegation of eight veterans from the Grodno, Brest and Gomel oblasts.

Architectural design of the building of the Great Patriotic War Museum in Minsk has been approved

Sun Apr 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT

The architectural project "The building of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Pobediteley avenue" submitted by the Minsk City Executive Committee has been approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. It is stipulated by Resolution No 510, BELTA correspondent was informed at the Council of Ministers.

There has been approved the estimated cost of the construction which in accordance with prices of 2006 makes up 108.722.885.000 Belarusian rubles.

The new building of the museum will be located on the hill near "Minsk – Hero City" obelisk. Pobediteley square will be laid out near the museum. The square will be adorned with a fountain consisting of 170 jets of water to symbolize the 170 settlements liberated from fascist invaders during the Great Patriotic War. Water will flow down the slope of the hill. On the right side of the museum Victory Park will be laid out. According to the architects’ conception the exterior of the building will signify the greatness of the victory, the strength and might of the army and people. The building will remind of an "architectural salute", on the rays of which sculptural reliefs will be found and the names of Heroes of the Soviet Union will be inscribed. At night the architectural rays of the salute will continue their laser show and it will be seen from all corners of the city.

The new museum will be crowned with a dome with a project of a hall of Victory in it. The building is to consist of four blocks in which there will be expositions depicting the four-year history of the War.

Specialists believe that it will be a unique project. No similar projects have ever been built or planned on the territory of the countries that fought against fascism.

The Department of Capital Construction of Minsk City Executive Committee is the customer of the construction, the public corporation "Stroytrest No 1" of the state production association “Minskstroy” is the general contractor.

War veterans from all CIS countries to participate in the military parade in Red Square in Moscow on the 9^th of May

Sun Apr 18 21:00:00 2010 GMT

War veterans from all CIS countries are to participate in the parade dedicated to the 65^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War to be held in Red Square in Moscow on the 9^th of May. This was informed by Serguey Lebedev, CIS executive secretary at the International Conference "Victory over fascism in 1945 and its significance for the people of CIS countries and all over the world", BELTA correspondent said.

Serguey Lebedev emphasized that the war veterans will be welcomed by the Presidents of CIS countries who are to hold an informal summit on the 8^th of May. In addition a unified medal to the 65^th anniversary of the Victory has been instituted. The medal will be invested to the SIC Commonwealth war veterans.

Serguey Lebedev also informed that it had been decided that at the beginning of May a special lesson dedicated to the anniversary of the Victory would be organized at all schools of CIS countries.

The Moscow Conference has become one of the largest CIS events dedicated to the Great Victory. Among its participants there were Presidents and Vice-Presidents of national academies of sciences of the CIS countries, heads of ministries and organizations of the CIS Commonwealth, diplomats and scientists. Belarus was represented by Oleg Proleskovsky, member of the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council and Minister of Information, Mikhail Miasnikovich, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences, Belarusian scientists. Renowned experts from the Baltic States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, the USA and China took part in the work of the Conference.

The event which was organized by the Inter-governmental Fund of Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS countries, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and of the Russian Academy of Sciences was held in accordance with the Inter-governmental Plan of the main activities connected with the preparation and celebration of the 65^th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

China’s Vice-President on official visit to Minsk

Tue Mar 23 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping arrives in Minsk on a two-day official visit on 24 March, BelTA learnt from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus Lu Guicheng.

The Chinese Ambassador noted that the visit will take place on the invitation of the President of Belarus. Xi Jinping is set to hold talks with Belarus’ administration and the members of Parliament. The sides will discuss urgent issues of trade, economic, investment and banking cooperation. More than ten intergovernmental and interbank documents together with the contracts between the major companies of the two countries are expected to be signed after the talks.

A Chinese delegation consisting of more than 50 representatives of twenty major Chinese corporations arrived in Minsk on 23 March. The businessmen of the two countries hold a meeting. Taking part in it were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Lu Guicheng, Belarus’ Ambassador to China Anatoly Tozik, and Chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus Zenon Lomat.

PRC’s Vice-President visits Minsk to develop strategic partnership, Lu Guicheng says

Mon Mar 22 22:00:00 2010 GMT

An official visit of the Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Belarus will facilitate the all-round development of Belarusian-Chinese relations and strategic partnership of the two countries, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Belarus Lu Guicheng told BelTA.

Xi Jinping will travel to Minsk on 24-25 March. The program of Xi Jinping’s visit envisages talks with Belarus’ administration, Chairman of the Council of the Republic and Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus. The sides are going to share their opinions on the Belarusian-Chinese relations and consider the prospects of interaction.

More than ten intergovernmental and interbank documents together with the contracts between the major companies of the two countries are expected to be signed during the visit.

Xi Jinping’s visit will be preceded by the visit of a Chinese delegation consisting of more than 50 representatives of twenty major Chinese corporations. The Chinese businessmen intend to discuss the possibility of long-term cooperation and major projects with their Belarusian partners. “In such a way we will manage to boost the bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, technologies and investments,” Lu Guicheng believes.

On the whole, the Belarusian-Chinese relations have a good development trend, the Ambassador believes. Belarus and China are making efforts to increase the bilateral trade, although it was affected by the crisis. And the two countries have already achieved certain results.

Lu Guicheng stressed that the political trust between China and Belarus is constantly growing. The quality of economic and technological cooperation is remarkably increasing, and the cooperation in certain areas is a real breakthrough. The interaction in the field of energy saving, communications, and construction has promising prospects. The Belarusian industrial facilities, in particular the power plants, are successfully upgraded with the help of Chinese equipment.

The Chinese Ambassador said that the joint project on manufacturing microwave ovens at Horizont is one of the positive examples of cooperation. At the moment, the two sides are mulling over the expansion of cooperation between Belaruskali and Chinese companies. The two countries are developing cultural, humanitarian, educational cooperation and ties in the areas of sports and information.

Lu Guicheng expressed his confidence that after the visit of the Vice-President of China “the political, economic and humanitarian cooperation will reach a new level.’ The Ambassador is confident that the visit will be “important, comprehensive, business-like, and well timed.”

Polish travel experts to visit Minsk, Minsk oblast

Tue Mar 9 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Polish travel companies are set to visit Minsk and the Minsk oblast and get familiar with their tourist potential, BelTA learnt from Elena Brok, deputy head of the physical education, sports and tourism department of the Minsk oblast executive committee.

The visit will take place on 11-14 March, according to Elena Brok. The Polish guests will take part in a sightseeing tour of the Belarusian capital, the Silichi and Logoisk ski resorts, the Pervomaisky and Dudinka-city tourist complexes, and the recreation facilities. The Polish delegation is set to visit the Minsk, Smolevichi, Volozhin, Borisov and Nesvizh regions.

The Polish companies are interested in the Radziwills’ historic heritage (the famous Nesvizh castle, Farny church, and a park), and the sites of the 1812 Napoleon War battles - the village of Studenka and Brilevo field.

"We want to show all these sites to the Polish travel companies so that they could offer them to Polish tourists,” Elena Brok said.

She stressed that it will be the first visit of such kind in recent years (the delegation will include 34 specialists from various regions of Poland). Apart from sightseeing, the Polish delegation is scheduled to partake in a round-table conference with representatives of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus and the Minsk oblast executive committee.

Slovakia to present its tourist opportunities in Minsk in April

Thu Feb 25 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Presentation of the Slovakian tourist potential will be held in Minsk in April, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to Belarus Marian Servatka told reporters.

The program of cooperation in tourism between the Economy Ministry of Slovakia and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Belarus was signed during the session of the joint Slovak-Belarusian commission for trade and economic cooperation in Bratislava last summer. The session discussed the ways of giving more exposure to the tourist potential and investment opportunities in tourism in Slovakia and Belarus. The event in April in Minsk will present the opportunities of holidaying and recuperating in Slovakia.

The Ambassador also noted that the Slovak Agency for Investment and Economy intends to cooperate with the National Investment Agency of Belarus including in tourism.

Belarus, Japan to hold Peace For Future conference in Minsk

Mon Feb 15 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Belarus and Japan are going to hold an international conference, Peace For Future, dedicated to youth problems. The possibility of this event was discussed at the meeting between chairperson of the Belarusian association of friendship and cultural relations with foreign countries Nina Ivanova and chairman of the board of the Japan-Eurasian Countries Association Hiroshi Kubota and Professor Masanao Takeda, president of the Sapporo office of the Japan-Eurasian Countries Association, on 15 February.

Taking part in the forum will be representatives of about twenty countries, including the CIS and EU states.

A delegation of the Japan-Eurasian Countries Association is in Belarus on a visit on 14-16 February. The foreign guests attended a Belarusian-Japanese soiree at the House of Friendship on 15 February. The students of the Belarusian State University, who study Japanese, were reciting Yakub Kolas’ My Native Land poem in Belarusian and Japanese.

The Japanese language teacher Akira Furusava praised the interest of Belarusian youngsters in Japanese culture and literature. Member of the board of the Belarus-Japan association and chairman of the Nagasaki Bell memorial fund Yury Popov told the audience about the history of this monument in Independence Square.

The attendees of the soiree also enjoyed an exhibition by Japanese artist Ando Hiroshige and a music show by the teachers of the Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University.

Minsk unemployment stands at 0.4%

Tue Feb 2 22:00:00 2010 GMT

As of 1 February 2010 unemployment in Minsk stood at 0.4%, BelTA learnt from Anatoly Razhanets, chairman of the committee for labor, employment and social security of the Minsk City Hall.

In January the number of jobless people in the capital fell 2.4% to make up 4,300 people as of 1 February. The demand for workforce grew 1.2% from the beginning of the year.

According to the data, in January 1,269 people were registered as unemployed, 18% down from January 2009.

Some 635 people were placed into jobs through the employment service in January. Some 266 unemployed were placed into professional courses.

Turkmenistan President visits Minsk Arena

Mon Jan 25 22:00:00 2010 GMT

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the Minsk Arena complex on 25 January, BelTA has learnt.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov saw a velodrome, a skating rink, a gym, a choreography hall of the complex and talked to young Belarusian tennis players.

The construction of the multifunctional sports and entertainment complex Minsk Arena was launched at the end of 2005 upon the instruction of the head of state. The velodrome was the first to be commissioned. It hosted the UEC European Cycling Track Championship in July 2009. At the end of that year, the construction of a skating rink for 3,000 people was finished. Taking part in the construction were Canadian specialists who prepared rinks for the Olympic Games 2006 in Turin and will prepare rinks for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver. The Minsk Arena complex received the first visitors on 26 December 2009. The first major event that has taken place there was the final of the sixth Christmas international amateur ice hockey tournament for the prizes of the President of Belarus on 7 January.

The complex will officially open on 30 January with the CHL All-Stars match.

Acting Chairman of the Minsk City Council Nikolai Ladutko who accompanied the President of Turkmenistan told reporters that “Minsk Arena aroused a great interest in President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov”.

The complex combines a velodrome, a skating rink and Minsk Arena itself. Such a combination cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

It is a unique sports complex, this is why the President of Turkmenistan wanted to know the minute details about it, Nikolai Ladutko said.

Turkmenistan President visits National Library of Belarus

Mon Jan 25 22:00:00 2010 GMT

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov who is in Minsk on a two-day official visit has visited the National Library of Belarus on 26 January, BelTA has learnt.

The Turkmenistan President had an excursion through the library, saw the reading rooms and the rare books museum.

At the end of the excursion, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko joined his Turkmen counterpart at the library.

After that the presidents had working dinner at the library.

Belarus, Moldova mull over Minsk-Chisinau direct flight

Mon Jan 25 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Belarus and Moldova are looking into an opportunity of resuming the Minsk-Chisinau direct flight, BelTA learnt from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Moldova Vyacheslav Osipenko.

According to the diplomat, the issue was discussed at a meeting with Transport and Road Economy Minister of Moldova Anatoly Shalaru. The issue is set to be considered at the next session of the intergovernmental Belarus-Moldova commission for trade and economic cooperation in Minsk in mid February.

Vyacheslav Osipenko stressed that the direct flight Minsk-Chisinau will promote the trade relations between the two countries, intensify business contacts.

Turkmenistan President arrives in Minsk

Sun Jan 24 22:00:00 2010 GMT

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has arrived at the Minsk national airport, BelTA has learnt.

It is the first visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Belarus. Last year President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid a visit to Turkmenistan to define the major cooperation areas between the two countries.

Belarus and Turkmenistan have already done a lot to develop the bilateral relations. The sides have formed the basis for the joint work of the Turkmenkhimiya Concern and Belgorkhimprom, agreed and signed the contract for the construction of a mining and processing complex. The contract has already been signed. Turkmen students attend Belarusian universities.

Belarus supplied 1,500 Belarus tractors and 500 machines produced by Lidselmash to Turkmenistan. The sides have drafted an agreement to open Turkmen trade houses in Belarus and Belarusian trade houses in Turkmenistan. Belarus and Turkmenistan launched flights Minsk-Ashgabat (twice a week). The Belarusian side shows an interest in the construction of a railway in Turkmenistan. Belarus intends to take part in an international tender to equip a railway station in that country.

Both the countries cooperate in the tourism and culture areas. Belarus displayed its exposition at a big exhibition in Turkmenistan. The sides are expected to hold the Days of Turkmen Culture in Belarus and the Days of Belarusian Culture in Turkmenistan. According to the sides, the cooperation in science and technology is promising, too. At present, experts are discussing the creation of the science and technology subcommission within the framework of the Belarus-Turkmenistan Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission.

Turkmenistan President offers joint projects to Belarus

Sun Jan 24 22:00:00 2010 GMT

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has offered the Belarusian side to implement several joint projects. The President of Turkmenistan expressed this idea as he met with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on 25 January.

Alexander Lukashenko praised successful bilateral cooperation in trade and economy. “Even during the most difficult period the two countries have been able to double the mutual trade,” the President of Belarus said. Belarus is currently constructing a mining and processing works in Turkmenistan.

The Belarusian leader thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his visit to Belarus and expressed hope that the President of Turkmenistan would get familiar with every aspect of the country’s all-round development. “My visits to your country have always been very fruitful,” he said.

Biotechnology center opens in Minsk

Tue Jan 19 22:00:00 2010 GMT

A biotechnology center for the development of new biotechnologies and pilot production of biological products was opened in the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on 19 January.

According to Emiliya Kolomiyets, director of the NASB Institute of Microbiology, the Belarusian market of biological products has been steadily increasing. In her words, benefits from the application of biological products developed in the center are expected to total Br3 billion a year.

The center will help reduce the country’s heavy import dependence on the vitally important biotechnological products, mitigate negative consequences of the ecological problems.

Chairman of the NASB Presidium Mikhail Myasnikovich, who attended the opening ceremony, noted that a lot had been recently made in the country in the field of biotechnologies. In 2010 there will be set up five more biotechnology companies and almost ten new productions in Belarus.

Minsk Bakery No. 4 sends first consignment of kosher bread to Moscow

Sun Jan 10 22:00:00 2010 GMT

Minsk Bakery No.4 has sent the first consignment of kosher bread and waffles to Moscow, BelTA learnt from director of the bakery Vladimir Talaiko.

Minsk Bakery No.4 was the first among Belarusian bakeries to have started making kosher products. All goods are made with the consent of the rabbis. “We got the certificate to make such products from the Moscow association ‘Kosher R’. On the basis of the certificate and the agreement on inspection of products for the compliance with the Judaism standards, we can make five types of bakery goods and three types of waffles,” Vladimir Talajko said.

All kosher are marked with the ‘K’ label. The manufacture of kosher products is a joint project with the Belarusian Union of Jewry. The idea to produce kosher food was initiated by Bakery No. 4. “The products are export-oriented and are also supplied to the Minsk stores. There are plans to deliver the products to Israel,” Vladimir Talaiko added.

Founded in 1956, the company produces nearly 80 types of bakery products, 80 varieties of waffles, 15 types of diabetic and dietetic food, 15 sorts of biscuits, gingerbread, etc. The company employs about 500 people.

German-language programs of Belarus radio station to be aired live in Germany

Mon Dec 28 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Beginning 1 January 2010, Euskirchen broadcasting center (Germany) will broadcast German-language programs of Belarus radio station live, BelTA learnt from Director General of the Foreign Broadcasting Division of the radio station Naum Galperovich.

“This is a real breakthrough in the work of the Foreign Broadcasting Division. Our programs will be aired two hours a day (from 8am to 10am CET) by the German Radio 700. The programs will be aired with the help of a German transmitter,” Naum Galperovich said.

Belarus radio station is part of the National State Television and Radio Company. Since 11 May 1962, the call sign of the radio station has been in the short waves on international air. The radio station features news and analytical programs, programs about history, culture, spiritual values of Belarusians.

Naum Galperovich informed that the radio station broadcasts in five languages in 20 countries worldwide. The radio station has its website from which its programs can be downloaded all over the world. In early 2009 over 1.5 million German families had an opportunity to download the programs of the radio station, now they will also be able to listen to the programs live.

Committee for celebration of Chopin Year set up in Belarus

Tue Dec 22 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A committee for the celebration of the Chopin Year has been set up in Belarus, BelTA learnt form Mikhail Kozlovich, chief of the arts department of the Culture Ministry.

Belarus will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Polish composer on a big scale. “Frederick Chopin was a prominent personality, and therefore we could ignore such a big event in the cultural live of the international community,” Mikhail Kozlovich said.

The committees for celebration of the Chopin Year have been created in 40 countries including in Belarus. This country plans to organize several concerts, a series of performance in the Belarusian state philharmonic. Polish professors will hold master classes at Belarusian State Music Academy, and Belarusian musicians will share their experience with students of Warszawa music schools. Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts will host a scientific conference dedicated to Chopin’s oeuvre. The National Library is expected to host a joint Belarusian-Polish opera performance.

The Chopin Year programme in Belarus envisages a number of exhibitions. The first one, Chopin Festival in Placards, took place at the National Museum of History of Belarus on 8 October-1 November 2009. The exhibition opened the programme of events dedicated to Chopin’s 200th anniversary.

During his visit to Belarus, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland Bogdan Zdrojewski gifted the bust of Frederic Chopin to Minsk Arts School No.3 that is named after the great composer.

Foreigners might stay unregistered in Belarus up to one week

Thu Dec 17 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Foreigners coming to Belarus for short-term visits might not have to undergo registration procedures if they stay in Belarus no longer than one week. This proposal is stipulated in the bill on the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Belarus approved by the Council of the Republic at the third session, BelTA has learnt.

“In order to facilitate short-term visits, the time period during which foreigners are allowed to stay Belarus unregistered will be extended from three days to five days plus two weekends – one week in total,” Deputy Interior Minister of Belarus Yevgeni Poluden said.

The bill authorizes recreation and recuperation facilities to register foreigners and stateless persons who have purchased their accommodation vouchers. The category of people that are not subject to registration has been expanded.

With a view to attracting migrants to Belarus, there are plans to extend the list of people that may be granted temporary and permanent residence permits. First of all, it pertains to ethnic Belarusians and their close relatives.

The list of grounds on which a citizenship application may be rejected is expanded. An application will not be considered if an applicant has committed any kind of criminal offence (earlier only grave crimes counted) and multiple violations of administrative legislation.

Law enforcement bodies will inform the Foreign Ministry about the arrest, custody or house arrest of foreign citizens and stateless persons only upon the demand of the latter. Earlier law enforcement bodies had to report on such incidents in any case. Apart from that, law enforcement bodies will be required to send a notification within three days instead of one day.

Apart from that, the new bill entitles underage foreign citizens and stateless persons temporarily residing in Belarus to pre-school and school education on an equal basis with Belarusian citizens.

According to the Deputy Interior Ministry, about 1,000 people received Belarusian citizenship and over 500 people were deported in 2009.

New Children of Chernobyl project launched in Belarus

Tue Dec 15 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The Healthcare Ministry and the UNICEF have launched a new Children of Chernobyl project in Belarus, Head of the EC Delegation in Ukraine and Belarus Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira told a press conference in Minsk on 15 December.

The project is designed for two years and is aimed at protecting the health of the children and women living in the regions affected by the Chernobyl accident. The financial support will be provided by the European Union.

One of the main goals of the project is to improve the quality of medical services to women and children living in the Chernobyl-affected territories, representative of the UNICEF in Belarus Yuri Oksamitny. “Special attention will be paid to the issues of training of medical workers in the contaminated regions,” Yuri Oksamitny said. Improvement of the material and technical resources of the healthcare institutions taking part in the project will be another area of focus of the project, he added.

In particular, 15 healthcare establishments in the Mogilev, Gomel and Brest oblasts will acquire new equipment worth more than $600,000, i.e. infant incubators, artificial respirating units, etc.

Special attention will be paid to the work on popularizing healthy lifestyle among the youth. One of the goals of the project is to provide assistance in forming positive and responsible parenthood. Besides, five centers on friendly support of children and the youth will be opened in Belarus.

Partaking in the project are also Belarusian State Medical University, Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, the National Research and Practical Center “Mother and Child”, healthcare departments of the Gomel, Mogilev and Brest oblast executive committees, said Yelena Bogdan, head of the department on medical assistance to mothers and children of the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus.

The Children of Chernobyl project will cost nearly $1 million.

IOM, Belarusian and Latvian border services to discuss programs of voluntary return of migrants

Wed Dec 9 22:00:00 2009 GMT

On 9-11 December, Belarus is playing host to a working session of representatives of the border services of Belarus, Latvia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), BelTA learnt from Oleg Anatsky, head of the press service of the Lida border guard detachment.

Representatives of the State Border Guard of Latvia arrived in Minsk on 9 December. They met with officials of the Belarus State Border Committee, visited an expert and criminal laboratory and a refugee center.

On 10 December, representatives of the border services of Belarus, Latvia and the International Organization for Migration will take part in a meeting to discuss the programmes of voluntary return of migrants.

On 11 December, the session will be continued in Lida (Grodno oblast). The participants of the session will get familiar with the work of the Lida border guard detachment and visit the international border checkpoint Benyakoni.

Minskvneshtorginvest company holds 33 fairs in Russia in 2009

Tue Dec 8 22:00:00 2009 GMT

In 2009, the Minskvneshtorginvest company held 33 exhibitions and fairs in the Russian Federation. All in all, the Minsk-based company exported goods to the tune of around $10 million to Russia, BelTA learnt from Ruslan Mekhtiev, head of the exhibitions and fairs organization department of Minskvneshtorginvest.

Minskvneshtorginvest was founded in 2004. The company specializes in organizing exhibitions and fairs abroad, holding business sessions, providing assistance in export of goods. Over the five years, the number of the fairs has increased up to 35 and the number of their participants up to 150, Ruslan Mekhtiev noted. Minskvneshtorginvest has begun to operate with enterprises from other regions of Belarus as well.

The major part of the fairs is held in Moscow and also in St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Izhevsk, Veliky Novgorod, Serpukhov, Podolsk, Khimki and Noginsk. The Minsk-produced goods are in popular demand in Russia owing to their quality and reasonable prices.

“In December, two fairs more are expected to be held in Moscow. In 2010, the Minskvneshtorginvest company will hold 35 fairs including 24 fairs in the South Administrative District of Moscow which concluded a cooperation agreement with the Minsk City Executive Committee,” Ruslan Mekhtiev said.

Minsk to host Union State Writers Congress

Thu Dec 3 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The Founding Congress of the Union of Writers of the Union State is expected to meet in Minsk on 4 December, BelTA learnt from the Union of Writers of Belarus.

This literature organization will give an additional impetus to that considerable joint work carried out the literary societies of Belarus and Russia. It includes joint presentations, meetings between the writers in Moscow and Minsk, festivals of the Russian poetry in Brest, roundtables together with the Information Ministry of Belarus, other events. The first issue of the Belarusian magazine Nyoman was published in 2006. It highlighted modern literature of Belarus and Russia. The new literature organization will promote further expansion of the Belarusian-Russian literature links, the Union of Writers of Belarus stressed.

Partaking in the Congress will be nearly 100 delegates. Among them is Yuri Polyakov, editor-in-chief of the Literaturnaya Gazeta newspaper, Stanislav Kunyayev, laureate of the State Prize of Russia and the Union State Prize, Mikhail Nozhkin, co-chairman of the Union of Writers of Russia, USSR People’s Artist, others.

The creation of the Union was initiated by outstanding writers of Russia and Belarus – Valery Ganichev, Valentin Rasputin, Yegor Isayev, Vladimir Karpov, Nikolai Cherginets, Vladimir Gnilomedov, Ales Savitsky, others.

The idea to organize the forum was supported by the Presidents of the two countries, the Permanent Committee of the Union State, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

Representatives of government bodies, creative unions, mass media, public figures, librarians and others have been invited to partake in the forum.

Venezuela interested in Belarusian extraction and processing technologies

Wed Dec 2 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Cooperation with Belarus, especially in transfer of technologies, is very important for Venezuela, a famous Venezuelan writer Eva Golinger told BelTA on 2 December.

Eva Golinger, Director General and cofounder of the Strategic Research Center in Caracas, visited Minsk and delivered a speech at Minsk State Linguistic University on 2 December.

Eva Golinger stressed that Venezuela believes Belarus will help it solve many economic problems. Venezuela is rich in natural resources, but it needs technologies for extraction and processing of these resources, that is why the experience of Belarusian experts is important for Venezuela. “Other countries also want to work in Venezuela, but some of them are interested in extraction only, they do not care about environment and transfer of technologies. But Belarus or, for instance, Russia, China and Iran cooperate with Venezuela on mutually beneficial terms and take into account environmental requirements and other important issues," Eva Golinger said.

Eva Golinger has both Venezuelan and American citizenship. She studies the problems of interference in domestic affairs of Venezuela and other states of the Latin America.

Digital future declaration adopted at Minsk summit

Sun Nov 29 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A declaration Towards the Digital Future was adopted at the ITU-sponsored Connect CIS summit in Minsk. Belarusian Information Technologies and Communications Minister Nikolai Pantelei read out the document at the final session, BelTA has learned.

The declaration calls for the recognition of the important role of governments in developing information technologies, assessment of the IT industry contribution to the social and economic development in the CIS, confirmation of the CIS states’ determination to fulfill resolutions of the UN World Summit on the Information Society. The digital future declaration calls upon international organizations, funds and financial institutions to provide resources for the development of the IT industry.

The Connect CIS summit took place in Minsk on 26-27 November. It was organized by the International Telecommunications Union in partnership with the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications, the CIS Executive Committee, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development. The Connect CIS summit was supposed to foster the development of information technologies in the Commonwealth of Independent States, mobilize human, financial and technical resources to ensure a prompt transition of the region to the digital infrastructure and services, which have been widely recognized as the engine for future employment growth, economic advance and social development. The two-day summit brought together the presidents of Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, top officials of several CIS governments, Georgia, the International Telecommunications Union, heads of relevant ministries and heads of 62 companies and organizations from 27 countries.

Minsk to host session of EurAsEC Integration Committee 26 November

Wed Nov 25 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The agenda of a session of the EurAsEC Integration Committee includes 17 issues including the ones on the formation of the Customs Union and single economic space, BelTA learnt from the Foreign Ministry press service.

The 47th session of the Integration Committee of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) and 10th session of the Commission of the Customs Union will be held in Minsk on 26 November. A Belarusian delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov.

The EurAsEC Integration Committee will consider a range of drafts. The draft documents include the protocol on completing the formation of the EurAsEC free trade zone, EurAsEC agreement on education, concept of the interstate databank of labour migrants from the EurAsEC member states, concept of the Eurasian innovation system, council for culture at the EurAsEC Integration Committee, protocol between the Eurasian Economic Community and International Development Association (IDA) on amending the agreement on the grant for development (Fight Against Aids in Central Asia) between the IDA and the Organization of Central Asian Cooperation (OCAC) of 12 May 2005.

The session will also focus on cooperation in transport, budget and finance, the organizational activity of the Community.

The agenda of the 10th session of the Customs Union Commission includes 11 issues. The sides will present the information on the interstate procedures necessary for legalizing the documents to form the treaty-legal base of the Customs Union.

The participants of the session will consider draft agreements on import customs duties, other duties and taxes within the Customs Union; on the institute of tax representatives of the Customs Union member-states; on the integrated information system of the Customs Union foreign and mutual trade.

The session will highlight a range of issues concerning the regulation of the foreign trade within the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia (statistics, the single system of prohibitions and restrictions, phased abolition of economic restrictive measures in the mutual trade between the three countries of the Customs Union).

The sides will consider draft resolutions of the EurAsEC Interstate Council of the Heads of Government on technical regulations, application of sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary measures, and the EurAsEC Interstate Council of the Heads of State on the action plan on the Customs Union formation within the Eurasian Economic Community.

Minsk summit to adopt declaration “Towards Digital Future”

Tue Nov 24 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Declaration “Towards Digital Future” will be adopted at the International Summit on Information and Communication Technologies which will take place in Minsk on 26-27 November, Nikolai Strukov, Deputy Minister of Communication and Information Technologies of Belarus, told the 41st session of the Council of the Heads of Communication Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC).

“The document will finalize the results of the work of the summit,” Nikolai Strukov underscored.

According to Yuri Grin, Deputy Director of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the main goal of the declaration is to help the ITU members get information to carry out the investment policy in information and communication technologies.

Minsk to session of CIS council of news agencies 23-24 November

Sun Nov 22 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Proposals on training of journalists for news agencies will be discussed at the 10th session of the council of state-run news agencies of the CIS member states in Minsk on 23-24 November. Attending the session will be the chiefs of the ITAR-TASS, AzerTAc, Armenpress, BelTA, Kazinform, Ukrinform (as a guest) and the CIS Executive Committee, BelTA learnt from the information and analytical center of the CIS Executive Committee.

The participants of the session will visit the Journalism School of the Belarusian State University.

The participants of the session are set to discuss the events dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In particular, they will discuss a plan of holding the CIS photographic competition in 2010, preparation of the calendar edition, development of a joint web-project dedicated to the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War to be hosted by BelTA’s official website. The agenda also includes the issues concerning the participation of the CIS state-run news agencies in the Congress of the World Association of the Russian Press (in Israel in 2010), other photographic competitions and a free access to the Service of the Association of the National News Agencies.

The CIS Council of News Agencies was founded in 1995 by Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Tajikistan. The Council initiated the adoption the CIS concept on the CIS information area, an agreement to exchange the materials of the CIS national news agencies as well as the information on natural and manmade catastrophes. The council also developed a convention on the status of a correspondent representing a mass media outlet of a CIS country in other member-states of the Commonwealth.

ITAR-TASS General Director Vitaly Ignatenko is the Chairman of the CIS Council of News Agencies.

Minsk population should grow mainly due to satellite towns

Sun Nov 22 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The population of Minsk should increase mainly due to satellite towns, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he heard out a report on Minsk development prospects on 20 November, BelTA has learnt.

”The population density in the capital will certainly increase, but there is little room for that in Minsk – 2,000-3,000 people, not more than that,” the head of state said.

The President underlined that new houses should not be built on high-fertile croplands. “Such lands can be involved in construction only in most exceptional circumstances. Land is our major asset and treasure. The products that will be grown within the territory of Minsk will be in great demand and it is very profitable,” the President said. He added that agricultural enterprises may be set up on such lands creating a lot of jobs. He demanded that the municipal authorities develop a scheme of using high-fertile croplands to be included in the General Plan of Minsk.

The President is going to instruct the Council of Ministers to develop a plan of efficient distribution of manufacturing facilities beyond Minsk.

In line with the General Plan of Minsk (adopted by a presidential decree in 2003), the Minsk population is projected at 1.9 million by 2030. In the near future, new residential districts will be constructed in satellite towns. In 2011, a residential district will be built in Smolevichi; a similar project is developed for Zaslavl.

Minsk to host Salesian Society Symposium 20-21 November

Thu Nov 19 22:00:00 2009 GMT

On 20-21 November, Minsk will host the symposium devoted to the activity of the Salesian Society (Roman Catholic religious order), BelTA learnt from the Roman Metropolitan Curia of Minsk.

The symposium is timed to the 150th anniversary of the Salesian Society or the Society of St. Francis de Sales. The order was founded by Italian priest and missionary John Bosco in the late nineteenth century.

The Salesians' charter describes the society's mission as "the Christian perfection of its associates obtained by the exercise of spiritual and corporal works of charity towards the young, especially the poor, and the education of boys to the priesthood".

Attending the symposium will be representatives of the Catholic church, theologians, philosophers and teachers from Belarus, Germany, Italy, Poland and Russia.

Let’s Connect CIS Space summit in Minsk to gather 400 participants

Tue Nov 17 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Let’s Connect the CIS Space high-level meeting, which will be held in Minsk on 26-27 November, will gather more than 400 participants, Nikolai Strukov, Deputy Communications and Informatization Minister of Belarus, told a press conference on 17 November.

The Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will deliver speeches at the forum. Moldova’s Acting President Mihai Gimpu has already confirmed his participation in the summit. Attending the meeting will be Jan Kubis, UN Deputy Secretary General, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, and Sergei Lebedev, CIS Executive Secretary.

Taking part in summit will be ministers of eight countries, representatives of the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, etc.

The Russian delegation will include the largest number of participants, Head of the External Affairs Department of the Communications and Informatization Ministry Leonid Fedotov said. The delegation will be headed by Russian Minister for Information and Mass Communication Igor Schegolev.

Book of condolences for Patriarch Paul to be opened at Serbian Embassy in Minsk

Mon Nov 16 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A book of condolences for Serbian Patriarch Paul will be opened at the embassy of the Republic of Serbia. The book can be signed on 17 and 18 November from 11h00 till 15h00, BelTA learnt form the Serbian diplomatic mission.

The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Paul, 96, died on 15 November 2009 in Belgrade.

The Patriarch of Serbia, Archbishop of Pec and Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci, His Holiness Paul (his secular name is Gojko Stojcevic) was born on 11 September 1914 at the Kucanci village in Slavonia (Yugoslavia). His enthronement as Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place on 2 December 1990.

His Holiness Paul wrote several books. He published his articles on liturgics in the Serbian Church’s magazine for over twenty years. For a long time he chaired the synodal commission for the translation of the New Testament.

Since 13 November 2007, he underwent inpatient treatment at the Military Academy’s hospital in Belgrade. On 15 May 2008, the Bishops’ Council of the Serbian Orthodox Church charged the Holy Synod with the patriarchal functions on a temporary basis.

Belarus, China setting up first joint innovation center

Mon Nov 16 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A general agreement on setting up the first Belarusian-Chinese innovation center was signed in Harbin, BelTA learnt from Olga Shchedrina, head of the press service of Belarusian State University (BSU).

The center is set up for the implementation of state innovation development programs of the two countries. Its major goal will be to coordinate and assist the execution of joint innovation projects, introduction of new high-tech products into the economy of China and Belarus, transfer of technologies. The center is to be opened in June 2010 at an exhibition of scientific achievements of the Belarusian university in Harbin.

The agreement was signed during a visit of a delegation of the Education Ministry of Belarus to China. The delegation consisted of BSU pro-rector for research Oleg Ivashkevich and head of the BSU department for international affairs Vyacheslav Leonov. They held negotiations with the senior officials of the Department for Science and Technology of the People’s Government of Harbin on joint measures to enhance efficiency of the sci-tech cooperation between Belarusian State University and scientific and industrial organizations of the town. The People’s Government of Harbin is to provide all possible assistance to the activity of the innovation center.

Belavia tickets available via Internet

Sun Nov 15 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The national airlines company Belavia has started selling tickets via the Internet, BelTA learned from representatives of the air company.

“11 November saw the first ticket sold via the Belavia website. The ticket was booked and paid for using a bank card via the Raschet system, the integrated payment and information space of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus”, informed specialists.

The first ticket, which was acquired via the website www.belavia.by, was made for the flights from Minsk to Moscow and from Moscow to Minsk. “The first buyer of the Belavia ticket has got his service class upgraded up to business class”, added the source.

Belavia expects the new service to be widely used by Belavia passengers nationwide as payment centers of the system Raschet are situated in practically all the Belarusian communities where branches of Raschet-enabled commercial banks are located.

No longer limited to booking offices of the company and airline ticket agents, Belavia passengers can now use bank cards to buy tickets via payment terminals and ATMs as well as Internet banking and electronic cash systems.

The system Raschet has been created by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. It was launched in 2008. This system provides one-stop all-in-one payment services, decreasing payment processing expenses, enabling customers to pay for services via settlement banks from any region.

Minsk plays host to IST’2009 on 16-17 November

Sun Nov 15 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The Information Systems and Technologies international conference-forum, IST'2009, will be held in a new format, Olga Litvinovich, one of the organizers, a representative of the Inforpark research association, told BelTA.

According to her, the interest to the conference was increasing from year to year, and it became obvious that a host of issues and proposals was impossible to discuss at a biennial event. That was why the organizers decided to extend the format and make IST’ an annual forum.

This year the programme of the conference-forum includes a discussion-club, presentations of innovations and workshops on academic networks, one of which will be presented by the Terena, Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association.

The goal of the event is to create necessary conditions for closer interaction between the academic science and software industry. Attending the conference-forum will be representatives of the academic sector of Belarus and foreign countries including Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania, chiefs and specialists of the IT companies, government bodies and institutions of Belarus.

The forum will highlight the first results of the joint research of the Labor Research Institute of Belarus and High-Tech Park in improvement of classification of workers engaged in development and maintenance of software. Apart from that the promoters of IST’2009 are preparing a complete map of departments and research institutes and laboratories of Belarus for companies that work in the IT industry.

Olga Litvinovich expressed her hope that the result of IST'2009 will be the establishment of a special scientific debate club that will develop the scientific part of the national educational system and organize IST conferences in the future.

The conference has been held since 2002. It is traditionally organized by the National Academy of Science of Belarus, the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radio Electronics, and Infopark.

Minsk to host Tolerance and Refugee Protection conference 30 October

Thu Oct 29 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A round table conference, Refugee Protection and Issues of Tolerance in Multicultural Society, will be held in Minsk by the United Nations High Commissioner Office for Refugees (UNHCR) in Belarus, the International Relations Department of the Belarusian State University (BSU) and the International Non-Governmental Association for Scientific Research, Information and Educational Programmes Evolutio, BelTA learnt from the Evolutio association.

Taking part in the event will be Sholeh Safavi, representative of the UNHCR Office in Belarus, Jean-Eric Holzapfel, representative of the European Commission in Belarus, Viktor Shadursky, chairman of the Supervisory Board and project manager of the Evolutio association, Alexander Shimbalev, head of the educational department of the Minsk Eparchy, officials from the Interior, Education, Labor and Social Protection Ministries, representatives of the international public organizations, refugee communities, scientists and school teachers and university professors. The experts are set to discuss the integration of refugees, foreign citizens and stateless persons into the Belarusian society.

The conference will highlight the UNHCR activities, the role of the Education Ministry in promoting tolerance, training of migration and asylum experts at the Interior Ministry Academy, and the participation of the Belarusian Orthodox Church in the interfaith dialogue.

The external migration has turned into a widespread phenomenon of the international life. The migration greatly influences both the national population processes and the social and economic development of the states. An efficient state migration policy is needed to cope with the problem.

Since 1997 some 3,300 people have applied for asylum in Belarus. More than 800 of them were recognized as refugees. Most of them came from the non-CIS countries, primarily from Afghanistan. A lot of refugees have become the citizens of Belarus recently. According to the Belarusian law, a foreigner may apply for the Belarusian citizenship after seven years after he was granted the status of a refugee.

The UNHCR office in Belarus was opened in Belarus in 1995 to help the government create an asylum system that meets the international standards. In 2009-2010 the UNHCR implements the technical assistance project aimed at the local integration of refugees. The budget of the project is ?650,000.

Minsk-Tehran direct flight to be launched

Thu Oct 22 21:00:00 2009 GMT

A direct flight between Minsk and Tehran will be launched, Tehran Governor Morteza Tamaddon told reporters at the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee on 23 October.

The preliminary agreement on launching the direct flight was reached during the visit of the Iranian delegation to Belarus. The Minister of Transport and Communication of Iran is expected to come to Minsk soon to discuss the details of operating the direct flight between Minsk and Tehran.

According to the Governor of Tehran Province, the new flight would facilitate the development of trade and tourism. More Belarusians could see Iran and more Iranians could travel to Belarus. “We are interested in developing cooperation in the tourism area, we see a great potential here. We intend to implement joint projects in this area,” Morteza Tamaddon said. He informed that the sides held meetings at the Belarusian Ministry of Sport and Tourism to discuss the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two states.

Minsk to host Turbusiness 2009 Exhibition

Wed Oct 21 21:00:00 2009 GMT

More than 100 participants from 12 countries will take part in the 16th international exhibition Turbusiness 2009 which will be held in Minsk on 28-31 October, BelTA learnt from Valentina Babako, curator of the exhibition.

Taking part in the forum will be companies from Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, Cyprus and South Africa.

On 29-30 October, free excursion program “Minsk is the Capital of Belarus” will be proposed for the participants of the forum. The excursions will be organized in Russian and English.

Within the framework of the exhibition, presentations, roundtables and seminars dedicated to the tourism industry will be held. In particular, the participants of the forum will be able to take part in the seminar “Belarusian Guest Map”, the roundtable on introduction of tourist business and educational programs, a presentation of various trips.

The 16th international exhibition Turbusiness 2009 will be organized by the Belexpo Exhibition Center, President’s Property Management Directorate and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. “The participation in the exhibition is an opportunity to present new trips, meet with partners and establish new business contacts,” organizers of the exhibition noted.

Minsk conference to discuss problems of infectious human pathology

Wed Oct 21 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The international research conference 'Current Problems of Infectious Human Pathology' will open in Minsk on 22 October, BelTA learnt from the Belarus National Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology (RIEM).

The main goal of the conference is to share experience and discuss the latest research in the field of epidemiology and microbiology, improvement of epidemiological surveillance of human infections, monitoring of various diseases including HIV, viral hepatitis, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and other current problems of infectious human pathology.

Specialists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Austria and Latvia will take part in a two-day conference. The researchers will discuss the issues related to infectious sickness rate in Belarus, the goals of epidemiology, A/H1N1 pandemic flu virus, the latest achievements in molecular diagnostics of socio-communicable diseases and other problems.

The forum will be composed of several sections. The experts will discuss epidemiological surveillance of human infections, development of infrastructure to support research of chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV and HIV-associated infectious diseases epidemic situation in Belarus, molecular and biological characteristics of epidemic influenza virus strains, molecular diagnostics of socio-communicable diseases, acute respiratory viral infections and other problems.

The conference is organized by the Belarusian Health Ministry and the Belarus National Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Minsk-Budapest direct flight might be launched

Tue Oct 20 21:00:00 2009 GMT

A direct flight between Minsk and Budapest might be launched, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Belarus Ferenc Kontra told a press conference on 20 October.
“It is too early to say when the direct flight will be launched,” the Ambassador said. According to him, the two countries are currently discussing cooperation in air communication.
Apart from that, the sides are working on agreements on mutual protection of investments, military burials, and tourism.
According to the Ambassador, five interstate agreements, six intergovernmental ones and ten ministerial agreements are now in effect between Belarus and Hungary.
Ferenc Kontra pointed out the success of the cultural cooperation between the countries. “The Days of Belarusian Culture are to be held in Hungary in 2010, while the Days of Hungarian Culture will be held in Belarus in 2011,” the diplomat said.

Estonian Embassy opens in Belarus

Tue Oct 20 21:00:00 2009 GMT

An official opening ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Belarus took place in Minsk on 20 October. Partaking in the event was Foreign Minister of Estonia Urmas Paet who arrived in Belarus on a two-day working visit, BelTA has learnt.
Foreign Minister of Estonia Urmas Paet is expected to meet with his Belarusian counterpart Sergei Martynov on 21 October. The two sides are to consider promising areas of cooperation in the political, trade and economic, treaty-legal sectors, the relations with the EU, collaboration in the international organizations and other issues of mutual interest.
The two sides are planning to sign a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on assistance and mutual protection of investments.
A big delegation of Estonian businessmen is also in Minsk to partake in the first Belarusian-Estonian economic forum organized by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Minsk to host session of CIS Interstate Hydrometeorology Council on 20-21 October

Sun Oct 18 21:00:00 2009 GMT

session of the CIS Interstate Hydrometeorology Council will take place at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 20-21 October, the press service of the CIS Executive Committee told BelTA.
The session will discuss the operation of weather services of CIS states, their cooperation within the World Meteorological Organization, progress in fulfilling a joint action plan meant to implement the hydrometeorology security concept as well as preparation of a strategy to guide the development of weather services of the CIS states.
Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization Michel Jarraud and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister of Belarus Vladimir Tsalko are expected to attend the session.
The CIS Interstate Hydrometeorology Council was set up in 1992 with a view to coordinating efforts of national weather services of the CIS states.
Thanks to the Council efforts the CIS nations have preserved the common space for sharing hydrometeorology information. Procedures have been created to help national weather services to jointly respond to possible natural and man-caused emergencies. A specialized regional weather service has been earmarked to keep the CIS nations informed about the spread of pollution agents during man-made accidents, including nuclear ones. A drought monitoring center has been set up.

Crop yield issues to be discussed at Minsk conference

Thu Oct 15 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The issues of plants cultivation and productivity including the ways of increasing crop yield will be discussed at an international conference in Minsk on 28-30 October, BelTA learnt from Nikolai Laman, Director of the V.F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Attending the forum will be more than 100 specialists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Tajikistan.

The conference will highlight the issues of photosynthesis, inorganic nutrition and water exchange in agricultural and forest plants. The scientists will consider the methods of growing young forest plants, potato mini-tubers and sprouts.

The participants of the conference are planning to discuss the seed germination mechanisms and preseeding treatment to enhance resistance of agricultural plants to stress factors (pests, diseases, high and low temperatures).

The forum has been organized by the V.F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The conference “Growth control, development and productivity of plants” is held in Minsk once in two years. The first conference took place in 1999.

Population census starts in Belarus

Tue Oct 13 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The population census will take place in Belarus from 14 to 24 October, BelTA informs.

According to the National Statistics Committee, a population census is a state-organized statistical observation that is the major information source crucial for planning the country’s socio-economic policy. The census answers various questions connected with the quality of life in each region of the country, an educational level of the citizens, their social status and living conditions, etc. The population census is hold and supervised by the state statistics bodies and the national governmental bodies – the Interior Ministry, the KGB, the State Border Committee, the Foreign, Defense, Education, Health, Labor and Social Security Ministries.

The 2009 census will involve nearly 48,000 temporary staff, including 38,200 census takers who are mainly university students and employees of organizations. Moreover, there have been organized more than 3,000 census stations and a great deal of instructor and registration stations.

A census questionnaire contains 37 most important questions which answers provide detailed demographic, national, cultural and socio-economic information on the population. The 2009 census questionnaire bears new questions about the inland, foreign migration and commuting to study the formation of human resources in the administrative regions, towns and settlements.

In line with the census law respondents cannot interfere with the population census and should provide true personal data.

The personal data provided by respondents is confidential and used only for the statistical purposes.

The preliminary results of the population census in the Republic of Belarus will be announced in early February 2010. The preliminary data on the number and composition of the Belarusian urban and rural population including in oblasts, oblast centers, Minsk and towns with the population over 100,000 will be announced in February 2010. The personal data will be fully processed by 30 December 2011. The information unveiling the major indices of the demographic and socio-economic situation with the population of the Republic of Belarus will be published in statistical collections, bulletins, mass media outlets and posted on the official website of the Belarusian National Statistics Committee.

Minsk to host Tackling Poverty Together Day 16 October

Mon Oct 12 21:00:00 2009 GMT

An annual Tackling Poverty Together international action will take place at the International Labor and Social Relations Institute (ILSRI) in Minsk on 16 October. The action will be held under the aegis of the UN Office in Belarus and is dedicated to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, BelTA learnt from the promoters of the action.
Taking part in it will be about 200 people, including students of the ILSRI and other Minsk universities. UN/UNDP Representative in Belarus Antonius Broek together with representatives of the Belarusian Trade Unions Federation and the ILSRI will make reports at the opening of the event.
The event will include contests of wall newspapers, photos, videoы, and rhymes about Tackling Poverty Together.
The ILSRI hosted the Tackling Poverty Together and Achieving the Millennium Development Goals action on 17 October last year.
In 2000, heads of 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration aimed at the eradication of poverty by 2015.
Some 50,000 people die of the poverty consequences every day, and the gap between the rich and poor is constantly growing. About half of the world population lives in poverty. Women comprise 70% of the poor.
In 2006, 23 million people took part in the Tackling Poverty Together global campaign, in 2007, the number was 47 million, and in 2008, some 116 million participated in the actions.
This year the actions are supposed to be shot. The data on the number of the participants, alongside with photos and videos will be collected at the campaign’s headquarters in New-York. The organizers are going to hold the largest action in the world and beat the Guinness record.

Belarus, Azerbaijan to sign interparliamentary cooperation agreement

Sun Oct 11 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Parliaments of Belarus and Azerbaijan are set to sign a cooperation agreement in Minsk on 12 October. A parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan is in Minsk on official visit.

The delegation is headed by Oktay Asadov, Chairman of Milli Meclis (the Azerbaijani parliament). Valery Ivanov, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, met the guests at the Minsk National Airport.

The Azerbaijani officials plan to meet with Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko and Speaker of the Council of the Republic Boris Batura.

The members of the delegation are scheduled to visit Minsk Tractor Works and Dzerzhinsky agricultural company, alongside with sport and cultural facilities of Minsk.

Minsk to play host to Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum 13 October

Sun Oct 11 21:00:00 2009 GMT

More than 200 companies and organizations from 14 countries will take part in the 14th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum to be held in Minsk on 13-16 October, BelTA learnt from the organizing committee of the event.

The forum is intended to present the advanced experience in power engineering, energy-saving technologies and equipment. The event is organized by the Energy Ministry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Industry Ministry, Ministry of Housing and Utilities, State Committee for Science and Technology, Energy Efficiency Department of the State Committee for Standardization, National Academy of Sciences, Minsk City Hall, and the Technics & Communications company (T&C).

The programme of the forum includes International Specialized Exhibition: Energy. Ecology. Energy Saving. Electro (Energy Expo), ExpoLIGHT exhibition and Water and Air Technologies. The 14th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Congress on 14 October will focus on energy-saving, energy industry development during the financial crisis, the evolution of the nature management legislation.

The programme of the forum also features roundtable sessions, seminars-presentations, first international conference “Alternative Energy and Energy Saving: Private-State Partnership, and a workshop “State support and favorable investment climate to promote energy saving and energy efficiency in Russia and Belarus'.

Energy Expo was first held in 1995. It traditionally draws the attention of leading international and domestic manufacturers of hardware, technologies and materials for the energy sector, environmental protection, energy saving and electrical engineering. Today the exhibition is one of the largest of its kind in the CIS and the Baltic States.

Patriarch Kirill to visit Belarus 25-28 September

Wed Sep 23 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is set to visit Belarus on 25-28 September. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet with the clergy, general public and the youth, conduct church services, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian Exarchate.

His Holiness will arrive in the Minsk airport at 11.15 a.m on 25 September. Patriarch Kirill will visit Minsk Holy Spirit Cathedral to bow to the Icon of the Mother of God of Minsk and the relics of Saint Sophia of Slutsk, will conduct a service.

On the same day the Patriarch will visit a temple-monument in honor of all Saints and Innocently Killed in our Fatherland (in Kalinovskogo Street). Then he is scheduled to meet with representatives of scientific and artistic communities, clergy and general public in the Palace of the Republic.

On 26 September His Holiness is set to visit the Minsk eparchial department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, conduct a service in Holy Cross Church in honor of the Assembly of Belarusian Saints. Then His Holiness will head for Sts. Cyril and Methodius Theology Institute of the Belarusian State University.

The Patriarch will lay a wreath at the Victory Monument in Victory Square and visit the House of Charity.

On the same day the Patriarch will head for Polotsk to visit the Convent of the Savior of St Euphrosyne for the exaltation of the Cross of St Euphrosyne of Polotsk. On 27 September Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will hold a service in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Polotsk, make a tour of the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ and St Sophia Cathedral.

The Patriarch will also travel to Vitebsk where he will place a wreath to the Memorial Cross on the site of the former concentration camp where 180,000 people were killed. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will pay a visit to the Church of the Patronage of the Mother of God to attend a ceremony of opening Victory Square, the biggest in Belarus.

On 28 September Patriarch Kirill will meet with students and the youth in the Summer Amphitheatre. After that Patriarch Kirill will leave for Moscow.

Several presents have been prepared Patriarch Kirill. The major of them is a facsimile publication of the Gospel of Slutsk. The present will become a symbol of the spiritual revival of the Belarusian nation.

According to the Commissioner’s Office for Religions and Nationalities, the amount of the Orthodox believers in Belarus makes up nearly 80% of the total. The first Orthodox eparchy – in Polotsk – was founded in 992. Today eleven Orthodox eparchies (in Brest, Minsk, Polotsk, Mogilev, Pinsk, Gomel, Grodno, Novogrudok, Vitebsk, Turov and Bobruisk) make part to the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Oorthodox Church founded in 1989. The Belarusian Orthodox Church is the other official name of the Belarusian Exarchate. It is led by the Synod headed by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

Belavia cuts prices for flights to Rome, Milan, Frankfurt

Wed Sep 23 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The national airline Belavia has launched an Autumn Tariffs action that envisages reduced prices for flights to Rome, Milan and Frankfurt, BelTA learnt from the company.

Concessionary tickets will be valid during the period from 30 November 2009 up to 31 March 2010 (except the flights from 1 December 2009 to 15 January 2010).

Minsk-Rome and Minsk-Milan return flights would cost ?210 and flights to Frankfurt will equal ?199 (airport duties are not included). The number of tickets is limited.

There are discounts for children: a 25% discount for children under twelve and up to 90% discount for children under two.

The Belavia national air company was founded in 1996. Belavia holds around 65% of the Belarusian market of air transportation of passengers. It operates regular flights to thirty destinations in nineteen countries. The company complies with the international security standards. In 2008 Belavia obtained a certificate of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

Volunteers from Baltic states and Denmark to take part in Minsk youth forum

Mon Sep 21 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Volunteers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark will take part in the international forum “Volunteer Work and Society” in Minsk, Irena Dyl, head of the youth affairs department of the Belarusian Education Ministry, told a press conference in Minsk on 21 September.

The forum has been organized in line with the joint project of the Association of Belarusian Guides and the Association of Guides and Scouts of Denmark. The event will be held in the Johannes Rau International Educational Center in Minsk on 25-27 September. Attending the forum are expected to be 60 representatives of the public organizations of Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark.

During the forum, volunteers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark, representatives of various children, youth and public organizations of Belarus will share experience of the volunteer work, its role in development of the society.

On 26 September, the official open session of the forum will be held. Its program includes a presentation of the International Exchange Project, opening an exhibition of public organizations of Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark.

Belarus marks Car Free Day

Mon Sep 21 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Car Free Day is held in Belarus on 22 September, BelTA learnt from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
The movement aims to reduce pollution, popularize healthy lifestyle and highlight the ecological problems of the Belarusian towns.
Despite the fact that the motor transport industry is the most important economic sector, it remains to be the largest environmental polluter. Transport is responsible for 72% of the total pollutant emissions in the country. The number of motor transport in Belarus reaches 3,200 cars and bikes. This figure increases by 3-4% every year.
The first Car Free Day was held in La Rochelle, France, in 1997. A year later the initiative spread across the country. In 1999 France was joined by Italy and Switzerland. In 2007 partaking in the movement were 1353 towns from 37 European countries and Canada.
Belarus organized its first Car Free Day in 2008. The action resulted in cutting pollutant emissions by more than 400 tons including nearly 100 tons in Minsk. Employees of seventeen ministries of Belarus, the Belneftekhim Concern and the Minsk City Council have joined the action this year.

Minsk Arena deemed fit for Eurovision

Sun Sep 20 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The entertainment and sports complex Minsk Arena meets all the requirements for holding the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The statement was made by Bjorn Erichsen, Director of the Television Department of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), at a press conference in Minsk on 18 September.

“I’ve been to Minsk Arena today and saw that it was very large. It is possible to hold three song contests there. Besides, the equipment that Minsk Arena has is fit for holding the senior Eurovision,” believes the EBU representative. “After ascertaining several details I’ve made sure that the complex is fully compliant with EBU requirements”.

Deputy President of the Belarusian Teleradiocompany Alexander Martynenko told media that the concept of holding the Junior Eurovision in Minsk has been created and the team for implementing it has been recruited.

“We are in active negotiations with UNICEF about possible partnership. With UNICEF’s aid we plan to invite famous ambassadors of good will for holding master classes. The Swedish television will be our partners for setting the stage,” said Alexander Martynenko.

Apart from that, a special team of professionals recruited from EBU member-states will help stage the show. These professionals have taken part in arranging all the Eurovision contests.

The Supervisory Board, which includes nine EBU members, has decided that the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 will take place in Minsk. “Through the tender Belarusian Teleradiocompany came up with the best offers regarding the marketing, organization and other aspects. Apart from that you have a new facility fit for holding the contest. The number of victories was not the determining factor for making the decision,” explained Bjorn Erichsen.

In 2009 Belarusian Teleradiocompany will become a member of the Supervisory Board because the contest will take place in Belarus next year. Together with eight other countries Belarus will hold a tender among broadcasting companies willing to hold the contest in their own countries. The Russian TV channel RTR was the main competitor of Belarusian Teleradiocompany for holding the Junior Eurovision 2010.

Minsk hosts international competition of young architects

Thu Sep 17 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Over 300 projects from 28 countries take part in the Third Minsk International Biennale of Young Architects “Leonardo Award 2009” which is held within the framework of the Eighth National Architecture Contest “Minsk 2009”, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Architects, President of the International Association of Unions of Architects Alexander Korbut told reporters.

Taking part in the Minsk 2009 festival are architects from over 40 countries of Europe, Asia and America. The year of 2009 was announced the Year of Youth in the CIS member states, therefore a special focus was placed on the “Leonardo Award 2009” competition of young architects. “The main peculiarity of this festival is that it grew from the national event to become really international,” Alexander Korbut said. The festival will feature five competitions.

The “Leonardo Award 2009” competition alone gathered 117 architects from the CIS member states and the European Union: Spain, Greece, Finland, Slovenia, and Poland. The competition is to draw attention to the problems facing young architects, including education and employment. “The event is to help raise the quality of architectural education in Belarus,” Alexander Korbut said. It is the first time the competition has been held under the aegis and with the assistance of the International Union of Architects. It attests to the significance and international recognition of the competition.

The Eighth National Architecture Contest “Minsk 2009” is held on 17-19 September. The festival is organized by the Belarusian Union of Architects under the auspices of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, Culture Ministry, Minsk City Hall, International Union of Architects, International Association of Unions of Architects, Architectural Council of Central and Eastern Europe.

Belarus-India IT training centre to open at HTP in 2009

Wed Sep 16 21:00:00 2009 GMT

A Belarusian-Indian centre to provide training in information and communication technologies is to be set up in the High-Tech Park (HTP) in Minsk by the end of 2009. The relevant arrangements are stipulated in the Belarusian-Indian memorandum of understanding signed on 17 September.
Foreign Minister of the Republic of India Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna expressed hope that the new centre will serve as an example of a bilateral cooperation the both sides aspire for. “Young Belarusians will master cutting-edge computer technologies with the help of Indian teachers and then Belarusian specialists trained in India,” he explained.
HTP Administration Director Valery Tsepkalo told reporters that the Indian government granted $1 million for this project.

Minsk to host international conference on spinal diseases

Tue Sep 15 21:00:00 2009 GMT

A scientific and practical conference dedicated to the development of present-day vertebrology will be held in Minsk on 1-2 October, BelTA learnt from deputy director of the National Scientific and Practical Centre for Traumatology and Orthopedics Leonid Lomat.

Taking part in the conference will be traumatologists, orthopedists and neurosurgeons from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The forum is organized by the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus, the National Scientific and Practical Centre for Traumatology and Orthopedics, and the Scientific Medical Society of Traumatologists and Orthopaedists of Belarus.

The participants of the forum will deliver reports on the problems of present day vertebrology and treatment of patients suffering from spinal diseases and diseases of the spinal cord. The specialists will also discuss diagnostics and treatment of malformations, tumors, and tumor-like spinal diseases. Apart from that, the participants of the conference will discuss the use of cutting-edge and low-invasive technologies in vertebrology.

According to Leonid Lomat, such conferences will help raise the level of diagnostics and treatment of patients suffering from severe spinal diseases.

The National Scientific and Practical Centre for Traumatology and Orthopedics can perform almost all kinds of invasive treatments of spinal diseases due to new technologies and methods. The new methods include vertebroplasty. Vertebroplasty is mainly used to treat thoracic and lumbar vertebra fractures in patients suffering from osteoporosis. Bone cement is injected into a fractured vertebra in order to stabilize it. Vertebroplasty is a low-invasive method. It helps reduce hospital stay and rehabilitation period.

Minsk to mark 60th anniversary of Geneva conventions

Tue Sep 15 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The international sci-tech conference “60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions: affirmation of adherence to the fundamental principles of IHL and their development” will take place in Minsk on 16 September, BelTA learnt from Irina Karanchuk, PR manager of the Belarusian Red Cross (BRC).

The conference has been organized by the Justice Ministry of Belarus under the auspices of the Commission for the International Humanitarian Law under the Council of Ministers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The forum will be held in the International Institute of Labor and Social Relations.

The conference will mark the 60th anniversary of signing the Geneva Conventions to protect the victims of the 1949 war. The Geneva conventions lie at the core of the international humanitarian law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects. They specifically protect people who are not taking part in the hostilities and those who are no longer participating in the hostilities. All states take part in the Geneva conventions.

Belarus is the most active among the CIS countries in implementing the norms of the international humanitarian law at the national level.

The conference plans to consider a whole range of issues related to the international humanitarian law. Attending the forum will be governmental bodies, scientific circles of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, members of the Commission for the International Humanitarian Law, representatives of the Belarusian Red Cross.

The International Committee of the Red Cross will be presented at the conference by head of the ICRC regional delegation to the Russian Federation, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Francois Bellon who is currently in Belarus on an official visit.

The final declaration is expected to be signed after the conference.

Minsk to host international conference timed to 60th anniversary of signing Geneva conventions of 1949

Mon Sep 14 21:00:00 2009 GMT

On 16 September, Minsk will host the international conference timed to the 60th anniversary of signing the Geneva conventions for protection of war victims of 1949 which are the basis of the international humanitarian law, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian Justice Ministry.

The conference is expected to discuss the issues of the humanitarian law related to the history of the Geneva conventions and implementation of the Geneva conventions.

Attending the conference will be representatives of the state bodies and organizations, researchers from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, representatives of the regional delegations of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, members of Council of Ministers’ commission for implementation of the international humanitarian law.

On the eve of the conference, the Resources Center for International Humanitarian Law will open on the base of the International Institute of Labor and Social Relations.

The conference will be organized under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Council of Ministers’ commission for implementation of the international humanitarian law. It will be held on the base of the International Institute of Labor and Social Relations.

Belarusian scientists to take part in creation of World Lidar Network

Mon Sep 14 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Belarusian scientists will take part in creation of the World Lidar Network, Anatoly Chaikovsky, head of the ozonesphere monitoring lab of the Belarus National Research Centre for Ozonosphere Monitoring of the Belarus State University, told reporters in Minsk on 14 September.

A year ago, the World Meteorological Organization approved the plan for creation of the lidar network Galio which will monitor the state of atmosphere including the ozone layer. “We will take part in its creation and we will join the network as participants of the European lidar network. At present, we have to transform our equipment and the methods of the lidar research to meet the requirements of the World Meteorological Organization,” Anatoly Chaikovsky said.

According to Anatoly Chaikovsky, Belarusian scientists have rich experience of the lidar research. “Belarus did not only take an active part in creation of the European lidar network but take the lead in creation of the lidar network of the CIS countries,” the scientist said.

The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has developed high-performance lidar equipment including stationary and mobile units. These units provide the information which allows specialists not only to receive data concerning the air pollution in various regions but to study the problem of climate change.

The creation of the World Lidar Network will help specialists compare the data concerning the atmospheric state in various countries of the world. These data will help scientists make an accurate forecast concerning the climate change in the world. All the information regarding the air pollution, the state of ozone layer and others will be registered in a special world database.

Woodwork 2009 International Exhibition to gather companies from 11 countries in Minsk

Mon Sep 14 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Woodwork 2008 International Exhibition will be held in Minsk on 15-18. Taking part in the exhibition will be companies from 11 countries: Belarus, Russia, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Turkey, France and Switzerland.
In 2009, the international forum will be held in the Minsk exhibition center Minskexpo. The exhibition will feature high-technology machines, up-to-date technologies in woodworking, waste wood processing, various wooden articles. The biggest expositions will be displayed by manufacturers of woodworking tools, paint and vanish, finishing materials. The companies will showcase various machines and equipment for wood-sawing industry, drying machines, loading-unloading equipment, monitoring instrument. Some expositions will tell about the use of waste wood in the energy area.
Woodwork 2009 will include the 3rd international exhibition “Furniture. Design. Components” which will showcase modern furniture, materials, component parts and interior design.
Woodwork 2008 International Exhibition is organized by the Minskexpo Company under the auspices of the Belarus Forestry Ministry, Industry Ministry and the Bellesbumprom Concern.

Belarus to host Week of Peace 15-21 September

Sun Sep 13 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The nationwide action “Week of Peace” will be held in Belarus on 15-21 September, BelTA learnt from Professor Marat Egorov, Chairman of the Belarusian Peace Fund.

The action will start on 15 September – the Day of Peace which is annually marked in Belarus and it will finish on 21 September – the International Day of Peace announced by the UN General Assembly in 2001. Within the framework of the action, lectures, conferences, presentation of films about the war, meetings with war veterans will be held.

On 21 September, a concert of outstanding Belarusian art groups will be given in Minsk.

Yuri Demidovich to present Belarus at Junior Eurovision 2009

Thu Sep 10 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Yuri Demidovich with his song Volshebnyi Krolik (The Magic Rabbit) will present Belarus at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009, BelTA has learnt.

Yuri Demidovich and Zlata Larchenko from Derzhinsk were the major rivals at the finals of the national children’s contest Song for Eurovision. Due to a decision of the jury and the public opinion, the maximum 12 points went to the song Volshebnyi Krolik.

The Eurovision finals will take place in Kiev on 21 November.

Deputy Prosecutor General of China to visit Belarus 10-12 September

Mon Sep 7 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The Deputy Prosecutor General of China will visit Belarus on 10-12 September, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian General Prosecutor’s Office.

Belarusian Prosecutor General Grigory Vasilevich is expected to meet with the delegation of the Supreme People’s General Prosecutor’s Office of China. The sides will discuss the procuracy activity and the bilateral cooperation. The Chinese delegation will visit the Minsk City Procurator’s Office and the Procurator’s Office of the Moskovsky District of Minsk.

Moreover, the Chinese delegation will have meetings at the Belarusian Supreme Court and the Belarusian Constitutional Court.

Members of the Chinese delegation will visit the historical and cultural memorial Stalin’s Line, the Belarus National Museum of Arts, Kommunarka Confectionary.

The Chinese delegation will include the Prosecutor General of the Henan Province, the Prosecutor General of the Guangdong Province, the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Shanxi Province.

Minsk to host conference on penitentiary medicine 9-10 September

Mon Sep 7 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Minsk will host the 4th international conference “Urgent problems of penitentiary medicine. Tuberculosis and other socially significant diseases in penitentiary institutions”. The conference will be held in the National Library of Belarus on September 9-10. The international forum is organized within the project of the UNDP “Support of the National Programme “Tuberculosis” in the Republic of Belarus”.

Taking part in the conference will be representatives of the Belarusian Health Ministry and the Belarusian Interior Ministry, international and public organizations. Representatives of eight foreign countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Estonia) have been invited to attend the conference. They will discuss the urgent issues of preventive measures, treatment of TB and other socially significant diseases in penitentiary institutions. They will tell about the experience of their countries to solve these problems.

UN /UNDP Representative in Belarus Antonius Broek, Health Minister of Belarus Vasily Zharko and Interior Minister of Belarus Anatoly Kuleshov will deliver speeches during the opening of the conference.

The conference will also consider the problems, prospects, strategy and achievements in the fight against tuberculosis and prevention of HIV-infection in penitentiary institutions. Participants of the forum will discuss the issues related to the legal regulation of medical aid in penitentiary institutions. Special attention will be paid to the international experience in solving the problems of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), the cooperation between penitentiary and civic TB services. The conference will also consider the situation concerning the HIV-infection in penitentiary institutions of Europe.

The projects of the UNDP “Support of the National Programme “Tuberculosis” in the Republic of Belarus” and “Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Belarus” will be presented at the conference.

The UNDP “Support of the National Programme “Tuberculosis” in the Republic of Belarus” is carried out jointly with the Belarusian Health Ministry. This project spans five years. It is financed by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (more than $14.2 million) and UNDP (almost $167.5 thousand).

Marina Lepesha from Belarus takes 1st Vice Miss title at Miss Supranational Pageant

Sun Sep 6 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Marina Lepesha from Belarus received the title of the 1st Vice Miss Best Body at the Miss Supranational Pageant 2009, BelTA learnt from the bureau of the international contest.

Partaking in the competition were 35 girls from many countries. The contest took place in Plock, Poland.

The Miss Supranational 2009 title went to 20-year-old Ukrainian Oksana Moria.

This year the Miss Supranational Pageant has been held for the first time and was a part of the annual Beauty Festival of Plock.

Marina Lepesha was born in Minsk, Belarus. She is 21. She studies at the International Institute of Labour and Social Relations. In July 2009 Marina Lepesha was the 1st Vice Miss at the Black Sea Pearl 2009 Pageant in Sevastopol.

Vatican Cardinal to visit Belarus in November

Sun Sep 6 21:00:00 2009 GMT

President of the Dicastery, Cardinal Walter Kasper plans to pay the second visit to Belarus in November, BelTA learnt from the secretariat of the Synod of Catholic Bishops in Belarus.
At the invitation of Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Cardinal Walter Kasper will take part in a conference to promote the Christian-Judaic dialogue. The conference will take place in the Johannes Rau international educational centre in Minsk on 9-11 November.
While in Belarus, Walter Kasper will hold a service in the Arch-Cathedral of Blessed Virgin Mary in Minsk.

History of Belarusian Written Language gallery to open in BSU on 4 September

Thu Sep 3 21:00:00 2009 GMT

An opening ceremony of the History of the Belarusian Written Language gallery will take place at the philological department of Belarusian State University (BSU). The event is dedicated to the Belarusian Written Language Day, BelTA learned from press centre of the university.

The exhibition will highlight the history of Belarusian written language of the 11th – 17th centuries. It includes reproductions of rare books and manuscripts from libraries in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. The visitors will be able to see the copies of the first Belarusian philological publications such as grammar books by Lavrenti Zizani, Meletius Smotrytsky, and Ivan Uzhevych. Some examples of translated and original literature of the three periods of Belarusian history (the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque) will be showcased for the first time.

The designers of the project, who are the members of the BSU philological department, dedicated the exhibition to the Year of the Native Land and the 70th anniversary of the philological department.

The Day of Belarusian Written Language has been celebrated on the first Sunday in September since 1994. It will take place in Smorgon, Grodno oblast, this year.

Feed news minsk.gov.by — Society

During the City Day celebration festivities will take place at more than 60 sites

Cheluskintsev Park of Minsk recognized best amusement park in CIS

Digital technology center to open in Minsk in October 2010

Minsk international conference to discuss innovation development of vegetable farming

The remains of unknown soldiers were buried with full military and church honours in the crypt of the Memorial Church of all the Saints

Minsk hosting 5th CIS forum of law firms

Around 100 foreign journalists to participate in 5th Belarusian International Media Forum

Minsk to host Lesdrevtech 2010 exhibition 18-21 May

Belarus Mass Media International Exhibition opens in Minsk

Tribute to the memory of the victims and heroes of the Chernobyl catastrophe was paid in Minsk

Territory near all military glory memorials and monuments in the capital to be improved by Victory Day

Minsk war veterans leaving for St Petersburg

Architectural design of the building of the Great Patriotic War Museum in Minsk has been approved

War veterans from all CIS countries to participate in the military parade in Red Square in Moscow on the 9th of May

China’s Vice-President on official visit to Minsk

PRC’s Vice-President visits Minsk to develop strategic partnership, Lu Guicheng says

Polish travel experts to visit Minsk, Minsk oblast

Slovakia to present its tourist opportunities in Minsk in April

Belarus, Japan to hold Peace For Future conference in Minsk

Minsk unemployment stands at 0.4%

Turkmenistan President visits Minsk Arena

Turkmenistan President visits National Library of Belarus

Belarus, Moldova mull over Minsk-Chisinau direct flight

Turkmenistan President arrives in Minsk

Turkmenistan President offers joint projects to Belarus

Biotechnology center opens in Minsk

Minsk Bakery No. 4 sends first consignment of kosher bread to Moscow

German-language programs of Belarus radio station to be aired live in Germany

Committee for celebration of Chopin Year set up in Belarus

Foreigners might stay unregistered in Belarus up to one week

New Children of Chernobyl project launched in Belarus

IOM, Belarusian and Latvian border services to discuss programs of voluntary return of migrants

Minskvneshtorginvest company holds 33 fairs in Russia in 2009

Minsk to host Union State Writers Congress

Venezuela interested in Belarusian extraction and processing technologies

Digital future declaration adopted at Minsk summit

Minsk to host session of EurAsEC Integration Committee 26 November

Minsk summit to adopt declaration “Towards Digital Future”

Minsk to session of CIS council of news agencies 23-24 November

Minsk population should grow mainly due to satellite towns

Minsk to host Salesian Society Symposium 20-21 November

Let’s Connect CIS Space summit in Minsk to gather 400 participants

Book of condolences for Patriarch Paul to be opened at Serbian Embassy in Minsk

Belarus, China setting up first joint innovation center

Belavia tickets available via Internet

Minsk plays host to IST’2009 on 16-17 November

Minsk to host Tolerance and Refugee Protection conference 30 October

Minsk-Tehran direct flight to be launched

Minsk to host Turbusiness 2009 Exhibition

Minsk conference to discuss problems of infectious human pathology

Minsk-Budapest direct flight might be launched

Estonian Embassy opens in Belarus

Minsk to host session of CIS Interstate Hydrometeorology Council on 20-21 October

Crop yield issues to be discussed at Minsk conference

Population census starts in Belarus

Minsk to host Tackling Poverty Together Day 16 October

Belarus, Azerbaijan to sign interparliamentary cooperation agreement

Minsk to play host to Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum 13 October

Patriarch Kirill to visit Belarus 25-28 September

Belavia cuts prices for flights to Rome, Milan, Frankfurt

Volunteers from Baltic states and Denmark to take part in Minsk youth forum

Belarus marks Car Free Day

Minsk Arena deemed fit for Eurovision

Minsk hosts international competition of young architects

Belarus-India IT training centre to open at HTP in 2009

Minsk to host international conference on spinal diseases

Minsk to mark 60th anniversary of Geneva conventions

Minsk to host international conference timed to 60th anniversary of signing Geneva conventions of 1949

Belarusian scientists to take part in creation of World Lidar Network

Woodwork 2009 International Exhibition to gather companies from 11 countries in Minsk

Belarus to host Week of Peace 15-21 September

Yuri Demidovich to present Belarus at Junior Eurovision 2009

Deputy Prosecutor General of China to visit Belarus 10-12 September

Minsk to host conference on penitentiary medicine 9-10 September

Marina Lepesha from Belarus takes 1st Vice Miss title at Miss Supranational Pageant

Vatican Cardinal to visit Belarus in November

History of Belarusian Written Language gallery to open in BSU on 4 September

War veterans from all CIS countries to participate in the military parade in Red Square in Moscow on the 9^th of May