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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
April 2, 2004
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POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
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On Belarus-Russia Cooperation
The President of Belarus supported further integration of the two states,
the press service of the President noted. “We will overcome all obstacles in
Belarus-Russia relations,” Lukashenko said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko noted that it is necessary to
fulfill all earlier signed agreements with Russia to launch the Russian
ruble in Belarus. “We have to carry out all agreements and talk about the
Russian ruble later,” Lukashenko stated.
The introduction of the Russian ruble in Belarus as a single currency for
Belarus and Russia has been postponed until 2006, Russian Finance Minister
Alexei Kudrin stated.
It was initially planned that Belarus would switch to the Russian ruble
starting January 1, 2005.
Belarus Aims at Active Cooperation with EU
Belarus hopes to become an active participant in programs carried out in
Eastern Europe by the European Union (EU) in the near future, Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Mikhnevich stated at the 7th Forum
“Germany-Poland-Belarus: new neighbors after EU expansion” held in Minsk.
“Political self-restriction of EU regarding Belarus will not be an obstacle
for our active participation in energy, ecology and transport programs, ”
Mikhnevich noted.
Belarus-Poland border becomes a border with EU after ten new countries,
including Poland, accede to EU on May 1.
The relations between Belarus and EU after its expansion are to improve, the
Deputy Minister stated, adding that the new EU members are the countries
that “have been our allies and we had close ties with them.”
Belarusian and American Doctors to Exchange Experience
State Medical University will host a Belarusian-American Scientific and
Practical Conference of Doctors. 20 representatives of Amarillo Medical
University, Texas, USA will take part in the conference which will open on
April 13.
Belarusian and American doctors will discuss aspects of the development of
modern medical science. In the course of the conference foreign doctors will
get acquainted with the achievements of Gomel scientists and share their
experience in organizing hospices and geriatric services.
On Cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences
of Belarus and the Oracle Corporation
The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NAS) and the Oracle Corporation
have signed an agreement on strategic cooperation for developing information
technologies in Belarus.
The Oracle Corporation and NAS will cooperate for fulfilling the E-Belarus
program. For example, Oracle solutions were chosen as the basis of the
national automated information system.
Belarus already has similar agreements with Hewlett-Packard Europe BV, Cisco
Systems, Dell, and others. |
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ECONOMY
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On Second Sitting of Advisory Council for
Foreign Investments
The Belarusian Government pays close attention to the investment climate in
the country, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergey Sidorski stated while opening
the second meeting of the Advisory Council for Foreign Investments (ACFI).
According to Mr.Sidorsky, the attraction of investments is promoted by good
economic performance parameters of the country. Last year economic growth
reached 8%, while mechanical engineering, instrument-making, and
construction industries showed even better results. In January-February 2004
the growth in the real sector of the economy totaled 12-22%.
The Prime Minister believes, that “well-directed investments into certain
technologies can increase the gross domestic product every year”. While last
year the GDP growth made 7%, in January-February 2004 it exceeded 9.5%
thanks to last year investments, Sergey Sidorski believes.
Last year investments equaled $3.2 billion.
The government regards Free Economic Areas (FEA) as possible points for
testing new technologies powered by corresponding preferences. The premier
was satisfied with foreign investments in FEAs.
While cooperating with investors, the major problem Belarus has to resolve
is “adjusting Belarusian investment, taxation, and other legislation with
corresponding European laws as well as those of Russia, Ukraine, and the
Baltic States”. “We are progressing and are ready for creative cooperation”
within the Advisory Council for Foreign Investments.
Exports of Belarusian Agricultural Equipment to Increase
in 2004 by 13%
Exports of Belarusian agricultural equipment should increase by 13% in 2004
in comparison with the previous year. Last year Belarus exported the goods
at the sum of $296mln what made 129% against the level of the previous year.
It is planned to start exporting new models of the self-propelled harvesters
and grain harvesters.
Tractors export is expanding by setting up assembly facilities which will
assemble modern machines. A project on tractors assembly in Bulgaria with
further access to the market of Turkey and other Balkan countries is being
prepared. There is an agreement on setting up an assembly production in
Syria. A joint venture in Poland is presently activating its work on
promoting its production in Western Europe.
The National Bank of Belarus, EBRD, IFC to Negotiate
Creating Micro-Crediting Bank in Belarus
The National Bank of Belarus (NBB) plans to hold negotiations with the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International
Finance Corporation (IFC) to establish a special joint micro-crediting bank
for the private sector.
The talks are part of the NBB plan to carry out the cooperation strategy
with international finance organizations for 2004.
“Such a bank is usually founded by the EBRD and a member-state in the form
of a new lending institution and then works according to its business plan,”
an NBB representative said.
By January 1, 2004 Belarusian banks had carried out 917 micro crediting
joint projects worth a total of U.S. $15.1 million, of which 317 credits
were given to individual entrepreneurs.
On TIBO-2004 Forum
On April 5-9 Minsk will host XI Belarusian Forum on Information and
Communications Technologies TIBO-2004 attended by computer engineering and
telecommunications providers and software developers.
The exhibition will showcase the products of 200 companies from 16 countries
in the world, including Siemens AG, Alcatel, Intel, IBM, Samsung, Xerox,
Ericsson, and Motorola.
TIBO-2004 is the biggest exhibition of the kind and has been organized since
1994. Annually, 24,000 people visit the exhibition. |
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CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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On the Personal Exhibition of Alexander
Shilov
A personal exhibition of famous Russian painter Alexander Shilov was opened
at the National Arts Museum of Belarus (Minsk). The exhibition hosts 25
paintings by the author, 21 copies, and 29 photographs featuring Shilov with
famous political figures and people of art.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited the exhibition.
“For a great personal contribution to strengthening Belarusian-Russian
cultural relations Alexander Shilov was awarded a Frantsysk Skorina order in
2003,” the presidential press service informed.
Alexander Shilov’s personal exhibition will stay in Minsk till May 3. |
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