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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
June 1, 2007
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NATIONAL NEWS
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Belarus
Is Ready for Selling of Shares of Its Highly Profitable Companies
Belarus is
ready to sell a part of the shares of its highly profitable companies to
foreign investors, Vladimir Semashko, the First Vice-Premier of Belarus,
said this week during an annual meeting of the Union of Non-Profit-Making
Organizations “Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
(Employers)”. Today “the state is making a conscious step toward
privatization, not the landslide privatization, but the civilized
privatization. We are ready to sell a part of our companies, but on the
terms we are interested in,” he said.
“We don’t
need an investor who would squeeze everything possible from a company to
throw it away afterwards. We need an investor who would develop a company,”
Vladimir Semashko said. He reminded those present at the meeting that the
Belarusian petrochemical industry, which is of great interest for foreign
investors, needs being refurbished every two-three years. The companies
subordinate to Belneftekhim, the biggest Belarusian petrochemical concern,
are prepared to make a huge leap in their development now, he said, “ and
prepared to sell their shares on civilized terms”.
Belarus
will be assigned a sovereign credit rating soon, the official added. This
will entitle the country to perform IPO in international markets. |
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
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Belarus-Bangladesh Sign Agreement on Trade and Economic
Cooperation
On 29 May,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus hosted a ceremony of signing an
intergovernmental Agreement on trade and economic cooperation between
Belarus and Bangladesh. The document was inked by Deputy Foreign Minister of
Belarus, Viktar Gaisenak, and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Russia and Belarus
(on concurrent), Amir Hussain Sikder.
“This is
the first intergovernmental agreement signed since our countries established
the diplomatic relations. We hope it will promote development of the
bilateral relations in trade-economic sphere and strengthen the political
cooperation between our states”, Mr. Gaisenak underlined.
In turn,
Mr. Sikder expressed confidence that the document will improve the
trade-economic ties and promote cooperation of business circles of the two
countries. According to him, the document will become “the first one among
the forthcoming agreements”.
Delegates of OPCW Eastern European Group to Convene in Minsk
On June
6-8, Minsk will host a regional meeting of delegations of the Eastern
European Group of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The events organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus
and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will gather over 20
OPCW member states to focus on the Convention implementation issues.
Held in the
year of the tenth anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention
enforcement, the regional meeting is supposed to contribute to deeper
cooperation of the member states in the Convention implementation.
As of May
1, 2007, there were 182 states parties to the Convention. The document is
designed to address four main tasks: liquidation of chemical weapons
stockpiles and former production facilities around the globe under
international control, OPCW’s control over chemical companies of the member
states, provision of international aid if chemical weapons are used or are
threatened to be used against a state-party, assistance to further
development of peaceful international cooperation in chemistry.
To fulfill
the Convention, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was
set up as an independent international body with headquarters in the Hague,
the Netherlands. Belarus was elected as a member of the OPCW Executive
Council in 1997, 2002 and 2006.
IAEA to Assess Belarus’ Needs for Innovations to Mitigate
Consequences of Chernobyl Catastrophe
Promising
cooperation avenues between Belarus and the International Atomic Energy
Agency /IAEA/ within the framework of the IAEA country program for Belarus
were discussed during the May 21-25 visit of a delegation of this
organization to Minsk.
In the
course of the visit the IAEA experts and specialists of the Belarusian
departments concerned assessed Belarus’ needs for advanced developments
concerning peaceful use of the latest scientific and engineering
achievements to mitigate consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. In line
with the program of the visit the delegation held negotiations in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, the Emergency Ministry, the Health
Ministry, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection,
the Energy Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences and the Education
Ministry. |
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
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New Customs Code of Belarus to Come Into Force in July
A new
Customs Code of the Republic of Belarus will come into force in July 2007,
Vladimir Goshin, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus,
said at the Belarusian Transport Congress held in Minsk on May 30 as part of
the Belarusian Transport Week.
According
to the source, the new Customs Code utilizes forward-looking methods for
clearance of customs cargoes.
The new
Customs Code has been developed for two years. It is based on the Convention
on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, Customs Codes
of Russia and the Union State. “We tried to secure the unification of laws
as much as possible. The new Code will allow simplifying clearance of
transit cargoes”, he added.
Vladimir
Goshin noted, Belarus’ overseas trade grows by 25-30 percent annually. In
2006 transit via Belarus swelled by 20 percent. “In January-April 2007 the
number of transit shipments increased by 33 percent up on the year”, he
said.
The Deputy
Chairman of the State Customs Committee also reminded, starting January 1,
2008 the Single Administrative Document (SAD) will come into force in
Belarus. The SAD is supposed to unify Belarus’ customs clearance with the
neighboring states. “The SAD will allow economic agents to decrease the
number of customs documents they have to produce by using a single form”, he
explained. Apart from that, the measure is expected to decrease the number
of administrative violations by the Customs. In March 2007, the SAD was
given a test run. “The test was successful and brought positive results”,
added Vladimir Goshin.
Belarus
Mulls Over Creation of Consortium of Investors of High-Tech Park
Belarus is
considering a possibility to create a consortium of investors of the
High-Tech Park, Director of the Administration of the High-Tech Park Valeriy
Tsepkalo told reporters recently. “Apparently we will cerate a consortium of
investors. It will probably be composed of the residents of the Park who
have achieved some financial success and purely financial investors who will
invest and also strategic investors who have the experience of management,”
Valeriy Tsepkalo said.
According
to him, maximum sum of necessary investment in the construction of
facilities of the Park is estimated at $ 362 million. The final figure will
depend on the project, which will be approved. “The project will serve as
the basis for making the estimates. Only then we will be able to say what
the exact sum of investment will be. But it will be no less than $200
million,” Valeriy Tsepkalo added. He also informed that in the next two
weeks the draft of the infrastructure of the Park will be finished.
Belarus
to Put Out Tender for Cement Mill Upgrade Equipment Soon
In the
nearest future Belarus will put out a tender for equipment for modernizing
cement mills, Belarus First Vice-Premier Vladimir Semashko told media
recently.
“We are
just about to put out a tender for supplying cement mill upgrade equipment
so that investors could come. It is immaterial whether they will be western
or eastern countries”, he said. According to the source, it will resolve the
problem of cement shortage on the home market, boost exports, make
Belarusian cement production export-oriented.
He also
reminded, several months ago a cement industry development program had been
adopted in Belarus. The program envisages raising the cement output from 3.7
million tons to 7.5 million tons per annum.
There are
three cement mills in Belarus, namely Krasnoselskstroimaterialy, Belarusian
Cement Mill and Krichevtsementnoshifer. Last year they turned out 3.5
million tons of cement, 11.6 percent more than in 2005.
Gazprom to Pay $ 625 Million for 12.5 Percent of
Beltransgaz Shares by June 15
OAO Gazprom
will pay $ 625 million for 12.5 percent of Beltransgaz shares by June 15,
2007, Belarus First Vice-Premier Vladimir Semashko told media recently
commenting on setting up the joint gas pipeline operator based on
Beltransgaz.
He
reminded, the contract to sell Beltransgaz shares to Gazprom was signed on
May 18 and registered within 24 hours. In line with the contract within 20
business days “we should get the money”, stressed Vladimir Semashko. Thus,
June 15 is the deadline for Gazprom to transfer the money to Belarus.
Ten
business days after that Belarus will hand over 12.5 percnet of Beltransgaz
shares to Gazprom. Fifty days after the shares’ handover it is necessary to
hold a meeting of shareholders and elect new management for running the
joint venture. Vladimir Semashko said, the shareholders meeting is scheduled
for July 20. |
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SOCIETY,
SCIENCE AND CULTURE
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Law on Compatriots Living Abroad Will Accommodate Interests
of Belarusian Diaspora
The law of
Belarus “On the Belarusian compatriots living abroad”, which is being
drafted, will accommodate the interests of the Belarusian Diaspora,
Plenipotentiary Representative for Religions and Nationalities of Belarus
Leonid Guliako has told media this week.
“Our
department has formulated the concept of the law. It was supported by the
President and the Government. At present the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Belarus has been drafting the law using the experience of other countries
and taking into account wishes expressed by the Belarusians living abroad”,
Leonid Guliako said.
The next
congress of the Belarusians of the world will be held soon. “We should draft
a law, which will not disappoint our Diaspora”, the Plenipotentiary
underlined.
According
to him, the matter concerns support to the Belarusians having foreign
citizenship in drawing up and receiving documents for entering and staying
on the territory of Belarus. Belarus wants more Belarusians living abroad to
visit their motherhood. “People having Belarusian roots should learn more
about Belarus, the way it has been developing, so they could tell their
relatives abroad about the country”, Leonid Guliako said.
Belarus’
Hairdressing Team in World’s Top 10
The
Belarusian hairdressing team are highly qualified professionals and belong
in the world’s Top 10 Hairdressing Teams, Konstantin Voitekhovskiy, director
of the Belarusian Association of Hairdressers and Beauticians, told to media
at the Belarus Open Hairdressing Championship Style and Beauty. The
competition is taking place at Minsk’s Children and Youth Palace on June
1-2.
The
Belarusian championship is a major biannual event for all Belarusian
hairdressers. Many winners of the Style and Beauty competition will make it
into the national team, which will head for the World Hairdressing
Championship to be held in Chicago, USA, in March 2008. Belarus has been
taking part in these top competitions since 1996.
Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk Will Open Its Doors in July
The 16th
International Festival of Arts “Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk” will take place
on 5-14 of May 2007. Thirty-two countries have applied for participation in
the event, including
the USA, Cuba, China, Poland, Greece, France, Italy, Germany, etc. Guests
from Africa and Australia are also expected to arrive.
About 100
actions to be held during the Festival. The program of the Festival includes
traditional opening and closing ceremonies, the Days of Culture of Belarus,
Russia, Ukraine and the Union State, the Day of the City of Moscow, the Day
of the City of Vitebsk and the Day of the Youth. Concerts, a handicraft
exhibition “City of Masters”, various press conferences and exhibitions will
be held within the framework of the festival as well. According to the
preliminary information, more than four thousand people from 40 countries
will take part in the actions held within the framework of “Slavonic Bazaar
in Vitebsk”.
Outstanding
French singer Patricia Kaas and Eurovision 2007 winner Marija Serifovic of
Serbia will perform at the opening concert of the Festival along with other
famous foreign performers. Belarus will be represented by Angelica Agurbash,
Alesya, Inna Afanasyeva, music bands Pesnyary and Syabry, the state dance
ensemble of Belarus supervised by Valentin Dudkevich, the Presidential
Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus and others.
The opening
ceremony will be hosted by Yelena Spiridovich (Belarus), Oksana Fedorova
(Russia) and Vasiliy Ilaschuk (Ukraine).
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