WEEKLY DIGEST OF BELARUSIAN NEWS

WEEKLY DIGEST OF BELARUSIAN NEWS

June 25, 2004

NATIONAL NEWS

On July 3, 2004 Belarus Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Its Liberation in World War II

The contribution of Belarus to the struggle with Nazi invaders is universally recognized. The City of Minsk and the Fortress of Brest were decorated with the Hero title for heroism and courage demonstrated in the fight with the fascism. Belarus was referred to in the world as “Partisan Republic”. On April 27, 1945 Belarus became one of the founding members of the United Nations.

Nazi invaders set before them the task to liquidate the national statehood of Belarus. According to the “Ost” plan, German leadership wanted to exterminate or resettle to the East 75 percent of the Belarusian people under political or racial pretext, and Germanize and use as agricultural slaves the remaining 25 percent.

The Belarusian people, being the first to take the attack of the aggressors, had to experience incredibly terrible ordeal. Over a million of Belarusian people were mobilized in front-line forces, 400 thousand Belarusians fought the enemy in partisan units and detachments.

Belarusians paid high price for victory in the Great Patriotic War. During World War II Belarus lost over 2,200,000 lives. During the years of occupation 9,200 Belarusian towns and villages were destroyed, including 627 villages burned down together with the people who lived there. 186 villages have never been rebuilt. Belarus lost more than half of its national wealth during the years of the World War II.

Over 300 thousand Belarusians were decorated with orders and medals for heroism and courage demonstrated during the war. 440 of them became Heroes of the Soviet Union, 65 – Knights of the Order of Glory.

Belarusians, through the ordeals of the war years, struggled not only for the common victory over Nazism, but also for the sovereignty of their country.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Belarusian Producers Participate at ALL CANDY EXPO® in Chicago

Products of the Gomel confectionary “Spartak” received a high appraisal at the annual ALL CANDY EXPO® held in Chicago, said “Spartak” General Manager Lyudmila Susida. According to Ms. Susida, not only traditional chocolate sweets but also new sugar-free confectionary, in particular, waffles, biscuits, chocolate bars and sweets made of fructose were popular at the fair.

Lyudmila Susida noted that during the three-day fair negotiations were held with representatives of leading American, Canadian and German companies to discuss possibilities of supply of Belarusian confectionary to these countries.

At present, Joint Stock Company “Spartak” is one of several Belarusian companies exporting foodstuffs to the United States. Every month the company exports about 30 tons of confectionary to the US. According to the Spartak’s General Manager, participation in the specialized fair will let the enterprise strengthen its positions in North America.

In 2004, 520 companies from 24 states including the Belarusian confectionary plants Spartak and Kommunarka presented their products at the “All Candy” fair.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Belarusian Prime Minister Reports Stable Economic Growth in Jan-May

Belarus kept a stable economic growth in January-May 2004, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky reported to President Alexander Lukashenko.

“The Government and local authorities achieved all 16 social and economic targets,” said Mr.Sidorsky.

According to the Prime Minister, GDP grew by 10% in January-May, while production increase in all economy sectors was between 11% and 24%.

At the same time, the unemployment rate decreased and equaled 2.6% of the total workforce.

Belarusian Government Plans to Increase the Share of Services in Total Exports

The Belarusian Government plans to draft a program to increase the share of services in the Belarusian exports profile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Alexander Mikhnevich said.

Belarus may boost its exports first of all due to an increase in construction and transport services. The government plans to raise exports of construction services by 12% by 2005 and by 10% by 2006. “We successfully export construction services to Russia and plan to develop the markets of Middle East,” Mr.Mikhnevich noted.

Mr,Mikhnevich also noted the necessity to develop the country’s tourist services. The number of tourists visiting Belarus is expected to rise by 7.7% in 2004 and by 9% in 2005. Also, the Government plans to improve the legal basis to develop tourism.

President Allows Regional Authorities to Grant Tax Preferences

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed the Minsk City and regional Councils of Deputies to grant local tax preferences.

Councils of Deputies were authorized to grant deferments of tax and penalty fee payments paid to local budgets or payment by installments.

The decision aims at improving business conditions for companies and their financial recovery.

National Bank Prepares Draft on Amnesty of Illegally Removed Capital

Belarus prepared a draft on the amnesty of illegally removed capital, National Bank of Belarus (NBB) Deputy Chairman Nikolai Luzgin said.

“It is just a draft that is being discussed. There is an idea, but it is difficult to talk about the results,” Luzgin said.

According to the NBB, the outflow of the capital from the country was registered in the late 90s. “There are no exact figures. Some talk about U.S. $1 billion, others mention $2 billion, but methodology may differ,” Mr.Luzgin noted.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Belarus has 147 Olympic Licenses before Opening of Olympic Games in Athens

Belarus received 147 Olympic licenses and was granted the right to participate in 22 sports in Athens. “This is the same number as in 2000 Sidney Olympic Games,” the National Olympic Committee stated.

Four years ago the Belarusian team won 17 Olympic medals.

Chairman of Paralympic Committee Awarded with Special Presidential Prize “Belarusian Sports Olympus”

Chairman of the “Paralympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus” Oleg Shepel was awarded with a special presidential prize “Belarusian Sports Olympus-2004” for active promotion of physical culture and sports. A decree was signed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

A special prize “Belarusian Sports Olympus” was founded on the initiative of the President in 2003 and is awarded for a significant contribution in popularization of mass sports movement and development of sports traditions.

Bobruisk to Host International Folklore Festival

The international folklore festival Friendship Wreath will take place in Bobruisk on June 25-27.

Folklore bands from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece and all Belarusian regions and Minsk will participate in the festival.

Within the framework of the festival exhibitions of children’s creative work, pavilions of national cultures, and the procession of the participants through the central part of the town will also be organized.

National Zoologists Discover New Species of Birds for Belarus

Belarusian zoologists have discovered eagles on the territory of Belarus - a new for Belarus species of birds. The discovery was made by scientists of the Zoology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences and members of the republican public association “Protection of birds of Belarus” who had launched a joint expedition to the Polesye radiation-ecologic reserve.

An eagle was found near uninhabited villages of Krasnoselie and Borshchovka of the Khoiniki region, Gomel oblast. Although the bird looked young it was quite aggressive towards other birds of prey which proved that it liked its new habitat. According to specialists, there may be several reasons why the bird came to Belarus. They are global warming and unique ecosystems of Polesye sand dunes which create favorable conditions for many species of animals, birds and plants listed in the Red Book.

The bird’s place of origin is still unclear for the scientists. In the neighboring Ukraine, there are only 1-5 couples of eagles and most of European eagles live in the remote regions of the Russian Federation.

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