WEEKLY DIGEST OF BELARUSIAN NEWS

WEEKLY DIGEST OF BELARUSIAN NEWS

July 3, 2004

NATIONAL NEWS

Belarus Celebrated Independence Day and 60th Anniversary of Liberation from Nazi Occupation

On July 3, Alexander Lukashenko laid a wreath to the monument at the Victory Square. Then the Belarusian President reviewed a celebratory parade.

More than three thousand servicemen and about two hundred units of military equipment took part in the celebrations. Veterans from all oblasts of Belarus and foreign citizens, who took part in the liberation of Belarus, political and public figures from the CIS member-states were invited to the parade.

Celebration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus was very interesting and rich in events. Festivities were held in all districts of the Belarusian capital. The main concert program – “We congratulate you, veterans” was held for Minsk residents and guests of the Belarusian capital at the Masherov Avenue. A concert of masters of arts of Minsk took place at the Oktiabrskaya Square. A special youth program is planned to be held in the park named after Yanka Kupala.

The program of celebrating the jubilee of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi occupation also has sports events. The most mass one among them was the 10th Minsk International Marathon.

The events dedicated to the remarkable date will also be held in foreign states, where the Belarusian diplomatic representations are accredited.

Colorful fireworks in honor of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus were the final event of the celebrations.

President of Belarus Presents Medals “60th Anniversary of Liberation of the Republic of Belarus from Nazi Occupants”

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko presented the first jubilee medals “60th Anniversary of Liberation of the Republic of Belarus from Nazi Occupants” to more than 100 participants of the Great Patriotic War. Among awarded veterans, who took part in liberation of Belarus, are representatives of different states – Belarus, France, Armenia, Poland, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia.

The President underlined that he was proud of the fact that “heroes, who had liberated Belarus and the whole world from the Nazism, were among us”. “Each of them is a legend", said the President.

War Veterans Granted Right to Travel at no Charge

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko took a decision to grant the participants and invalids of the Great Patriotic War the right to travel at no charge from June 30 to July 5, 2004 and from April 30 to May 12, 2005 on the territory of Belarus by intercity buses and by trains of the Belarusian railways.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Over 100 representatives of US State Department, Governmental and Charitable Organizations Attend Reception in Washington DC Dedicated to Independence Day of Belarus

Over 100 representatives of the US State Department, governmental and charitable organizations attended a reception dedicated to the Independence Day of Belarus and the 60th anniversary of liberation of this country from the Nazis held by the Belarusian Embassy in Washington DC, on July 2.

On the occasion a photo exhibition “Belarus in the Great Patriotic War” was displayed in the Embassy.

On Participation of Belarusian State Delegation at Summit of Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

On June 28-29, 2004 a State Delegation of the Republic of Belarus headed by the State Secretary of Security Council of Belarus Gennadi Nevyglas visited Istanbul (Turkey) and took part in the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).

In the course of the plenary meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council the leaders of states-participants and heads of the delegations discussed the prospects of development and main directions of transformation of the Partnership in new conditions of international reality.

Gennadi Nevyglas underlined that Belarus was ready to share the responsibility for ensuring international security by means of concrete actions.

The Belarusian delegation informed EAPC members about the new legislation, which allows the Belarusian state to participate in peace-keeping operations. Belarus will prepare peacekeeping forces. For this purpose the country will form its own peacekeeping force under the auspices of the EAPC.

Belarus positively evaluates the bilateral agreements on additional confidence-building with Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, which create an important perimeter of stability and good neighborliness. The sides have established good basis for maintaining security of common European strategic energy objects, struggle against illegal migration and weapons smuggling, noted the Belarusian side.

At the summit EAPC members adopted documents in the sphere of international security, struggle against terrorism and trafficking in persons.

Gennadi Nevyglas met with the Deputy Secretary General of NATO and the Turkish Defense Minister. The sides discussed the prospects of developing relations between Belarus and NATO, and the problems of intensifying Belarus-Turkey military cooperation.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Prime Minister of Belarus: Belarus Has Significant Potential for Export Increase

Belarus has a significant potential to increase exports to foreign countries, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy stated at a conference with trade counselors of Belarusian diplomatic missions abroad.

In January-April of 2004 exports to the states where Belarus has its diplomatic representations increased by 30%.

The foreign trade turnover of Belarus this January-April made $8,9 billion and increased by 24%. Foreign trade’s deficit decreased by $65,4mln.

On Decrease of Belarusian Foreign Debt in January-May

Belarusian foreign debt, not counting short-term credits, decreased by 8.2% to $675.7 million over the first five months of this year, the Ministry of Finance of Belarus informed.

The debts went down by 1.2% in May, 3.5% in April.

Of the overall foreign debt amount, direct government debts accounted for $324.8 million as of June 1.

The volume of foreign credits received by businesses under government guarantee stood at $350.9 million.

Over January-April 2004 Belarus drew $11.8 million in credits from the IBRD, Germany and Kuwait.

On Industrial Output of Belarus

In 2004 industrial output growth rate in Belarus should make 110-112%. According to the results of fulfilling the programs of socio-economic development of Belarus for 2001-2005, the industrial output will increase in 1,4 times by 2006, First Deputy Minister of Economy Vladimir Naidunov said.

The last year’s results of the activity of the Belarusian industrial complex and those for the five months of the year, when the production growth rates has made 107,1% and 114,4% correspondingly, let us make such optimistic forecast, Vladimir Naidunov noted. At present, the industrial complex of Belarus accumulates 34% of the fixed assets. Industrial companies provide 30% of the GDP production and 65% of the Belarusian exports.

Among the most successful branches Vladimir Naidunov mentioned machine-building. Companies of this branches conduct technical re equipment, owing to which Belarusian plants get prepared to high demand for machine-building products on the foreign market especially in the Russian Federation. According to the First Deputy Economy Minister, now several industrial companies of Belarus, including Minsk tractor plant, work in 2-3 shifts in order to satisfy Russia’s demands. Apart from that Belarus uses to the maximum production capacities for potash and nitrogen fertilizers, refrigerators, and mineral oils.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Bill On Higher Education Passes First Reading at Lower Chamber of Belarusian Parliament

The bill “On higher education” has passed first reading at the House of Representatives (Lower Chamber) of the National Assembly of Belarus.

“The adoption of the law will allow us to join the world process, however, preserving the national traditions of higher education,” stated Education Minister Alexander Radkov.

“People from many countries are eager to study here, but we should unify our education with world standards,” the Minister noted.

According to him, “the bill consolidates not just the experience in the field of higher education, but also looks into the future, the perspective.”

The Minister informed, that the bill states that a higher education establishment may have an integrated lyceum, a vocational institution, which would allow developing integration processes in education.

“Common rules of admission to any educational establishment will allow providing all entrants with equal conditions,” Alexander Radkov said.

Apart from that, the document shifts the Belarusian Higher School to the two-level system. Alexander Radkov specified, “the content of the first level, bachelor’s course, is equal to former higher education. Further improvement of a specialist’s level is possible during 1-2 years’ master’s courses,” Alexander Radkov explained.

The minister informed, that the total shift to the two-level higher education will tale place in 5-6 years “after we completely go through twelve-year school education cycle.”

Belarusian President Attends the National Ball of Graduates from Higher Educational Establishments

The Belarusian school of higher education has an enormous intellectual and creative potential, said President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the National Ball of the graduates from higher educational establishments, which was held in the Palace of the Republic.

Belarusian higher education establishments have abundant experience and traditions and they have earned a well–merited reputation both in the CIS and other countries abroad. At present, our country has 56 higher educational establishments with over 30 thousand young specialists are graduating from them this year.

The President congratulated the graduates of the Belarusian higher educational establishments on receiving diplomas of higher education. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that young specialists' capabilities and industriousness would be crucial both for the development and the future of our state.

Stanley Cup to Come to Belarus

Belarus will for the first time welcome the chief professional ice hockey trophy – Lord Stanley Cup, reports the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation (BIHF).

The Stanley Cup is expected to arrive in Minsk on July 17 and will be exhibited at the Sports Palace.

The world’s most prestigious ice hockey prize will come to Minsk owing to Nikolai Khabibulin, goalkeeper of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey club. Khabibulin wished the silver cup would spend 24 hours (the time every player of the champion hockey team is entitled to keep the trophy) in the Belarusian capital. Nikolai Khabibulin comes from Russia, but his wife, Victoria, was born in Minsk.

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