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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
September 3, 2004
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NATIONAL NEWS
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On Act of Terrorism in Russia
Explosions of civil planes, act of terrorism in Moscow, and
hostage drama in the Northern Ossetia show that international terrorism has
launched an unprecedented offensive against Russia.
It is obvious that these terrible actions are coordinated from abroad and
financed by international terrorist centers.
These acts are comparable to the biggest terror attacks of the recent years.
Proceeding from international character of the threat, the international
community should ensure full-scale interaction with Russia without any
exceptions.
In this context we support the statement of the UN Security Council "calling
all countries to cooperate actively with the Russian authorities in their
attempts to detain and punish the executors, organizers and sponsors of
these terrorist attacks".
We are also convinced that cooperation in this direction within the
framework of the CIS antiterrorist center and the Collective Security Treaty
Organization should be intensified.
Belarusian President Sends Condolences
to Russian President Over Explosion in Moscow Metro
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko sent a message of
condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the terrorist attack in
Moscow, the press service of the Belarusian President states.
"Belarus was shocked at the news about the terrorist act near Rizhskaya
metro station in Moscow, which resulted in a heavy death toll," the message
reads.
"People of Belarus sympathize with Russia over this terrible distress, and
mourn over the innocent victims of this act of barbarous villainy. On behalf
of the nation I deeply condole with you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, and all
Russian people," says the message.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
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On Meeting of Belarusian Prime Minister
with IAEA Deputy Director General
The Belarusian side is ready to develop cooperation with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in securing radiation safety and
eliminating consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, Belarusian Prime
Minister Sergei Sidorskiy stated at a meeting with IAEA Deputy Director
General Anna Maria Cetto.
The Prime Minister pointed out positive results of work of the bodies in
charge of radiation security and consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe
as well as positive dynamics of cooperation between the IAEA and Belarus.
The Prime Minister also informed that the Belarusian side was ready to
provide assistance in organization of courses and seminars on all IAEA
issues.
Anna Maria Cetto underlined that the IAEA will continue rendering support to
Belarus.
The cooperation between Belarus and IAEA in non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons is realized on the basis of the agreement on applying guarantees,
which came into force on August 31, 1996. Since 2001 Belarus has been
carrying out the national project on the IAEA technical cooperation
"Rehabilitation of territories affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe", which
is annually financed with $400,000-500,000. Since 2003 the republic has been
taking part in the regional (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine) project on technical
cooperation "Long-term strategies of countermeasures and control over
irradiation of people in the rural areas suffered after the Chernobyl
catastrophe". The project's budget amounts to $3mln. A total of five IAEA
national projects to the total sum of $1,3mln have been under implementation
in Belarus in 2003-2004. Now Belarus is involved in 18 regional projects of
technical cooperation including a $3mln "Chernobyl" project.
On Meeting of Belarusian Foreign
Minister with IAEA Deputy Director General
At the meeting Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei
Martynov and IAEA Deputy Director General Anna Maria Cetto expressed mutual
interest in further cooperation in overcoming the consequences of the
Chernobyl catastrophe. The sides agreed to make more activate the efforts of
the world community on settling the Chernobyl problems.
Belarusian Researcher Elected Vice
President of International Association for Pattern Recognition
Corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of
Belarus (NAS), Director General of the United Institute for Information
Science Sergey Ablameyko was elected as Vice President of the International
Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR). The election of Sergey Ablameyko
is "a sign of significant international recognition of the Belarusian school
for pattern recognition and pattern processing", the press release of the
NAS stated.
Sergey Ablameyko is the first scientist representing the former USSR,
Central and Eastern Europe to be elected to managing body of IAPR in the
last 30 years.
The NAS informed that the International Association for Pattern Recognition
was set up in 1976. It is the world's major scientific organization, which
coordinates research in the field of pattern recognition and image
processing.
Belarus was the first among the former USSR states to join the IAPR in 1993.
Now the country is actively cooperating with scientists from all over the
world through this organization.
Sergey Ablameyko is a well-known scientist in the field of image processing
and character recognition. He supervised and led development of the theory,
methods, and algorithms of processing and recognizing graphical information.
Fundamental results achieved in the field are widely acknowledged. "Sergey
Ablameyko made a significant contribution to the development of information
technology in Belarus," stressed the NAS.
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
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Direct Foreign Investments in
Belarusian Economy up by 50% in the First Half of the Year to $430.9 m
Direct foreign investments in Belarusian economy rose by 50%
in January-June to U.S. $430.9 million, the Ministry of Statistics informed.
Trade and public catering are in the lead here with 44.3% of all direct
foreign investments, followed by communication with 17.1% and industry with
16.9%.
Total foreign investments in Belarus' economy amounted to $655.4 million in
January-June. Most investments were from Switzerland, 39.8% of the total
investments, Russia, 18.1%, Great Britain, 7.2%, the U.S., 5.1%, Germany,
4.8%, Austria, 2.8%, and Latvia, 2.84%.
Belarusian Finance Ministry Drafts
2005 Budget with Deficit of 1.5% of GDP
Belarusian Finance Ministry drafted 2005 national budget with
the deficit of 910 billion Belarusian rubles, or 1.5% of GDP, Vladimir
Amarin, the Chairman of the Budget Policy Department of the ministry stated.
The 2005 draft national budget envisages spending at 19.160 trillion
Belarusian rubles, while the revenues are expected at 18.250 trillion
Belarusian rubles, Amarin added.
To cover the deficit, the Ministry offers to attract 278 billion Belarusian
rubles from placing state securities on the domestic market. Another 100
billion Belarusian rubles are to be received from state property
privatization.
Besides, the ministry plans to attract 500 billion Belarusian rubles from
the placement of Belarusian state securities on the foreign market,
including Russian market. "Belarus may also obtain a credit rating that will
contribute to attracting funds from abroad," Amarin said.
At the same time, the draft budget does not envisage any loans from
international financial organizations and foreign governments.
Catalogue of Innovation Projects and
Elaborations
The Embassy of Belarus proudly presents the 9th Catalogue of
Innovation Projects and Elaborations, a research and development miscellany
prepared by
the State Committee on Science and Technology of Belarus.
The Catalogue is subdivided by topics into 12 sections that comprise the
total of 198 projects. The projects represent the summary outcome of the
state scientific and technical programs, as well as innovation projects
fulfilled within 2002 in social fields and in development of new
technologies, novel machinery and materials.
Most of the projects are notable for their research and technological
novelty, being up to the world counterparts' level or exceeding it, while
being considerably less costly. This primarily concerns science-intensive
small-scale production pieces, instrument making, new information and
telecommunication systems and technologies, chip engineering, integrated
circuits and microelectronics, computer technologies and biotechnology.
The Catalogue covers a vast array of projects on creation and use of
composite materials and those with special characteristics, engineering
coatings, new chemical compounds; there are also agricultural projects on
energy-saving equipment, application of biotechnologies, land protection,
processing and storage of agricultural products.
The Catalogue is available at the Embassy of Belarus website
http://www.belarusembassy.org/science/index.htm.
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CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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Alexander Lukashenko: Belarusian
Written Language Day Is Holiday for Everybody Who Respects Native Language,
and Culture, and Preserves Spiritual Heritage
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko sent a message of
greetings to participants and guests of the Belarusian Written Language Day,
which will be held on September 5 in Turov.
The Written Language Day turned into an important national event. It is a
holiday for everybody who respects his native language and culture and
preserves the spiritual heritage, the President noted. Without resting upon
the best traditions of our people we will not be able to preserve the moral
fundamentals of the society and enrich our culture.
Belarusians respect their glorious past and are proud of it by right. It
gives them confidence in their strength, in the validity of the chosen
policy aimed at building the powerful and flourishing country, the Republic
of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko underlined.
President of Belarus on Education
System in Belarus
Belarus will optimize its education system and reform it in
several directions, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated
speaking to students of the Baranovichi State University, the first state
university set up in the sovereign Belarus.
According to the President, the work on improving textbooks in different
disciplines for schools and establishments of higher education of the
republic will continue. "Education is the foundation of the people's life",
Alexander Lukashenko underscored.
In honor of the opening of the new University the President planted the
first tree in the University's Alley and presented the symbolic key to the
Alma Mater. Alexander Lukashenko wished students to create one big friendly
family in order to study and work for the welfare of Belarus.
On the Performance of Belarusian
Olympic Team in Athens
On August 29 the Summer Olympic Games in Athens ended with a
spectacular closing ceremony.
During 17 days of the Games Belarusian athletes showed great performance and
won 15 Olympic medals - 2 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze.
Belarusian athletes in judo, boxing, wrestling, track and field, rowing,
shooting and cycle racing took Olympic Medals. 10 Belarusian Olympians also
won fourth places.
In unofficial Olympic tournament Belarus took 24th place by the total number
of medals and 26th place by gold medals. Among European Olympic teams
Belarus was 15th, and took third place among former Soviet Union countries.
Belarus is proud of the gold medallists Yulia Nesterenko who ended the
20-year dominance of the United States in the women's 100-meter sprint, and
Ihar Makarau, who in tense struggle took first gold medal for the Belarusian
team in the men's judo half-heavyweight final.
For the first time Belarusian athletes took part in the Olympic Games in
1952 in Helsinki as members of the USSR Team.
Since 1994 Belarus has participated in five Olympic Games as an independent
team. At the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer our athletes won 2
silver medals, in 1996 in Atlanta 1 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze, in 1998 at
the Winter Games in Nagano 2 bronze medals, at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney 3
gold, 3 silver and 11 bronze medals and at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake
City 1 bronze medal. Since 1994 40 Belarusian athletes became Olympic
medallists and won 37 medals 4 gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze.
In all, 59 athletes from Belarus became Olympic Champions and medallists,
winning 84 gold, 47 silver and 56 bronze medals, demonstrating to the whole
world that our land is rich in sport talents.
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