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WEEKLY DIGEST
OF BELARUSIAN NEWS
December 1, 2004
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NATIONAL NEWS
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Alexander Lukashenko appointed Viktor Sheiman Head of the Administration of the President
Alexander Lukashenko appointed Viktor Sheiman Head of the Administration of the President and relieved him of the Prosecutor General post.
Viktor Sheiman was born in the village of Soltanishki, Grodno oblast, Belarus. He graduated from the Higher Military Command Academy and the Academy of the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Belarus. His major is jurisprudence. He is Professor of the Academy of Problems of Security, Defense and Law of the Russian Federation, and is a first-class state justice advisor.
Piotr Miklashevich Appointed Prosecutor General
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appointed Piotr Miklashevich Prosecutor General of Belarus.
Prior to his appointment Piotr Miklashevich worked as Chair of Gomel oblast court and as the First Deputy Justice Minister of Belarus.
Alexander Lukashenko and
Leonid Kuchma Discussed Situation in Ukraine
Presidents of Belarus and Ukraine Alexander Lukashenko and Leonid Kuchma discussed the present situation in Ukraine.
Leonid Kuchma told his counterpart about the results of the second round of the presidential elections held in Ukraine and assessments given by different international structures.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
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Belarus to Sign Two Framework Agreements with MIGA
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko approved the drafts of two framework agreements between Belarus and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA), on the use of local currency and legal protection of guaranteed foreign investments.
The President instructed Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov to hold negotiations with MIGA and sign the agreements.
The agreements will facilitate attracting additional foreign capital in Belarusian economy and reducing its cost.
MIGA was created as a World Bank agency in 1988. MIGA’s mission is to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries, in order to support economic growth, reduce poverty and improve peoples' lives. MIGA membership is open to all World Bank members.
The agency began operations with a capital base of $1 billion. In 1999, the MIGA Council of Governors approved a resolution for a capital increase of $850 million. Members have since contributed $655 million (or 77 percent) of this amount; when further pledges are converted, this should rise to $824 million, or 97 percent. In addition, the agency received a $150 million contribution to its recapitalization from the World Bank.
On Participation of Belarus in Central European Initiative Summit
On November 25-26, 2004 a working meeting of heads of the Central European Initiative
(CEI) governments was held in Portoroz (Slovenia).
Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko represented Belarus at the CEI summit. The Belarusian delegation also included representatives of the Foreign Ministry and Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The summit adopted a final document, which says that “the CEI attaches much importance to further development of politics to prevent new dividing lines between the extended Europe and its neighbors.”
The meeting adopted a decision that ruled that starting from 2006 the CEI chairmanship will be offered to 7 member-states, which have not yet exercised their right to it. In 2006 the chairmanship will be passed on to Albania, in 2007, to Belarus, in 2008, to Bulgaria, in 2009, to Moldova, in 2010, to Romania, in 2011, to Serbia and Montenegro, and in 2012, to Ukraine.
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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Belarus’ Belaz, U.S.’ Cummins to Create Joint Production
Belarus’ Automobile Plant (BelAZ), located in the Minsk Region, and U.S.’ Cummins Inc are considering the creation of a joint production of components for engines. The project was discussed at the meeting between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and CEO of U.S.’ Cummins INC Theodore Matthew
Solso.
“We would like you to produce components for vehicles and not only for engines, and, being interested in the development of this
Belarus-U.S. company, to promote sales of these vehicles on world markets,” President Lukashenko said.
BelAZ plans to buy more than 500 Cummins engines worth a total of U.S. $50 million.
President Lukashenko appreciated the level of Belarus-U.S. cooperation and called the deals “first steps, especially from our side.”
Mr. Solso confirmed the importance of contracts for BelAZ, which accounts for 30% of the world heavy truck output.
Cummins Inc. (Indiana, USA) is a global power leader. It is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.
BelAZ and Cummins established cooperation in 1995. Currently, more than 4,500 BelAZ trucks are equipped with Cummins engines.
In January-September 2004 the Belarusian Economy Attracted $1007.2 Million of Foreign Investments
In January-September 2004 the Belarusian economy attracted $1007.2 million of foreign investments, which is more by 17.4% than in the first nine months of 2003.
The growth was achieved with direct foreign investments (by 29.5% to $631.6 million). Within January-September direct investments amounted to 62.7%, credits and loans, to 37.2% (in January-September 2003, 56.8% and 44%, respectively).
Foreign investments went into trade and public catering ($320.7 million, 31.8% of the total), industry ($264.2 million, 26.2%) communications ($162.4 million, 16.1%).
On Directions of Tourist Business in Belarus
The water tourism development and the use of hunting grounds are strategic directions of the tourist business in Belarus as stated at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Tourist Exchange “Tourbusiness-2004”.
The main steps should be aimed at forming the national tourist industry. Belarus has a lot to show and it is necessary to organize comfortable reception for tourists. Many visitors will be interested in offers concerning ecological tours, agro-tourism and others.
More than 130 companies from 13 countries were present at the event, from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus, Poland, Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and France. These companies offer a wide range of services concerning tourism in Belarus.
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CULTURE AND SOCIETY
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On the XIth Minsk International Film Festival
The XIth Minsk International Film Festival took place on November 20-26. The Film Festival was dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazi invaders and the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory. The opening ceremony was held in the Palace of the Republic (Minsk) by the presentation of film "72 meters" by Vladimir Khoyinenko (Russia).
16 films from more than 20 countries took part in the Festival program. Some 32,000 viewers visited Minsk theaters to watch the films, which were presented not only in Minsk but in other Belarusians cities as well which became a novelty for the Festival.
The “golden prize” of the Festival, the audience’s, choice was given to the film by Russian director Pavel Chukhrai "A Driver for Vera". Another Russian director Dmitriy Meskhiev was awarded the "silver prize" for his film "Ours". “Professional” directed by Dushan Kovachevich from Serbia was awarded the "bronze prize".
Simultaneously with the grown-up-oriented festival “Listapad” an International Youth Film Festival “Listapadzik” also took place.
The Largest Museum Complex in Belarus will Be Built on the Basis of National Museum of Arts
The complex will consist of a number of buildings connected by galleries. It is planed to finish the construction of compound to the National Museum of Arts in 2005.
Newly built premises will accommodate modern Belarusian art. After reconstruction of the main building of the Museum the exposition of Belarusian National Arts (ancient icons and applied arts works) will be displayed in it. The new building will also include special facilities for disabled persons, as well as cafeteria and additional technical facilities. |
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