First Belarusian expedition starts off for Antarctica today

The first Belarusian expedition includes deputy of the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament Nikolai Dubovik and sector chief of the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Tyshkevich. During the seeing off ceremony chairman of the Chamber of Representatives Vladimir Konoplev noted a special importance of “the research in Antarctica given the climate change”. The speaker handed the polar researchers Belarusian flag which they will raise at the South Pole. According to him, participation of the Belarusians in the scientific investigations will enhance the prestige and the status of the country on the international arena. “The program has a great state importance. It is implemented jointly with Russians who will take the Belarusians onboard their vessel”, Vladimir Konoplev said. Director of the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Loginov called the event as very special. “Time will pass and the fact that a citizen of the independent Belarus set his foot in Antarctica will become a historic achievement”, Vladimir Loginov considers. According to him, “it will bring political, scientific and economic benefits as Antarctica will become in the future one of the continents providing mineral raw material resources”. Nikolai Dubovik told reporters that this is not his first experience. He once took part in an expedition “investigating the territory from the Kuril islands to the Bering Strait”. He also informed that the expedition is supposed to last till April. However, everything will depend on the weather.