MINSK, March 4 (BelTA) – The European expertise in improving local governance system is very important for Belarus, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the Belarusian National Assembly Boris Batura said at a plenary session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe which is being held in Strasbourg (France) on March 3-5, BelTA learnt from the information department of the Upper House of the Belarusian Parliament. Boris Batura met with Vice President...

Budgets of small and medium-sized towns should be increased due to more active infrastructure development, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers to revise the progress in the implementation of the national comprehensive development programme for regions, small and medium-sized urban settlements for 2007-2010 on March 3. This programme emphasizes transition from getting donations from local and central government to...

Bulgarian travel agencies have decided to reduce prices by 5-30% for organised tourist groups from other countries, first of all, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The information was released by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Belarus Petko Ganchev at a press conference held on March 2 on the occasion of the Bulgarian national holiday — the Liberation Day. The head of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission underscored, the decision had been made to create attractive...

The Japanese government allocated almost $400,000 to several hospitals of the Gomel oblast to purchase medical equipment, BelTA learnt from the Japanese Embassy in Belarus. The Japanese diplomatic mission is implementing a programme of the Japanese government ‘Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects’. In line with this programme, Japan will finance the purchase of medical equipment for Bragin central regional hospital ($85,200), Loev hospital ($74,700), Elsk...

MINSK, February 26 (BelTA) – Four large whey processing centres will be constructed in Belarus by the end of 2010, BelTA learnt from Oleg Dymar, Deputy Director of the Institute for Meat and Dairy Industry affiliated with the Research and Practical Centre for Foodstuffs of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). The centres will be set up at the Slutsk cheese-making plant (Minsk oblast), Ivanovo branch of Bereza cheese-making plant (Brest oblast), Senno branch of Orsha dairy...

Research organisations of Belarus and Russia are developing a concept of the new Chernobyl programme of the Union State, Olga Vinogradova, deputy chief of the social policy and information support department of the Union State Permanent Committee, told reporters on February 25. According to Olga Vinogradova, several pilot projects are currently underway. Once they are completed in 2011, the new Union State programme of mitigating the Chernobyl impact will be submitted for consideration of...

There are no problems with replenishing the revenue part of the state budget in Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told media on February 24. “No catastrophe has happened to the budget over the two months. There are even slight economic improvements,” said the head of state. If the budget and all the funds are considered, this year’s level is only Br200-300 billion lower than last year, he continued. Alexander Lukashenko assured that the state will meet all social...

MINSK, February 24 (BelTA) – There are no problems with replenishing the revenue part of the state budget in Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told media on February 24. “No catastrophe has happened to the budget over the two months. There are even slight economic improvements,” said the head of state. If the budget and all the funds are considered, this year’s level is only Br200-300 billion lower than last year, he continued. Alexander Lukashenko assured that the...

MINSK, February 23 (BelTA) –The most important goal is further strengthening of the regional forces of Belarus and Russia, enhancing the capabilities to protect the Union State, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said when speaking at the reception to mark the Fatherland Defenders and Armed Forces Day, BelTA reports. The head of state said that there is a need to develop military and military-technical cooperation, with the priority given to the strengthening of the relations with...

MINSK, February 20 (BelTA) – The National Council for Labour and Social Issues has affirmed a plan of action of the Belarusian government to implement the recommendations articulated in the Report of the Commission of Inquiry “Trade Union Rights in Belarus” of the International Labour Organization (ILO). This decision was adopted at a session of the National Council for Labour and Social Issues on February 20. Labour and Social Protection Minister Vladimir Potupchik noted that the...