Belarus and Russia are engaged in the negotiations to grant Belarus a Russian loan at the amount of RUB 100 billion, Vice-Premier of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov told reporters on January 23, BelTA has learnt. “This is a rather provisional amount. The Russian side has not taken on any obligations to provide Belarus with this loan, as was the case of the second $1 billion tranche of the stabilization loan,” Andrei Kobyakov. “The 100 billion Russian rubles is not meant to resolve the...

Recommendations of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights using results of the monitoring of the Belarusian parliament elections were discussed during a meeting of Belarus President Administration Head Vladimir Makei and an OSCE ODIHR delegation led by ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic on January 22, BelTA learnt from representatives of the Belarus President Administration. The sides mentioned the determination for practical cooperation during the consideration of OSCE...

The Belarusian-Czech intergovernmental agreement on economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation was signed in Minsk on January 22, BelTA has learnt. The document was signed by Charge D'affaires Ad Interim of Belarus in Czechia Vasily Markovich and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Milan Govorka. Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Valery Voronetsky told media, the agreement outlines the legal framework for systematic and active promotion of the...

The Belarusian and Ukrainian justice ministries will sign an agreement on cooperation in forensic examination. The documents are supposed to be signed when Belarus Justice Minister Viktor Golovanov visits Ukraine on January 23, the ministry told BelTA. The agreement will facilitate the scientific cooperation regarding problems and prospects of forensic examination development and the sharing of expert practices. The main avenues of cooperation are information sharing about scientific...

Belarus is ready to tackle a wide range of issues together with European partners, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he received credentials from foreign ambassadors, BelTA has learnt. “The participation of Belarus is essential to provide an efficient and comprehensive response to present-day challenges Europe is facing, including environmental pollution, energy security, development of transport, transit and customs infrastructure, illegal migration, international...

Starting February 1, 2009 full-fledged declarative state registration of businesses will be introduced in Belarus except for banks and non-banking credit and finance institutions. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed relevant decree No 1 on January 16, the press service of the head of state told BelTA. A business will be entitled to state registration without refusal within one day after submitting a minimal package of documents. A legal person will have to submit an application,...

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has signed the law “Social protection of citizens affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe, other radiation emergencies”, the press service of the head of state told BelTA. The new law is meant to ensure the proper level of social security for citizens affected by the Chernobyl disaster, to systematically and comprehensively define the list and volume of social privileges, rights and guarantees they are entitled to (medication support, sanatorium...

There will be no denomination in Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told reporters on January 13, BelTA has learnt. “We are not going to carry out any denomination. If we take a decision to carry out denomination, we will announce it three or four months in advance,” the Head of State said. “Unlike devaluation you cannot carry out denomination at a time. You need to prepare the money,” Alexander Lukashenko said. He also reminded the reporters that for denomination a...

All the objectives stipulated in the Belarusian monetary policy in 2008 were successfully fulfilled, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Piotr Prokopovich reported to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on January 12, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. The Belarusian President and the National Bank Chairman discussed the work of the banking system in 2008 and the challenges it will face in 2009. Although the Belarusian economy was...

Belarus can become a good platform for China on the European and global markets, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Lu Guicheng in Minsk on January 12. “We have similar enterprises, which operate successfully even during the global financial crisis. In particular, it holds true for the manufacturing of consumer goods, light industry products. At present we are tightly integrated with the world’s...