In H1 2008, Belarus entered the list of Russian six major trading partners. According to the data of the Federal Customs Service of Russia received by the BelTA correspondent office in Moscow, Belarus’ share in the Russian foreign trade grew from 4.7% to 5% over the six months of 2007. According to the Russian Customs statistics, in H1 2008 Belarus-Russia trade totaled $18 billion 11.3 million, up 60.7% on the same point a year ago. Apart from Belarus the list included Germany - $34...

Iran is ready to provide any assistance to Belarus in developing peaceful nuclear power industry, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Belarus Abdolhamid Fekri told journalists in Minsk on August 20. Belarus has announced a tender for the construction of the nuclear power station. “We are ready to consider any suggestions of Belarus concerning the cooperation in the nuclear power industry,” Abdolhamid Fekri said.

As of August 20, 2008 the gross grain harvest in Belarus made up 7,915.000 tonnes and is already 900,000 tonnes higher than Belarus’ record high harvest of 2004, BelTA was told in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Belarus’ record high harvest in 2004 was 7 million tonnes of grain. Considering last year’s harvest of 6,899.000 tonnes this year’s harvest is already 1 million tonnes higher. Today, on August 20, Belarus will pass the mark of 8 million tonnes. Virtually all oblasts...

The Permanent Commission for International Affairs and Ties with CIS of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus recommends to ratify the Belarusian-Russian agreement on the property of the Belarus-Russia Union State during the autumn session, deputy head of the commission Sergei Kostyan told reporters on August 20. Director of the state property fund of the Belarus State Property Committee Natalia Zhernosek noted that the agreement will allow the two countries to...

As of August 20, 2008 the gross grain harvest in Belarus made up 7,915.000 tonnes and is already 900,000 tonnes higher than Belarus’ record high harvest of 2004, BelTA was told in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Belarus’ record high harvest in 2004 was 7 million tonnes of grain. Considering last year’s harvest of 6,899.000 tonnes this year’s harvest is already 1 million tonnes higher. Today, on August 20, Belarus will pass the mark of 8 million tonnes. Virtually all oblasts...

While in Russia on a working trip President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held negotiations with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi on August 19, the press service of the Belarusian head of state told BelTA. The agreement to hold the meeting had been reached during the Russian president’s visit to Belarus in June. At the start of the negotiations, which took place at the residence Bocharov Ruchei, Alexander Lukashenko mentioned “one very important positive component”...

As of August 18 the gross grain harvest in Belarus has exceeded 7.4 million tonnes, BelTA learnt from the main plant growing department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Minsk oblast remains the harvest campaign leader with 1,862.600 tonnes. The Grodno oblast has harvested 1,446.800 tonnes, the Brest oblast 1,201.000 tonnes. The Mogilev oblast has cropped 1,060,700 tonnes, Gomel 1,021.100 tonnes and Vitebsk oblast 816,500 tonnes. The average yield this year is 37.6 centners per...

The Belarusian Finance Ministry will intensify the development of the financial market of the country, new Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets noted. On August 15, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky introduced him to the staff of the Finance Ministry of Belarus. According to Andrei Kharkovets, the ministry will continue its insurance work, intensify the activity to secure economic safety of the country due to the work with the joint government debt. The Finance Ministry is going to...

OSCE/ODIHR observation mission for the parliamentary elections in Belarus will start working on August 19, BelTA learnt from the OSCE Office in Minsk. Some 41 representatives of OSCE will arrive in Belarus to monitor the parliamentary elections. Some 300 short-term observers will arrive in the country on the eve of the election day to monitor the opening of polling stations and voting process. The main team and long-term observers will come to Belarus from 22 OSCE member states. The CIS...

Belarus will provide a firm support for China in Europe, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the meeting with Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao in Beijing on August 7. “There is no other European country that is a greater friend of China than we are. We will pursue the same policy we have been committed to for the last 10-15 years. We will provide you with a strong support, I state it publicly,” the Belarusian President underlined. “We are ready to...