Gert Arens, the Head of the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission that will monitor the parliamentary elections in Belarus, is to arrive in Minsk on August 11, BelTA learnt from the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus. Gert Arens is to meet with the CEC members the same day. CEC Secretary Nikolai Lozovik said that the Central Election Commission of Belarus "is somewhat glad that the OSCE ODIHR Mission is headed by a person who is deemed an experience specialist in election...

The Belarusian flag was raised in the Olympic Village in Beijing on August 7. Attending the ceremony were more than 100 people. The flag-raising ceremony symbolizes the official presentation of the delegation of the Republic of Belarus at the Olympic Games. The Belarusian flag was followed by the flags of Spain, Fiji and Monaco. China has carried out a considerable amount of work to get ready for 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The organizers of the Games spent about $42 billion...

By the end of the year the refinancing rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus may reach 11-14%. The figures are specified by draft Major Monetary Management Guidelines for 2009. The calculations were made taking into account the expected increase of around 14% in consumer prices in 2008 according to assessments of the Economy Ministry. In late 2008 the average interest rate for new bank loans (without preferential loans) will total 14-17% per annum, for new fixed-term deposits...

The trade between Belarus and Russia may reach $34-37 billion in 2008, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Belarus Alexander Surikov told a press conference on August 6. According to him, in H1 2008, the trade between the two countries made up $18 billion as against $11 billion over the same period last year (60% up). The two countries increased the supplies of tractors and truck tractors by 44%, agricultural equipment – by 94%, milk and dairy...

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov said, Russia will not place nuclear armaments in Belarus if Poland allows deploying US air defence installations in its territory. The statement was made at a press conference in Minsk on August 6. Regarding the issue the Belarusian-Russian military cooperation is limited by the international treaty of 1994, which declared Belarus a nuclear-free zone and Russia guaranteed it, reminded the Ambassador. He...

Thirty teams of combine operators in the Gomel oblast have already harvested 1,000 tonnes of grain each, BelTA learnt from the oblast department of the Belarusian trade union of agrarians. Roughly a half of these teams work in the Rechitsa region. Among them are the leaders of the oblastwide harvest competition 2008. The team of Valentin Solomakho and Alexander Granem (Lexion-600), the agricultural company Kholmech, harvested 3,160 tonnes as of morning August 1. The combine operators are...

In 2010 Belarusian oil refineries will reach international crude oil upgrading standards, First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko told a press conference in Minsk on August 1. By mid-2010 or late 2010 Belarusian companies will increase the crude oil upgrading index up to 92-93%, which corresponds to international standards, he said. The First Vice Premier also remarked, OAO Naftan will have to increase the output up to 12 million tonnes per annum. Mozyr Oil Refinery will have to...

Belarus tightly cooperates with IAEA experts in matters relating to the development of nuclear power engineering in the country, Viktor Gaisenok, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, told a press conference on July 31. “If we build the nuclear station, and our intention is clearly formulated, we will have to allow the IAEA to control it,” stressed the official. He added, the agency will control and provide essential support as the nuclear station is built. Among joint Belarus-IAEA...

In January-July 2008 the official exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble against the US dollar shrank by 1.7% to make up Br2,114 per $1 as of August 1, 2008, BelTA was told in the National Bank of Belarus. Meanwhile, the exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble against the Russian ruble went down by 3% to reach Br90.27 per one Russian ruble as of august 1. Over the past seven months the official exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble against the euro fell by 4.2% to make up Br3,301.12 per one...

Long-term observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are expected to come to Belarus on August 11-12 to monitor the elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina told journalists in Minsk on July 31. “The first OSCE long-term observers will arrive in Belarus on August 11-12. They are likely to be members of a technical group. The OSCE long-term observers will...