By the end of 2009, the average salary in Belarus may reach $550, First Deputy Finance Minister of Belarus Andrei Kharkovets told a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers which reviewed the draft guidelines of Belarus’ budget-tax policy for 2009 -2010. The session was held in Minsk on May 20. By the end of 2010 the average salary is expected to be increased up to $700. Simultaneously the government will be increasing social transfers (pensions, scholarships, state...

The agenda of the next session of the CIS council of the heads of government will include 21 issues. The session will be held in Minsk on May 23, BelTA was told in the press service of the CIS Executive Committee. The key issue on the agenda will be the implementation of the commission given by the council of the heads of state on October 5, 2007 and the council of the heads of government in November to develop the strategy of the CIS economic development. The session will also consider the...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is interested in implementing projects together with Belarus in various areas, EBRD President Jean Lemierre said as he met with Economy Minister of Belarus Nikolai Zaichenko in Kyiv, BelTA learnt from the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Ukraine. Nikolai Zaichenko is the head of Belarus’ official delegation, which is taking part in the XVII annual session of the EBRD Board of Directors in Kyiv on May 18-19. The sides also...

Belarus believes the cooperation with OAO Russian Machines is promising, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Oleg Deripaska, head of OAO Russian Machines and holding company Basic Element, in Minsk on May 19. “I’ve been aware of your proposals, interests of Russian companies in the Belarusian mechanical engineering industry for a long time,” said the head of state. To get maximum profits from projects in order to survive severe competition, it is necessary to...

A trip to France will be the main prize for four students, who the jury will name best actors of the 15th festival of French-language amateur theatres. The directors of best theatre groups will also get prizes. The festival will take place in the National Centre for Children’s Creative Art on May 20-21, BelTA learned from the French Embassy to Belarus. Some 30 theatre groups and more than 200 participants from different towns of Belarus have applied for participation. Young artists from...

The continuity of Russia’s policy towards Belarus will be preserved, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov told media on May 16 when asked about the development of the Union State construction. Citing Russia President Dmitry Medvedev, the diplomat underscored, “The continuity in politics will be preserved just like our attitudes towards further development of the Union State”. The Ambassador remarked, Belarusian head of state Alexander...

BelTA’s new website www.sport.belta.by will cover Belarusian and international sports news, the activity of the sports agencies and organisations and National Olympic Committee of Belarus and the history about the national sports movement. BelTA plans to cover the June European Football Championship 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, summer Olympic Games in Beijing, performances of the national football team of Belarus in the qualifying of the world championship 2010 and Minsk Dynamo club in...

In late 2008 the exchange rate of the Belarusian rouble against the US dollar may total Br2,100 per $1, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Piotr Prokopovich told media in Minsk on May 15. “There are reasons to believe that the Belarusian rouble exchange rate will stay stable till the end of the year. We expect it to gain 2.5% and total Br2,100 per one dollar at the end of the current year,” said Piotr Prokopovich. As of May 15 the exchange rate...

Issues regarding stepping up the bilateral cooperation will be discussed during a visit of Marek Belka, UN Deputy Secretary General, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), to Belarus on May 22-23. The UN official was invited by Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Popov told a press conference on May 15. The main purpose of the visit is negotiations with the Belarusian government. Marek...

In late 2008 the exchange rate of the Belarusian rouble against the US dollar may total Br2,100 per $1, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Piotr Prokopovich told media in Minsk on May 15. “There are reasons to believe that the Belarusian rouble exchange rate will stay stable till the end of the year. We expect it to gain 2.5% and total Br2,100 per one dollar at the end of the current year,” said Piotr Prokopovich. As of May 15 the exchange rate...