Belarus held consultations with delegations of Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia on the urgent issues of the European security and confidence and security-building measures (CSBMs). These issues were discussed during the OSCE Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting (AIAM) in Vienna. During the meeting Belarus informed about the fulfilment of its obligations under main military-political documents. A Belarusian delegation was headed by Belarus’ permanent representative in the OSCE...

Belarus can become a great ice hockey power, President of the country Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rene Fasel. “I am sure that in several years Belarus will prove it is a great hockey power and take a fitting place in the rating,” the Head of State said. “Everything possible is being done in our country to turn it into a world-class hockey power,” he said. Alexander Lukashenko added that Belarus is ready for...

Any investor, who comes to work on the Belarusian market, should be socially responsible, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with top executives of Turkish telecommunication company Turkcell. “I would like companies to enter the Belarusian market not only for earnings, but for helping people in the social sphere,” noted the head of state. “Because Belarusians will help with the earnings and certainly something should be left to them”. In turn, the Turkcell...

Belarus has waived the golden share rule. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed relevant decree No.144 on March 4, BelTA was told in the press service of the head of state. The move is expected to help attract foreign investments in the real production sector of Belarus, meet the 2008 economic targets, enhance Belarus’ rating at the international level and protect the rights of investors in the securities market. The decree comes into force on the day it is officially published.

In January 2008, Belarus’ foreign trade in goods increased by 61.4% on the same period 2007 to $5, 077 billion, BelTA was told in the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis. In January this year, exports of goods increased by 77.9% to $2, 477 billion, imports – 48.4% to $2, 601 billion. The goods deficit was $123, 8 million. In January 2008, foreign trade in goods with the CIS countries was up 76.5% to $2, 977 billion. Exports were $1, 046 billion (up 49.7%), imports - $1, 932 billion (up...

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes it is necessary to grant additional powers to the Constitutional Court. The President made the statement on March 3 as he administered an oath to judges of the Constitutional Court. “We should speak about not only the control over constitutionality of legal acts, but about new areas of the court’s efforts,” stressed the President. In his words, giving additional authority to the court will allow resolving the most difficult legal...

Director General of Belarusian Potash Company Vladimir Nikolaenko has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Fertilizer Institute (TFI), BelTA learnt in the public relations department of Belarusian Potash Company. Over the two years and a half of its activity, Belarusian Potash Company has showed itself as a big and reliable supplier of potash fertilizers to the world market. It is the reason why the Fertilizer Institute that joins more than 100 companies-producers of fertilizers...

On February 29 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko conferred state awards on 73 citizens, including industry workers, medics, geologists, construction workers, lawyers, teachers, people of culture and arts, the military and policemen, executives, the press service of the head of state told BelTA. Alexander Lukashenko remarked, “Every one of you earned these awards in his own way. But all of you are united by an active civil stance, the fact that you dedicate you talent and energy,...

More than 150 entities of commodity distribution network of Belarus operate in Ukraine, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. At present, the Belarusian-Ukrainian joint assembly facilities on production of tractors, municipal equipment on the base of MAZ trucks and also elevators were set up in Ukraine. The biggest joint project is the company which assembles MTZ tractors in Kiev. The joint venture has already assembled more than 8 thousand machines. MAZ...

The Republic of Belarus was deeply concerned about the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence by ad hoc administration bodies of the autonomy, reads a message sent by Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko to President of Serbia Boris Tadic. The press service of the President of Belarus cited the message as saying, “The follow-up increase in tensions in the Serbian autonomy confirms our fears for an increase in instability in the autonomy, which may lead to unpredictable...