This year Belarus should see an economic upturn, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on January 7 when visiting St. Spirit Cathedral in Minsk. ‘This year will not be simple. Not because of the recent energy price hike. We will have to make a breakthrough to ensure an economic advance and to lay a foundation for the future economic prosperity. After the holidays we should buckle down to the work to make our life and life of our children better. This year will be deciding,”...

The 4th Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament for the Prizes of the President of the Republic of Belarus opens today, January 4, in Minsk. Competing in the event will be eight teams. They will be divided into two groups. Group A features Belarus, Canada, Switzerland and Austria. Group B – Russia, Germany, Finland and Ukraine. The group winners advance to the finals; the second-placed teams will play for the bronze medal. The host country is traditionally represented by the...

In connection with the 70th anniversary of the founding and in recognition of exceptional achievements in the economic development, the Vitebsk, Gomel, Mogilev and Minsk oblasts have been awarded Honorary State Banner of the Republic of Belarus. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed corresponding decrees on January 3, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree #1 “On Declaring 2008 the Year of Health”. The document aims to create the conditions for further popularization of healthy lifestyle, develop healthcare, physical education and sports, ensure the environmental safety and preserve moral values, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed decree No 700 “On Establishing Export Customs Duties” with respect to the goods exported from the customs territory of Belarus beyond the confines of the states-members of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), BelTA has been told in the head of state’s press service.

On December 28 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed decree No 675 “On presenting state awards of the Republic of Belarus,” BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. Sixty-six people have been honoured with the state awards in recognition of their long-lasting fruitful work, professional excellence, attainment of considerable production results, irreproachable service, exemplary fulfilment of their service duties, achievements in the development of machinery...

On December 28, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko received a telegram from the production association Minsk Tractor Works /MTZ trademark/ saying that the company has produced 60 thousand tractors in the current year. The Belarusian head of state congratulated MTZ personnel on this great victory of labour, thanked them for the self-sacrificing work and wished new achievements and success in the incoming year, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed the law on the budget for 2008 on December 26, 2007. The revenues of the national budget will make up Br38.15 trillion. In 2008, the tax burden will be reduced as five compulsory payments will be abolished. The expenses of the national budget will reach Br40.34 trillion. Most expenditures are expenses on social sphere. In 2008, the state special-purpose funds will include the national fund for support of agricultural producers, the...

Belarus has obtained the Russian state credit of $1.5 billion. The resources have been put into a dollar account of the Finance Ministry of Belarus in the National Bank, BelTA learnt from the Finance Ministry of Belarus. The credit has been provided for 15 years with the payments postponed by five years. Libor interest rate is determined for three-month US dollar deposits plus the margin of 0.75% per annum. Nikolai Korbut, the Finance Minister of Belarus, stated that the necessity of the...

Belarus is not going to denominate the national currency in 2008, BelTA learnt from the National Bank information department. According to the National Bank, the Belarusian ruble will remain stable. In line with the major monetary policy guidelines of the Republic of Belarus in 2008, the official exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble against the US dollar will fluctuate within 2.5% as of January 1, 2009. The National Bank will continue the policy of strengthening the national currency,...