For the past 21 years since the Chernobyl disaster Belarus has implemented three governmental programmes on mitigating consequences of this great man-cause catastrophe, the head of the Administration of Belarus’ President, said during a solemn opening ceremony of a symbolic monument “Peace Stone from Hiroshima” in Minsk. Life was revived in the Chernobyl-affected regions due to constant attention paid by other countries and joint efforts made by the Belarusian nation and foreign...

By his ordinance Head of State Alexander Lukashenko approved a draft agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Commission of the European Communities on establishing, privileges and immunities of a Representative Office of the Commission of the European Communities in Belarus, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. In line with the draft Belarus gives consent to establish a Representative Office of the Commission of the European Communities on its territory. Belarus also...

New economic opportunities for Russia will benefit Belarus as well. The statement to this effect was made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the meeting with Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov on October 19 in Minsk, BelTA learnt in the presidential press service. Russia is Belarus’ largest economic partner. It accounts for almost half of the foreign trade of Belarus. “A rich buyer is always a good neighbor,” the Belarusian leader added. The head of state...

For the past 21 years since the Chernobyl disaster Belarus has implemented three governmental programmes on mitigating consequences of this great man-cause catastrophe, the head of the Administration of Belarus’ President, said during a solemn opening ceremony of a symbolic monument “Peace Stone from Hiroshima” in Minsk. Life was revived in the Chernobyl-affected regions due to constant attention paid by other countries and joint efforts made by the Belarusian nation and foreign...

A Belarusian-Austrian joint venture will be set up at Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno in H1 2008 to produce viscose industrial threads, Director General of Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno Vasily Kostyukevich told media on October 18. A memorandum of cooperation between Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno and Glanzstoff Group was signed in Vienna the same day. The new company will be named as Glanzstoff Belarus. According to Vasily Kostyukevich, the sides started discussing the possibility of setting up the joint...

Belarus is ready to boost cooperation with Japan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview with Kyodo, a Japanese news agency, on October 18. “Soon we will intensify activities in the Japanese direction. I believe that Japan will do the same as it is beneficial to cooperate with us and use Belarus as a foothold in the center of Europe for economic expansion to the West and other states,” the President said. However, it is necessary to set up a good bilateral...

The acquiring of the sovereign rating gives Belarus an opportunity to increase foreign investment in its economy, Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG, told reporters in Vienna. In his words, this will help improve the investment image of Belarus and enhance the interest of Austrian companies in Belarus. “Acquiring the rating is very important for your country. We have made our best for the decision to be taken,” Herbert Stepic said. RZB plans to concentrate...

On October 19 Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Viktor Zubkov will pay a working visit to Minsk, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus. He will take part in a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State, which will be held in the Belarusian capital on that day. As BelTA informed earlier, the agenda of the session includes 17 items. The key issue is the Union State budget for the next year. A report on budget implementation in...

Belarus insists on restoring its special guest status in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vadim Popov stated during a meeting with Andrea Rigoni, the PACE Vice-Chairperson, Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee on the situation in Belarus. The meeting was held in Minsk on October 17. “We have discussed all the issues of mutual interest. The meeting helped to compare our positions...

In January-September this year the Belarusian GDP totaled Br 69.5 trillion in actual prices, an increase of 8.4% in comparable prices as against same time last year, BelTA learnt in the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis. On the whole, GDP is expected to grow by 8% or 9% this year and by 8.3% over the nine months 2007. The industrial value added accounts for 26.6% of GDP, transport and communications – 8.8%, trade and public catering – 9.9%, construction and agriculture – for 8.2%...