The Commonwealth of Independent States should not be just preserved, the CIS should continue developing, raising its effectiveness as an integration institution through implementing specific large-scale projects. This invariable position of Belarus was reasserted by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on June 10 during an informal meeting of the CIS heads of state in Saint Petersburg, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA. Energy industry, transport and cargo transit,...

In July this year the National Bank of Belarus will start reducing the refinancing rate, Chairman of the Board of the bank Piotr Prokopovich has told BelTA today. According to him, further adjustment of the refinancing rate depends on the economic situation in the country. “As soon as we reach the planned inflation level – 0.6% a month – we will be able to start reducing the rate,” said Piotr Prokopovich. “I think this will happen in July; in July we may start gradually reduce...

Goals outlined by the 2007 Major Monetary Management Guidelines for H1 2007 and the year as a whole must be reached, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on June 8, as he heard out a report by Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) Piotr Prokopovich. The head of state was informed, this year the national banking system successfully reaches planned monetary management goals. Special attention is focused on parameters directly influencing the achievement of the...

The President of Belarus has approved a State Programme for Developing Regions, Small and Medium Urban Communities in 2007-2010. The press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA, the head of state signed the corresponding decree on June 7. Covering 187 communities, the programme is meant to accomplish around 1,000 investment projects, including 195 top-priority ones, to create over 19,000 new jobs, decrease unemployment rate down to 1% and improve living standards of Belarusians. With...

The H1 projected inflation is 3-3.5%, Economy Minister of Belarus Nikolai Zaichenko told reporters today. The inflation for 2007 is projected at 8%, the minister said. “This figure has been a benchmark for us. Today the economy is entering a period which is favourable inflation-wise. This period will last until September this year,’ Nikolai Zaichenko said.

A legal document on the targeted social aid will be drawn up by January 2008, chair of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Konoplev has said today in a meeting with members of the Novopolotsk town council of deputies. The law on social privileges will be valid till the beginning of the next year, Vladimir Konoplev said. According to him, “the draft law on social privileges adopted by the National Assembly of Belarus is not simple.” It was...

Taxation posts will be stationed at three Belarusian petrochemical companies, namely Mozyr Oil Refinery, Naftan and Belorusneft. The decision is laid by the Council of Ministers’ resolution No. 750 of June 4, 2007. The taxation posts will stay in place up to December 31, 2008 to monitor the observance of taxation regulations by the companies, verify congruence of shipped-in feedstock with the amount of manufactured merchandise and to exercise control functions in other areas.

The policy aimed at preserving the historical legacy in Belarus will be continued, President Alexander Lukashenko said today during the ceremony of consecrating the re-created reliquary of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk in the Monastery of the Saviour and St. Euphrosyne. “Preserving historical legacy in Belarus is one of the priority areas of the cultural policy. Today the state list of historical and cultural values includes over five thousand unique monuments, each of them being given special...

The Belarusians must not lose spirituality and internationalism, President Alexander Lukashenko said today during the ceremony of consecrating the re-created reliquary of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk in the Monastery of the Saviour and St. Euphrosyne. “A uniting idea, internationalism in Belarus have come from Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Spirituality, as well as internationalism, is a characteristic feature of the Belarusian people, which we must not lose,” the Head of State said. During the...

The Belarusian construction materials market will be regulated through introducing a single price for cement. The topic was discussed at today’s session of the Council of Ministers Presidium. Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sidorskiy criticised the Architecture and Construction Ministry for the problems individuals have with buying construction materials, first of all, cement. “The problem should be fixed this week. People should get as much quality construction materials as they need at...