MINSK, 25 March (BelTA) – The diplomats of a number of foreign states have expressed willingness to take part in the observation of elections to the local Councils of Deputies of Belarus, BelTA learnt from Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik. In his words, to monitor the elections in Belarus foreign diplomats need to obtain an invitation of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and present a package of other documents. After that, foreign diplomats will...

MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) – Belarus and the European Union should aim for developing mutual political understanding, said Sergei Maskevich, Chairman of the International Affairs and CIS Relations Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, as he met with representatives of the Berlin Collegium of the German Talented Youth Support Foundation. “There are no established priorities in Belarus-EU relations. Belarus’ bilateral relations with many EU countries are...

MINSK, 22 March (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is in the Federative Republic of Brazil on a working visit, BelTA learnt from the head of state’s press service. Alexander Lukashenko is scheduled to meet with President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Governor of the Brazilian State of Goias Alcides Rodrigues Filho. БЕЛТА

MINSK, 17 March (BelTA) – Around 25,500 candidates will be vying for the seats on the local councils of deputies of the 26th convocation, Lydia Yermoshina, chairperson of the central election commission of Belarus, told a press conference on 17 March. Commenting on the nominations, Lydia Yermoshina said that 1.2 candidates will be contesting one seat in the local elections in Belarus. This is higher than in the elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007. More candidates have been nominated to the...

MINSK, 16 March (BelTA) – Head of the Belarus President Administration Vladimir Makei held a meeting with Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Marc Perrin de Brichambaut on 15 March. The sides discussed the development of cooperation between Belarus and the OSCE and the activities of the OSCE Office in Minsk. In particular, Vladimir Makei noted that Belarus intends to continue the active cooperation with OSCE taking into account the equal...

GOMEL, 12 March (BelTA) – The Belorusneft production association is set to start producing gas in Venezuela in 2010, BelTA learnt from Belorusneft press service. The project is carried out in pursuance of the agreements reached at the state level. They envisage further expansion of cooperation between Belorusneft and Venezuela’s PDVSA state-owned oil company. A range of active deposits has been identified for joint geophysical and industrial research. This year these deposits will be...

MINSK, 12 March (BelTA) - A Belarus President ordinance has been passed to alienate shares of three joint-stock companies via tender and auction, representatives of the State Property Committee told BelTA. The shares of Prodmash (Minsk) will be sold via tender, shares of Zhlobin Quarry of Molding Materials (Zhlobin) and Printing House of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy (Gorki) – via auction. The tender will be announced this year after the market price of the shares has been...

GOMEL, 12 March (BelTA) – More efforts are required to bring Belarusian products into compliance with European Union standards, First Deputy Chairman of the State Standardization Committee of Belarus Viktor Nazarenko told media on 11 March. According to Viktor Nazarenko, every year over 500 state standards are approved in Belarus. Last year saw around 1,000 standards approved, with 80% compliant with international ones. Most of the documents are related to civil engineering. On the whole,...

MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – In January 2010, the export of enterprises affiliated with the Bellegprom concern made up $34.3 million, up 18.2% over the same period in 2009, BelTA learnt from the concern. The enterprises exported to 29 countries worldwide, with Russia remaining the major customer. In January 2010, the exports to Russia reached $27.9 million, up 22.2% over the same period a year before. The supplies to Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Kazakshtan increased up to 1.5 times....

MINSK, 5 March (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko congratulated countrywomen on the spring holiday – the Women’s Day, BelTA learnt from the head of state’s press service. “In all spheres of activity of the society and the state, in the various areas of human life, you display your best qualities – kindness and consideration, morality and mercy, high professionalism and responsibility. You nourish the vital forces of the Belarusian people, promote the dynamic...