BELARUS #4/2010

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Contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 4 (919), 2010 Published since 1930 State Registration Certificate of mass medium No.8 dated March 2nd, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus

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Founders: The Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus “SB” newspaper editorial office Belvnesheconombank Editor: Viktor Kharkov

Great friendship — great projects

Festive appeal Belarus and Venezuela may be situated far apart, but our shared outlook brings us closer each day. Thousands of miles of land and sea divide our countries, yet relations are developing dynamically and fruitfully

Flax is the wealth of Belarus One Bela-

rusian folk song tells us: ‘Ulianitsa was sowing flax…’The flax has been cultivated here for about two centuries, making it a symbol of Belarus. Its flowers decorate our emblem and many songs have been composed in its honour

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Silhouette of time

38 The romance of the road Grodno doctor

Piotr Gorbach has a unique collection of miniature trains, carriages and railway stations at home

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Exhibition as an event Victor Alshevsky’s

works, showcased at National Art Museum, go beyond usual exposition

‘Little Red Riding Hood: The Next Generation’ Old tale gains new twist at National

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by Vadim Kondrashov, Georgiy Shablyuk, Aloizas Yunevich Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish.

Distributed in 50 countries of the world.

Final responsibility for factual accuracy or interpretation rests with the authors of the publications. Should any article of Беларусь.Belarus be used, the reference to the magazine is obligatory.

Belarusian Academic Musical Theatre

The magazine does not bear responsibility for the contents of advertisements.

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Fresh winds

Publisher: “SB” editorial office

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Three Schumachers Family of kart racers lives

This magazine has been printed at “Belarusian House of Press” Publishing Office” UE.

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Creative styles by Kristina

in Minsk, at Formula-1 speed

79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No.982 Total circulation — 2044 copies (including 738 in English).

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Second wind for Europe’s lungs

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Spring mood Belarus’ Gomel region has

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perhaps suffered most from the Chernobyl catastrophe yet, today, it looks back from a more positive stance

As long as the heavens are lit, we’ll yearn to view them Minsk planetarium has been viewing the stars for 45 years

36 beautiful paris near postavy Belaru-

sian village bearing French name to celebrate 200th anniversary

Write us to the address: 11 Kiselyov Str., Minsk, Belarus, 220029.

Tel.: +375 (17) 290-62-24, 290-66-45.

Tel./Fax: +375 (17) 290-68-31.

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Olga Klebanovich: ‘I belong to those who are too much in love with life’

www.belarus-magazine.by E-mail: mail@belarus-magazine.by Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977 For future foreign subscribers for ‘Belarus’ magazine, apply to ‘MK-Periodica’ agency.

E-mail: info@periodicals.ru Telephone in Minsk: +375 (17) 227-09-10.

© “Беларусь. Belarus”, 2010

2010 беларусь.belarus

editor’s note

Traces on land

W

Caterine Shaposhnikova

e should remember events which leave their legacy in time and reality.

This issue pays special attention to relations between Venezuela and Belarus. The visit by the Belarusian President to this Latin American country inspires us to contemplate the new quality and content of international opportunities. Agreements signed in Caracas allow us to discuss the advantages of an assertive foreign policy, supported by exact calculations and pragmatism. Belarusian-Venezuelan relationships are bold, occupying a noticeable place in our global hierarchy.

Meanwhile, plans to supply Venezuelan oil to Belarus deserve respect, alongside Belarusian economic expansion in Venezuela. We have projects relating to hydrocarbon production, as well as housing and factory construction by Belarusian specialists. The Venezuelan topic is reflected in a range of articles in this issue: Discovering America Anew, Oil Resources and Festive appeal. The latter is dedicated to mutual penetration of culture and spiritual attractions, which is vital.

Politicians, businessmen and tourists who arrive in our country note our hospitality, alongside how clean and cosy our cities are and our wealth of historical monuments. Of course, they notice our unique culture! Meanwhile, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha, our forests and lakes and the rivers Dnieper, Nieman, Zapadnaya Dvina and Pripyat delight everyone. Belarusian Polesie

беларусь.belarus 2010

is a very special area, boasting huge natural treasures unrivalled on the European continent. A recently adopted state programme aims to develop this region over the next five years, preserving the natural environment and improving social welfare via economic and technological change.

Second Wind for Europe’s Lungs is devoted to this topic.

Polesie is one of Belarus’ calling cards, as is the growing of flax. Songs have been dedicated to it and flax flowers grace the country’s coat of arms.

Flax and Harvest details the cultivation of this wonderful plant in Belarus.

Only three natural fibres grow in the world — wool, cotton and flax — and Belarus’ climate is ideal for flax. Linen clothes have been popular for centuries, with demand ever stronger. Moreover, Belarus has the opportunity to successfully promote sales abroad. Recently,

on visiting Belarus’ largest linen mill, at Orsha, President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about its prospects, “I confidently announce that our flax-manufacturing branch will become one of the best worldwide.” However, to achieve this goal, much work must be done.

Orsha is mentioned in this issue of the magazine twice. The city is famous not only for hosting the country’s largest linen mill but for its many historical monuments and its publication of Belarus’ first ABC book, as detailed in Silhouette of Time.

Belarus also has its own Paris, soon to celebrate its 200th anniversary.

Belarusian Paris is situated in Vitebsk region, not far from the district centre of Postavy. How Beautiful Paris near Postavy is sure to tempt you to visit.

Belarus is known for its rich landscapes and wealth of talent — from music and art to handicrafts. It welcomes mutually beneficial integration (see the Union thematic issue) and enjoys hosting touring exhibitions. World standard shows visit the republic, such as that of the French Impressionists, currently in Minsk. Meanwhile, Fragments of the Tower of Babel, by State Award laureate painter Victor Alshevsky, is being hosted by the National Art Museum.

This unusual project is proving just as popular as its French rival and has inspired the Exhibition as an Event publication.

The diversity of life is moving forward even in those regions which have most suffered from the Chernobyl accident of April 1986. Now, 24 years later, life has sprung anew, as described in Spring Mood. We’ll never forget Chernobyl, which has left its black trace on our land, but we look to the future with optimism.

BY Viktor Kharkov, magazine editor Беларусь. Belarus

panorama  City and its symbols

 European context

Six medieval students claim to be honoured near former Jesuit Collegium in Polotsk

French leadership decides to develop political and economic dialogue with Belarus

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T

he decision to start active political and economic dialogue wit h Belarus has been taken at the highest level. This has been announced

by Pierre Lellouche, the French S ecretar y of State for European Affairs, following talks in Minsk.

The French guests stressed that the decision had been taken following a visit by Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister, Vladimir Semashko, who visited Paris early this year. It was then agreed that Mr. Lellouche would visit Belarus this spring.

Mr. Lellouche noted that the talks at the Presidential Administration, Government and Foreign Ministry had been very important and rich in content. “Politically, the visit invites new horizons for bilateral contact, which I hope we’ll see expand,” he emphasised, noting that a group of Belarusian parliamentarians would travel to Paris at the invitation of the French National Assembly later this spring.

 From Belgrade to Shanghai In 2010, twelve national expositions and exhibitions to be organised abroad

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he Council of Ministers of Belarus has adopted a schedule of Belarusian trade fairs abroad for 2010. The country is to organise 12 national expositions abroad — promoting Belarusian technology, scientific research, goods and services to the international market.

The first Belarusian exposition of 2010 took place at the International Green Week Exhibition in Berlin in January. Belarus demonstrated its achievements at the Cairo International Fair and at the All-Russian Goszakaz-2010 Forum-Exhibition in Moscow. Also Belarusian exhibits will be demonstrated at the Hanover Messe Industrial Fair in Germany and at the TransRussia International Exhibition in Moscow. In May, Belarus will hold its national exhibition in Baku, Azerbaijan and, from May to October, a Belarusian trade fair is scheduled for EXPO-2010 in Shanghai, China. In June, another national exhibition of Belarus will take place in Belgrade, Serbia.

In September, Belarus plans to demonstrate its exhibits at the International Scientific and Industrial Forum United Russia in Nizhny Novgorod and, from September to November, a national exhibition is scheduled for Riga, Latvia.

Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) is expected to host Belarus’ national exhibition in October, and, from October to November, Belarusian goods will be displayed at the Tehran International Industrial Fair in Iran.

ix design projects were submitted in a contest to select a sculpture to honour studentship. Now, the most interesting proposal is to be embodied in metal and installed this year near the building which currently houses the Historical and Philological Department of Polotsk’s State University. It is to be the first such sculpture in Belarus, remembering the noble calling of scholarship.

Stanislav Krassovsky notes that the chosen sculpture — of a medieval student — is a tribute to Belarus’ first higher educational establishment — Polotsk’s Jesuit Collegium, founded in 1581 by Stefan Batory. Polotsk University administration has decided to depict a contemporary student alongside their ancient counterpart. In contrast to medieval Europe, where only men could study at university, today’s universities enrol more girls than boys, so the sculpture will be of a young woman.

Polotsk is also Belarus’ first officially proclaimed cultural capital. Residents treat their history and culture with respect, with around 20 sculptures and monuments in the city, including those remembering Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, Frantsisk Skorina and Duke Vseslav Br yachislavovich (nicknamed Charodey, meaning ‘Magician’).

The sculpture of a Polotsk student won’t be the only new monument going on show. In May, a monument to the 1812 War Heroes is to be unveiled and, later, a monument to architect Ioann will appear; he constructed the Church of St. Transfiguration in the 12th century.

2010 беларусь.belarus

Topical

Discovering America anew Belarus is medium-sized by European standards, situated between two geopolitical giants: Russia and the European Union. No one is likely to imminently replace these two huge markets. However, summing up the results of his Latin American tour, President Lukashenko noted ‘there are other fish in the sea besides Europe and Russia’. He explained, “There is an issue of Belarusian state security and independence. Following the USSR’s collapse, the situation has developed in such a way that we have a serious dependence on one or two countries in several fields.

Years have passed but, however hard we try to build equal relations within the Union State, EurAsEC and CIS, the trend of ‘senior and younger brother’ becomes ever more evident. We need to talk about this sincerely. We’re searching for new sales markets and trying to trade with other countries.” In this respect, the Belarusian President’s visit to Brazil and, especially, to Venezuela, is exemplary

Belta

Small Venice drowning in oil

беларусь.belarus 2010

Venezuela was called ‘small Venice’

by Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci, after whom this part of the world is named; in marshy areas, native people built their houses on stilts. Today, Venezuelans live not on water but on oil — so to speak.

According to British Petroleum’s annual report on the world’s energy, it occupies fifth position for proven reserves of ‘black gold’ (about 8 percent of global reserves).

The major result of talks between Alexander Lukashenko and Hugo Chávez is that, by late 2010, Belarus should have received 4m tonnes of Venezuelan oil — a fifth of the volume planned for import from Russia this year. “This is not a one-time deal but a

long-term agreement,” commented Mr. Chávez. We are now setting up legislation to govern this avenue of trade. A joint Belarusian-Venezuelan oil delivery company is to be set up in the coming months, with 75 percent of its shares owned by Venezuela, and Belarus holding the remaining quarter.

The first tanker is to arrive in Odessa’s port in May, with oil transported on to Mozyr Refinery. Having returned to Minsk, the President held a special meeting to report on the results of his visit. He clarified the issue of deliveries, saying, “At present, the major issue regarding Venezuela and other avenues of our foreign policy is the delivery of oil to our refineries. Taking this into consideration, I want to receive a clear answer

Topical on logistics over the first six months of the year. By late 2010, we are to establish a pipeline delivery of oil. This year, we should reach the upper limit of 4m tonnes of oil; next year, the figure must reach 10m tonnes.”

Tackling the oil and gas question during an interview with Argentinean newspaper Diario La Nacion, Mr. Lukashenko explained that Belarus is inviting Venezuela to process oil at Belarusian oil refineries, for further sale to Europe. “In future, we plan to privatise our enterprises, including our oil processing companies, attracting Venezuelan capital,” he noted.

The first reactions of international observers regarding oil-related agreements were contradictory. However, most believe it’s possible and could be profitable. Sea states bordering Belarus are now vying to gain contracts for transportation, understanding that this project could be economically profitable for them, while changing the geopolitical situation in the region.

Southern stream

The First Deputy Prime Minister, Vladimir Semashko, admits that pipeline transportation is far more profitable than using the railway. The closest sea to Belarus is the Baltic — rather than the Black Sea. “Logistics are being debated,” he notes.

“However, these decisions take time. We need to consider everything thoroughly.”

Oil from Venezuela is romantically called ‘Santa Barbara’ — a name known by early 1990s soap opera lovers. The delivery of ‘black gold’ from the South American continent to the centre of Europe relies on a multi-staged process.

“Ukraine is interested in realising and developing this project,” confirms the Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus, Igor Likhovy, adding that his country is ready to offer tariff privileges to Belarus for the transportation of oil by railway.

However, most Ukrainian experts believe that transit via the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline will be the best route. This was built in the early 2000s to transit Caspian oil to Central Europe, focusing

Relations with Venezuela are one of the most significant successes of recent Belarusian diplomacy on the ports of the Baltic Sea. However, the pipeline stood idle for some time due to lack of demand; later, Russia agreed to use it in a reverse regime.

Last year, one of the Odessa-Brody lines came into use as originally planned, with Azerbaijani oil pumped via Odessa to a Ukrainian refinery. Mr. Likhovy assures us that no design changes or monetary injections are needed for the full-scale relaunch of the Odessa-Brody pipeline. “We only need guarantees for oil supply from Belarus; the project can then begin,” he stresses.

There are plans to extend the OdessaBrody pipeline in the future, to join the Polish Plock- Gdańsk line. Kazakhstan has recently been showing interest in this project, which is crucial; the European oil pipeline would fail to work to its full capacity without Kazakh oil. It’s feasible to realise plans by autumn 2011, when the Baltic pipeline opens. Russia is establishing the latter to rid dependence on transit countries. Belarus and other transit-states — which could be deprived of Russian oil flow — are, naturally, seeking alternatives.

Answering questions relating to the President’s tour of Latin America, Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov stresses that expansion of co-operation with Venezuela is not ‘an attempt to change our main, natural ally for an important strategic partner situated at the other end of the world’. “However, we cannot leave our country without oil,” he notes, adding, “Accordingly, we are searching for oil where it is found and where we have the chance to access it. Belarus’ leadership and the President have, primarily, stressed that we wish to

extract oil in Russia. We’d like to extract gas on the territory of our neighbour.

However, the situation is sometimes far from ideal.”

Belarus has been many times invited to participate in creating a new route to transport Caspian oil to Europe, bypassing Russia. It particular, there is a proposal to build a ‘bulkhead’ between the Odessa-Brody and Druzhba pipeline (which passes through Belarus). This would enable deliveries from Venezuela and other extracting countries.

Seen from a distance

This was the President’s second trip to Venezuela, after visiting the country in 2007. Meanwhile, Mr. Chávez has been to Minsk four times. I was fortunate enough to cover both visits and it’s evident that, in these years, bilateral relations have come a long way… 10,000km separate Minsk and Caracas.

Our two politicians (with help from businessmen) have managed to convince sceptics to change their minds; many scoffed at the idea of relations between such distant countries. Anyone who denies our progress as partners lacks an objective view of reality. Just a few years passed, turnover with Venezuela has risen dozens of times (from $5m to $231m in 2009, despite the crisis). Importantly, Belarus has a positive trade balance.

Of course, no one rejects the notion of trade, especially if it brings profit. Until 2007, we really only exported potash fertilisers to Venezuela; by 2009, there were 100 Belarusian exports being shipped, with tractors taking the largest share. Moreover, many other opportunities are possible. We help Venezuela develop its mining, build

2010 беларусь.belarus

Topical houses and are ready to share our experience in vehicle construction. Many experts say that relations with Venezuela are one of the most significant successes of recent Belarusian diplomacy. Mr. Lukashenko’s visit confirms that Venezuela is a priority in our foreign policy.

Those in Caracas share a similar view of Belarus. Our journalists arrived a few days before the President’s visit — to ‘orient’ themselves — and it wasn’t necessary to know Spanish to understand that, in his speeches, Mr. Chávez had often mentioned Belarus.

The Venezuelan President appears on TV every day and usually speaks for many hours. Those who speak Spanish learnt from his speeches that Belarus is perceived in Venezuela as a developed state with experienced specialists and modern technologies.

Preparing for Mr. Lukashenko’s visit, Mr. Chávez gave a video geography lesson to millions of his countrymen, during a live television broadcast. He took a map of Europe and said, “Look where Belarus is situated. Its strategic location is in the centre, in the heart of Europe. Huge Russia is nearby. Many are keen to have influence in this region.

There, our vessels of oil are sailing…”

Agreements between our two presidents on oil supplies — which are to become a new stage in mutual relations — haven’t, surprised anyone there.

Mr. Chávez is building Venezuela to be independent of the USA, with full sovereignty. The Monroe Doctrine of the 19th century defined this region as a US exclusive interest zone, leading to Venezuela being influenced far more by America (or ‘North America’, as they like to say in South America) than we might imagine from the western media. This covers every aspect of life, from sockets to television broadcasts, which apply American standards of free speech — sometimes with provocative interviews.

Even the US oil corporations — nationalised by Mr. Chávez in Venezuela during the first years of his presidency — are now gradually returning to work without fuss. We shouldn’t exaggerate Venezuela’s

беларусь.belarus 2010

anti-Americanism; here, people are keen to have their own opinions, spending their incomes as they see fit. Mr. Chávez opposes wild capitalism, but not the market economy as such…

“We’ve come to Venezuela with modern knowledge, technologies and production. In the proper sense of the word, we gave a hand of friendship to the Venezuelans. We’ve come not as some western corporations — to pump out resources and leave with full pockets — but to work jointly, for the benefit of our people,” said Mr. Lukashenko in Caracas. The results of such an approach are that Belarus is now recognised in the region, and is allowed to participate in projects relating to natural resources and energy — projects which are viewed as sacred in any country.

Deep drilling

Some of the resources which our country plans to purchase are already being mined in Venezuela

by Belarusians. During two years of its existence, joint venture Petrolera BeloVenezolana has extracted about 1.5m tonnes. The net profit of Belarus has reached $105m and, at present, about 15 000 barrels are being extracted daily. Eventually, 20 000 barrels are to be mined, with the total annual increase reaching 1m tonnes; volumes should rise as new deposits are mastered.

Foreign Minister Martynov said, “We work in Venezuela not because of our good political relations with this country. We offer competitive services in the field of oil development and extraction, as well as services relating to oil extraction.” Gas assets are also important, with Caracas granting a license to allow the development of six gas deposits by Belarus. Mr. Chávez admits that Belarus’ development of ‘blue fuel’ ‘greatly influences the strategy of developing the gas industry in Venezuela’. “It will enable us to increase gas production,” he stressed.

“We are re-evaluating all gas deposits and are searching for reserves in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Caribbean. We’ll double gas production and, in just a few years,

will occupy the fourth position in production — behind Russia, Iran and Qatar.”

“Of course, these are all commercial projects,”assertedMr.Lukashenkoduring his visit to Venezuela. “The economics of these projects should be considered.

However, we’ve also act as close friends.

We’ll do more than help you extract natural gas and oil, and build cities and villages. Most importantly, we want to teach our Venezuelan friends to do this.”

An agreement has been reached for the launch of gas supplies to Caracas’ residential districts, set up

by Belarusian specialists. About three million people reside in the city’s Sucre district — which has been chosen for this long-term project. Until recently, Venezuelans have not regarded ‘blue fuel’ as something worthwhile. However, their ideology is changing. Mr. Chávez plans to introduce gas technologies into the country’s economy, reducing oil consumption, while allowing greater exports to the global market. Belarus is to actively participate in the state programme to allow public transport to run on gas (currently being developed in Venezuela). In particular, a pilot contract has been signed to deliver 2,000 sets of gas equipment for automobile transport in Venezuela, where petrol costs just a few American cents. Local people leave their engines running even while they are parked! The task set by the Venezuelan President is, of course, complicated; it can hardly be solved without outside help. Nevertheless, the country has realised the necessity of these steps; with this in mind, the project seems very promising.

The Venezuelans have also realised that it’s unwise to rely only on hydroenergy. Fast-flowing rivers generate almost 90 percent of electricity in the country. However, water flow is deteriorating, due to global warming; in Caracas, power cuts are common.

Belarus can significantly help Venezuela in constructing thermoelectric power stations using natural gas. A Venezuelan delegation is to visit Belarus this summer to study our experience in the field.

Topical Solid basis for bilateral relations

Mr. Lukashenko and Mr. Chávez did not spend all their time in the capital. One day, they visited the small city of Maracay (80km from Caracas) to lay the first stone of a residential complex being built by Belarusians.

The contract was signed during the President’s first visit to Venezuela.

Comfortable four and three-storey houses are being built, in addition to apartments, a school, a police station and a sports ground. This is a pilot project and, if all goes well, more such ‘Belarusian’ towns will be built in Venezuela.

In Maracay, 5,000 apartments are to be constructed while, in Barinas, 10,000 are planned. Work is due to be finished in three years’ time.

In total, 22 documents were signed in Caracas — in the fields of petrochemistry, industry, construction, energy, science and technology. The total sum of projects in the construction field alone exceeds $1bn, including an existing contract to construct plants to produce MAZ cargo trucks and tractors in Venezuela. The enterprises are to launch by summer 2011, with Belarusians building every aspect. “I’m dreaming of the day when we’ll be able to produce trucks,” admitted Mr. Chávez.

Our specialists are to build a factory to assemble road, construct i on and c om mu na l ma ch i ne r y in Venezuela. Moreover, a brick mfactory is to be built, making up to 100m bricks annually (launching next year). An agro-town is also planned.

Belarus’ long-term intentions towards working in Venezuela are confirmed by plans to open a service centre next year, to service and repair heavy machinery. The project is due to cost from $5m to $10m.

The Deputy Architecture and C onstr uc tion Minister, Anatoly Nichkasov, also visited Caracas, signing several agreements. He called the decision ‘strategically well-timed’ as ‘the volume of Belarusian machinery

At the meeting of Alexander Lukashenko and President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

supplied to Venezuela is increasing, alongside technical maintenance and repair services’. At present, our machinery in Venezuela is serviced

by Belarusians on business trips to this country. However, the volume of the required services is becoming difficult to satisfy; a new approach is needed. The new centre will be able to service up to eight vehicles a day while a warehouse of common spare parts is to open. Belarus aims to share its experience, training local people to take over servicing in due time.

In recent years, Venezuela has purchased over 4,000 units of road and construction machinery from Belarus, primarily tractors, MAZ trucks, BelAZ heavy duty dump trucks and Volat special machinery. Additionally, the country has ten mobile facilities by Gomel’s Seismotechnika, and several Mogilev hydraulic self-propelled cranes are operational there. There is no doubt that such work will continue

and expand… In October, Mr. Chávez is to arrive in Belarus and, next summer, Mr. Lukashenko plans to visit Venezuela again — to launch a number of enterprises.

courtesies

From Venezuela, Mr. Lukashenko headed for Brazil where, in Rio de Janeiro, he met Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the first time. Brazil’s potential is well known and, in recent years, Belarus established its presence in the southern part of America. With this in mind, the presidents promptly began to discuss areas of bilateral co-operation, with the two states’ leadership keen to participate in creating a metaphorical ‘river of progress’ in which we can jointly sail (Rio de Janeiro’s name translates as ‘January River’).

We’ve est ablished exp or ts of potash fertilisers and cane sugar, with turnover exceeding $1.2bn in 2008.

2010 беларусь.belarus

Topical Brazil has been a firm economic partner in Latin America but, due to the crisis, turnover almost halved last year. To avoid such fluctuations in future, Minsk now plans to diversify its economic relations with Brazil.

Already, tyre production is being negotiated and many other prospects are being discussed.

The First Deputy Prime Minister, Vladimir Semashko, noted after his trip to Brazil, “Brazilians are showing great interest in Minsk Tractor Works manufactures, including assembly and direct supplies. Tractor sales could reach several thousand, as Brazil annually purchases about 45,000-50,000 tractors.” According to Mr. Semashko, by summer, the first Belarusian tractors will be tested in Brazil; a contract is due to be concluded in autumn. Brazil is the largest, most densely populated and most economically developed country in Latin America, where people speak Portuguese. Despite a certain language barrier (Spanish and Portuguese are similar in the same way as Russian and Ukrainian), the country is striving to become a leader in the region, representing it in the international arena — at the G20 or, even better, at the UN Security Council.

BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are set to rival the seven top economically developed countries in the near future. Accordingly, Belarus is acting foresightedly; Minsk already boasts close contacts with Moscow, Beijing and Delhi.

For two hundred years — until the mid 20th century — Rio de Janeiro was Brazil’s capital. It then moved to Brasilia, where we are yet to open an embassy (although there is a Belarusian General Consulate in Rio). The Brazilian President supports Mr. Lukashenko’s proposal to open a Belarusian embassy in Brasilia, while Brazil plans to open its own embassy in Minsk, following the principal of reciprocity. This is a serious sign of mutual interest.

By Igor Kolchenko

беларусь.belarus 2010

Oil resources Belorusneft began its dealings with Venezuela in September, 2006, conducting work along the Orinoco River. The first five specialists arrived there in November, initiating geological research, checking data on oil resources and paving the way for future work

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oday, Belarusneft has about a hundred specialists in various spheres developing five oil fields in Venezuela and plans to further expand its presence.

There is a clear difference regarding the technology being used by our oil workers, who are filling the gap left by the departure of the Americans. The scope of work was familiar to Belarusneft, since existing deposits employing outdated machinery and technology — a situation the company has dealt with domestically. The Belarusians brought their own modern technologies and experience to revive the deposits. Their reward has been a 40 percent dividend on OP activity.

Seismic exploration has been developed simultaneously. In summer 2007, the first five vibration sources were

Statistics  From 2008-2009, Belarus-

oil produced 1.3m tonnes of oil in Venezuela (including 636,000 tonnes last year).

Over 400m cubic meters of oil-dissolved gas were discovered.

delivered to Venezuela — produced by Gomel’s Seismotechnika. These devices — mounted on lorries — are used to explore the earth’s depths. Next, 30 Venezuelans were trained in Gomel to assemble devices. With its own specialists, Venezuela can assemble its own machinery, rather than buy readyassembled installations. The first five such installations have already been shipped, with seismic exploration of over 800km conducted. Another 600km is to be completed by summer…

Andrey Bohan, the Head of the International Projects Department of Belarusneft, has recently returned from Venezuela. He’s convinced that relations will develop progressively, explaining, “Everything began with general agreements and research work. Then, we got down to work locally. Ever ything must have its season. We gained experience and got accustomed to the region. Today, we’re planning mutually beneficial expansion in Venezuela, extending our co-operation.”

Last year, on June 21st, this expansion was realized in the form of BelarusianVenezuelan enterprise Petrolera BeloVenesolana taking on three more oil deposits, in addition to its existing

News

Trust in quality Belarusian Metallurgical Works (BMZ) to supply oilfield tubular goods to Venezuela

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he first batch of over 5,000 tonnes should be dispatched to Venezuela by mid-May, making it the second country on the American continent to import Belarusian pipes. In February, the enterprise fulfilled a contract to supply 2,000 tonnes of well tubing (of various sizes) to the US’s TEJAS CASING LTD. The company waived its right to inspect our production beforehand, showing its confidence in BMZ’s high quality. All being well, a monthly supply of over 5,000 tonnes of tubing is possible to the US market. In Q1 2010, the Belarusian Metallurgical Works is to supply 1,000 tonnes of special oiland-gas pipes to NK Rosneft JSC — to conduct repairs of oil well pumps.

Promising market Belarusian Automobile Works to supply over $20m of dump trucks to Venezuela

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Belarusian oil workers at the oil platform of the offshore deposit Lago Medio

two. In October 2009, the joint venture set up a technology and innovations administration. Belarusneft believes the future looks bright, with a new license to develop six natural gas deposits in the east of Venezuela recently obtained. The first Deputy PM of Belarus, Vladimir Semashko, notes that net profits over the last three years, of around $105m, speak for themselves.

Of course, experience in Venezuela is bringing more than financial benefits.

Research data could prove useful

elsewhere around the world. As one of the most authoritative CIS representatives in this field, Belarusneft is keen to expand into new territories (since domestic oil is limited).

Venezuelan plans are being spoken of with modesty in Gomel. Many aspects are still being negotiated but an oil service is being considered, while another OP — Servisio BeloVenesolana — is to be set up for well-drilling and the servicing of Belarusian drill holes in Venezuela.

By Andrey NOVIKOV

elAZ has received a contract to ship its trucks and spare parts to Venezuela, including those made by its affiliate Mogilev Automobile Works. “We haven’t reached our limit yet, planning to sign new contracts in future. Our supplies should exceed $20m in value,” notes the Head of BelAZ’s Marketing Department, Vladimir Volchok.

BelAZ is also working on supplying its quarry vehicles to Brazil. The Brazilian market is a newly reclaimed market and very promising for BelAZ. According to the company’s market specialists, BelAZ’s potential supply of quarry trucks to Latin America is comparable with its supplies to the CIS. In Latin America, the mining industry is well developed, with great need for machinery suitable for mining copper and other natural resources.

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Cooperation

The awarding ceremony of the contest ‘Venezuela – a Fairy Land’ gathered crowds

Festive appeal Belarus and Venezuela may be situated far apart, but our shared outlook brings us closer each day.

Thousands of miles of land and sea divide our countries, yet relations are developing dynamically and fruitfully, with our countrymen successfully extracting oil in Venezuela and building agro-towns.

Venezuela sells us coffee — among the best in the world — while we export dried milk in large quantities to this Latin American country. Meanwhile, our cultural partnerships add new colour to our relations

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any Belarusians are showing interest in the culture of mysterious and beautiful Latin America. Two year ago, a young Gomel resident presented a large collection of posters and books dedicated

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to Latin America to the Venezuelan Embassy in Minsk. Moreover, for several years, Latin American salsa has been one of the most popular club dances among youngsters in our country. However, until recently, no organisations promoting the culture

of such countries as Venezuela, Cuba and Peru existed in Belarus. A year ago, under the initiative of the Venezuelan Embassy to Belarus, the Simon Bolivar Latin American Centre opened in Minsk.

The Centre is modest in size but very convenient, with posters and photos of the country’s prominent political figures adorning its walls: Simon Bolivar, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Belarusian children have tried to depict ‘their own Venezuela’ and their efforts also hang nearby; they see the country as bright, sunny and warm and have also drawn ‘their own’ Peru and Cuba.

Co-ordinator Gerardo Estrada takes us to the Centre’s library, which offers films and books on Venezuela — in Spanish and Russian. Visitors can also listen to Latin American music, with access to scores and Internet resources. “We have satellite TV, allowing us to see the latest news,”

News says Gerardo. “Visitors to the Centre can also ask staff questions; they’re here to promote Latin America, sharing information.”

Rhythmic music is heard as the Iolanda Moreno girls dance band rehearses a performance. Their head, Anastasia Zvezhinskaya, chatted to us at the Books of Belarus-2010 exhibition; the group danced next to the Venezuelan stand. They conquered visitors’ hearts with their artistry and bright costumes. Iolanda Moreno primarily performs Latin American folkdance, particularly salsa. “Ali Primera musical band operates at our Centre,” Gerardo tells us. “Its members are young people who know Spanish and love to sing and play musical instruments, including those traditional to Venezuela. Meanwhile, a group of boys is engaged in capoeira — an Afro-Brazilian combative art.”

Additionally, the Centre offers courses in Spanish and Portuguese — for those wishing to personally visit Latin America. “The Simon Bolivar Latin American Centre also organises cultural exchanges, exhibitions and contests. We initiate conferences — at Minsk Linguistic University and Belarusian State University — and organise concerts at the Institute of Culture. We co-operate with the leading orchestras of your c o u n t r y ,” s a y s Gerardo. “For example, I’ve been pleased to work with the National Orchestra of the B elarusian R adio and T V C ompany and Gomel’s Symphony Orchestra.” G erardo himself is a violinist and conductor.

The co-ordinator of the Centre Gerardo Estrada

The Centre has also hosted charity concerts, with income from ticket sales sent to help those suffering from the effect of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Additionally, Venezuelan volunteers have joined the Our Countries Have Ki nd He ar t s pro g r am me, helping Belarusian children. Several months ago, one of the most famous Venezuelan theatres — Gota Dulce — entertained orphans from Minsk and other Belarusian cities.

The Centre is an innovator of unusual ideas. In autumn, Venezuelans organised the first Latin American gastronomic festival at Minsk’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, demonstrating the diversity of Caribbean cuisine. “We’d like to hold a festival in summer, in the open air — so that everyone can attend,” smiles Gerardo. “We’d be able to share the traditional cuisine of Venezuela, Cuba, Peru and other Latin American countries with our guests. We’ve already chosen the venue — the Simon Bolivar Park in Minsk. No doubt, cultural uniqueness, respect for traditions and love for our homeland is bringing us closer to each other. In fact, in Belarus, I’ve felt as if I’m at home — nowhere else in Europe has ever made me feel like this.

Belarusians are like Venezuelans: open, sincere and hospitable.”

By Lyudmila Minkvich

Scientists ready for co-operation Belarus and Armenia sign inter-agency agreement on sci-tech co-operation

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elarus’ State Committee for Science and Technology and Armenia’s State Committee of Science at the Ministry of Education and Science have undertaken an agreement to develop sci-tech cooperation. Igor Voitov of Belarus and Samvel Harutyunyan of Armenia officially signed the document.

The parties are interested in implementing joint projects in the spheres of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, physics, biology and other scientific areas. Joint centres and laboratories are planned, with the further involvement of business companies in the process.

Bilateral collaboration could include the exchange of expertise in certain areas, with scientists being exchanged.

“We could use the Belarusian database of experts while you can use our Armenian database. This is mutually beneficial and many states work in this way, including France,” notes Mr. Harutyunyan. He explains that Armenia has a welldeveloped system of independent experts — comprising 1,400 scientists, including 250 foreign experts. Each has their own speciality and pairs can be matched from a database, with a third chosen to decide matters of indecision. The Armenian system of independent experts is similar to that of America.

2010 беларусь.belarus

11

Economy partnership

Great friendship — great projects Contracts worth over $3.4bn, soft credit of $1bn and 60m Yuans of free credit are the terms settled by President Alexander Lukashenko and the vicechairman of the People’s Republic of China, Si Tzinpin, decided in March in Minsk.

Belarus and China are strategic partners in the political and trade sphere, where both parties are on good terms Time-tested

Chinese wisdom says that ‘one has to cross a deep river carefully, feeling the bottom and river stones’. Such is Beijing’s strategy concerning external markets. It investigates potential partners carefully, scrupulously weighing the pros and cons and only then agreeing commercial operations.

Negotiating at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Lukashenko noted that, in previous years, China and Belarus have had the chance to get to know each other.

Moreover, they’ve learnt to overcome the difficulties of developing commercial and economic relations. This is confirmed by investment co-operation and rising turnover (from $714m in 2005 to over $2bn in pre-crisis 2008). There are several major projects being carried out by Chinese businesses in Belarus.

BeST mobile operator worked with Chinese Alkatel Shanghai Bell in 2008, while Minsk thermal power stations No.2 and No.5 were modernised with the aid of the Chinese national corporation for foreign economic co-operation.

Chinese City Construction helped build three large cement factories in Belarus and Midea joint venture (with Belarusian Horizont) has been set up to produce household appliances. With reference

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to Midea, President Lukashenko noted, “It’s remarkable that even last year, which was critical for the global community, the Chinese holding increased its share in the joint venture from 30 to 55%, having evaluated the reliability and prospects of the Belarusian market.”

China clearly assessed the Belarusian market as offering promising oppor-

Mutual interest

It’s obvious that China is feeling confident, despite the global recession.

Its gross domestic product last year rose 8.7% while that of the USA fell 2.4%, that of the EU fell 4.2% and that of Russia dropped 7.9%. It’s building its economic power by investing abroad. Minsk, in its turn, welcomes Chinese investment and is

Assessment of Belarusian market as being reliable and prospective was given by Chinese party not only on corporate but also on a higher state level tunities and reliability at national and corporate level.

During his visit to Minsk, Si Tzinpin remarked, “We’ve always paid attention to the steps being taken towards developing your economy. Despite the global financial crisis, Belarus has managed to keep its political stability and economical growth, while improving standards of living.”

interested in seeing this progress further.

We are benefitting from low interest rates on loans used for modernisation and the purchase of modern equipment and technologies. Moreover, Alexander Lukashenko pointed out several times that Belarus is eager to assemble Chinese goods, which can then be sold on to the EU and Customs Union partners.

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partnership Economye

The resultive Minsk meeting of Alexander Lukashenko and Si Tzinpin

“We’re ready to co-operate on many projects, starting with the production of agricultural products,” Mr. Lukashenko stressed.

Investment and guarantees

A package of documents signed in March suggests that economic cooperation between Belarus and China is entering a new stage, with relations encouraged by inter-governmental agreements. ‘These include commercial and economic co-operation, financial co-operation between the Ministry of Finance of Belarus and the Public Development Bank of China, payment management between the National Bank of Belarus and the People’s Bank of China and agreements regarding definite commercial projects.

For example, the Public Development Bank of China is to grant a credit line of $60m to Belarusian Beltelecom — the national phone line operator — to pay for new equipment and the modernisation of the existing network. The press service of Beletelecom tells us that a reasonable portion of the sum is to be used to extend its coverage, while creating modern, high-speed, accessible Internet-infrastructure.

A protocol regarding the reconstruction of the existing Minsk National Airport details the creation of a modern international passenger terminal and a second runway — able to accommodate the biggest passenger planes, such as the Airbus A380.

The Deputy Director of the aviation department at the Ministry of Transport

and Communications, Vladimir Kostin, tells us that the second runway should be operational by 2014, in time for Minsk’s hosting of the World Hockey Championship. “According to provisional agreements, about $650-660m is being spent on the creation of the second runway,” he explains. “It will bring additional income, since planes like the Airbus A380 pay fees several times higher than, for example, a TU-154.

During a visit to Minsk by Chinese governmental authorities and business circles, another dozen promising projects were approved. Negotiating with guests, Mr. Lukashenko pointed out, “As President, I guarantee wholehearted support and safety for Chinese investments into the Belarusian state.”

by Vitaly Volyanuk

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Panorama  Reserves of business activity Belarus can rely on Saudi Arabian investments, as ratified by an intergovernmental agreement between Belarus and Saudi Arabia to promote and protect investments

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 Reliable transit Belarusian Railways to implement new project on cargo traffic, uniting Western and Eastern European countries

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argo traffic from Italy to Belarus and then transiting on to the CIS and Baltic States has been organised as part of a new international transport project. In future, this will also cover Scandinavian countries, China and Korea, in both directions. Belintertrans — TransportLogistic Centre — an official forwarding agent of Belarusian Railways — is to perform forwarding services within the CIS and Baltic States.

 Investment movement Chinese Beijing Uni-Construction Group to finance reconstruction of major highways in Belarus

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uring a visit by a Chinese delegation to our country, Belarus’ Transport and Communications Ministry and

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The first pilot train from Italian Portogruaro (in the province of Venice) has already arrived in Brest.

Further cargoes will be transported in high-speed container trains by Belarusian Railways. The train from Italy had 24 carriages, with 40-foot containers, and will run as needed: initially, once a week and, from early May — twice a week.

The new project is being realised via a contract on bilateral co-operation between Italia Logistica and the Belarusian Railways’ Republican Tr a n s p or t - For w a rd i n g Un it a r y Enterprise Belintertrans — TransportLogistic Centre.

Beijing Uni-Construction Group signed an agreement on strategic co-operation in road upgrading and construction. The document envisages the realisation of three reconstruction projects: of the М-5/Е271 MinskGomel national motorway (from Zhlobin to Gomel); of the national motorways connecting Minsk with regional cities; and of international transport routes.

Belarusian Railways, China’s National Electronics Import-Export Corporation and Datong Electric Locomotive Company have signed a contract to supply electric locomotives. Belarusian Railways is mulling over two other projects, which could be carried out with the help of Chinese investments: the modernisation of cargo terminals (implemented from 2010 to 2011) and the increasing of speed of regular inter-regional passenger train services (2011 — 2016).

audi Arabia boasts the world’s largest oil reserves and actively invests income in its own national economy and abroad. “The Saudi Arabian policy of increasing strategic external assets could be used by Belarus to raise investments in major joint projects,” stressed Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister, Valery Voronetsky, at a session of the House of Representatives’ Permanent Commission for International Affairs and Links with the CIS. According to global experts, the international reserves of the Gulf States are bigger than those of China — estimated at $1.6 trillion. The bulk of these reserves are found in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In the near future, this figure could rise to $3 trillion. Some of these reserves are expected to be invested in major developing markets — such as India, China, Pakistan and Malaysia.

“Belarus could also become an appealing investment destination,” the Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Voronetsky believes. He notes that the Belarus-Saudi Arabia agreement on mutual investments should inspire business activity.

Additionally,Mr.Voronetskyexplains that the capacity of the Saudi market, alongside efforts to promote manufacturing, are creating perfect conditions for Belarusian companies to invest in the economy of this country, gaining a foothold within this promising market.

The Deputy Foreign Minister hopes to see assembly production facilities set up, alongside the transfer of technologies and the introduction of scientific innovations. A number of the National Academy of Sciences’ organisations are already operating within the Saudi Arabian market, implementing projects worth over $11m.

Panorama

In the course of practical direction Eastern Development Forum discussed in Budapest, aiming to promote cooperation between partner countries and EU states

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elarus has initiated the Eastern Development Forum, uniting manufacturers, traders, investors, banking structures, economic agents and researchers from partner countries and EU states. The initiative has been proposed by Belarus’ Foreign Minister, Sergei Martynov, who took part in a joint session of foreign ministers — representatives of the Visegrad Group, the Eastern Partnership programme, the Baltic States and the EU Troika. The event was initiated

by Hungary, which is an acting president of the Visegrad Group.

In his speech, Mr. Martynov explained in detail the country’s approach to co-operation within the partnership, including future projects and the formation of the parliamentary dimension. The Belarusian Foreign Minister put forward several initiatives, aiming to make the Eastern Partnership more dynamic and practically minded. In particular, he suggested fairs of projects

be held in European capitals as part of the Eastern Partnership initiative, to attract large international donors.

A substantial conversation dedicated to the issues of implementation of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative also took place during the meeting. Partner countries are keen to fill it with definite content and to begin joint projects.

Attention was primarily focused on the necessity of attracting funds from European financial institutions to realise the Eastern Partnership projects.

Much was spoken about ways and mechanisms to simplify visa regime between the EU and partner countries. To encourage third countries to co-operation and implementation of the regional projects, an initiative was supported to launch a Group of Friends of Eastern Partnership (previously voiced).

During his official visit to Budapest, Mr. Martynov, met his Hungarian colleague Péter Balázs, discussing prospects for further strengthening BelarusianHungarian co-operation. The two sides agreed to expand regular contacts between their foreign ministries and branch ministries while discussing ways of developing trade-economic relations, including via the Belarusian-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Co-operation (established last year).

Both sides spoke up for quicker completion of work on an agreement on investment protection. Moreover, they shared diplomatic notes, according to which an inter-governmental agreement on co-operation in education, science and culture (signed in May 2009) entered into force from March 1st.

The negotiations particularly focused on the development of Belarus-EU dialogue and the strengthening of the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme.

Regional approaches and projects have been discussed, in addition to opportunities to attract funds of the European financial institutions for their implementation. The two parties agreed to make joint efforts to solve the issues of simplifying visa regime for Belarusians travelling to the EU.

 Priorities receive concrete definition Minsk hosts fourth sitting of joint Belarusian-Iranian Commission for Co-operation in Education, Science and Technologies

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he session focused on the creation of a joint market to sell the high-tech goods of our two countries, alongside the setting up of joint scientific organisations and laboratories and collaboration in the field of IT. The training of scientific personnel at different stages of post-diploma education is a priority, as is the exchange of post-graduate students and doctoral candidates.

Mutual interest in the field of medicine is also important, as is the production of equipment and medicines.

Iran has announced its interest in developing scientific co-operation with leading Belarusian universities and scientific-educational establishments.

Spheres under focus include microelectronics, micro-circuitry, genetic engineering, supercomputer technologies, microbiology, energy, lasers, lightemitting diodes, space technologies and the management of city traffic.

The fifth session of the joint Belarusian-Iranian Commission for Co-operation in Education, Science and Technologies is to be hosted by Tehran in 2011.

2010 беларусь.belarus

15

Economy priorities

Flax is the wealth of Belarus One Belarusian folk song tells us: ‘Ulianitsa was sowing flax…’ The FLAX has been cultivated here for about two centuries, making it a symbol of Belarus. Its flowers decorate our emblem and many songs have been composed in its honour

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nly three natural fibres are cultivated worldwide: wool, flax and cotton. Climatic conditions in Belarus are ideal for growing flax and specialists call it the cleanest and most wonderful product. It thrives regardless of rainfall and can grow without much fertiliser.

Importantly, no part of the plant is wasted. Since ancient times, linen clothes have been popular; the trend continues, with linen clothes being hygienic and comfortable. On hot days, skin temperature is lowered 3-4 degrees by wearing linen clothes (in comparison to cotton fabrics). Moreover, linen has natural anti-bacterial properties, hindering the growth of fungus and bacteria.

It’s no surprise that, all over the world, demand for natural linen products is growing. Belarus has the chance to promote its branded manufacture abroad.

President Alexander Lukashenko recently visited the Orsha Linen Mill, saying, “I confidently announce that our linen producing branch shall be one of the best in the world.”

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However, much work lies ahead to achieve this goal.

Recent data shows that Belarus is one of the largest global regions specialising in flax crops. In Belgium, 14,600 hectares are devoted to flax, while France boasts

Linen clothes have been popular since ancient times and the trend continues being hygienic and comfortable 75,500 hectares. They are the leading producers of linen in the EU. Ukraine is growing 12,000 hectares of flax, while Russia has 75,000. In Belarus, flax is grown on 78,500 hectares. Only China is ahead, with about 110,000 hectares.

However, the Republican Flax Institute notes that, in Belarus, the efficiency of flax growing is 2-3 less than in Western Europe.

Harvestsneverexceed700kg per hectare, with only 25-26

percent of valuable spinning fibre received.

In France and Belgium, this figure reaches 60-80 percent. Low levels of production organisation and obsolete technologies for growing and processing result in poor quality (by global standards). This is reflected in the price of our flax, negatively influencing the linen industry. Experts also note that Belarusian enterprises need to strengthen their marketing policy.

According to the Flax Institute, specialisation in the global market will soon reach a very high level. China and Russia will produce fibre and seeds — primarily, for sowing — while Canada and India will collect seeds for the food industry. Holland will produce high quality seeds for sowing and the UK is to produce linen oil and non-textile products. Italy and France are to specialise in high-quality fibres, clothes and underwear. Belarus needs to find its niche within the global community, as well as its own ‘price-quality-range’ segment.

European countries — mainly Belgium, France and Italy — are now producing diverse, high-quality linen goods, using precise, high quality technology. Italian linens set the standard although these Western European products are expensive. Meanwhile, Asian countries such as China, India, Pakistan and Korea can offer a wide range of linen products at far cheaper prices. Their wares are aimed at consumers on low incomes.

Aloizas Yunevich

priorities Economye

Like Russia and Ukraine, our countr y produces a small range of medium-quality products, selling them at low prices. Belarus primarily exports gray cloth and fabric already past the initial stage of processing.

However, Belarusian producers have no guaranteed sales market. As a result, in 2009, our exports of fabrics and yarn halved. Stocks have increased, as has the credit burden of our linen mills.

Our reliance on supplying a near raw material, our small range and insufficient investments into modern technologies for processing and production are the reasons behind our lack of success.

Pleasingly, the technical modernisation of linen mills has already begun, although much additional investment is required. According to governmental calculations, about Br180bn ($60m) is needed to reconstruct Orsha Linen Mill alone. It’s not easy to find such a sum. It’s been proposed that we close

some linen mills and reduce production of linen from 60,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes a year. However, Mr. Lukashenko dislikes this proposal, saying, “We should cultivate flax; we can do this.” He has reminded the Government of the situation regarding barley and sugar beet. Some time ago, there were proposals to cut production, for economic reasons, but he overrode the decision and Belarus now fully satisfies its own need for barley, producing about 150,000 tonnes a year, supplying breweries. Meanwhile, sugar production is now double that of domestic needs. Exports used to be loss making but, following global price rises last year, our Belarusian sugar refineries are selling their products abroad at a good profit. Mr. Lukashenko believes a similar revival is possible in the linen branch.

Its development is vital, since Belarus lacks many sectors producing raw products: potash fertilisers, wood processing, food production and, of course, flax. According to Mr. Lukashenko, it’s a true sin to neglect the development of these branches.

All these thoughts were voiced during a meeting at Orsha Linen Mill. It has been decided that, until 2012, the branch will receive state support. By then, modernisation should be complete, allowing flax production and linen manufacture to become profitable.

Interestingly, the opinions of private businessmen echo those expressed by the President. Sergey Levin, the Managing Director of Lebortovo Capital Partners (which has fulfilled several successful investment projects in Belarus), believes that postponing linen branch reform would have unfortunate consequences.

Our mills’ machinery will become obsolete and we’ll lose the current level of flax farming expertise. Belarus should start restoring the industry immediately.

Luckily, the process has already begun….

By Vitaly Volyanyuk

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Resources programme

Second wind for Europe’s lungs

Belta

Belarusian Polesie is a special place. The natural landscape of the region is unique, including the largest forest-marsh area in Europe and the Pripyat floodplain ecosystem.

The state scheme for its development until 2015 has been accepted in Belarus, creating a new page in its biography

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I

n 2008, President Alexander Lukashenko entrusted the Government with the development of an integrated programme to use the natural resources of Polesie. There was every indication that it was necessary: natural wealth, a variety of deposits and the life style of local people observing ancient traditions. A programme was elaborated to revive the Polesie area of the Brest and Gomel regions, aiming to develop the social sphere, restoring flooded land, raising efficiency and preventing land degradation. Above all, it provides for the development of the agriculture and fishing industry, bringing non-consumptive use of water resources and their protection from desiccation and pollution.

Among its priorities is the protection of forest resources, flora and fauna, while minimising the effects of emergencies.

Various projects are connected with the development of tourism in this region, with better accommodation being provided, alongside reconstruction of schools, hospitals and town halls.

About Br4bn is earmarked in total from state and local budgets, innovation funds and internal funds of organisations, alongside bank credits, investors’ facilities and debenture issues. Various tax remissions will aim to attract investors.

Meanwhile, the Pripyatskoe Polesie Project should create over 25,000 jobs, while raising industrial production by up to 80 percent. “It’s a huge blessing for our region,” smiles Alexander Yakobson, the Chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee. “This programme envisages ways for the district to improve its economic and social sphere, starting with the use of marshes, improving reclamation and eco-tourism development.”

It includes dozens of projects in various directions, worth dozens of billions of injections, covering all spheres of life to ensure the Polesie region meets its potential. The regional administration considers that a global project to lay railway lines could crown its work, although it will be very expensive. It would connect a large granite pit in

programme Resourcese Glushkovichi and promote the development of chalk, clay and gypsum mining.

The programme particularly stresses the development of animal breeding (for meat purposes) using marsh grass as fodder. The marshes were relatively underused until recently, since access has been difficult; land near water tends to be overgrown with dense shrubs, making it impassable to machinery and vehicles. Additionally, manual harvesting is not possible everywhere.

Pleasingly, a solution has been found, for use via the new programme. “We’ll build five open-air stationary sites for 1,500 head of cattle, on Pripyat’s marshes,” explains the Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food and of the Regional Executive Committee, Valentin Babok. “Our cattle can pasture there all year round.” The experiment is already being implemented, with Turovshchina JSC (Zhitkovichi district) sending its first herd of famous ‘limousine’ cattle for ‘testing’. The cows have successfully survived winter outside, eating pasture, and the marshlands now resemble a mown field!

Naturally, processing is as vital as production, so a plant producing deluxe processed cheese is to be built in the Zhitkovichi district. A dairy is to be

constructed in Lyaskovichi agro-town (Petrikov district) while an orchard covering 200 hectares is to appear near Mozyr, with facilities for processing and storage. “The projects have been developed to ensure modest facilities,” notes Mr. Babok. “Experience has shown that, under present conditions, small plants survive better, while successfully fulfilling their social and economic functions: creating jobs and making payments into the budget.”

The Narovlya district is the smallest in the Grodno region, home to about 12,000 people and several manufacturing enterprises. With this in mind, major hopes are pinned on the programme.

The Deputy Chairman of the District Executive C ommittee, Gennady Lopatenko, tells us, “The district is situated on the Pripyat, which is a good starting position for the development of ecotourism. However, we can’t succeed alone. The state programme will help create tourist infrastructure, uniting unique architectural sites and the rich nature of the area. In other words, it will give us everything we need to ensure successful tourist business, from which the district can make money.”

By Violetta Dralyuk

The production agricultural complex “Priozerny” of the Poultry Factory “Druzhba” (Baranovichy district) breeds the famous French “Limousine” cattle

Prompt  Pripyatskoe Polesie covers 1825,300 hectares, with a population of

588,400. The urban population is 351,000, with 217,400 living in rural areas. Average population density is 27 people per km2 (1.7 times less than the country average). About 18.4 percent of Polesie is specially protected and its territory includes the Pripyatsky Reserve. There are 25 wildlife reserves of republican and local status and 24 natural sanctuaries.

For the sake of nature diversity UN to continue environmental co-operation with Belarus

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he UN/UNDP Representative in Belarus, Antonius Broek, said at a press conference in Minsk, “We are not going to stop. I hope, in the future, the issues of environmental protection, including biodiversity preservation, will be among the top priority areas of our activity in Belarus.” In his words, the UN organisations have so far implemented several projects safeguarding biodiversity in the country. One of them was a joint project by the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility aimed at the conservation of the specially preserved territories in Belarusian Polesie. Another project focused on the rehabilitation of peat-bogs’ ecosystems. Also, the book Wide Nature of Belarus has been published jointly with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection — aimed at generating a careful attitude towards nature among youngsters.

New projects pending implementation in the near future will include a new wording of a strategy on the conservation and rational use of bioresources in Belarus. “A new project on stopping biodiversity loss and planning of the natural area of protection has been launched jointly with the Nature Ministry of Belarus,” Mr. Broek said, adding that safeguarding biodiversity is a key issue of the UN agenda. According to the UN experts, the extinction rate of biological species exceeds the natural reasons by 50-100 percent. The figure will keep on growing. “If we fail to take action, almost 34,000 species of flora and nearly 5,000 fauna species will become extinct in the near future. The proclamation of 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity will contribute to addressing the problem,” Mr. Broek stressed.

By Olga Belyavskaya

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Life

Spring mood Belarus’ Gomel region has perhaps suffered most from the Chernobyl catastrophe yet, today, it looks back from a more positive stance

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he Korma district is am ong t h o s e w h o s e biography is divided into ‘before’ the accident and ‘after’. In the early 1990s, its population dissipated as factories closed and prospects narrowed. Today, it’s one of the Gomel region’s leaders in terms of industrial production and one of Belarus’ best examples of material resource saving.

“I won’t deny that we’re pleased with the result. To achieve reasonable savings, we’ve injected over Br1bn,” explains the Chairman of the Korma District Executive Committee, Vasily Yatsevich. “Saving is a comprehensive issue, involving specialists’ training, the introduction of innovations and a careful attitude towards the land. We still have much to do. However, our district already boasts a good, postChernobyl economy, with enterprises working profitably.”

Mr. Yatsevich organises an ‘excursion’ through the district centre, pointing out repaired roads, newly-constructed residential housing and new social facilities.

“This is an old three-storey building,” he says as he indicates a light-coloured

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house in the town’s centre. “It’s about 50 years old but has been reconstructed.”

Korma is different from how it used to be some 15 years ago, when many planned to leave. Now, people dream of reviving deserted buildings and estates from past centuries. “This is our sacred mission: to revive our historical and natural legacy for tourists,” Mr. Yatsevich smiles. “We really have something to show to our guests.”

Korma is to breathe new life into the Doria-Dernalovich estate, constructed in the late 19th — early 20th century.

Alongside a manor, it includes a starch-making facility, a mill and other household outbuildings. The mill is still used for its original purpose, due to the efforts of an entrepreneur. The starchmaking plant is a typical example of the industrial architecture of the past.

Another sight, registered on the List of Cultural Values, is situated near the entrance to the town: St. Nicholas’ Church, built in 1836. Following the 1918 civil war, church services ceased, with the cross and bell removed. It became a warehouse and, later, served as a bakery, which burnt down in the early 1960s. “It could become the

At the children sports ground in Vetka district centre

town’s business card,” believe local residents. The surviving walls have a real majestic solemnity.

For several years, an international technical assistance project has been implemented in the Gomel region, entitled Area-Based Development of the Chernobyl Affected Regions. It is financed via the European Commission and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), as well as from local budgets.

“We’ve discussed plans of action

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Life

at a workshop in Gomel,” explains the Head of the Regional Executive Committee’s Department to Eliminate the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe, Yevgeny Belash. “The districts of Vetka, Buda-Koshelevo, Zhitkovichi and Khoiniki have been chosen as pilots, with contracts signed with each District Executive Committee, outlining major areas of partnership.”

Last year, a children’s playground and parking were developed in Vetka,

in the courtyard of a 60-flat building, as part of the pilot project. The UNDP Office purchased construction materials, as well as almost Br50m of equipment for the play area. The same amount of funds was allocated from the local budget for the same purpose.

The residents also helped at a practical level and the playground opened last October, with the Head of the European Commission for Ukraine and Belarus in attendance. “In 2009, the implementation of two more projects began in Vetka, jointly financed by the UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation” Mr. Belash explains.

The Protection of Houses and Backyards in Zapesochie Village from Flood project is being realised in the Zhitkovichi district, partly financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, the UNDP Office and the Global Economic Fund’s programme for small grants. Nine more pilot projects are in the pipeline, including the Social and Medical Rehabilitation of the Vetka District’s Population which has Suffered from the Chernobyl Catastrophe, the Construction of a Children’s Playground in Yurkevichi Village in the Zhitkovichi District and Vetka District Spring. Each of the affected areas in the Gomel region has a memorial honouring those who have suffered as a result of the Chernobyl catastrophe. One more plaque is to appear in Gomel, near an Orthodox church relocated from a deserted village in the Vetka district.

An Avenue of Memories is being created in the city’s Festivalny Park, near the cathedral. It will commemorate those towns and villages of the Gomel region which became abandoned following the reactor explosion in Chernobyl. The names of 365 villages and towns are to be etched in stones; residents had to leave their homes forever…

he AUTOHELP system (including Minsk Guest Card and Belarus Guest Card, among others) combines loyalty programmes including a range of services which are popular among tourists, guests and citizens of Belarus — both domestically and outside its borders. In the global market, it is one of the most efficient methods to attract tourists — via granting them discounts at hotels, restaurants, cafes, entertainment centres, shops, night clubs and museums.

By participating in the project, the Narochansky National Park plans to attract new and encourage old clients, while stimulating them to make purchases with discounts. The necessary documents for joining the programme are already prepared, as is the discount system. A design for the discount card is being worked on.

AUTOHELP already unites over 100 organisations which accept cards at over 360 places in Belarus. Outside the republic, the cards are valid in Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania.

In Belarus, the leading banks, insurance companies, department stores, shops, medical centres, clubs, casinos, cafes, restaurants and hotels all participate.

The Narochansky National Park is situated on the territory of the Minsk, Vitebsk and Grodno regions and occupies almost 100,000 hectares. Its flora boasts 30 rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book of Belarus.

By Vera Nikolaeva

By Tatiana Bogomolova

Privileges for nature lovers National Park Narochansky plans to join AUTOHELP programme

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21

Cities past and present

Silhouette of time

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uying a linen shirt in a Paris or London boutique, customers know it has Belarusian roots.

Orsha Linen Mill has been supplying fabrics to the domestic market and abroad since 1937. It was the country’s first enterprise to begin the industrial processing of flax and still produces the most ‘Belarusian’ fabrics. These enjoy great demand abroad and are snapped up by tourists arriving in Belarus. Of course, there’s no need to travel to Orsha to acquire original linens, since fabrics are available in Minsk’s Lyanok shop, located in Nezavisimosti Avenue. Saying this, it would be inexcusable to visit Orsha and return without a linen tablecloth! Orsha is definitely worth visiting to follow Stendhal’s tracks and to see a house, where Vladimir Korotkevich, — an author of mysterious detective stories and adventure novels — was born 80 years ago. You should also walk along the corridors of the ancient Jesuit Collegium, restored two years ago after housing a prison for 150 years. We can’t but should see a monument to ‘Katyusha’ — legendary weapons of the WWII, first tested in the battles near Orsha.

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The first ABC book was published in Orsha, but the town is famous for so much more…

Today Jesuit Collegium hosts a museum

Travel into 21st century

We don’t need a time machine to discover the monasteries of Orsha’s Old Town; the past is ‘frozen’ under its massive vaulted ceilings. Passing through Orsha in the early 19th century, Vasily Severgin, an academician of the Russian Emperor Academy of Sciences, noted its beautiful monasteries. Each was accompanied by an Orthodox or Catholic church; sadly, few remain today.

“Back in the 1960s, cathedrals were located near each monastery,” recollects Nikolay Saksonov, the Deputy Chairman of the Orsha City Executive Committee. “However, after WWII, it was decided not to repair some of the churches, but to demolish them.

I remember how the church near the Basilian Monastery was destroyed. The construction hammer couldn’t pull down its solid walls and demolition specialists were asked to help. Eventually, it didn’t crumble, but fell apart — cracking into huge boulders. It was a time of struggle against religion. Orsha residents will one day restore their lost relics.”

Fortunately, many former monastery buildings have survived. Ordinary

people now live in the 300 year old Franciscan Monastery, sleeping in the old cells. Meanwhile, the Monastery of the Trinitarians houses now a wedding house and archives. The Basilian Monastery can be found on the bank of the River Dnieper, near the bridge, and has been empty for several years. It’s now undergoing restoration. The Bernardine Monastery, situated not far from the City Executive Committee, houses a hospital.

The sites were viewed by academician Severgin two centuries ago.

Orsha’s contemporary silhouette still reminds us of the town depicted on old postcards and etchings. Three years ago, restorers began their work near the walls of the ancient Jesuit Collegium.

They have much to do. From the mid19th century, the Collegium housed a prison, with the original building deformed by annexes. The rooms once occupied by monks and students now house a picture gallery, with portraits of Rzecz Pospolita kings, Lev Sapega and a Grand Duchy of Lithuania Chancellor hanging in its halls. These prominent figures financed the work of the Collegium — Orsha’s major

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past and present Citiese

Excursion through the halls of the museum complex “History and Culture of Orsha”

educational establishment from the 17th-18th century.

Irina Voronova, Director of the History and Culture of Orsha District Museum Complex, tells us that the building welcomed Napoleon in 1812, alongside the commissary of the French Emperor, Marie-Henri Beyle, who later became a famous writer Stendhal. Napoleon found himself in Orsha during the war against Russia, since this was the strategic route to Moscow. After Napoleon left, the town authorities found several monastery libraries had been ransacked, so they prepared an inventory of the remaining books and a late 13th century Gospel was discovered. It was long before books were printed, so reproducing them was an expensive task. In the late 19th century, the manuscript found itself in Kiev, where it still resides at the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, as the ‘Orsha Gospel’.

Mysteries of cave church

A century ago, Belarus’ only cave church stood on Orsha’s outskirts, on the bank of the dried up River Kuteinka.

The church was named in honour of the raising of Lazarus and legend says that a

secret narrow staircase once existed. In the late 20th century, archaeologists Igor Chernyavsky and Olga Levko decided to explore this story and found church foundations located above the underground church. The ‘upper’ church had been wooden and was burnt to the ground as the result of a lightning strike in 1885. A cross now rises above its ruins. However, they failed to find the secret staircase to the Church of the Raising of Lazarus. The mysterious church was ‘hidden’ in the courtyard of an ancient monastery, founded by Orthodox Orsha residents in 1623, thanks to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Only one monastery church — St. Trinity — remains, built in baroque style, with a decorative shield gracing its façade. It is an example of the architectural school of Mogilev, whose unique monuments survive today.

ceramic tiles. In 1654, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Nikon, learnt of their talent and invited them to Valdai, to live at the famous Iversky Monastery.

Soon, they were taken to Moscow, bringing new heating technology. Some of their old stoves still heat houses and churches in the Russian capital.

Kuteino became popular due to its printing house — one of the few in Eastern Europe at that time. In 1631, under the supervision of printer Spiridon Sobol, Belarus’ first ABC book was released (Sobol introduced this word into the Russian and Belarusian languages).

Later, Kuteino printing house moved to Valdai and then to Moscow, where it was headed by Belarusian Simeon Polotsky, in the late 17th century.

An example of the first ABC book has su r v ive d until day, kept in Lvov.

Jack of all trades

Kuteino Monaster y was famous for its skilful mon ks, able to ma ke

Kuteino Monastery remembers the times of the first ABC books publishing

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Cities past and present

By the museum devoted to Vladimir Korotkevich

House of genius’ birth

Writer Vladimir Korotkevich called Belarus a ‘land under white wings’, inspired by his native Orsha. Today, the phrase is a folk proverb; no one has ever evoked a more poetic image of the country. Korotkevich was born on November 26th, 1930, in Doctor Ryskin’s Maternity House, which survives today — a true miracle considering that Orsha has been destroyed many times. In 2000, a museum opened there, coming true the prophecy, “Once running through this building, young Korotkevich told his beloved girl, ‘One day, it will house a museum of mine’. This story was told by museum Head Galina Yurkevich.

Today, Korotkevich’s flat in Minsk is also recreated in his early 20th century house in Orsha. His desk and watch are on display, in addition to his briefcase and jacket with scarf. A Horizont TV set stands nearby, although it no longer works. His books are placed on shelves, voiceless witnesses to Vladimir Korotkevich’s life.

In fact, the writer’s own voice is heard from a gramophone, recalling images from his childhood. Visitors

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can read his letters — not found in any collection of his works. In 1939, Korotkevich wrote to his aunt Zhenya and uncle Volodya: ‘I have excellent marks in natural science, geography, discipline, Russian and Belarusian reading, and drawing. Thank you so much for the sweets; they’re very tasty, especially those with cranberry. We don’t have anything similar in our town.

Recently, someone left a kitten near our house; it’s very funny — all black with red lips and a white tail. It likes to play.

Sending a big kiss!’. The letter paints a lively picture, yet is written by a 10 year old boy. Geniuses are born, not made.

‘Katyusha’ — not a woman, but a hurricane

Korotkevich called Orsha ‘a terrible fortress’, because its defenders ‘not only stood, but attacked their enemy’. They greatly damaged the fascists when they first used the ‘Katyusha’ multi-rocket launcher on July 14th 1941, near Orsha.

However, during the first weeks of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet troops retreated under the enemy’s pressure, which seemed much stronger at first.

The Red Army needed assistance from the air, but Soviet aviation failed to cope with German attacks.

On July 2nd, the first reactive artillery battery, under the command of Ivan Flerov, set off from Moscow to Orsha. On July 14th, an ‘experimental’ battery of seven units took its firing position 3km from Orsha and began its attack at 15.15 (later called ‘Katyusha’). The Nazis were attacked again as they tried to cross the River Orshitsa. German generals reported in terror to Berlin: ‘The Russians have an artillery battery with a record number of guns. The troops, attacked by Russian fire, report that the attack was like a hurricane. Soviet shells burst simultaneously. We have tremendous losses’.

Orsha also remembers earlier battles, when the fates of nations were solved. At the River Krapivna, not far from the town, on September 8th 1514, a battle took place against the Grand Principality of Moscow. The united troops of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish Kingdom comprised

July 14, 1941, the legendary ‘Katyusha’ made its first shot near Orsha

30,000 soldiers, while those of the enemy totalled 80,000. The victory of the smaller army of Lithuania and Poland on Belarusian land was a huge surprise; news of the ‘wonder near Orsha’ spread all over Europe, entering world military history.

By Viktar Korbut

Soyuz Engine of integration Minsk and Tutaev Motor Works have agreed a programme of joint actions for this year, aiming at the wider application of the 8-cylinder D-280 diesel engine

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ollaboration between the enterprises intensified when the Union State programme was launched, aiming to develop diesel automobile manufacturing.

The production of progressive heavy diesel engines was revived, replacing those of the previous generation, installed in BelAZ heavy duty dump trucks, Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant machinery and fodder harvesters manufactured by Gomel’s Agricultural Machine Building Plant. Now, a new programme of Union State diesel automobile building is underway, creating more efficient and ecological engines.

Belarus — Russia

Without formalities

Bequeathed by St. Yevfrosiniya

On entering Russia by car, Belarusians have no need to fill in customs declarations and process temporary import documents, according to a special Belarusian-Russian inter-governmental agreement

Belarusian and Russian specialists have begun joint work to digitise and release a facsimile edition of the Polotsk Gospel — a spiritual relic and 12th century literary monument

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ong queuing at customs checkpoints is a thing of the past. Now, customs officials can only ask to see passports and car documents, regardless of whether it is an individual, entrepreneur or legal entity bringing in a vehicle to the Russian Federation. The major condition is that vehicles must be registered with the state automobile inspection authority.

Import procedures for foreigners remain the same, with documents processing performed outside the external border of the Union State.

To be remembered The presentation of the unique Encyclopaedia of Victory. Belarus-Moscow edition was a bright event at the 13th National Books of Russia Trade Fair, held at the All-Russian Exhibition Centre

here are only a few editions worldwide which can be compared with the Polotsk Gospel in terms of importance and preservation,” stresses the Executive Director of the Belarusian Exarchate Publishing House, Vladimir Grozov. “We’re very grateful to our Russian colleagues for their assistance and aid. These contacts have been initiated by the Orthodox church, in particular the Metropolitan Filaret, supported by the Foreign Ministry and Belarus’ Culture Minister, Pavel Latushko. We’ve addressed Russia’s Culture Minister and the Holiest Patriarch. Negotiations have been held at the very highest level, with an agreement on co-operation signed between our publishing house and the Russian National Library, where the major part of the Gospel is kept.”

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he 800-page edition includes historical sketches of the early years of the Great Patriotic War, as well as details on the partisan and underground movements of Belarus and the major stages of Belarus’ liberation from the fascist invaders.

Moreover, it contains data on Soviet Union heroes who helped in the liberation, and Belarus-born people awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The Moscow presentation was dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory.

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Figures of partnership Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan receives new impetus from Union State’s Council of Ministers

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rest is a significant city for Belarusian-Russian relations, located on the western border of the Union State. Its border, customs and transport infrastructure allows it to be the economic gateway of Russia, aiding our shared economic space, which covers thousands of kilometres, to Kamchatka and Vladivostok.

Kazakhstan is now joining this promising partnership, with Brest’s role growing within our three countries. The city must ensure the smooth passage of cargo between west and east while preventing smuggling. It’s an issue of principal importance.

On March 16th, 2010, the Belarusian and Russian governmental heads — Sergei Sidorsky and Vladimir Putin — met to discuss such matters; later, a session of the Union State’s Council of Ministers was held in Brest.

Predictably, it began with a visit to the largest border checkpoint on the Union State’s western border: Kozlovichi-2.

It ensures customs clearance for cars and is situated on Russia’s strategic highway : B erlin-Warsaw-MinskMoscow. Three quarters of Russian imports from Europe take this route and the figure is growing. It’s vital for Belarus, as the country receives foreign currency from transit services.

Naturally, our guests were interested

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in whether this checkpoint would be able to take on an additional burden.

The issue was high on the agenda at the Union State’s Council of Ministers session, looking at the development of the Customs Union’s external borders.

Customs, phyto-sanitary controls and other inspections are to shift from the administrative Belarusian-Russian border near Smolensk and Bryansk by 1st July this year. “We’ve done a great deal independently,” notes Mr. Sidorsky, adding, “We are building terminals to meet European standards, realising projects to develop our external borders.”

Terminal Kozlovichi-2 is now able to process up to 4,000 trucks in both directions daily — matching the capacity of the Polish side of the border. In 2010 alone, 2.5m euros are to be allocated from the Belarusian budget to reconstruct the checkpoint. The European Union has also given funding. However, most work is being accomplished as part of programmes to develop the common western border — financed by the Union State. Two, in particular, aim to improve border infrastructure — including the construction and reconstruction of commandant offices, posts and outposts and the installation of modern control devices. Personnel training is also a priority. Billions of Russian roubles have been spent.

Much Belarusian-Russian money has been injected into improving the customs sphere and the development of IT for this area. Kozlovichi-2 provides clear evidence of improvement, with customs, veterinary and transport control concentrated there, in addition to insurance offices and banks. Modern equipment is everywhere, including that to test radiation levels and provide passport control. There aren’t any queues, although transport flow is up 15 percent so far in 2010.

Kozlovichi-2 is a typical example of the change taking place on the shared western border of the Union State. The modernisation of nine checkpoints (out of 24) is ensuring customs clear over 20,000 cars daily. This figure is set to rise, reaching 27,000 in the near future, owing to the continuing co-operation of Belarus and Russia. Processing times for vehicles have fallen 2-3 fold — largely owing to almost 100 percent electronic cargo declaration. On average, just 1.5 percent of cars are checked. A system of risk management enables Belarusian and Russian guards to detect potential

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smuggling; information is shared between those sending, receiving and carrying each load.

New technology is being installed as part of Union State programmes, with information exchanged between our two states’ customs officers in real time.

Cargo may be in Brest but information on it is already being sent to Moscow. This significantly strengthens trust between our customs bodies. On March 16th, the Union State’s Council of Ministers summed up the results of customs infrastructure development, alongside the implementation of unified IT and customs processes. It was decided to further strengthen collaboration, shifting control of cargo, transport and people (including to and from Kazakhstan) to the common western border.

Such measures are presenting opportunities for further co-operation within the Customs Union (initially two and now three leading post-Soviet states). Entrepreneurs from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and some other states are actively searching for ways of using these opportunities.

Despite the ongoing global financial crisis, in the first months of 2010, Belarus-Russia turnover rose by 17 percent. Bilateral investment activity also strengthened; last year, $9.3bn of foreign investments came into Belarus, including $6.1bn of Russian injections.

In turn, Belarus invested $730m into Russia — primarily, into high-tech spheres, such as the assembly of energyefficient tractors and other new agricultural machinery.

C o-operation in the banking sphere is also developing dynamically. At present, most Russian banks have affiliates or offices in Belarus, which account for almost 25 percent of Belarusian banking capital assets.

Meanwhile, integration in machine building is going well; already, several Union State programmes have been realised in this field. However, for reasons unexplained, problems remain.

The Russian Ambassador to Belarus, Alexander Surikov, believes that we are underachieving in the spheres of light industry, wood processing and agriculture. Smooth relations are needed in the field of processing and selling oil products, while potential collaboration in the gas sphere is being underutilised. Business expansion in the realms of gaschemistry, energy and transit has been overlooked.

Of course, Belarus is most worried about the fuelenergy sphere. The Union State’s Council of Ministers has given consideration to Russian oil and natural gas deliveries in 2010.

Belarus is to receive as much as it needs but asserts that Customs Union conditions refute the levying of export fees on Russian oil and oil products. Mr. Sidorsky stressed, “Under the conditions of the single customs territory — to be formed

by July 1st, 2010 — no items should be

excluded from duty free trade.” Mr. Putin supported his colleague but noted that duty free trade, without exception, will only be possible once a single economic space has been formed — by 2012. Meanwhile, more than a dozen serious agreements need to be concluded…

Industrial ministries are, primarily, worried with the customs policy regarding industrial assembly of cars from imported components, and production of car components and co-ordination of balances on machine building. On joining the Customs Union, Belarus agreed to drastically increase import duties on passenger cars but the production of components for Russian enterprises should compensate for this step. The move potentially brings up to $1.5bn of revenue per year, while attracting new foreign investments. Business circles in Kazakhstan could join the process in the future.

“Only large supranational markets of hundreds of millions of consumers are able to develop under conditions of globalisation,” asserts Pavel Borodin, State Secretary of the Union State. “This is an objective

reality which should not be neglected.

The experience of the USA and EU confirms this. Other countries within the post-Soviet space will, no doubt, join the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan in the course of time.”

By Vladimir Bibikov

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SKIF spreads net Belarusian and Russian scientists adopt grid-technologies

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he rapid development of science brings new surprises on a daily basis.

It wasn’t so long ago that the Internet and Pentium IV seemed the most progressive achievements. Now, they seem almost ‘Stone Age’. Speaking of high tech, we need to use the latest terms, such as ‘supercomputer’ and ‘grid-network’ — as used in research institutions and universities worldwide.

Marked ‘super’

A supercomputer centre opened this year at the Belarusian State University.

The technological hit of the season is the SKIF K-1000-05 supercomputer, the brainchild of the Joint Institute of Informatics (National Academy of Sciences, Belarus) and the Institute of Programme Systems (Academy of Sciences, Russia). Worth a massive $840,000, it has been donated gratuitously to the BSU; of course, it’s essential for students in the IT field to learn how to operate such modern equipment. It will be supercomputers that will control most of our research and production processes in the days to come.

This SKIF can perform 2.5 trillion ops per second, while boasting total RAM memory of 500 Gb; it has 288 processors.

Naturally, some computers can outperform it easily but this matters not. Sergey Ablameyko, rector of the BSU, sees new prospects for teaching process organisation. Young researchers will be able to

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prove themselves by designing nuclear processes and solving chemistry, biology and geography problems. Some plans have already been decided. The university is to process data from the Large Hadron Collider, with corresponding arrangements already settled.

A supercomputer centre like this opened some time ago at Moscow’s State University, with SKIF inspiring scientific research. Students from our two establishments are likely to work together soon, with other Belarusian and Russian universities, enterprises and research centres forming cluster groups. Gridnetworks, one more innovation, will connect them, multiplying computational power thousands of times.

Matrix with scientific bias

Technically, a GRID is a co-ordinated, open and standardised environment, which provides coherent resource sharing within a virtual organisation.

It sounds incomprehensible but can be thought of as working like a power supply network. Some time ago, large energy consumers built their own power plants to provide energy. Naturally, this was unprofitable. Power supply networks allow us to transfer energy from one place to another as necessary.

The same is true in the world of hi-tech. It’s too difficult and expensive to give every institution its own SKIF, especially as machinery goes out of date so quickly. Within a few years, a ‘Top500’ member can become an outsider.

Meanwhile, supercomputers are difficult to upgrade. However, by linking places via a GRID network, we create a highperformance computing environment.

Every user gains access to the capacities of thousands of supercomputers in the network. It doesn’t matter whether the resource is on the next street, in another city or over the ocean. What is essential is that all elements must be connected by high-speed communication links.

Experts speaking about the future of such networks mention the fourth stage of informatisation. The first began with the construction of large computers. The second was marked by PCs and the third, by the Internet. GRID-networking would unite all computer resources worldwide into an enormous multiprocessor, with near unlimited computing power.

A global GRID-network is, however, not easy to assemble. Some day, scientists will manage it. The fantasies of the Matrix film will become reality to a certain extent and supercomputers will rule the world. Researchers in many countries have been able to unite powers locally.

In Belarus, the first test GRID-network has been created at the Joint Institute of Informatics at the National Academy of Sciences. It unites the resource centres of the Sosny Joint Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research, the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian National Technical University and the University of Grodno. It should expand, uniting major enterprises, research centres and universities. The positive effects can

Aloizas Yunevich

hardly be underestimated: further scientific integration and economic benefits await us.

Testing the future

Establishing GRID-infrastructure is the main step in innovative development, as all interested experts agree.

GRID-technologies are in great demand in many areas. Industry uses them to design and model complex devices, creating new nanotechnologies and nonmaterials. Medicine employs supercomputers to study human genes, to find new pharmaceutical forms and to process Xray images of patients with cancer. SKIF will help design and maintain Belarus’ planned nuclear power plant, implementing innovations to ensure radiation and ecological safety. Meanwhile, clever

machines will be employed in mining and exploration activities.

Belarusian specialists are planning to create a national GRID-centre in the near future, to co-ordinate and manage the national GRID-system and supervise the deployment of supercomputer networks.

Finally, we need to integrate our Belarusian and Russian networks. This will form a common calculating environment within the Union State. Foundations have already been laid, with a SKIF-test area created within the SKIF-GRID Union program. It unites the supercomputer systems of the main research centres of Belarus and Russia, connecting Minsk, Moscow, Tom, St. Petersburg and other cities. This testing area will form the basis for a common SKIF-environment for our

two countries, due to begin next year as part of the union program SKIF-SOYUZ, designed for 2011-2014. Scientists have already estimated the scientific potential of this tremendous foundation. By 2014, performance could reach 10 quintillion ops (quintillion has 18 zeros) per second.

The scientific gauges are off the scale but such figures are more than just fantasy.

Of course, speeds are growing, with Belarusian and Russian scientists developing fourth generation SKIF supercomputers. Unique hardware, modern modules, boards, software and computing services will soon be a reality.

For the first time, liquid cooling is being used at the computational node level of the supercomputer. SKIF will leave others in the dust!

By Nikolay Kozlovich

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Counter motion Single social-economic space to expand horizons

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ast December, the Union State Treaty celebrated its 10th jubilee. Both Belarus and Russia widely celebrated the date, although our nations’ unity began long ago. We signed an agreement on equal rights for citizens on December 25th, 1998; of course, it was a framework and, to a great extent, declarative. However, it indicated the direction we’d be moving in to solve some of the problems which arose following the USSR’s collapse.

It ensured that Belarusians living in Russia, and vice versa, were guaranteed equal treatment regarding labour migration, education, salaries and pensions, and medical services. It took a decade to compile.

Previously, Belarusians moving to Russia for permanent residence lost their pension eligibility in their homeland. Meanwhile, they could only receive a pension in Russia once they had received permission for permanent residence — a process taking several months and, even, years. Many were obliged to rely on relatives’ generosity.

The problem was less acute for Russians arriving in Belarus, since our country is much smaller and issues can be solved more quickly.

“Our co-operation agreement in the field of social provision — which came into force in 2007 — settled the problem.

Now, Belarusian citizens living in Russia continue receiving pensions from their homeland while documents are being registered,” explains Valentina Koroleva, who headed the Pension Department while the agreement was being prepared.

She is now Belarus’ Deputy Minister for

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Labour and Social Protection and knows the topic inside out.

In 2007, the issue of pensions paid for length of service was settled (covering the period before and after the USSR’s collapse). Global experience was taken as an example. The period before 1992 (when the Soviet republics became independent) is covered by the state where a person resides, or their country of citizenship. The logicality is obvious. Many Belarusians work in Russia, since this huge, rich nation offers so many opportunities. They help in constructing housing and developing oil deposits, and work at banks, trading and IT companies. If they wish to return to Belarus in their later years, they can call on the country to whose pension fund they have been contributing. According to statistics, 4,779 Belarusians receive Russian pensions today, while only 248 people in Russia receive our pensions — 20 times less. It’s evident that labour migration is heading towards Russia, while pension migration is in the opposite direction.

“Our residents who temporarily work in Russia address us regarding their future pensions,” notes Ms. Koroleva. “They complain that Russian companies refuse to calculate pension payments and they aren’t accumulated. We’ve suggested ways of settling this problem without success, as the Russians explain that their legislation does not envisage insurance payments for temporary workers. It’s true, but all is not lost. Belarusians who move to Russia for temporary work can register with our Social Protection Fund on their arrival and make payments in their homeland.”

More such applications have been registered since the Russians widely

advertised their increased pension rates in late 2009 and early 2010. However, the level has remained similar to that of Belarus, perhaps attributable to the most important achievements of our Union State relations. In other CIS states, pensioners receive far less.

Belarusian legislation indexes pensions to the minimum wage, with change implemented automatically four times a year — without fuss or advertising.

Rises are modest (just 2-3 percent) but, over the past five years, pensions have covered at least 40 percent of former salaries; in Russia, this stands at less than 30 percent. In late 2009 and early 2010, pensions rose twice in Belarus — by 9 percent each time. Only 4.5 percent of elderly Belarusians receive less than the subsistence wage — compared to over 10 percent in 2006. The average pension is Br491,000 a month.

No serious problems remain in the field of pension provision within our two states. Moreover, our specialised ministries exchange information on a regular basis. Any spontaneous trigger points are quickly revealed. Our liaisons will continue, and Belarus and Russia are striving for unification of some sociallabour regulations.

In 1993, our countries signed an agreement on mutual rights to privileged transportation by invalids and Great Patriotic War veterans. However, Belarusian veterans were sometimes unable to travel on the Moscow metro free of charge. In Russia, the system of privileges and benefits for certain categories of citizens has been largely abolished in favour of cash compensations, while it has

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At the photo exhibition devoted to the anniversary of the Union State agreement, held in the Palace of Republic

been partially preserved in Belarus, for instance, for war veterans. Officials are now actively negotiating to solve this unexpected problem.

Health care has also witnessed important achievements. Two years ago, an agreement on medical assistance for Russians and Belarusians living in either state came into force. Those who permanently reside within the Union State (or have a stay permit) have equal rights to medical help, including free treatment at state and municipal hospitals. Soviet Union heroes and cavaliers of the Order of Honour (of three degrees) have the right to receive free medical help — irrespective of their status within the Union State. Article 6 of this agreement regulates the rights of labour migrants; those working tempo-

rarily in either Russia or Belarus receive equal medical assistance.

The results are mutually beneficial and further improvements are underway.

A new Union State social development plan is being mapped out for 2011-2015.

“As before, we’ll agree common goals and priorities for social protection; we need to define how these will be applied,” notes Ms. Koroleva. “We are revamping the concept, making it function more easily on a legal level, with social guarantees for Russian and Belarusian citizens.”

Social partnership and signing of collective agreements are high on the agenda, regulated by national legislation.

We need to ensure unified standards, such as those relating to salaries (with minimum wages guaranteed). Moreover, harmful working conditions are yet to

be defined, alongside a unified system of recognising qualifications. Over the next five years, we’ll be tackling the huge amounts of non-certificated, cheap products of low quality on the market, setting technical regulations to ensure public safety. The Russian and Belarusian markets are overwhelmed with such goods, which can be dangerous — even leading to disability. If technical regulations are adopted within the Union State, employers won’t be able to purchase products which can damage labour safety. Developers are ready to propose innovations for adoption this year.

Despite numerous problems, it’s evident that the single social-economic space of Belarus and Russia is actively developing.

By Aelita Syulzhina

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Always together

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Year of Belarusian Culture begins in Russia

oscow Bolshoi Theatre launched the grand opening o f t h e Ye a r o f Belarusian Culture in Russia on 5th April. Leading soloists of the National Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Belarus graced the stage, presenting the best of classical Belarusian choreography. The ballet chosen was ‘Till Ulenspiegel’ by Evgeny Glebov — a famous Belarusian composer, whose works highlight Belarusian musical culture today.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of 48 young Belarusian artists opened at the State Central Museum of Contemporary Russian History. The vast collection of new Belarusian paintings, sketches, sculpture and videoart was a pleasant surprise for the Muscovites; even our Russian colleagues know little about the creative work of contemporary Belarusian artists.

Another surprise is in store, as the State Symphonic Orchestra of Belarus, conducted by Aleksandr Anisimov, is to play at the Hall of Columns in the House of Unions. The programme includes music

by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Sviridov and Khachaturyan as well as symphonies by Belarusian composers Glebov and Smolsky. A full house is guaranteed. Maestro Anisimov is admiringly welcomed in the most famous concerts halls worldwide, often touring Russian

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cities and working with Russian opera stars. He has conducted performances at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres.

Our Days of Belarusian Culture is to visit St. Petersburg in April, with gala concerts featuring Belarusian singers and a performance by the State Chamber Orchestra of Belarus at the Hermitage Museum. The northern capital of Russia is to host various other events connected with the common history of our countries, including discussions on patriotism in the works of modern writers.

Meanwhile, a memorial plaque is to be unveiled to witty Belarusian fair yt a le w r iter Yan Barshcheuski — whose famous ‘Gentleman Zavalnya, or Belarus in fabulous stories’ was first published in St. Petersburg in 1842. Later,

renowned Belarusian groups Pesnyary and Syabry will go on tour in Russia. Finally, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory, artists from Belarus and Russia are preparing a joint exhibition in Moscow...

Our annual Belarusian and Russian cultural exchanges have become a tradition.

Last spring, the Year of Russian Culture in Belarus opened with ‘Swan Lake’, featuring Russian ballet stars; they were the first to appear on the stage of the newly reconstructed opera theatre in Minsk. Soon after, the enduring argument on the restoration of our Slutsk sashes was settled.

These had been removed during the Great Patriotic War and had been on show at the State Historic Museum in Moscow. Now, they have been returned to the National Art Museum of Belarus. Last year, Russian directors created a number of performances for Belarusian theatres, and a major Belarusian-Russian film was shot — ‘Brest Fortress’. Last December, our Belarusian and Russian writers formed the Union of Writers of the Union State. Day by day, we are extending our common cultural environment, sharing all that raises us into the realm of the exceptional.

By Elena Mikhailova

Exhibitions

Informative trip Chronicle of Brest Fortress in Photos photo exhibition on show in UK cities

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he photo exposition, currently on display in the UK, is the first largescale project of the memorial complex abroad. It was opened in the UK last September, and it is exhibiting in museums, universities and art galleries.

It has been already demonstrated in Maldon, Glasgow, Bristol, Durham and the Island of Jersey — the only British territory occupied by the fascist Germany during the Great Patriotic War. The exposition includes over 60 copies of photographs from the Brest Fortress Defence Museum’s collections. These shots describe the 170 year history of the legendary citadel, from the laying of the first stone till the present day. The exhibition opens with a photo created from a picture by the Polish painter Martin Zalesski, who visited the fortress in 1840 after being invited by Duke Paskevich, and captured its construction in his drawings.

The photos depicting the arrival of the Emperor Alexander III into the BrestLitovsk Fortress in 1886 are also very interesting, in addition to those showing the White Palace, where the Brest Peace Treaty was signed in 1918. The heroic defence of the fortress during the Great Patriotic War is presented separately.

The photo exhibition of the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial visits the British Isles with the support of the Belarusian Embassy to the UK, and of a private citizen. UK resident Russell Porter, who dedicated his life to studying the Great Patriotic War, visited the Brest Fortress himself and initiated the event in the UK while providing assistance for its organisation.

At present, the photo exhibition finishes its work in Liverpool and will continue its travel through the British Isles till the end of the year. There’s an agreement to show the exposition in Cardiff, Newcastle, London, Inverness and Nottingham.

By Natalia Kubareva

Mark Cagall’s painting “The Bible”

Better understanding of origins Ghetto Municipal Art and Culture Centre, in Sardinia’s Caliari, hosts ‘Vitsebsk Prophet Mark Chagall and the Old Testament’

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he e x h ibit i on of t he g re at Belarusian artist was arranged

by Caliari city council, under the aegis of the Belarusian Honorary Consulate. Members of religious and secular organisations were invited to the opening ceremony, where Emilio Floris, Mayor of Caliari, and Giorgio Pellegrini, Professor of Arts at the State University of Caliari and ViceMayor for Cultural Matters, delivered their speeches.

For the first time, Chagall’s 129 works on the theme of The Bible and Exodus, created from 1931 to 1996, were on show in Sardinia, noted Guiseppe Carboni, the Honorary Consul of Belarus to Sardinia. He stressed that Vitebsk and Caliari may become twin cities, organising more exhibitions in future, including one featuring works

by Belarusian pupils of Chagall.

Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya, the Director of Vitebsk’s Mark Chagall Museum, tells us that she admires exhibitions of Chagall in the West, where the origins of the artist are always emphasised. She believes that Professor Pelligrini’s lecture on the historic and cultural heritage of Vitebsk will promote better understanding of the artist’s inspiration. “This process will be furthered when Vitebsk and Caliari are twin cities,” she notes. According to Ms. Khmelnitskaya, from 1919 to 1920, Chagall headed Vitebsk’s People’s Fine Art School but had many pupils who didn’t adopt the artistic style of their teacher.

“Of course, Belarus has many brilliant artists, who are interesting to admirers of fine arts worldwide. His Vitebsk period, on which the Museum focuses, is little known in the West, so is of great interest,” smiles Ms. Khmelnitskaya.

By Marat Gorevoy

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Raising explorers

As long as the heavens are lit, we’ll yearn to view them

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t’s said that you can see the stars even during daytime if you sit at the bottom of a well! However, it’s more comfortable — and reliable — to visit a planetarium.

You can admire the celestial sphere regardless of the weather, observing the stars, planets and satellites. Moreover, solar and lunar eclipses can be seen, as well as panoramas of the Moon, Mars and Venus…

Since ancient times, the heavens have been attracting our attention. We’ve watched and painted the stars, creating stories about them. Telescopes have enabled us to make so many wonderful discoveries — as has the opticalmechanical ‘Planetarium’ device, which creates the illusion of cosmic spheres and heavenly phenomenon. There are about four thousand planetariums worldwide, with the first built in Munich in 1925.

In the USSR, the first planetariums appeared in 1929 — initially in Moscow and later in other cities.

In Belarus, planetariums were operational in Gomel, Vitebsk and Lida, based inside re-equipped churches or other buildings with a dome. Minsk’s

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planetarium was constructed from scratch in 1965, in the centre of the capital, designed by Belarusian architect Natalia Afanasieva. It is situated on one of the highest sites in Gorky Park, opposite a monument to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. It is the country’s only public observatory, boasting a telescope able to show the Sun’s spots, lunar craters and travelling comets. “Sadly, the observatory hasn’t been open for several years,” says Alexander Mikulich, the Head of Minsk’s planetarium. “However, in 2009 (proclaimed the Year of Astronomy by the UN General Assembly), restoration began. The telescope has been repaired, as has the electrical wiring and hydraulics. We have more work to do but we hope that the observatory will soon open its doors, revealing our underexplored Universe.”

The planetarium has been operational for 45 years — without break. Its Carl Zeiss Jena equipment — installed on its opening day — has never failed.

Staff bestow their loving care, ensuring that the optical-mechanical projector shows the location of stars each season.

It even produces some special effects.

Vadim Kondrashov

Minsk planetarium has been viewing the stars for 45 years

Raising explorers

The planetarium is always full of visitors — schoolchildren and their teachers, tourist groups from Belarus and abroad, parents and their children, students and young people

Celestial mysteries open for the inquisitive

You can sit in a cosy armchair to view comets, the Northern Lights, meteor showers and the rising of the Sun in just a few minutes. Staff could be envied, being able to see the sun rising and setting several times a day. It’s rather like the world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s fairytale; his Little Prince lived on a small planet, so was able to admire the setting of the Sun repeatedly by moving his chair a few metres…

The planetarium organises a show almost every hour. Apart from demonstrations of the stars, it offers cartoons such as The Adventures of Winnie-thePooh and Piglet on Mars, reviews of the latest astronomical news and lectures on astronomy, cosmonautics, geophysics and nature conservation. The planetarium also hosts various cosmic themed shows (having wonderful acoustics) and exhibitions. Its recent Astral Pictorial Art presented the Cosmos via the prism of Victor Vasyukevich’s artistic intuition.

On International Astronomy Day, the planetarium joins forces with a club of astronomy lovers to organise an outdoor party in Gorky Park. Everyone then has access to the telescope, able to watch the stars and learn about the Universe from an exhibition of astronomy-themed photos. On Astronomy Day, Baikonur veterans attend, while competitions are held for children, alongside public lectures. Plans for July 29th, when the planetarium is to celebrate its 45th birthday, remain secret.

An amateur club for young astronomers has been operational at the planetarium. Since 2008, the club of astronomy lovers — Ash-nyu — has been opened, uniting several dozen

members who often go to the countryside with their telescopes. The lack of city lights gives better viewing opportunities and, in spring, they attend the Messier Marathon — organised all over the globe. “Of course, we don’t run with telescopes,” smiles Mr. Mikulich. “The goal of the event is to observe as many objects sited by 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier as possible in a single night. It’s extremely difficult to do, as his catalogue unites 110 different galaxies, starry hosts and nebulae.”

The BELASTRO.NET website has been operational in Belarus for several years already, allowing club members and astronomy lovers countrywide to communicate. “Astronomy lovers are a single friendly family. We help each other and offer advice, sharing experience. We often visit private observatories set up by amateur astronomers in Belarus — these are run by Sergey Shurpakov (from Orsha), Sergey Ivan (from Molodechno) and Vitaly Nevsky (from Vitebsk),” explains Mr. Mikulich.

Minsk’s planetarium is a member of the International Planetarium Society, the Eurasian Astronomical Society and the Russian Planetariums Association.

It also co-operates with CIS planetariums and participates in international events, such as that run by the School of Lecturers in Moscow.

The planetarium is always full of visitors — schoolchildren and their teachers, tourist groups from Belarus and abroad, parents and their children, students and young people. As long as the stars are lit above us, we’ll yearn to view them.

By Lyudmila Minkevich

2010 беларусь.belarus

35

Challenging geography

Beautiful Paris near Postavy Belarusian village bearing French name to celebrate 200th anniversary

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call the river ‘our Senna’; after the winter ice thaws, it flows quite rapidly. Meanwhile, the village has a road sign warning about construction works in progress. It’s decorated with an image of the Eiffel Tower and a symbol representing the Culture Centre, which has its own library.

“At the end of last year, our settlement was considerably renovated and improvements are ongoing,” explains Yanina Sharinskaya, a local librarian. An elderly resident of the village adds, “Our Palace of Culture has been reconstructed, with fences installed and a new sign placed above the shop. It is really tidy and smart now.”

Caterine Shaposhnikova

any tourists may be aware of the village of Mossar in the Glubokoe district o f t h e Vi t e b s k region. Its beautiful park, around St. Anne’s Cathedral, is called the Belarusian Versailles. We might joke that we have our own Versailles but where is Paris?

Believe it or not, 13km to the west, in the neighbouring Postavy region, there is a village bearing the same name as the French capital. From 1973 to 2006, it was called Novodrutsk, after the nearby railway station, but its historical name was restored four years ago. Recently, it has been smartened up, and could become a tourist attraction, boasting some places of interest.

I travelled to Belarusian Paris from Postavy, taking the same path as Napoleon in 1812, during his march to Moscow. I stop to look around the town of Osinogorodok, on whose hill is located St. Pokrovskaya’s Orthodox Church — an old wooden building. Napoleon did the same in 1812. It’s said that, looking out at the view from this hill, he saw the River Dubovka flowing nearby, with forests and fields spread at his feet.

He exclaimed: ‘What a beauty is here, just as in Paris!’ and the nearby village took on its new name from that time.

A lt hou g h t he p opu l at i on of Belarusian Paris is just 324, it almost merges wit h Novo dr utsk and Osinogorodok; you only need cross a bridge over the Dubovka from Osinogorodok to reach Paris. Residents

Finding myself in Belarusian Paris, I look for parallels with its namesake and it doesn’t take long. Right in the centre of the village stands a 25m copy of the Eiffel Tower, crowned with a cross. Paris is spread before my eyes. “Our catholic parish was previously under the governance of Mossar’s St. Anne’s Cathedral, overseen by Father Joses Bulka,” Ms. Sharinskaya recollects. “He initiated the return of our historical name and erected our mini Eiffel Tower. Engineers used power lines to create the structure and we’re now planting a park around it, with a pond, firs, boulders and cut lawns. Young people often come here to spend a few pleasant hours.

Challenging geography We see a lot of courting couples and newly-weds like to take photos here.”

Recently, Paris gained its own cathedral: St. Joseph the Craftsman. Its outlook is quite modern, as it’s located on the premises of a former shop. The town also has its own museum of rare objects, located inside the school. It can hardly compare to the Louvre or the Pompidou Centre but its most precious exhibits are treated so reverently by the local historian and ethnographers. They can talk about them endlessly. The school has less than thirty pupils but they’ve put together an exhibition to be proud of, with the help of their history teacher, Svetlana Petrovna. Even some city museums can’t boast such a fine collection of old irons and paper money.

“Here, you can see the map of the Grand Principality of Lithuania, compiled by Radzivill the Sirotka (the Orphan) in 1613; Osinogorodok is indicated — where Napoleon stayed. The map shows that people lived here a long time ago,” asserts Ms. Petrovan. “We have forks and buttons from French soldiers’ uniforms from the War of 1812; they were found by our pupils during local field trips. We also have a lot of ancient coins,

stamps and embroidered tablecloths donated by residents. This wall clock is inscribed ‘Le roi a Paris’ and may have been taken from Europe as a trophy following the end of the Great Patriotic War. It no longer works but takes an honourable place in our exhibition.”

Paris has another museum, dedicated to Pope John Paul the 2nd, with one of his cassocks on display; Catholics who visit always want to touch it. Alongside prayer books, icons and some rare photos donated by Joses Bulka, it’s a good collection. When Father Bulka was still alive, he took care to guide tourists to Mossar towards Paris as well. Now, these two Belarusian villages are connected by a convenient asphalt road.

The village Culture Centre gathers all those with a creative streak. On the eve of my arrival, Director Galina Ivanovskaya organised a performance of ‘Once there lived a mother who had four sons…’ Most of the villagers attended to see the struggle between good and evil. No wonder! The local pupils acted and their mothers and grandmothers had helped sew the costumes! ‘We can’t boast art galleries like the capital of France but we have a few celebrities,” smiles Ms. Ivanovskaya.

“Recently, Galina Pankina — a local photographer — put on

a personal exhibition. We’ve also hosted three beauty pageants and crowned ‘Miss Paris’. Marina Kovkina, an undergraduate training in hairdressing, won the last title; she’s moved to Polotsk to work now. We’ve purchased good stage equipment, allowing us to put on substantial concerts.”

I ask librarian Yanina which books are most popular in Paris. Love stories and detective stories of course, but some readers are interested in history and classical Belarusian literature. Mrs. Elena Vasilevskaya, a member of the ‘Parisienne’ Women’s Club has already read all of Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas’ works; she was among the first to lobby for the return of the village’s name in 1973. ‘I lived here when I was young and remember an old gentleman’s mansion — once owned by the Drutsko-Lubetski princes. A beautiful linden avenue stood where today’s polyclinic and pharmacy are located,” the 73 year old muses. “In the early 1970s, I found out that Paris was being renamed Novodrutsk. I held the post of Trade Union Chairman at a rather large local ameliorative organisation at the time — famous throughout the entire Soviet Union. I collected signatures to support the restitution of Paris’ historical name, despite coming into conflict with local authorities. I thought they might fire me but, luckily, everything worked out.”

Elena and her family are delighted to see the old name restored. They’re now working hard on its improvement.

They’d love to see more employment for young people and hope to open a hospital for elderly people. Furthermore, in two years’ time, Belarusian Paris will celebrate its 200th anniversary (since foundation). For many of inhabitants, it’s a truly outstanding, remarkable event. The name is famous worldwide and is treasured here as reverently as the monument mounted in memory of those Russian soldiers who perished during the Patriotic War of 1812, alongside its ancient church and bell turret, dating from several centuries ago.

By Serge Golesnik

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Admirations

The romance of the road Grodno doctor Piotr Gorbach has a unique collection of miniature trains, carriages and railway stations at home. The pieces are rare primarily due to being hand-made; his ‘locomotive depot’ boasts over 100 separate items

D

r. Gorbach has been indulging his unusual hobby for many years.

It all began back in his childhood. “My parents were long employed as railway workers,”

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recollects Piotr. “I often stayed with them and was always astonished when I saw locomotives and trains. I was fascinated to sit near the engine driver in the cabin.

In this way, I ‘fell in love’ with railways.

Simultaneously, I was keen on medicine

and long hesitated over which profession to choose. To bring my childhood dreams to life, I began independently creating copies of real trains.”

The handicraft master has been creating models for over 20 years, exactly copying real life examples to a scale of 1:87. Dr. Gorbach admits that, at first, he couldn’t do much, primarily using cardboard, scissors and glue. Today, this virtuoso has an equipped home laboratory, enabling him to make copies to the highest professional level.

In fact, he makes his own metal and plastic moulds, into which he pours liquid rubber and epoxy resin. Piece by piece, he produces his locomotives and carriages, which he equips with engines removed from toys and small household appliances. Each train can run independently on the track.

Each of the master’s models is unique, with many bearing the ‘stamp

Cartoon

Artistry helps make friends Nesterka and Spriditis appear in first BelarusianLatvian bilingual cartoon

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Piotr Gorbach with his grandson Dima by their railway

of time’, purposefully aged: street lamps are broken, inscriptions on carriages are partially worn away and footboards are curved. His rare exhibits are particularly impressive — such as his 1930s locomotives. Models of railway stations, towns and summer cottages, repeating the originals to the tiniest detail, occupy a special place.

Piotr Gorbach has many creative ideas and plans, yet lacks free time. He is constantly busy heading sub-station No.1 of Grodno’s first-aid station. “I hope that my hobby will interest my grandson Dima, who already watches me creating new trains,” he tells us.

“I’ll then have someone to continue my hobby.” Once a year, when the professional holiday of Belarusian railway workers is celebrated, Dr. Gorbach exhibits his collection at the Children’s Zaslonov Railway station, in Minsk. It always has many visitors.

he premiere of the BelarusianLatvian cartoon has taken place in the district centre of Glubokoe (Vitebsk region). It was created by schoolchildren from the twin cities of Glubokoe and Ludzas (Latvia) — as part of the European Visualisation of Latvian and Belarusian Folklore to Form a CrossBorder Artistic Bridge project.

Two dozen young animators spent a year making the cartoon, visiting each other to learn about the history and culture, customs and rituals of Belarus and Latvia. They wrote scripts, drew sketches and then compiled their film using modern computer technology.

Dubbing closed the process.

How Nesterka and Spriditis Searched f o r Hap p i n e s s tells of two boys’

journeys — Latvian Spriditis to Belarus and Belarusian Nesterka to Latvia. They bake bread, cure birds and fulfil various tasks on their way, as ordered by border guards, bath attendants and, even, frogs. In the end, they help a hedgehog and frog regain their true appearance, becoming a prince and princess who marry. All the characters in the cartoon speak in their native languages of Belarusian and Latvian.

The children’s peers have been the first to view the cartoon, to great acclaim.

There were no problems with translation and the film is now to appear in the Magnifikat International Film Festival — annually held in Glubokoe. Judges will assess the Belarusian-Latvian cartoon in the ‘Animated Film’ nomination.

By Diana Kurilo

By Iosif Popko

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Art events

Exhibition as an event Victor Alshevsky’s works, showcased at National Art Museum, go beyond usual exposition

E alexander ruzhechka

verything about the show is unusual, including its truly cosmic level of organisation and stunning success with visitors, which has been evident from the very first moment of its solemn opening. Fragments of the Tower of Babel, at the National Art Museum, drew a large crowd, with Belarus’ PM, Sergei Sidorsky, in attendance. Culture Minister Pavel Latushko welcomed the hero of the event — Victor Alshevsky — with lofty words, while Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov noted that the artist reveals the cultural richness of Belarus via his artistry. He is like a diplomat bringing Belarus closer to the whole civilised world. Representatives of the Mogilev region were also generous in their praise for Mr. Alshevsky, who was born in Mogilev region’s Belynichi district (in the village of Ugolshchina). Eighty years ago, famous Belarusian artist Vitold BelynitskyBirulya was also born there.

As for the exhibition, there’s no doubt that it’s a milestone in Mr. Alshevsky’s creative career — being expressive, conceptual and philosophical. It links wonderfully with his last project — Legends of Our Civilisation; last year, the latter toured the Mogilev region and is now a success in the capital. These two projects are a true synthesis of world creative project cultural traditions, in the context of our

Victor Alshevsky and his new

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events Arte

Opening of exhibition in the National Art Museum

national cultural heritage. Their main goal is to reflect the profound interconnections of history and modern life, the harmonic unanimity of lofty ideals and spiritual values.

“I’ve tried to show the originality of Belarusian culture, to splash ancient legends and tales with colourful artistic images, depicting the grandeur of national and world architecture,” the artist explains. Today’s exhibition is Mr. Alshevsky’s philosophical conceptualisation of global civilisation and history.

To some extent, his works show his travels around the world. Fragments of ancient Belarusian Mir Castle conjoin with Syrian Palmyra. Meanwhile, the Egyptian pyramids, and the grandeur of Byzantium and Ephesus, interlace with Belarusian Ryzhany and Nesvizh castles, the majesty of Mogilev and Shklov town halls and the beauty of Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace in

Gomel. “Belarus does not stand outside of world civilisation. On the contrary, we have contributed to its development, as evinced by history, culture and architecture,” Victor stresses.

For Mr. Alshevsky, the search for his own figurative expression has become the basis of his art. He feels free to interpret themes and can masterfully combine various methods in a single work — from classical traditions to contemporary aesthetics. He is unafraid to experiment and easily transforms works by combining techniques and plots. He strives to disclose the essence of humanity, exploring fate and the future.

He unveils the world’s hidden secrets, as well as his personal ‘self ’, and concentrates his attention on signs which reveal his personal attitude towards the understanding of eternal values.

Victor’s pictures stand out in their colour and size, boasting monumental

images, with attention to symbolic detail. They push beyond the limits of the traditional and there is no doubt that they show his strong artistic personality.

They testify to his individuality, his philosophical apprehension of life and the broadness of his artistic ideas, alongside his professional mastery.

“Modern art always follows global aesthetic, artistic and philosophical trends; it is a form of dialogue between cultures,” Victor asserts. He represents a new wave of artistic thinking, which incorporates general images of world culture. His themes are complex fragments of history and modern life, notable for being spiritual while reflecting his unique artistic philosophy.

He took his first steps in a picturesque village in the Mogilev region and is still fed by rural wisdom and a respect for nature and handicrafts, as his mother taught him. He recalls those

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Art events childhood days fondly, often taking a pen and thick leather notebook to jot down his recollections. Mr. Alshevsky’s childhood memories are the foundation for his enduring determination and confidence, evident in his four attempts to enter the Belarusian State Theatre and Art Institute’s Monumental-Decorative Art Department. His confidence is rooted in his tenacious ambitions (unusual in a man from such a rural village).

In 1980, Victor graduated from the Monumental-Decorative Art Department and, for over a decade, has been lecturing at the Academy.

“Monumental art requires a general appro ach, ident if ying t he most essential and significant elements. It’s not enough to master a technique — such as frescoing. You need to use philosophical notions to find your artistic language,” he says. Since his studies, Victor has been inventing a symbolic code for his paintings, avoiding irrelevant details. Later, he began viewing his figures outside of reality; they were free of the need for cognition. His works were notable not only for their bright and vibrant colours, but also for their compositional forethought.

Mr. Alshevsky does not take the simple route of using ordinary collage, which adds decorative attractiveness.

Rather, he unites objects torn from reality, architectural monuments and human images, creating finely drawn faces while conveying their internal state and spiritual energy.

His artistry cannot be linked to abstract reflection alone. His works are full of signs and symbols — all united by a single logic; we detect not coldblooded computation but his spiritual message addressed to future viewers.

It’s no wonder that he believes himself to be creating a ‘new reality’. His goal is not to depict those who run away from everyday life to an ideal world; he leaves them in the time to which they belong. It is a unique message from the past to the future.

Victor does not merely create an artistic image. He demonstrates his own

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vision of the world and his own experience, which helps him to diagnose an era. His philosophy is based on personal impressions born of his travels, reading and reflection.

In the 1990s, Victor began a new artistic stage, addressing world history and creating his eye-catching Letters of Time series. He drew historical artefacts within the context of time and their architectural situation — including domes and columns, facades and portals, sphinxes and pyramids, San Pietro and the Tower of Pisa. He drew the architecture of Belarus, Russia, Italy, France and Egypt. Mr. Alshevsky’s images are often unrecognisable, being part of no natural landscape. Rather, they are traces of human activity, illusions of time and space. His every gesture is a thread uniting him with himself and with his own place in life.

Fragments of the Tower of Babel includes dozens of picturesque works, created in recent years, and is the artist’s first such large project. Naturally, he has

chosen to launch it in his homeland.

Explaining the title of the exhibition, he explains, “It’s an attempt to unite the world and tell my contemporaries how closely we are linked with that which is near and far from us — both in time and space. I wish to show how much people are interdependent. Life is ever flowing.

I want people to understand my idea of humanity being a single family. We must have mutual respect, tolerance and understanding to preserve our common ‘tower’ and allow our heirs to continue its construction in the future. I hope my comprehension will contribute to the process. Many centuries on, our work will become the foundation of new ‘towers’. Each generation leaves its own legacy, as well as intellectual and spiritual values acquired through suffering and joy.”

Apart from uniting landmark architecture, Fragments of the Tower of Babel unites culture in the broadest sense: science, music, literature, photography and all kinds of spiritual

events Arte

Victor Alshevsky's paintings being images of the time

activity on Earth. They are a shared source of spiritual energy. “In my artistry, the Tower of Babel symbolises knowledge, experience and the path to declaring our civilisation an indivisible and integral culture. We travel the world, admiring beautiful monuments — those which have miraculously survived and those in ruins. They represent different epochs and nations.

Such journeys allow us to acknowledge our identity and feel that eternity exists close by. We are its contemporaries and witnesses,” he muses.

Mr. Alshevsky is surely an artistphilosopher. His philosophy is evident in his paintings and he can easily explain his concept. “Our modern culture is a fragment of the wall of the Tower of Babel — a common spiritual idea which should bring all of us closer to the truth. It encompasses distinctness and infinity, the joy of new discoveries and disappointment in previous viewpoints. It unites construction and demolition simultaneously. It

is a house, a city, Earth and the infinity of space. It reflects humankind’s path.

We make our way to the future through the past, while accumulating experience and impressions. A man devoid of the historical memories of the past thousand years is like a fish in the sands of the desert. The great Tower of Babel holds the spiritual achievements of real people and nations, as well as the experience hidden in mythological characters,” Mr. Alshevsky explains, speaking of ideas beyond his present exhibition. He depicts his artistic path, where he strives to express the interconnection of civilisations. These are depicted symbolically in his pictures via images which have already become ‘calling cards’ of civilisations, countries and nations.

Mr. Alshevsky believes his Fragments of the Tower of Babel speaks to the future. “This is the path from the past to the unknown,” he explains. We can only wish him good luck on his way.

By Victor Mikhailov

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Moment of sincerity

Olga Klebanovich:

‘I belong to those who are too much in love with life’

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Those in the know say that this actress presents a theatre within the theatre

ll becomes clear when you see People’s Artiste of Belarus Olga Klebanovich on stage in her ‘native’ Maxim Gorky National Academic Theatre. Over her illustrious career, she’s played about a hundred roles and has been awarded the prestigious national Frantsisk Skorina Medal. For a long time, she’s been acknowledged as a master of the stage. Moreover, if anyone visits her rehearsals and hears her unassumingly expressing vision for the performance to the director, it becomes clear why she is called ‘a theatre within the theatre’.

I was lucky enough to observe her performing and rehearsing. The director sometimes stopped the actors to allow them to express their wishes and I saw t hat Olga’s partners

During the benefit performance playing Josephine

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listened to her words carefully. I understood then why her colleagues — especially young actors — feel grateful to be working with her. She boasts huge energy and is an expert in her profession. No one can disagree with her remarks. Moreover, the actors have no wish to object. As a rule, Olga is always right in her suggestions regarding characters’ behaviour.

Talking to her is a true pleasure.

enjoying rural life until my eighth year at school; my mother was involved in reconstructing Minsk after the war. On a hot summer’s day, I was in a field of cows and fell asleep on the edge of a rye field. I dreamt of a huge star falling on me from the sky, bright with yellow light. I thought I’d be burnt but suddenly felt myself surrounded by cool blue-gold rays, flooding over me. There was a force lifting me into the sky and radiance covered me. I felt great happiness, then I can’t decide to never grow older. It’s woke up. For some more important how a person behaves, time, the dream was enjoys life, profession, communicates forgotten. However, with friends and family… years passed and, when my first success came, I recalled this I’ve often interviewed Olga, writing dream — while bowing after a successful about premiere performances in which she performance. The exaltation I felt during has taken a leading role. She’s easy to chat the audience’s ovation was similar to the to informally, with a cup of tea in hand. feelings I’d had in my dream. This is how I feel that I know and understand her. my star guided me to the stage…

Accordingly, I understand those professionals who call her a queen of theatre. As  Since childhood, I’d sung well and she speaks, you feel as if you’re watching a even decided to enter the Conservatoire. mini-performance. She’s extremely clever, Everyone said I’d become a soloist. I love able to express herself concisely, and is to listen to actors singing, since they sincere — especially with those whom she seem to create a story with their voices, trusts and with herself. She can sum up her revealing the inner drama of the word. reflections on life, the theatre and acting in My mother took me to Minsk to find a school for me and I saw a performa single ‘monologue’…. ance by the Russian Theatre — ‘Infinite  I think my path to the stage was predes- Distance’. It featured Alexandra Klimova tined. I’m not a fan of mysticism but I recall [People’s Artiste of the USSR — editor] a childhood dream. I lived in a village, with in the role of an agronomist. I was my grandfather and grandmother, near impressed but thought that she should Slutsk in Minsk region. I lived there, have played her role differently. I decided

Moment of sincerity that I had to become an actress in order to change the situation and show rural life as it truly is. It’s a true miracle that I later worked with this theatre; I even had three major roles as village-women: Marylya (Yanka Kupala’s ‘Ravaged Nest’); the Woman (Ales Adamovich’s ‘Khatyn Story’); and Stepanida (Vasil Bykov’s ‘Sign of Trouble’). These were the key roles in my career.  Everything was going smoothly in my career, running itself. I easily gained entry to the Acting Department at the Theatre and Art Institute [now, the Academy of Arts — editor]. It was like flying upstairs!

Directors often refer to ‘quality material’; this applied to me. From birth, I’d had a strong, easy voice and knew how to behave naturally on stage. God has blessed me.

Life has sculpted me well, removing all that is unnecessary or alien.  Without false modesty, I can say that I’m able to listen to life, observe it and make choices. Life resembles a sound track; you run along but must listen to important sounds. Life is a medium from which anyone can draw what is needed. Being observant is vital to all actors; without this skill, you can’t advance professionally. I’ve always valued the books I’ve read and people I’ve met. Sometimes, an unintentional word can inspire serious reflection… on the meaning of life or an actor’s profession. Like a sponge, I’ve absorbed everything around me. It’s formed me and made me better. I love music, painting and anything which expands our consciousness. I’ve formed myself independently and continue to do so. Only in this way can I advance and improve.  I don’t feel bored when I’m alone — either in the forest, at home, in my summer cottage or on New York’s Broadway (where I visit my daughter, Dasha). When I was young, I didn’t understand why actors need solitude. Now, I love being alone; solitude allows me to better hear the sounds of the city, the silence of the forest or the roar of the sea. I feel the harmony of the soul when I’m alone. I’m convinced

that our yearning for harmony is rooted in our human nature.  My profession is the basis of my life.

However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t notice my surroundings. I do notice! I belong to those who are too much in love with life. Sometimes, I even feel that I notice its signs unconsciously. People passing by might be feeling joyful or sad. I observe them, seeing their gestures, facial expressions and manner of walking. Here is a young mother, taking her baby from a pram. A young father is nearby — and, of course, a smiling grandmother. On seeing them, I feel that I’m swimming in their waves of happiness. It makes me think of one of my characters, nurse Felitsiata, who gains happiness from those who are happy nearby. I take everything from life and use it on stage. I need to penetrate into every aspect; I smell, touch and, of course, admire. I need to remember this state for further use in my roles. Only then will audiences be impressed with my acting. It’s a paradoxical situation: outside the theatre I escape, to exist within it even greater.  Acting develops you as a person. For example, you receive a role and are left to face your character. Usually, the script only gives you hints, no exact details, so it’s left to you to discover your character: their personality and fate. You have to imagine and fill the character with the spirit of life.

You also need to understand the writer who has created this very character rather than any other.  Strange things sometimes happen to me… hints of intuition. Sometimes, I don’t know how to play a character but, on waking up in the morning, I suddenly realise what’s needed. Really, I have a gut feeling. It happens during rehearsals. A theatrical role involves speech, facial expression, gestures and the ability to listen and distribute emotions. Here, the school of mastery helps.

Lessons from teachers can be applied.  My teacher, Vladimir Malankin, has been the ultimate source for me. In medicine, vaccinations are common.

Olga being a student. The picture appeared in June issue of the popular magazine “Ogonek” in 1964

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Moment of sincerity Studying under Mr. Malankin is a unique inoculation against theatrical maladies.

His standards are so high. He’s taught me the correct intonation, allowing me to preserve my voice. He is a great teacher.

We students passed through a true school of theatrical compassion with him.  While studying at the Institute, I always agreed to take any role, often picking up those other students refused. They wanted to play princesses and beauties while I eagerly played an elderly woman or the main character’s friend. I approached my major roles slowly. Later, I passionately wanted to play a vamp and took on Maryutka, from Lavrenev’s ‘41st’. I plunged into her revolutionary upheaval against the world, which contradicts the image of a true revolutionary. For the sketch, I bought a fish — a huge bream. According to the role, I was sitting on the sea shore, scaling it. A lieutenant who liked me began chatting and was musing on how beautiful life is. My Maryutka argued, “You’ve gotten used to resting on a feather bed and eating sweets!” He replied, “You’re out of line; you lout!” On hearing this, I slapped him in the face with the fish. The slap was so strong that he was knocked out and rehearsals had to stop. Those at the Institute laughed about it later, recalling how I’d shown my true feelings. I sincerely believed that everything should be as in real life. That was wonderful. Youth!  There are actors — I admire them greatly — who act like icebergs; it’s extremely interesting to observe their performance. Oleg Yankovsky [a Russian actor — editor] is such a man. If an actor only glances across the surface of a role, like skating on ice, we quickly see the nature of the character and there is nothing left to discover; how tiresome!  I’m quite satisfied with how my career is developing — at the theatre and the cinema. I have no reason to complain.

Great Efros [a Russian theatrical and cinema director — editor] has seen me on stage, while Oleg Yefremov (a Russian actor, director and theatrical figure — editor]

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complimented on me when we were in Moscow on tour. On seeing ‘Hot Heart’, Mr. Yefremov went backstage to meet me, telling me, “You’re an actress!” These words — coming from him — were the greatest praise. I wallowed in my success. After my first appearance on stage, I realised that the audience loved what I was doing. I’ve been serving the theatre for so many years and I’ve never had the feeling that someone, while watching my performance, would have said, “You’d have been better not coming on stage.” I received ‘Best Female Role’ awards from the Belarusian Union of Theatrical Figures five years in a row, on the eve of International Theatre Day.

honest with me. I commented that, as Felitsiata is supposed to be 73, I’d need a lot of make up. Sasha replied, “Olga Mikhailovna, don’t flatter yourself.”

At first, I was struck dumb, but then I laughed. Of course, I’m younger than that but I understand that I’m now among those actresses of whom people say ‘they are playing their age’. In fact, I love my age and wrinkles; they show my life journey and experience. I tell myself, “What I can do.” I can’t decide to never grow older. It’s more important how a person behaves than how they look… how they love life and their career, and how they spend time with friends and family. It’s an awful stereotype to  Sometime I receive presents — during associate growing older with sadness, the encore. Teenagers bring sweets in boxes loneliness and disease. Old age can and dolls to ‘Madame Adjutant to His be wonderful. I’ve agreed to perform Majesty’ [Olga plays Corsican Josefina — elderly Felitsiata with great pleasure.

I’ve been searching for a mental image to associate with the character and I’ve I’ve seen and experienced quite a found it. I’ve been thinking deal in my life. But my reward was of the song ‘I lost my ring the stage — the great altar of and I lost my love….’ Her propitiation. When I act, I forget private life failed long ago, my real life existence. A devoted so she does all she can to make the lives of those who actor always works on the edge surround her wonderful.

editor] and I’ve received French perfume at ‘Awkward People’. After ‘Vassa’, I received a Bible from one man. Baskets of fruit are often presented and, in Ukrainian Poltava, I received a box of champagne. Several years ago, a huge box of apples was brought to the theatre. I still don’t know who gave it. My students also often call me — from different places. They send cards and telegrams to congratulate me on holidays and on my birthday. I live with the feeling that I’m doing a necessary job.  Of course, gradually, my roles have become ‘older’. I began performing mothers and, recently, was asked to play a granny — nurse Felitsiata in ‘Truth is Good, but Happiness is Better’.

The director insisted that I should perform a 70 year old woman. One of our actors, Sasha Zhdanovich, was very

 I’ve always loved people who are older than me, keeping in touch with Alexandra Klimova and other leading actresses who are older and more experienced. Like a magnet, I was attracted by their wisdom. I allowed myself to be guided by their words… perhaps influenced by my peasant genes — I belong to the common people. I love old people and look forward to one day being an elderly woman. I can then share my experience and the secrets of acting. I’m rather like my mother, who loves to chat.  My work with young people in the theatre is developing interestingly. I meet many youngsters during performances and they usually ask me for feedback afterwards, saying, “Did I fail in this scene? Was everything ok?” They want to do well and I offer them advice with pleasure.

Moment of sincerity

 There is a strange trend in the theatre: for actors to choose roles close to their own character. I’m always glad to receive such roles, since it’s an intimate moment when you recognise yourself in your character; it’s like a confession. This may be why the theatre has been called a temple. Audiences subconsciously search for what is close to them in characters. The more frequent such moments of recognition, the more we like a character.  Some say that youngsters are failing to enter the profession but I don’t agree.

There are plenty of willing young actors.

However, they need to experience real theatre in order to learn. Some schools are brightly package but are empty inside. Directors can become carried away by form rather than substance, forgetting the importance of psychological nuances! They choose an actor by appearance — height and handsomeness…looking for a hero. They aren’t interested by what’s inside. The actor might sound empty when they say their lines but these directors overlook this fact if they are happy with appearances.

Watching such performances, we notice an actor’s beautiful voice, technical performance, good looks and bright sets.

No doubt, this is interesting but it fails to touch the soul. We aren’t led to think beyond the plot. The mood of a character can be portrayed even by the movement of their fingers and the turn of their head.

You’ll understand if you’ve seen Maya Plisetskaya performing ‘Carmen’ or

Ivan Zhdanovich

 Actors value others for their professionalism — as in any other profession.

However, it’s great when an actor is talented and able to share his spiritual warmth not only in his roles. Such people aren’t selfcentred, failing to notice others nearby.

They remember that we all have hearts and should be treated with consideration; it’s my interpretation of having a conscience.

When we combine a conscience with talent, we bring depth and beauty to our roles. Talent is energy and fire; it sparkles.

Listening to your conscience stops you from burning others.

Olga Klebanovich with her husband, the Honoured Artist of Belarus, Alexander Denisov

works by the top Hollywood actors Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and Barbara Streisand. I love to see not only form but the life of a human spirit. Only then can mutual understanding emerge between the audience and the stage.  We are seeing a change of generations, with many young people now directing Belarusian theatrical performances. In fact, the theatre seems frozen in anticipation of the future. Older people remain while the young are yet to fully take over.

We ‘old school’ emotional actors are trying to pass on our techniques to the young.  What can you learn from a professional director? It’s like reading classic literature, since it enriches our personality.

Of course, just chatting to such people is very interesting. If you are surrounded by the banal, your existence feels grey and boring. I may be repeating myself but I’m lucky to live and work in such a talented, artistic environment.  I’ve been faithful to the Russian Theatre for 45 years, having lived many lives jointly with my characters. My personal life has been an accompaniment to this artistry (with tours, premieres,

communication with my partners on stage and meeting outstanding personalities). In Soviet times, we toured a great deal, covering huge territories: Murmansk, Sevastopol, the Siberian Taiga, the Baltic States and the Caucasus.

I’ve seen so much in my life and lived through a great deal. Everything has paid off on the great sacrificial altar of the stage. When you appear on stage, your private life disappears. A true actor always works on the edge of fanaticism — it cannot be otherwise. Only if you serve the theatre to the full and breathe the same air as it does, can you feel joy, pleasure and harmony. When you perform on stage, you experience the greatest catharsis of the soul.  My ‘calling card’ is the role of Lizetta, from ‘The Only Heir’. I performed it for many years before passing the role to Emilia Pranskute, who’s managed to find the voice of the character. Chief Director Sergey Kovalchik has invited me to work as a co-director in staging Russian vaudeville. I’ve also been given a lead role in a new performance, being premiered in June or July. This will be a surprise for the audience. Everything is going well.

By Valentina Zhdanovich

2010 беларусь.belarus

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A first night

‘LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: The NEXT Generation’

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Old tale gains new twist at National Belarusian Academic Musical Theatre

he tale of Little Red Riding Hood is so much part of our cultural heritage it seems almost impossible to imagine it revamped in modern style, with techno dancing, rap and reggae meeting the usual orchestral accompaniment. Even the choir is up and dancing in this new adaptation of the story written

by Charles Perrault and edited by the Brothers Grimm. Anastasia Grinenko, the Production Director, has once again surprised the Belarusian public, offering her own concept of the fairy tale as a musical comedy for children and adults: ‘Little Red Riding Hood: The Next Generation’.

Ms. Grinenko is known for her refined taste and original take on stereotypes. Her unusual approach and love of experimentation flavour all her works. In fact, her clear, sharp style in this new musical comedy draws inspiration from Aleksei Nechaev’s 1977 film ‘About Little Red Riding Hood’. However, her version of the tale certainly differs from the famous film and all previous interpretations of the story. “Nechaev contributed a great deal to the development of Belarusian cinema,” asserts Ms. Grinenko.

“His film of Little Red Riding

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Hood is a Belarusian calling card — a pearl created by BelarusFilm Studio.

Several generations of children enjoyed it but we need a modern interpretation to capture the imagination of today’s youngsters. That’s why we decided to revamp the story, with characters taken from the film appearing in a new plot, created by ourselves. In addition, we’ve added marvellous music, created by Aleksei Rybnikov.”

‘Little Red Riding Hood; The Next Generation’ is the Musical Theatre’s third performance created jointly with Aleksei Rybnikov, People’s Artiste of Russia. The idea of creating a musical performance for children appeared in 2003, when the composer came to Minsk for the first night of ‘Yunona and Avos’ — a rock opera. At that time, Mr. Rybnikov agreed to stage the tale of Buratino (Pinocchio), with the new performance proving a great success at the 2005 3rd International Golden Knight Festival in Moscow. The Theatre was awarded first prize for ‘Buratino.BY’ and, soon after, the team began discussing plans for Little Red Riding Hood.

However, an unexpected problem arose, since Mr. Rybnikov lacked a score of the film’s soundtrack.

Nikolai Makarevich, a conductor and producer with the Theatre, spent a few

A first night months creating a score by listening to a recording of the soundtrack.

Considerable assistance was given by the National Library, which had copies of some of the song scores. After the vocal score was restored, Anastasia Grinenko wrote the libretto to the new musical comedy.

Uniquely, two top Belarusian harmonists, Honoured Artiste Vladimir Tkachenko and Leo Karpenko, have taken part, alongside two conductorproducers, Nikolai Makarevich and Yuri Galiassa — winners of international contests. Mr. Makarevich notes, “The joint work of two conductors allows their valuable experience to be shared, ensuring the quality of the score. The presence of another expert brings a second opinion, improving the music.”

This musical comedy is rich in musical experiments, boasting hip-hop, techno and reggae, but also gives us original choreography, courtesy of Dmitrii Yakubovich, a laureate of international competitions and widely known both in Belarus and abroad. His dance moves combine aspects of classical and modern dance, harmonising a blend of genres to bright effect. He has managed to create some unconventional choreographic features.

“Since we created our musical comedy from the film score, the choreographer was able to invent extended solo ballet scenes in various styles: classical ballet, rap, and elements of free calisthenics,” explains Anastasia Grinenko. “Apart from our thirteen main performers, we have ballet dancers and a choir, who act, sing and dance. For a long time, we’ve been trying to master these lateral skills. Even the grandmother in our story (once Little Red Riding Hood herself) played by Natalia Gaida, Peoples’ Artiste of Belarus, gets the chance to show her fighting prowess,

transforming at the end of the comedy into a Japanese Samurai while dancing.

Marvellously, we see organic dancing from the wolf and techno style moves from Red Riding Hood’s Mother. Mr. Yakubovich has found a new language to help the characters win the hearts of the youngest connoisseurs of the fairy tale.

Red Riding Hood is the brightest character, played by young Alexandra Zhuck, a true gift to theatre. This first year student at the National Academy of Arts was an instant choice at the auditions, creating a wave of whispering when she sings in rehearsals. “As soon as we heard her voice, we immediately understood that our search for Red Riding Hood was over. Sasha won us over from the very beginning with her talent and childish spontaneity,” smiles Ms. Grinenko. “It’s easy to hold rehearsals when you are performing with professionals,” admits Alexandra. “I’m truly happy to work with such performers as Natalia Gaida, and laureates of international competitions like Katherine Degtiareva, Svetlana Matsievskaya and Victor Tsyrkunovich. Young actresses rarely receive such opportunities!”

Costume designer Yulia Babaeva has also had the chance to

revel in her creativity, sewing outfits for this major show. Of course, the performance features plenty of new characters to dress — including flowers, butterflies, a witch from the Fairy Forest, the Stargazer and some wild women. Each has a newly designed costume. The characters are unexpected and original, allowing Yulia to draw inspiration from unusual sources. She has been influenced by the clothes often worn by Japanese teenagers: bright, colourful and multi-layered, with plenty of accessories. The Hunter’s costume is based on traditional Scottish garments while the Wolf and his kin resemble eerie Goths.

Creating outfits for the wild women, Yulia was inspired by Velasquez’s paintings, noting, “The costumes are rather eclectic but children tend to be interested when they see variety of form and colour; it stimulates their imagination and encourages creative thinking.”

Spectators are sure to be entranced by the lively characters and the theatricality of the show, alongside its impressive special effects. The Theatre has had a rotating circle installed and boasts projection equipment and light effects.

Even performances for adults can’t always compete technically with this new musical comedy.

Ms. Grinenko knew from the beginning that she was taking the tale in a new direction, being keen to address the serious problems of our times. She had no desire to dumb down the story, rather deciding to enthral her little spectators by treating them as equals.

Her endeavours are a clear success and time will show whether this new performance will match ‘Buratino.

BY’ in popularity. No one doubts that this contemporary story of the Red Riding Hood clan is captivating and spectacular. It cannot fail to move audiences, regardless of age.

By Tatjana Danilushkina

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Sport

Fresh winds Naturally, we continue to be inspired by the recent Winter Olympics. Our Vancouver victories are fresh in our memory and further honours are still to come; full results are yet to be tallied. Experienced coaches say that a new Olympiad begins as the flame of the previous Games dies. Sochi, the next venue, is much nearer Belarus; in four years’ time, our Belarusian sportsmen will be performing very close to home, with no excuses regarding time zones or acclimatisation. In order to put on a good show in 2014, we must start training now, all the more so since an absolutely new team will be sent to the Sochi slopes and tracks Biathlon

It’s likely that the sport w h i ch brou g ht u s t wo medals at the last Olympics will remain the most successful over the next four years. Our little star Darya D omrache va is just 23 and her Vancouver bronze obviously hasn’t satisfied her ambitions. In Sochi, Darya may truly hit the pinnacle of any athlete’s career. She won’t be performing merely as a talented young sportswoman with high ambitions and hopes, but as a leading world biathlete unwilling to settle for second best. Sergey Novikov

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is far from being a veteran (especially against the background of Halvard Hanevold of Norway) while Lyudmila Kalinchik has finally caught her rhythm this season and could climb the podium in Sochi. Among our younger athletes, Yevgeny Abramenko has already confirmed his talent while our coaches are placing hopes on Mikhail Semenov’s shooting skills; he is capable of making the leaders nervous. Finally, since the last world junior championship, our youngest contenders have claimed two medals. Vladimir Alenishko should

be in his prime by the Sochi Games… remember his name!

Freestyle

The Canadian Games were certainly our most successful to date, with our young sportsmen and women close on the heels of experienced veterans.

Among our ski-acrobats, Anton Kushnir beat all his rivals in the World Cup qualification and was the main favourite at the Olympics. Following his Vancouver performance, nobody can doubt that, by 2014, his talent and youth will be enriched with experience and he’ll definitely win a medal…if Timofey Slivets and supertalented junior Maxim Gustik don’t hamper him. Of course, gold-medalist

Sport (Belarus’ only participant in the recent Olympiad) at the last national championship. Of course, comparisons are all well and good in their place. The important thing is for our coaches to find a common language. With help, our team may surprise themselves in Sochi…

Belta

Mountain skiing and snowboarding

Greeting of Belarusian Olympians on their return from Vancouver

Alexey Grishin hasn’t yet retired his skis and Assol Slivets is viewing her fourth position as a defeat. The young mother is still deciding her path but something tells us that she won’t be held back…

Skiing

This is where the most serious changes are expected. New head coach Victor Kamotsky, who has worked with the Austrians for over a decade, is replacing almost half of the team — including support staff. In Sochi, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Sergey Dolidovich, Alexander Lazutkin or, even perhaps, Leonid Korneenko. The issue of substitutes is still open, however. “With a proper approach and professional work, we can

prepare a team to equal our current one but much younger, in just four years,” notes Kamotsky. It sounds assuring…

Skating

Here, we might expect just as many changes. Team leaders Anzhelika Kotyuga and Svetlana Radkevich have long had competition from up and coming young skaters. Over the past four years, results have improved, but only slightly. Our speed skaters have a trump card in the Minsk-Arena, since it allows training all year round. Moreover, we have good material to work with. Vitaly Semenov is aiming for the top twenty in the world ratings for long distances, while young Anna Badaeva beat Svetlana Radkevich

Snowboarding is growing in popularity and was watched eagerly during the Vancouver Games but Belarus is yet to put together a qualifying team. RussianBelarusian pair Maria Shkanova and Yelizaveta Kuzmenko were close behind the favourites; however, our coaches are still new to this sport and much work needs to be done. The new Chair of the Belarusian Ski Union, Natalia Petkevich, is taking the idea very seriously, with winter sports schools opening countrywide and a Skiing and Snowboarding Department founded at the Physical Culture University. Soon, our snowboarding athletes will have their own modern base at the Solnechnaya Dolina Mountain Ski Centre, in Minsk.

Ski l le d p ers onnel, including Slovenian specialists, have been working with our mountain ski team since 2008.

Tom Hutchinson, who trained Canada’s team in Vancouver, will be coaching our snowboarders in the new season. In his opinion, the women’s team is absolutely capable of reaching the top five in Sochi.

“Several years ago, we discussed the situation with Vancouver and even tried to earn a place at the Games. However, within a few months, we realised that we couldn’t be ready for the Olympics in such a short period,” explains one of the Belarusian snowboarding founders Denis Ganakov. “We decided to concentrate on training for Sochi, focusing on juniors such as Ivan Alfer and Artur Kachura.

They are now 17-18 years old and will reach the peak of their fitness in time for the Olympic Games in Sochi.” Dmitry Shubin, just 13, is already performing to an adult level and could surprise us, if not in 2014, then in 2018…

By Dmitry Komashko

2010 беларусь.belarus

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Dynasty

Three Schumachers Family of kart racers lives in Minsk, at Formula-1 speed

K

art racing appeared in the USA in the late 1950s, with drivers taking the wheel of smaller-sized motorcars. Back in 1965, Anatoly Shimakovsky of Minsk finished among the top drivers at the kart racing miniOlympics for Eastern European states, hosted by Estonian Tallinn. Several times, he was the champion of Belarus and of the Soviet Union. If the Soviet team had taken part in world competitions, he might have won there as well.

Most Formula-1 racers, like Michael Schumacher, Mika Häkkinen and Fernando Alonso, began their career in kart racing. Schumacher is now again in love with the sport of his youth — being the co-owner of a professional kart racing team.

USSR champions; everybody was keen on sports. I tried boxing and tennis, but motorsports were my real love. During the day, at the design studio, we’d do regular work designing cars for the assembly line. In the evenings and at night, we’d assemble our own vehicles, following our own designs. This was the early 1960s, when kart racing was fashionable. My friends helped me to assemble my own kart, which I raced in Tallinn in 1965.”

Time machine

Kart racing yields money and fame and Anatoly Shimakovsky has built a family dynasty on the sport. Leon Shimakovsky, Anatoly’s father, was once a young chairman of a collective farm near Polotsk. He moved to Moscow in 1938, taking a job at ZIL automobile works.

During the Great Patriotic War, he built trucks and tanks. In 1948, the experienced engineer returned to his historical motherland — to Minsk Automobile Works. There, he remained and his son, Anatoly, followed in his father’s footsteps at the age of 16, working at MAZ. “Crucially, I was assigned to the design studio,” Anatoly explains. It was a milestone in his life. “The best engineers in the company were sent there. Many later become famous sportsmen and

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Gasoline in the blood

“My p a s s i on f or c a r s ?

Perhaps, it’s in my genes,” smiles Anatoly. “I may have been born with gasoline in my blood. This is why my son has followed in my footsteps.”

Devotion to motoring seems to be an inherited feature. Anatoly’s

son, also Anatoly, was just 8 years old when he first drove the Fiat imported by his father from Poland, back in the 1980s. The minimum age for kart racing was 10 but this calm little boy took to driving round Borovaya motordrome, near Minsk, from an early age. Grandson Yegor, also now 8, is another car enthusiast. He’d

Dynasty choose to play in grandpa’s studio over any fancy toy. Perhaps he’ll design cars one day. It does seem that motoring is in this family’s genes.

Motorists’ orchestra

“You should feel the car in every detail, including hearing its ‘voice’,” Anatoly Junior knows how to approach his machines. No one would doubt such insight is in his blood. “Should there be a problem with the engine or with the suspension, I feel it subtly. I can’t even say how, I just hear it. Perhaps, this is why my car has only had problems once or twice; others have dozens of problems.”

Sharp corners  Kart racing, or karting, is for open-wheeled motor vehicles,

with speeds of up to 260km/h on the track. Sharp corners and rather short straight distances make kart racing comparable to Formula-1 in terms of excitement. Karting is one of the easiest and, at the same time, one of the most complicated motorsports. Leading world motor sportsmen, including Formula-1 racers, are constantly training. In May 1960, the International Motorsports Federation officially recognised karting as a motorsport and, in 1964, the first Karting World Championship took place in Rome. Karting is second only to Formula-1 regarding world championships in autosport.

A n atoly S e n i or b e l i e ve s h i s knowledge of music has been useful; all his kart racing friends also have a good ear. “We could create a full orchestra: there are trumpet, piano and violin players among us,” boasts the racer.

One for all and all for one

Motorsports are, naturally, thrilling, but how do you also find time for family?

“We do devote a lot of time to our cars,” confesses Anatoly Senior.

“I’m a ls o coaching Ye g o r ,

The Shimakovskys: father Anatoly, son Yegor and grandson Anatoly

while my son is shifting from karting to rallying. It makes sense to pursuit sporting interests, since they make you a ‘real’ man. My wife, Lyudmila, would surely agree; we married just ten days after we met! She’s never tried to change me or impose a new lifestyle on me.

Rather, she accompanies me to competitions and helps with everything.

I’ve also tried to raise my daughter to love motorsports, but she’s chosen to become a lawyer. As soon as her son was born, I pinned all my hopes on Yegor. It was the right decision. I don’t believe in pushing my children to follow my own passions. There’s no need. We’re a unified family and will always find a common language!”

Anatoly Junior, despite being a multiple karting champion of Belarus, devotes more time to the family business these days, alongside his parents. Only Yegor is yet to decide his future priorities. He could continue the racing tradition or become a football player or, even, a banker — he wants to try everything. If you saw the Shimakovsky ‘clan’ on the street, there would be nothing to distinguish them; they look just like the rest of us. However, they are far from average and may have more surprises in store for us yet. Their ambitions continue and new victories no doubt lie ahead — not only in the sphere of sport.

Seeing the passion in Yegor’s eyes, you can’t help thinking that this family has more to show us.

By Viktar Korbut

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Creative styles

by Kristina The European Hairdressing Championship could take place in Minsk next year

T

alks are under way following the double victor y of Kristina Kuznetsova, now named the absolute European champion. Our country has won the right to host prestigious contests for stylists and is sure to be viewed as a trendsetter in the world of coiffeur. Of

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course, contests define trends in hairdressing fashion and Kristina’s creativity — acknowledged with two gold medals — is likely to be copied in at least 25 countries. The champion shares her impressions.

Do you call it art? I call it a true sport!

It requires the same endurance and endless training. Previously, contest-

Alexander stadub

Style ants had just thirty minutes to create a woman’s hairstyle from long hair; now, we have only 18 minutes. Your model sits with a stopwatch in her hands at every competition. Prior to the championship, I trained with my model in the evenings, trying to reduce the time down to 17 minutes. This allowed the remaining minute to remove all unnecessary hairpins (which can result in lost points from judges). In some men’s nominations, it’s even prohibited to use a comb. You have to rely on your fingers.

Naturally, this can lead to burns from hot hairdryers. You may have to start your next stage with bandaged hands.

How did our team compare against the other 25 participating countries?

We performed worthily, winning five medals. We took part in almost every nomination and often made our rivals nervous, even when they were in the make-up room! We all shared a huge dressing room, within the Kremlin Palace. The fact that our models looked more glamorous was evident long before their participation in the final. This was our small victory. Seventy percent of success depends on the appearance and endurance of your model after your work is finished. They must remain still for almost an hour, while the judges deliberate. If your model appears weary, you could lose points.

Who was your first model?

My class mate in Year Eight. She wanted to have her hair cut and I persuaded her to place her confidence in me. I cut off 15cm instead of two, as I had trouble keeping a straight line. The next day, our teacher of English criticised her for having an awful haircut! I made a vow not to try cutting again until I’d learnt professionally. Being in Year Eight, I was too young to study professionally, but I began visiting salons to watch how my mother’s hair was cut and bought specialised books.

Has your hairstyling ever changed someone’s life?

Two years ago, I offered to cut my friend’s long hair. To fully convince her, I said that she’d be sure to get married

Style

Advice from Kristina Kuznetsova  Women of every age can follow any fashion,

but the natural look is especially popular! There’s no need to dye your hair these days; however, if you choose to do so to change your image, it’s better to choose a natural colour. When styling hair, a light curl is popular. You can even curl your hair in paper, taking it out with your fingers.

Everything should be natural, rather than looking as if you’ve spent three hours at the salon (although a windswept look can still take this long to achieve). Big hair is passé, while smooth, pinned back hair is returning, as worn by our mothers and grandmothers. Plaits, waves and rollers are also fashionable. Page haircuts and those cut into the nape, with a long fringe, are extremely popular.

Meanwhile, the bob — so popular recently — is on the wane. as a result. I was right; three weeks later, she received a proposal.

Ha i rd re s s i n g i s essential to achieve the peak of beauty.

Moreover, people often treat their hairdressers like psychologists. The profession is experiencing great popularity at the moment. In fact, several of my clients are now training at the Belarusian Association of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, where I lecture. Some previously worked as accountants and musicians. We even have sporting champions training with us! People give up everything to learn this art, which I understand completely.

Are you preparing for the next ‘spor ting’ round — the World Championship in Paris?

Not yet, as I need to relax a little and restore my strength. Moreover, I’m studying….

Where?

At the Minsk Institute o f M a n a g e m e n t ’s Law Department.

My speciality is legal and social psychology. It’s very interesting for me but I won’t give up my favourite profession.

Really, a talented person is talented in all fields…

I’ve long dreamt of learning Latin dancing. I used to dance but gave up for lack of time. In my spare moments t he s e d ay s , I e mbroi d e r pictures; it helps me to relax.

However, such moments are rare. I have many plans which need realisation. For example, in November, I’m going to the World Championship...

By Irina Petrovskaya

 For men, manly

charisma is the watchword. Trends are changing but anything goes really — even a ponytail if a man is well-built enough to carry the style off successfully (best avoided if you have a skinny neck). Even shaven skulls can look good — as sported by many modern celebrities. It’s prohibited to use an open razor although, many years ago, every hairdresser began their training with this tool. Today, we boast enough intellect and skills to meet any demand a client might have.

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Contests

Butterflies to fly to Oslo

D

Three Plus Two’s song for Eurovision-2010 changed

elegation heads from countries taking part in Eurovision-2010 have met in Oslo to submit their song entries for this year’s contest. Belteleradiocompany, as a member of the European Broadcasting Union, has submitted documentation on Three Plus Two: the band representing Belarus at the international contest. On May 25th, the quintet will be performing Butterflies on the Eurovision-2010 stage. The lyrics are by Polish poetess Malka Chaplin, while the music has been

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composed by Russian producer and composer Max Fadeev. The previously chosen composition, Far Away — by Belarusians Leonid Shirin and Yuri Vashchuk, has been replaced at the last minute.

Butterflies was written by Max Fadeev especially for the band. The producer offered his services to ONT TV Channel, which is involved this year in preparing our Eurovision entry.

It took just over a week to arrange the song, choreograph moves and shoot a video, while creating a new image for the artistes. A sixth band member — a pianist — is to join them on stage.

Sergey Khomich, First Deputy Chairman of the Second National Channel, tells us that the band is no less Belarusian for singing a song by a Russian composer. Mr. Khomich believes that, in our era of globalisation, few things can be said to be made exclusively by a single country.

The Russian composition is more suitable; being slow, it allows the young performers to show off their true voice capabilities.

Mr. Khomich notes that the old song won’t be ‘thrown away’; since the band will go to Eurovision with an album of their best songs, performed during the Musical Court project, as well as two video clips.

By Olga Yurevich