Belarus (magazine #10 2015)

Soyuz

Belarus — Russia

pp.

41—48

No.10 (985), 2015

BELARUS Magazine for you www.belarus-magazine.by

Alexander Lukashenko has won Belarus’ Presidential Elections.

According to the data of the Central Election Commission, 83.5% of voters voted for him

PRESIDENT

of the Republic of Belarus — Alexander

LUKASHENKO

Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

Events in Belarus and abroad

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contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 10 (985), 2015

Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich wins 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature

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

“For her polyphonic writings — a monument to suffering and courage in our time,” Sara Danius, the Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, noted in Stockholm, announcing Ms. Alexievich as a laureate of the Nobel Prize.

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

Design and Layout by

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Sincerely about the main

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Practice defines theory The Belarusian

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model of social-economic development is 20 years old

Challenges for global community Energy for the future The Belarusian

nuclear power station is to begin producing energy soon, with its first reactor launched in 2018 and the second in 2020, meeting its deadline via three construction shifts daily; recently, President Alexander Lukashenko conducted a site inspection

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Sustainable plan

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Convenient variant Two years ago, a national

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system of road payment was introduced, unique for post-Soviet space

Taking into account evident advantages Belarusian machinery sparks interest at RAE-2015

беларусь.belarus 2015

Hospitable gleam of kindness Military

conflicts around the world compel millions to leave their native homes and travel, sometimes, thousands of kilometres. Hundreds of immigrant families, from Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, have found a new life in the south-east of Belarus

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Nutrition on genetic level

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Round loaf was to taste The National

day of Belarus took place at EXPO-2015 World Exhibition

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Symphonic marathon

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Secrets of harmony and inspiration I met Yelena Baranovskaya at her

personal exhibition, entitled Variations.

Her pictures, filled with freshness and air, are harmonious and soft, as are Belarusian landscapes. She depicts late crimson-golden autumn and early grey-blue, misty spring: the inspiration of poets and artists alike. Her works radiate tranquillity and warmth

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To ensure that Belarusians are seen and heard...

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova 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.

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

Publisher: “SB” editorial office This magazine has been printed at State Entertainment “Publishers “Belarus Printing House”.

79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No. 2675 Total circulation — 1873 copies (including 729 in English).

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. www.belarus-magazine.by E-mail: belmag@sb.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”, 2015

ELECTIONS-2015

Sincerely about the main The President took part in voting at polling station #1, in Minsk’s Tsentralny District, located within the University of Physical Culture. From early morning, it was busy, with voters progressively appearing, watched by foreign observers, who eagerly shared their assessment of the process. The majority perceived the elections as being held calmly, with no deviation from legislation.

It was a full house at the site, which was designated for the President’s communication with the press. Initially, a short conversation was planned, which later transformed into a substantive press conference. A free microphone was in place, allowing each journalist (Belarusian and foreign) to ask questions.

Mr. Lukashenko bid farewell to journalists only once convinced that all questions had been asked, and invited them to come to Belarus any time to see, listen and draw their own conclusions. He asked only one thing: objectivity.

In his conversation with journalists, the President particularly focused on: This election campaign was unprecedented in terms of number of foreign observers and authorities’ desire to meet the demands of international organisations in relation to national election law’s integration into their standards. Would you like to express any claims or wishes to the candidates and those intended to assess the elections?

Maybe, you are the one who knows some international standards, but I’m not. I would like to be familiarised with some standards that we should meet. As I used to declare earlier, our main principle is to conduct elections according to our Constitution and laws, which are recognised worldwide. That was more than once mentioned by unbiased persons observing our politics, including during this election campaign. Such observers appreciate the campaign itself, the early voting practice and process, and our election laws.

Someone dislike our early voting practice; however, in my opinion, the bastion of democracy — the United States — conduct early voting even few months prior to the election day, and that is just an example of many. So, you’d better adjust their practice according to your wishes prior to criticising us.

Availability of such standards is another issue. In order to meet some standards, these should be set up, either within the United Nations (as we have suggested

with Russia) or OSCE (as we’ve suggested on behalf of the CIS and Eurasian Economic Union). Once these standards are adopted, we will never break them.

But let’s put it aside. Should our foreign guests — observers, predictors or, even, dreamers — make any reasonable suggestions beneficial to us, then we would implement them at once. There were numerous innovations of the kind both in Presidential and parliamentary elections. That is why ‘election standards’ are merely a media cliché, but not a real norm, unfortunately.

Speaking about wishes to my opponents — other three candidates, as I see — I would wish to keep self-respect in resuming the elections. I’m ready to recognise my failure, should I lose, and any other candidate should do the same. That is respect and contribution to Belarusian people and our country. What else? I would wish you, the pressmen, and not only local, to have worthy reports and materials to show. I would wish peace to the Belarusian people, and that is my own duty while I’m President. I would wish to any other person, being the President of our country in such turbulent and uneasy times for us, our neighbours, our region and the whole world, to be able to ensure peaceful life.

Maybe, health is the most precious for people. It is the foundation for humour and any other aspect. But health of our children is even more precious, and that is the

only thing worthy to be wished. Anything other may be sold and bought.

May these elections become a key milestone in Belarus-West relations?

What may be an obstacle to warming?

These elections, as anything others, may lead to warmer Belarus-West relations if the West so desires, only. We did everything demanded from us by the West in view of the campaign. Nothing and nobody can prevent the West from being an adequate partner unless it desires the opposite.

May we expect some unpopular measures to be taken in order to fulfil certain points of your election programme, should you win the elections?

You know my position, and I’m not going to abandon my general principle in state governance: peace and no revolutions. This is my goal, in economy in particular. Some radical solutions may be taken in, say, policy or legislature, with no grave or drastic outcome, but not in economy. It is never subject to radicalism and will always react to the breaking, sooner or later. You have seen me making evolutionary, not revolutionary, changes within two decades. Though not fast in feedback, such way is not painful for people. Once I was asked whether I was ready to fundamental changes and so on. I’m ready for anything, but will the nation sustain?

And does the nation really need it? Initiating some abrupt progress and fulfilling

2015 беларусь.belarus

Belta

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it are completely different things! It’s easy to say ‘come on’, but will there be many to reach the end? So, it is not a matter of my will, I’m ready for any reform and transition, including, though not my favourite, revolutionary, should the people desire so. No one can reproach me with infringing people’s will in the past. I promised to meet Belarusians’ expectations and will implement any revolutionary changes and breakthroughs, if so demanded. It is a matter of people’s will, not mine. But I consider evolution more preferable, as far as the society accepts it. Every leader will match the people’s pace, a step or a halfstep, only, ahead. Should you run as fast as possible, and you will be left alone, even if in progress, with no one to support and implement your so reasonable and beneficial reforms and transitions.

Can you further ensure staying aside from aggression against Ukraine, if elected the President?

Are there still doubts about it in Ukraine? More than once I mentioned this

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issue. With Oleksandr Turchynov as the Acting President we had a meeting at Pripyat River when he asked a similar question tête-a-tête, saying that he didn’t want to ask in front of journalists being not sure in my response. I called him to ask me in presence of journalists. I had nothing to hide: Belarus should never be a source or site of aggression against any nation, never. Have we managed to keep the promise? Yes, we have. It is a very uneasy situation today.

Mr. Poroshenko admitted that the Donbass peace treaty created and undersigned here, in Minsk, became an armistice. Even he, former radical, declared a truce. And, I’m sure peace will follow soon. Then we will have no occasion to guess whether Belarus may be an aggressor or accomplice thereof. I repeat: it is related to everyone, not Ukraine only. But God save the ones rattling the sabre near our borders…

Let’s live in peace and put an end to all wars, small and large-scale, everywhere.

We are all brothers: Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians. We have nothing to quar-

rel about. It’s time to live in peace, to stop making troubles and interfering into domestic affairs of each other.

I’m not worried about Ukraine’s wish to try a ‘EU share’. That is their right. However, they should keep in mind that only they will be liable for all consequences. I mean their ability to compete in the EU. There is open trade area for Ukraine, but what do they export? It is not an easy deal.

We tried to enter the EU market with our agricultural products, much better than in many other CIS states, and certain companies even managed to stay. But very few persons know how long and how much it did take. It’s only one vector, while the EU has everything other that Ukraine and we produce, as well. The market is protected not only with toughest competition, but with tariff and non-tariff barriers, too. We are not worried about the situation, neither Russia is now, as there is no significant progress in EU-Ukraine free trade.

We respect Ukrainians’ choice of their way and will adapt to any policy and course

ELECTIONS-2015 of actions. We would never claim against you, unless are related to, and would never counteract — we are relatives. But stop sending guerrilla troops to our country, we are tired of arresting them at the border carrying grenades, bats, guns, ammunition. I’m sick and tired of reading related reports and watching movies and pictures.

Let’s have peace.

Some years ago, at a similar meeting after voting, you promised to invite reporters home, to show you place and way of life…

Are you really willing to see my home?

I will consult with my family and, then, invite you. At least, I’ll try. I have nothing to hide. By the way, I have no residence of my own. Today I came from the house built and used by Piotr Masherov. He should have had a large family — there are 3 or 4 bedrooms, and I don’t need them all.

Therefore, some were converted into a study and archives, and that was the only reconstruction made. Besides, I planted gardens and harvest crops from previously abandoned lands, but that is not interesting at all. Generally, it is the same house as any other has, except, maybe, its size, but it is not me who shall be blamed for, but the original builder.

Can you guarantee that Belarus in the post-Soviet space will remain the most Russia-friendly state?

It’s an absolutely incorrect question.

We are not just staying, as we do now, the most Russia-friendly country. It’s a brotherly and the closest country for us. You can be sure. I state it in front of Western correspondents, so that Russian mass media wouldn’t show it in other way that we turn to this or that side. I see why it happens so. There are some forces in Russia, I have known them for ages, and they do not change their position, and they would like to spoil our relations. They did not succeed and they will not. We will not remain just friends. We are native people and native countries. We will always stick to this position. Of course, with our own point of view. For sure, someone initially did not like our position regarding Ukraine.

So what? Now you also support it. If two brothers fall out, the third one will not pour oil on flames. He should do his best

to eliminate a conflict, rather than a fight.

And we occupy such position. In case we ever were in conflict with Russia — the Ukrainians would take exactly the same position. In case we ever faced a conflict with the Ukrainians — the Russians would take such position. We want peace, and the Russians have always been both economically and politically close for us. Whether others like it or not.

If possible, comment shortly on the prospects of the relations between Belarus and China.

We have never been in such warm, close and strategically important relations with the People’s Republic of China as we are now. We will be developing, as

me that China is ready to support Belarus in all directions and at any time. And he asked me whether I understood what he said. He said that China was ready to do everything required for Belarus, and support it no matter what happens. It cost a lot. China never talks to the wind. That is why we are on wonderful terms. And the economy today evolves around the Silk Road. We have already started implementing one of the directions proposed by Xi Jinping. One of the sectors is already being developed — the Great Stone Park. The great construction is under way. Here are the cutting-edge technologies and leading industries of the future generations. We invite all companies so that they come to

Let’s live in peace and put an end to all wars, small and large-scale, everywhere.

We are all brothers: Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians. We have nothing to quarrel about. It’s time to live in peace, to stop making troubles and interfering into domestic affairs of each other we have been, such relations. We will go only ahead, and build up reliable relations.

Our diplomatic relations with China cost us a lot. We have been building them over twenty years. I was a deputy yet when I visited the People’s Republic of China for the first time. When I was a member of the Parliament I always used to say: look at China. The future is behind this country.

Take the stenograph and look at what my opponents said. Communists said nothing while the opponents said: ‘No! We are not a banana republic, why should we look to China’. Today any country would be glad to be on good terms with China. We had built such relations before you became a real mighty empire.

As an indicator of our relations I can quote Xi Jinping, and we have known each other well long before he became president. We are good friends. He told

this place with their industries. The only requirement is super-industry of tomorrow. We won’t compromise it. We have a lot of companies ready to come here.

Here is the result of our relations with the People’s Republic of China for today.

And, taking the occasion, I would like to thank the PRC for their support and help in such a difficult time for Belarus as we have now. Credit, investment, supply and procurement of our equipment and technology in China. For everything. We have no problems with China for today.

Give us, please, some explanations regarding Russian military base.

We don’t need any bases. Simply understand it. I don’t play with anyone and don’t comment the topic of the day. We and Russia are not just busy building the Union State, we are also in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

2015 беларусь.belarus

ELECTIONS-2015 It’s a military and political union, like NATO. Within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation we have divided zones of responsibilities. We are in the West. We are immediately interconnected with the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance. It’s a fact. On this basis we don’t want to make war and always point to this, but we are ready to fight — we build some adequate policy. Due to this within the frameworks of the CSTO, and first of all, that of the Union State, we have concluded with Russia an agreement and a great number of contracts to amend it in terms of ensuring stable economic, political and military-political status of ours. We are here, on the western line, and together with the Russian Federation we have created the corresponding military alignment. Belarusian army is in its basis. 70 thousand soldiers for today. The army is constantly being modernised. We look at the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, earlier on — in Iraq.

We look at the methods applied in war and we make the corresponding conclusions adjusting our Armed Forces to these conflicts. After Iraqi campaign we literally turned the development of our Armed Forces around. And two more times afterwards. The last time was after the Ukrainian conflict. We adjust our Armed Forces to possible conflict.

We and Russia have a contract on creation of an alignment in Western direction — in our zone of responsibility. The point is that in case there would be a conflict in the West, I hope it never happens, the Belarusian land will solve it primarily by its own Armed Forces. Literally in some days Russia supports us with its military forces.

Thus, God save us from the war, but if we have to… The issue isn’t in bases, the issue is that we will fight to the bitter with the Russians and all those who want to support us here, in Belarus. Tell me, to ensure such conditions today, do we need some base?

Particularly, the air force base. How planes relocated from Russia and placed here in an airdrome can help? We have plenty of them.

If they were located in Pskov or Smolensk would it make great difference? No.

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We don’t need it today. We need, although all the hot problems are solved, air defence. I’ve told it already. We had two weak points: Brest and near-Minsk territory. I put a question before the Russians: we have to protect them. Life in Russia was not that bad, but they did lack money.

Then I asked them to sell S-300 from the reserve. We bought them. Our specialists modernised them, and we protected these points. But if Russia had supported us with rocketry, we would not have had to spend great money to create such systems as ‘Polonaise’. Range is about 200 kilometres. We did it without Russia. Today we work on other systems that will make war against Belarus impossible. Planes, even if it is a regiment, won’t cool down NATO, whereas missiles — indeed.

That is why air defence and mighty attack missile systems are aimed to protect Russia and Belarus. You should know, if you say that you want to make war in your territory or from Poland with Russia … Well, the Belarusians, we are going to make war and you have nothing to do with that — don’t you say that. We will launch the war against you immediately. We have an agreement about it with Russia. But we will be here in Belarus protecting the Belarusian land. In a few days we will be supported with planes, and non-ballistic missiles on the Russian part.

If Russia agrees to give us their regiment of planes, tomorrow the best pilots of the Belarusian Armed Forces will be there.

Here we have wonderful higher educational establishments. We have wonderful practice. We prepare wonderful pilots.

I haven’t discussed with Putin this topic yet. This is the mass media that found out something, possibly, from the meeting of the Russian government, and threw it out for no good reason. We have discussed with Vladimir Putin this problem.

If Russia sees, and we don’t see anything, Russia will tell us. Maybe we are mistaken, somehow. But, if the issue is in air forces, it will be placed unambiguously: please, give us these 24 planes. If you don’t want to give them to us, or sell — rent them.

I have some doubt whether Russia will create this base. It’s huge money. If Russia

won’t do it, I already mentioned it as well.

The tenth plane modernised at our factory in November will go to the Armed Forces, with ten more next year. These are the same 20 planes that I once asked from Vladimir Putin.

But I don’t understand you: what happened to you? Let’s assume, such a base would be located in Belarus, what problem does it solve? What is the difference for Su-27 to take off from the airdrome in Bobruisk or from Pskov or Smolensk or even from Moscow? Absolutely no. 500 kilometres for such a plane is not a distance. Simply correspondents caught it and started kicking about it in mass media frightening the people. Don’t be afraid. Here’s my honest sincere position.

What is the future of the socio-political life in case of your election?

Today the meetings are conducted by those who can organise these meetings.

Nobody hinders anybody. If Korotkevich, Gaidukevich, Ulakhovich can organise meetings, they can do it. We didn’t hinder anybody. Even when yesterday some people went to the streets in violation of the law, there were no militiamen there.

This was my requirement. Not to touch them before the elections. We’ll see what conclusions will be made by the observers here. ODIHR, OSCE… We allowed all those willing to come. A thousand of them came from abroad. I prohibited any movements even where the laws were infringed. But I want to say: the elections are over at 20.00. Begin to live by the law. We won’t let either of them or anybody else to destabilise the situation.

You should understand that I’m worried not by this. I said long ago: we know all the oppositionists by name. There are 400 of them with their adherents in our country, from 7 million voters. What is it? It is a drop in the bucket. There are also onlookers who usually follow them, but nobody understands what is going on behind these oppositionists’ back…

I say one more time: the elections are over at 20.00. I advise to observe the laws.

Not because we are afraid of these 400 people. We are concerned about those onlookers who usually gather around. And it puts

ELECTIONS-2015 me on the alert — I told the Ukrainians for a reason: stop sending guerrillas. We detain at the border hundreds of them, and they can’t explain why they go here. They simply didn’t think that Lukashenko would be able to close the border. But we closed it. We had to send back lots of them. But if they had combat weapon, we detained them. You simply don’t know it when you walk along the streets.

In the TV spot these events were very correctly linked with those when the garnet exploded at the Verkhovna Rada. People died. Who bore responsibility for it?

That’s why resume the lawful course…

To conduct the campaigns officially is not a problem. We have specified places, as in Great Britain. If you want, let’s look at these places once again. If you want — gather. I will welcome it. Let them gather, discuss problems, criticise the authority and become the opposition. If you continue to live on foreign grants, we won’t take this money away, I promise, but we will tell people on whose money and which propaganda you carry on. Everything will be honest — I guarantee. If you don’t cross the line, Rubicon, we will never catch, whack anybody, as in other states, I promise it. As soon as you cross some Rubicon, which is accepted in the society, you know what will be done.

It was declared that sanctions against Belarus will be put on hold. What is your attitude towards it?

You should be glad that sanctions will be put on hold. These sanctions are not against Lukashenko, they are against the state, against Belarusian people. You shall be glad. Then why are you sad? They [the West] became convinced that the sanctions are to the detriment. Belarus is a decent state. We didn’t close the transit for the economy of the West, as was demanded from us. We didn’t do what we could do in the economy. We didn’t make the fur fly and complicate the situation in Ukraine.

They understood that we are a normal state. Normal people live here. We did everything what they wanted.

Taking into account the crisis in the Belarusian economy, maybe, it would be simpler to cancel the elections?

Who told you that we have such a crisis that we should cancel the elections? You would be glad if the elections were cancelled. Maybe, not you specifically, but in Poland there would be many people who would rub hands and be glad if the elections were cancelled. We can’t bring you such joy. We are a democratic state and we conduct these elections. It is the main thing. ‘Demos’ means people while ‘kratos’ stands for power. You know it better than me. That’s why today people define their authority. You know the powers of the President in Belarus. They are completely different than in Poland. That’s why these elections are very important. The people will make up their mind. It is the right of

Lukashenko got, I think, 83 percent of votes in the second round. I preserved this level. It makes two thirds of the population. It is a strong support. And whether we want it or not, I also, when carry on a conversation with some president, always bear in mind how many people supported him. It is also important.

Meanwhile, it’s not the main thing.

If Lukashenko is elected, the life doesn’t stop on it. I must, on the basis of what we have, proceed with very fast movement to reaching the normal level of Belarus’ development. This is the main thing for me.

I must ensure people’s safety. If someone else were elected, something would be forgiven in the beginning. Nothing will be

If we work, we will have everything.

Today there is everything in Belarus to live normally. But before you demand something from me or somebody from people, look inside yourself. Are you doing everything to live normally? the people. That’s why we can’t bring joy to separate forces in Poland.

You should also understand one simple thing: why do you look at these elections too simplistically? At first, it is very important which background the winner will have after these elections. As for me, it will be bad if this time fewer people will vote for me in comparison with the previous time. It means that people start to leave me and some amount is not glad with my politics. If Lukashenko wins, for me it is very important to preserve what was in the last elections.

Secondly, it is very important for Poland, for Russia, for the world community, the European Union, America, which result any president will have after these elections. With whom they will talk: with a person, who has the overwhelming support of the Belarusian people or who has slightly passed this plank. As coming from the opposition in the first elections,

forgiven to me: neither payments, nor the economy, nor the safety, nor the defence, nothing. I will be asked at once: where have you been all these years? That’s why I live by these questions and not by the thing whether to cancel the elections or not. To put it mildly, it is a very unexpected question for me.

You said that the elections should be a holiday. So, what would you wish to people for the holiday, to live wealthy and happily?

If we work, we will have everything.

Today there is everything in Belarus to live normally. But before you demand something from me or somebody from people, look inside yourself. Are you doing everything to live normally? If you slave away diligently day by day, if you work hard and don’t have, for example, a salary, there is something wrong about it.

It means that something shall be sought in the authority. If you don’t work hard

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ELECTIONS-2015 enough and want to live like in the West, will we live normally? That’s why before demanding anything from the authority, look first at yourself.

And to wish… I can’t wish anything to my people, they have everything. They are talented, wise. There is everything.

There is one thing that I want to wish — it is health. The rest will be bought.

Earned. We can do it.

What is your attitude to the fact that one of the candidates is a woman?

I’m very glad about it. It is normal. I watched, yes — an oppositionist. But she doesn’t shout ‘Go to the square’, doesn’t encourage to break, to destroy and so on.

She is a rather sane, normal person. She has her own understanding, like Alexievich. At that, a more deep understanding. So what? How many thousands of people in Belarus have their own understanding? Including the oppositional one. So, will I fight against them? No. It is their right. I must dissuade them. Don’t be in a hurry; the life will show who was right. For example, in 2010, Maidan was prepared for us. You didn’t hear when I said that Statkevich was governed from Kiev at that time. Go to the premier’s seat and govern. He says: how can one sit, if he is not admitted? And they started to break the doors, and there are a lot of examples. I don’t want to rake up. Maidan was prepared for us. I knew to what it could lead and assumed the corresponding measures without garnets, without tear-gas, without water jets. Right? Yes! We calmly put them back. And if we didn’t do it?

Then they didn’t manage to do it. They tried one more time — some claps, chuckles through the Internet — they didn’t succeed.

Ukraine was broken… At last do you now understand that Lukashenko was right? The elections will show: right or not.

That’s why before you think about something private, work off the money on the West, you should think that we live in a concrete country and what is more important for it. I speak about the future and absolutely don’t bother about the present.

We live in a peaceful normal country. It will be such in future as well.

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Vladimir Putin: Alexander Lukashenko’s

victory testifies to high political authority and trust of population

A

lexander Lukashenko recorded a convincing victory at the Belarus Presidential elections, believes Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. He has sent a message of greetings to Alexander Lukashenko.

‘In the message of greetings Vladimir Putin stressed that a convincing victory of Alexander Lukashenko testifies to his high political authority and the trust of the population, as well as to active support of the country’s policy aimed at the socio-economic development of the

country’, notes the Press Service. The President of Russia expressed confidence that Alexander Lukashenko’s state activities will help promote Russia-Belarus strategic partnership, strengthen the Union State and expand co-operation in the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and other international organisations.

Vladimir Putin confirmed his eagerness to continue constructive joint work for the benefit of the fraternal nations of the two countries.

Elections meet international standards

Yu Zhenqi noted that each country has its own practice of provision of the electoral process. “Meanwhile, there are also internationally recognized standards. After visiting electoral districts we’ve gained an impression that the elections meet national legislation of Belarus and international norms,” he said.

Mr. Zhenqi noted that there’s no need to artificially impose this or that model of democracy to some countries only because it has done well in other states. “Respect of political principles and respect of the nation’s choice all these correspond to the true democratic principle,” sums up Mr. Zhenqi.

Observation mission from the People’s Republic of China believes that Belarus Presidential elections have been organised at high level and meet national legislation and international standards.

T

his was told to journalists by the head of the Chinese international observation mission, Chinese Foreign Ministry Ambassador, Yu Zhenqi, in the CEC Information Centre.

According to democracy principles According to the CIS observation mission, Presidential elections in Belarus were compliant with democratic principles

“T

he observation mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States concludes: the elections of Octo-

ber 11th, 2015, were conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Code of Belarus. The elections met the democratic principles and were transparent, open and competitive. The authorities of Belarus and the election commissions of all levels ensured the fulfilment of the rights of citizens to free expression of will,” noted the CIS observation mission head Sergei Lebedev.

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83.5%

Alexander Lukashenko has won Belarus’ Presidential Elections, he got 83,5% of votes.

This information was provided by the Central Election Commission.

Tatiana Korotkevich got 4.4%. Sergei Gaidukevich — 3.3%, Nikolay Ulakhovich — 1.7%

It was crowded as never before at polling station #8, located at Minsk State College of Arts, on Sunday. Parents were standing with their children near the entrance to the building, in front of a tent selling confectionary and fresh baked goods, while students from the college sang popular songs. The chair of the commission, Konstantin Yevsievich, personally welcomed observers and showed them where to register. He noted that the whole families had been visiting the polling station since morning. Voting booths weren't empty even for a minute, so that ballot boxes (decorated with ribbons bearing Belarusian ornaments), were one third full even before lunch.

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here became even more voters by the time when the candidate for presidency Tatiana Korotkevich was supposed to appear at the polling station.

It is necessary to admit that the small hall was full, failing to accommodate all those who wished to be there. Some people stayed specially to make a photo with Ms. Korotkevich. Some people wanted to shake her hand personally. There were those who just came to see their neighbour who had became famous rapidly.

Several dozen journalists gathered in the hall, including those from Russia and Ukraine.

At 12.00, as was stated before, Tatiana Korotkevich came to the polling station with her husband. And if Vitaly was a bit embarrassed by close attention of the press, his wife felt more than confident in front of cameras. Having come out of the voting booth, she showed her voting

Vitaliy Gil

Candidate maximum

paper with a mark against her name, “It’s a historic day for me. For the first time in my life I’ve voted for myself.”

Before putting the voting ballot in the ballot box, she took a photo of it in

memory of the event. It was not difficult to guess how her husband voted.

Later, he said, “In spite of the busy schedule, my wife has found time and tried as much as possible to take care of the family.

I appreciate her for it and fully support in all her undertakings.”

As far as Ms. Korotkevich is concerned, she answered journalists’ questions, telling about future plans, “The day of October 11th was not only the voting day for me. I’ve cheered for my son who took part in school competitions in pioneer ball and I’ve visited the exhibition. And then... whatever the outcome is, I will stay in politics.

International observers’ opinion Razmik Khumaryan, an international observer and Deputy Director of the CIS Executive Committee’s Department: I was lucky to have worked in Belarus from 2000 to 2003.

I deliberately say that I ‘was lucky’, because it’s even difficult to imagine a more benevolent and open nation than Belarusians.

Even at that time the successes of your wonderful country were impressive, but at present… the changes for the better are even apparent visually: it’s beautiful, clean, cosy, and the construction is on the rise. I visited 11 polling stations in Grodno as part of the observation mission on the Election Day. Everything was planned and organised very clearly, with electoral commissions working without failures, as a well adjusted mechanism. I don’t have any significant remarks. The major conclu­ sion is that people make their choice freely and consciously.

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This is the party life

Sergei Gaidukevich comments on the first results of the elections:

ergei Gaidukevich also came with his family — his wife Alla, his son Oleg, daughter Maria and her granddaughter Yelizaveta — all in good mood. “You just vote correctly,” he instructed his wife for a joke.

He honestly admitted that he had put a tick in the voting paper against his own name.

In general, I vote for strong, sovereign and democratic Belarus, for our future, for a decent life and, most importantly, that there would always be a peaceful sky above our country!

What kind of impression have the Presidential elections left?

They are held in a dignified manner.

In my opinion, there have been provided excellent opportunities for all candidates, much attention has been paid to the media and television campaigns. I would have estimated the work of my election team also to have been done at the highest score... You know, the elections should be a festive occasion, because it is always a movement forward.

And, please, pay attention that all members of the electoral commission are with smiles! I’ve also come and immediately said: ‘I congratulate you all!’

What are your plans for the future?

Reason for optimism

population has already voted, according to Natalia Korovkina, the chair of the electoral commission. The deputies of the Italian Parliament, who observed the elections from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, were closely following the process of voting. Mr. Ulakhovich didn’t say for whom he had voted, but his wife didn’t hide the fact that she had always supported her husband. Ulakhovich’s son and daughter also made their choice, and the parents have no doubt: the right one. Mr. Ulakhovich willingly answered the questions: Tell us about your impressions of the election campaign.

The elections were peaceful and dignified. The media has worked actively and comprehensively, supporting all candidates informatively so I was able to become recognisable in the crowd in a very short period of time and go to the end of the race. Of course I would like to thank my staff too.

What’s going to be next?

I want to take part in the parliamentary elections.

From early morning, presidential candidate Nikolay Ulakhovich was answering telephone calls from friends and colleagues wishing to send their best wishes on his special day. He decided to visit his polling station, located in the Belarusian State Technological University’s hostel #5, together with his wife Raisa, and admitted to our MT reporter on the way:

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have enough reasons to be optimistic. I consider that this phase of my life was successful. I think I’ve won the major victory — over myself — because I ventured upon a solid step despite the fact that I’ve never been engaged in politics. I’m sure I won’t lose these elections due to the fact that I support the current government.

When the Ulakhovich family appeared at the polling station #54, 70 percent of the

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The party will now prepare for the parliamentary elections, and we hope to achieve certain success there. You know, today the Liberal Democratic Party can boast of so many wonderful young members that will fight on equal ground with any candidate by the time of the next Presidential elections.

Yuriy Mazalevskiy

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Alexander Ruzhechka

Presidential candidate Sergei Gaidukevich arrived at polling station #77 in Semkovo around midday. Voting at the local rural school was active, with queues.

One 10 year old boy eagerly helped his father cast his voting paper into the box.

The elections have been held in compliance with the Constitution and the existing legislation. The turnout was very high, which cannot but make us happy. It’s also clear that the elections have been won by Alexander Lukashen­ ko in the first round. We’ve also con­ ducted the exit poll, the results of which have completely coincided with those that have been announced by the offi­ cial sources. The result makes us happy.

As a result, the whole Belarusian nation has won. Let us all work together for the benefit of our beautiful country.

Nikolay Ulakhovich gave an estimation to the first results of the voting: I was ready for such result. We must take a sober look at things: Alexander Lukashenko is a prominent politi­ cian with great experience, people love him, and he is respected in the world.

I sincerely congratulate him and wish to materialise everything! As for me, I think, I have been given a unique op­ portunity to demonstrate that there is another party that is always ready to support him.

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International observers’ opinion Peter Bachmeier, Chairman of the AustrianBelarusian Society, Professor: I think that current Presidential elections will change the attitude of Europeans towards Belarus for the better. The EU has already started to develop relations with Minsk, and the Austrian Foreign Minis­ ter has been here in May and met President Lukashenko.

The attitude of the Austrians towards your country has al­ ways been good. Personally for me Belarus is a country which has preserved past achievements, including education, industry, social benefits and guarantees for people. I believe this deserves to be preserved and to be developed further.

Mikhail Morgulis, Head of the Spiritual Diplomacy Foundation, the USA: It’s now impossible to speak about the elections and not to connect them with something greater.

Everything that is happening in Belarus, including these elections, is happening in the context of several more events.

They are occurring in the context of the Minsk Agreements, which were adopted upon the initiative of the President of Belarus, and, of course, in the contest of the President’s speech in the UN where he very clearly outlined much of what others were thinking.

Belarus has made a name for itself. The President said in his speech that Belarus feels as a European country and he showed by this that Belarus also takes care and is concerned about Europe’s future. I’ve always called Belarus a gate between the East and the West and I say that anyone who enters this gate will become a friend of Belarus while those who will be flailing around the gate won’t ever bring to life their endeavours.

Zakhari Zakhariev, Chairman of the Federation for Friendship with the Peoples of Russia and the CIS and the Head of the Slavyani Foundation (Bulgaria): We all know and see the positive role of Minsk as part of the Minsk Process. Without exaggeration, this is the major event of the world policy and the constructive position of your President has played an important role. Everyone takes this into account. I hope to God they don’t only take these into account but remove all these, in my opinion absurd and senseless, sanctions. There’re already signals about this but not only signals are needed but also concrete actions of the EU in this direction.

Dragomir Karic, a parliamentary deputy, the head of the group of friendship between Serbia and Belarus and Honorary Consul of Belarus to Belgrade:

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Everything is very democratic and in a civilised manner.

People are smiling and cheerful. People visited polling stations in whole families, and even with nursing babies. It’s seen that this is a truly family holiday for you. On the other hand, I was glad to see that people are aware of the fact that the destiny of the country is determined during the Presidential elections.

Maybe this is why voting turnout already totalled 55 percent as of 14.00. As an observer who has visited many countries I can say that the election process is perfectly organised in your state; conditions for voting are perfect, everything is transparent, with music playing everywhere and various tasty food being sold nearby. At the particular moment I even wished to vote myself.

It’s a pity I couldn’t do this. However, I know for sure that those in the West can be envious of your elections.

Elections should be organised exclusively according to the laws and rules which are operating in the country. The West often tries to impose their own laws and principles to small countries, includ­ ing Belarus. However, it’s necessary to respect oneself and you are doing right that you defend your right for independent policy.

Even before the Election Day I chatted much with simple peo­ ple: taxi drivers and waiters, without disclosing my status. They all told me that they would go to vote and will do this in the way they seem necessary. For me as an observer, free expression of citizens’ will is the most vital.

Yelena Perminova, a representative of the CIS observation mission and deputy of BelarusRussia Union State Parliamentary Assembly: On the Election Day we’ve visited over two dozen polling stations and, on the eve, on Sat­ urday, we were in the Ruba settlement to monitor early voting.

High activity of Belarusian citizens arouses respect, as does their responsible civil position. I’d like to note the work in Vitebsk Re­ gion which I’ve visited: all polling stations were very well pre­ pared and necessary conditions were created for voters, members of election commissions and observers, whom there were many at each polling station. We were given all possible assistance from the regional executive committee, with maximum information provided. By the evening on October 11th, I didn’t hear a single remark at polling stations, and I don’t have these either.

Tatiana Moskalkova, a CIS observer, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chair of the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Ties with Compatriots, Major General of the Internal Ministry: In comparison to the previous campaign, the legislation in Belarus has changed in a positive way, the index of democracy has risen, we see observers from different political forces at all polling stations. In Vitebsk region we can see transparent ballot boxes at all polling stations. I see it as a very progressive step, as it clearly shows that only one voting paper is put in the ballot box, the possibility of falsification is excluded. And the filling of

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ELECTIONS-2015 the ballot boxes shows that the voter turnout is very high. This was evident during the early voting; on Saturday, we visited four polling stations. I was surprised that so many people come in advance the day before the voting in order not to miss the chance to express their will.

For me as for a Russian observer it’s important that the Be­ larusian legislation provides the requirement of the minimum voter turnout of at least 50 percent, which can clearly define the legitimacy of elections. We have no such requirements and it al­ ways causes dispute in society whether it is possible to recognise the elections of the municipality head as legitimate if the voter turnout was extremely low, whether such elections reflect the will of the people. There are no such problems here.

Khaidar Valeev, a CIS international observer: This isn’t the first time I’m in Belarus during the elections. This time I also note substantial preparation. Rooms within the polling stations are comfortable and all documentation has been verified. I’m pleased with voters’ activity, and the vot­ ing turnout is also good. Early voting, enabling citizens to vote if they fail to come on the Election Day due to various reasons, also impresses.

It’s felt that the voting is gentle and civil. There’re no clashes and conflict situations which require interference of law enforce­ ment bodies. Belarus has always surprised with its order and cleanness. I think that Belarusian people have with what to com­ pare, seeing what’s happening in the neighbouring Ukraine. Your country has become a territory of peace in all senses of this word while peaceful initiative of President Lukashenko, who tries to put all his powers and opportunities to ensure peace among our brothers, is a landmark phenomenon.

Svetlana Savitskaya, an international observer, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly Committee of Belarus-Russia Union State on Security, Defence and Crime Control, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Defence: It’s not the first time I act as an observer during the elections in Belarus. I have visited 7 polling stations during the first half of the main voting day, and I visited one of them during its prepara­ tion and opening. These elections are calmer, and it’s clear that people come to the polling stations already knowing all the candi­ dates. In Russia voters often study the list of candidates just before voting, at the polling station. I haven’t noticed any violations, but the activity of people is noticeable.

In Russia both the Presidential elections and the elections of deputies of the State Duma are always characterised by a high turnout of voters. Young people come in large companies and have fun. There are special concerns both for organisers of the elections and observers, e.g., to prevent notorious ‘carousel vot­ ing’. In Belarus, as I have noticed, ‘carousel voting’ is absent at all.

And the elections happen calmer and even in a family manner.

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In this context the early voting is very convenient as people have the opportunity to vote in advance and to have a ride with the family at the weekend. On the whole, Belarus is a calm country, confident in its future. All past decades prove it, and the course of these elections show the same.

Mikhail Lebedinsky, a CIS observation mission, Chairman of the Committee for Local Self-government, International and Interconfessional Relations of the Leningrad Region Administration: We’ve been to several polling stations, with very high voter turnout. During first thirty minutes of the voting the polling sta­ tion #18 in Vitebsk’s Zheleznodorozhny District was attended by 40 voters. We see that everything is legitimate, transparent, with no violations. This is also confirmed by inner observers.

I’ve paid attention that early voting is much more active in your country compared to other states where I had to work as an observer. I don’t see anything seditious in this, since it’s comfort­ able for many and such approach gives more opportunities in order to express one’s own will. A closed list of reasons has been established in Russia for early voting. Absence on the election day should be proven by documentary evidence and this does affect the voter turnout.

Alexander Kichigin, an international observer from the CIS mission (Russia, Kursk Region): It happened so that I had had a rest for two weeks in Gomel Region just before the elections and was able to plunge into the media world of political pre-election life in Belarus. In my opinion, all candidates for presidency had the opportunity to get their ideas over to the electorate. This process was open and the voters had an opportunity to evaluate the politicians. The same openness and equal opportunities I can see today at the polling stations.

Serik Egizbayev, CIS Executive Committee observer, Deputy Head of the Department of State Control and Organisational and Territorial Work of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan: I assess the elections positively. It’s nice to see that people are going to vote as if on holiday. We’ve visited a lot of polling stations in the morning. We met ordinary voters and observers from the OSCE. Nobody could say anything bad. Before the trip to Bela­ rus we’ve carefully studied the Belarusian electoral legislation.

Having visited the polling stations I can say that we recorded no violations. The voting takes place within the law.

Bahram Haidari, an OSCE representative (polling stations №№ 44, 45 and 46, Minsk): I have no questions and complaints concerning the voting.

Moreover, at this elections I can see the atmosphere of exceptional goodwill.

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Openness and impartiality are welcome I entered my polling station in Chekhov Street with a special feeling: my son used to study at the school which now houses the polling station, bringing positive feelings for this place where my countrymen were making their choice on that day. After performing my civil duty and chatting to teachers we know, I decided not to indulge in nostalgia by visiting the neighbouring polling station in Griboedov Street. I could hear professional music, coming from the Minsk State Musical College. Its pupils can perform Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, which is the anthem of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

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Artur Prupas

his thought wasn’t accidental, as my colleagues had informed me the observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly should pay a visit exactly to this polling station. It happened so that almost on the doorstep, I faced Mr. James Walsh, the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Delegation, as well as Kent Harstedt, Special Coordinator and Leader of the ShortTerm OSCE Observer Mission.

“How do you like our holiday?” I asked with a smile after the greetings.

I get the same laid-back, friendly response from James Walsh, the head of the delegation, “It was impossible to see the whole city, but all we have seen is wonderful. A lot of meetings take place, including with the representatives of the media and other organisations. Of course, people certainly looked very relaxed and calm.”

However, such high ranking politicians are not the people with whom you can communicate on the move, so I ask politely to take few minutes to answer my questions. Despite the harsh prejudice accompanying press officers that supposedly journalists will get all the answers at a press conference on Monday, Mr. James Walsh and his colleague

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portant structure in the implementation of the European dialogue. Please tell me, how do you assess the process today and how the Minsk peace process has improved the dialogue?

Kent Harstedt, Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the Short-Term OSCE Observer Mission: This is a very big question; we can welcome the role played by Minsk as a site for peace talks. Of course, we are here because the elections are held. But I do not think anyone would mind if I say that the role played by Belarus as a host country of the talks was great. Of course, for Belarus a lot is at stake, so that in a region that surrounds it, peace and tranquillity will come.

Can we talk about mutual openness?

Of course. I think that the European countries want to be open not only for Belarus, but for many other countries. However, it must be something that is based on the fundamental principles. Meanwhile, I will not go into details, as I’m here to observe the elections, and we are not discussing politics. I think people in Europe want to see a good life in Belarus.

James Walsh, Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Delegation: I think that in Europe we have seen Kent Harstedt and James Walsh the consequences of many conflicts Kent Harstedt demonstrate openness to in the Middle East, and in Ukraine, and we’re very concerned about this. We weldialogue.

This episode seemed to me very im- come the positive step Belarus has taken portant. Yes, the European observers to host the peace negotiations. Of course, will cover mountains of paper with writ- Belarus has attracted a lot of public ating, noting all features and intricacies of tention, conducting such negotiations; the elections. However, manuscripts are however, it is important to say that now dead, unless they are not worth a Euro- the attention is riveted to Belarus in conpean soul. The one which is sung in the nection with the elections. We want the Ode to Joy and that today should mani- elections to be held so that we could tell fest itself in a Europe-wide solidarity, es- something good in the end and to avoid pecially taking into consideration what is the events that took place in 2010... So going on throughout Europe nowadays. attention that Belarus has now received, This is the main question which I’m go- could not be neglected by anyone. ing to address to my interlocutors Thank you. We agree in the fact that Thank you very much for the op- we want to tell only good things to each portunity to ask questions. The OSCE other.

By Nina Romanova Parliamentary Assembly is a very im-

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What do you vote for?

Vadim Zdyshuk, a mechanisation worker at Komarovka JSC in Brest District: I’ve voted for chang­ es taking place in the villages. These are especially evident in our agro-town Komarovka — the homeland of the first Belarusian cosmonaut and USSR Hero, Piotr Klimuk. After investment in in­ frastructure, the local secondary school has become one of the best in the region.

A wonderful sports complex, with two swimming pools, a stadium and tennis courts have been built here. In addi­ tion, two hotels, a restaurant and other facilities have opened. The farm where

I work has been equipped with mod­ ern machinery. Driving a KZS-1218 combine, I am employed in harvest­ ing every year and have been named a winner many times at Republican and regional harvesting contests. In the past, we could only dream about equipment of this kind. I am a firm advocate of reviving the fortunes of this and other villages further.

Irina Mikutskaya, a student at the Masherov State University’s Philology Department, Vitebsk: As a philologist who studies the Belarusian language, it’s impor­ tant for me to see the increased popular­ ity of our native language in the country. I would like it to be more widely and actively used. I’ve taken this into consideration when making my voting choice.

Exit poll

Whose prediction is more exact The exit poll questions voters when they leave the polling station. Sociologists encourage this as a prediction of the progress of election results before preliminary data is officially announced. This has proved to be a very reliable method.

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hree electoral districts were centred in the Sports Centre for Children and Youth in Minsk’s Frunzensky District. Unsurprisingly, it was full of people from early in the morning. The Belarusian State University Students — Artem Sapryko, Lina Rovenskaya and Yulia Kuzmich — represented the Eurasian Barometer Institute of Comparative Social Studies headquartered in Vienna. It’s one of the three organisations authorised to conduct exit polls during the Belarusian election campaign. No commentary is allowed until the end of the poll; otherwise, this might be viewed as propaganda on the Election Day.

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Olga Fomina, Brest: I’ve voted for the f irst time and was honestly worried about it — although everything was organ­ ised clearly. I live in a wonderful country and do not want to leave it. With this in mind, I voted for stability. This might seem banal but, in the current unsettled climate, eve­ ryone both young and old is thinking the same thing.

Valentina Satinova, a pensioner, Brest: I formed my opin­ ion long ago. I advocate peace, development and civilised settlement of economic and political issues. I don’t want our country to face events similar to those happening in Ukraine.

Most voters answered the interviewers’ questions willingly. In turn, the information was sent hourly to their office for processing. Data from other districts was also collected. Professor Christian Herpfer — the Director of the Eurasian Barometer Institute of Comparative Social Studies — personally supervised the work of his staff. Specialists worked at 303 stations countrywide; three people to each of them. “This is our first exit poll in Belarus. Our organisation is represented by a strong team. We liaise with 13 universities, co-operating with 17 leading professors. Results of our polls are among the most accurate in Europe: the discrepancy with the official data is within the statistics: plus or minus three per cent,” Mr. Herpfer said, sharing his impressions on the election process, “I appreciate that your election campaign is run peacefully. Voters are calm and positive. They feel confident and can openly express their opinions.”

Apart from the Eurasian Barometer, exit polls were also conducted by the National Academy of Sciences’ Sociology Institute and the Youth Laboratory of Sociological Studies at the Belarusian Committee of Youth Organisations. “We receive all the figures from the stations in a coded form. Our staff does not name the station but inform us using certain codes. Only a limited number of people have the key: these are the heads of the laboratory which makes the calculations,” explained Alesya Vinnik, the Deputy Head of the Youth Laboratory. The rules are strictly followed and help to avoid manipulation and abuse in the system.

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GLOBAL WORLD

On September 26th-29th, the President of Belarus paid an official visit to the USA. President Alexander Lukashenko has participated in the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, hosted by New York, which has resulted in the adoption of an international agenda of development, to begin in 2016. He delivered a speech at the Summit’s plenary session, voicing Belarus’ national position in this sphere.

In addition, Mr. Lukashenko participated in general political discussion at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, presenting Belarus’ approach to acute international problems. During his stay in the USA, the President held several bilateral meetings with other state leaders, including the UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

Challenges

for global community Alexander Lukashenko has participated in the UN Summit on Sustainable Development and the 70th session of the UN General Assembly

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espite the many languages used by participants, UN meetings are no ‘Babylon’; there are no obstacles where common goals exist. However, differing national interests remain a barrier to mutual understanding. The 60th session of the UN General Assembly saw the Belarusian President warn of dangerous consequences in moving from a multi-polar to a single-polar model.

At that time, he said of the major powers, “Where no conflicts exist, they feel these should be encouraged; if no pretexts for intervention exist, then virtual pretexts should be created.”

Ten years have passed and much has changed but, sadly, not for the better. As the President noted, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Syria and other Arabic arc states are in chaos, or on the edge. This arc is not simply hot but is on fire. Meanwhile, the conflict in

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Ukraine threatens to spread across Europe, although the Minsk process has allowed some localisation. It’s too early to speak of a ceasefire of course.

The ‘fire’ has been cultivated by certain states pouring petrol onto the ashes, keeping conflict simmering.

The rhetoric of interests is senseless and cynical.

In his speech at the 70th UN General Assembly session, Mr. Lukashenko called for a fair and adequate assessment of events. Clearly, not every state would speak so frankly, but solutions are impossible without honesty. Our world lacks bravery and honesty, which may be the cause of Babylon-like dissociation in our modern world.

General discussion at the Summit on Sustainable Development was primarily devoted to the achievement of goals outlined in the 2000 UN Millennium Summit. The overall conclusion of the UN is that progress has been achieved in a global context.

Let’s compare global challenges with those faced by Belarus:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. In 1990, almost half of the population of developing countries was living on less than $1.25 a day. Mean­ while, Belarusians viewed a salary of $30 as ‘rather decent’. At present, 14 percent of developing states’ population (almost 1bln people) have this level of income.

Goal 2: General elementary educa­ tion for the global population. In the early 21st century, 17 percent of children lacked access to such education (against 9 per­ cent currently). Belarus has never faced this problem.

Goal 3: Equal rights for men and women. It’s enough to look at the com­ position of the Belarusian Parliament to understand that this is not an issue for Belarus.

Goal 4: Reduced child mortality. In Belarus, this factor is near zero.

Goal 5: Improve statistics for mater­ nal death. At present, just 71 percent of women globally give birth to children with the help of a qualified doctor. This issue, again, is not to the fore in Belarus.

Goal 6: Fight against AIDS, malaria and other dangerous diseases. This prob­

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GLOBAL WORLD

Rich agenda

Belta

The President’s working schedule in New York was tough, starting with a visit to the National Memorial devoted to the 11th September tragedy. He laid a wreath to victims, and flowers at the memorial honouring Belarusian citizen Irina Buslo.

lem has affected our country but without catastrophe occurring.

Goal 7: Provision of ecological sus­ tainability and pure drinking water: an issue of no relevance in Belarus.

Goal 8: Improved global partner­ ships. Despite its modest economy, Belarus is not too reliant on others, maintaining a certain level of independence. Everything is balanced.

беларусь.belarus 2015

Naturally, we may complain that our life could be better or wealthier; over the past 25 years, much progress has been evident and, in comparison with other nations, we have few ‘problems’. Realising our advantages, we should be proud of our social and economic situation, while identifying what needs further work.

The UN Summit encourages opportunities for constructive bilateral meetings. Speaking to Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Lukashenko discussed interaction and prospects, including a possible new co-operative programme.

He expressed hope that the latter would apply a balanced approach to the interests of the country and its state policy, providing a high level of social protection. The President thanked the IMF heads for successfully realising the 2009-2010 standby programme, which helped ease the negative consequences of the external economic crisis.

On meeting the President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Raul Castro, the sides talked over the state and prospects of Belarusian-Cuban relations, placing emphasis on the trade and economic sector. The parties took

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GLOBAL WORLD note of potential for further strengthening of bilateral comprehensive cooperation. Mr. Lukashenko and Mr. Castro shared opinions on key issues within the current international agenda and confirmed a course of mutual support within the international arena.

In dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the President emphasised that Belarus would stay committed to maintaining human rights and said, “We have no unsettled issues with your Office. I’ve been informed that we’ve done well in the recent Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council. However, I’d like to be frank with you: we won’t allow anybody to impose ‘human rights’ on us and politicise them. It is absolutely unacceptable and I know your standpoint: you have never welcomed the politicisation of human rights.”

Mr. Lukashenko thanked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for supporting the Belarusian initiative of combating human trafficking. “I’d like to assure you that we’ll stay committed to this policy.

We’ll promote it worldwide and will make a good example for other states in the fight against human trafficking,” the President stressed.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights thanked the Belarusian President for co-operation with the Office in a number of areas, including the fight against human trafficking and discrimination.

Mr. Lukashenko also met the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, discussing the situation in south-east Ukraine. They stressed that victims among peaceful citizens are inadmissible. The Belarusian President pointed out the importance of taking prompt resolute measures to end hostilities, especially in view of the possible escalation of conflict across Europe.

The UN Secretary General thanked Mr. Lukashenko for his constructive role

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in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, and noted that Minsk had become a symbol of peace. The President then signed the Distinguished Guests Book.

On the second day of his visit, Mr. Lukashenko held several bilateral meetings, also delivering a speech during the UN GA’s general session.

Priorities define future

in opposition with those of major players, who possess more power to realise their goals.

Barack Obama’s speech on equal rights and democratic values made a great deal of sense. However, his transparent hint that Washington views Russia and China as competitors, or even rivals, wounded me, as did statements regarding the USA’s powerful armed forces. Mr. Obama

The 70th UN General Assembly session has inspired human development priorities for the coming 15 years, with state leaders agreeing cooperation across five major avenues: People. Battling hunger and pov­ erty, while providing equal rights and caring for the environment; Planet. Protecting the environment against degradation, ensuring the sus­ tainable use of natural resources, and battling the negative consequences of climate change; Prosperity. Implementing meas­ ures towards economic, social and technological progress, without dam­ aging the environment; Peace. Based on the thesis that ‘sus­ tainable development is impossible without peace, while peace cannot ex­ ist without sustainable development’; Partnership. Renewal and strength­ ening of nations’ partnerships.

1 7 g l ob a l fo c us e s have b e e n outlined for sustainable development, via 169 tasks. However, the GA session indicated that countries’ national interests must remain a priority, despite our shared understanding of global threats and challenges. Such an approach leaves opportunities for contradiction, since the interests of small states are often

noted that the militar y are only brought to bear in extreme cases but a later remark mentioned that armed forces would be used if necessary.

Swordplay between the USA and Russia on the Syrian problem was evident. Vladimir Putin proposed a coalition to fight against the Islamic State, assisting the Syrian army, while Mr. Obama called the Syrian president a tyrant bombing children.

Of course, nothing is simple in global politics. Global peace seems a far off and fragile concept. Belarusian President Lukashenko spoke of an emerging ‘spectre of war’, only to be warded off by dialogue reflecting mutual interest and respect.

The UN venue not only promotes multilateral contacts but strengthens

2015 беларусь.belarus

GLOBAL WORLD These meetings bring not only mutual benefit but contribute to more sustainable world architecture, with contacts strengthened. The President notes their necessity, while emphasising the need for an integration of integrations.

grounds for bilateral talks. In two days of work in New York, Mr. Lukashenko held several meetings with colleagues. On the last day of his stay in America, he met the Federal President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, sharing opinions on key aspects of Belarusian-Austrian co-operation. Mr. Fischer thanked the Belarusian President for the important steps taken to commemorate victims of World

Road map of action

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The President’s speech at the GA’s 70th session received politologists’ assessment. Sergey Kizima, the Head of the International Relations Department at the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President, believes Mr. Lukashenko’s proposal to provide each state with a real — rather than declared — possibility to choose its own path of development is of relevance.

War II and mentioned the opening of the Trostenets Memorial. In turn, Mr. Lukashenko invited the Federal President of Austria to visit Belarus at any time convenient.

Chatting to the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa Delgado, the two discussed preparations for Mr. Lukashenko’s forthcoming visit to Ecuador, which is likely to take place next year, as part of the Belarusian President’s tour of several Latin American states.

On meeting the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the two agreed to exchange top level visits.

Meanwhile, a roadmap of co-operation is planned for development by an inter-governmental commission, in Cairo, in late 2015.

беларусь.belarus 2015

“Over the past two decades, major and influential states have stepped back from this important principle of international relations. As a result, the numbers of deaths has grown and there is greater instability,” he underlined. “This doesn’t promote human rights or democracy but attempts (under their cover) to bring to power those who would ally with influential states, which interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states.”

Mr. Lukashenko mentioned Iraq, Libya and Syria, where instability and chaos have become commonplace and millions have become refugees. Hundreds of thousands have been killed and terrorist groups have gained influence. Ukraine is facing a similar scenario. It’s high time that we respect each state’s sovereignty, and ability to independently decide its political regime.

According to Mr. Kizima, the UN has less influence than in previous decades. When the USA and the USSR restrained each other within the global arena, the UN was able to solve important issues. Since the

USSR’s collapse, the USA has been without counterbalance; as a result, the UN has become not a venue for discussion but an instrument for the USA to force its will over other nations worldwide.

“Attempts by some UN functionaries to restore the organisation’s original role as a global arbiter and a hub for harmonising global relations has faced tough counteraction from the USA. The UN, being headquartered in the USA and enjoying a rather modest budget, cannot fully realise its vital functions. Unsurprisingly, we are seeing less harmony worldwide and more contradictions.

As the President correctly noted, UN resolutions often act not to solve problems but to demonstrate the USA’s geopolitical supremacy, pressing the majority to vote for aspects profitable mostly to only one nation,” Mr. Kizima says.

Another Belarusian politologist, Alexey Dzermant, believes the situation needs reformation. “More precise mechanisms are needed to fulfil UN decisions. Over the past 20 years, some states have dared to independently take decisions, without consulting with the UN, and seriously influencing the global agenda. If no change is introduced into decision making at the UN Security Council, this international organisation could become an unable structure,” he warns.

Speaking of the Middle Eastern crisis, as mentioned by President Lukashenko in his UN speech, Mr. Dzermant adds, “As we see it, Russia has decided to interfere in the Syrian situation. In this respect, the President is right: everything depends on a common position. If the West and Russia fail to agree on settling the situation constructively, using military action against the Islamic State to various extents, this Middle Eastern crisis is unlikely to be solved.

Meanwhile, some players — like Russia and the EU (to a lesser degree) — aim to solve this crisis.”

17

PERSPECTIVE

Practices defines theory

M

Alexander Ruzhechka

The Belarusian model of social-economic development is 20 years old

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odel of social development is based on principles of protection for those with small incomes. Every sphere works together to ensure the common good.

As a rule, those criticising the present development model tend to focus on economic factors — which account for just 30 percent of success. The remaining share belongs to social conditions — including equal rights, fair and guarantees of social protection. As in the military sphere, economic results are rooted in spirit rather than in machinery. Unsurprisingly, in recent times, foreign experts have begun assessing country development not upon GDP but upon social indicators, and public mood. Belarus is always placed in the middle of these social ratings (sometimes above countries viewed as prosperous).

At present, the Republic is ranked 53rd (among 187 states) for ‘happiness’, above the USA (104th). Regarding human potential, Belarus is placed 65th — among states boasting a high level of human development. Moreover, Belarus is ranked 34th for level of education, 44th for health care, and 26th for maternity conditions (among over 170 countries).

The trends are clear, showing that our development model aims not only to multiply consumption but to improve standards of living, based on principles of equal rights and justice.

The idea was recently confirmed by an International Monetary Fund study, which concluded that social disparity leads to less sustainable (and slower)

2015 беларусь.belarus

SOCIETY

 Family values are in trend

than half of respondents put material wealth below other kinds. The major priorities of Belarusian youth are to create a strong and happy family, to bring up children, and to remain in good health. Material values take a back seat while one in three thinks about career advancement and one in four think how to organise one’s own business is the most important thing for them.

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epresentatives of the older generation often say that today’s youngsters have different values. However, we can and should argue with them. A recent sociological survey conducted in Belarus shows that young people in Belarus aspire to the same goals as their peers several decades ago. More

Which goals are set by young people? in % from the number of respondents aged between 18 and 29) To bring up good children

6462+ 4137+ 3424+ 23

economic growth. The IMF research indicates that governments need to concentrate on raising living standards for those in the middle and lower layers of society — as has been the aim in Belarus for over twenty years.

Social protection is evidence of valuing human resources. Economic success is vital but we are not robots; trade and business rely on relations between people. With this in mind, the IMF admits that approaches used by US financial institutions (and, later, by those in the EU) have led to the number of ‘poor’ worldwide quadrupling: just 61m people receive the same income as 3.5bln on low incomes. Every Dollar in the pocket of a wealthy person equates to just 1.7 cents for those who are ‘poor’.

This high level of disparity negatively impacts labour efficiency, and the educational achievements of those on limited incomes. Many fail to fulfil their potential, since they cannot afford further education. Moreover, lack of essentials, including food, and lack of prospects can ignite a touch-paper for discontent. Disparity of income brings war and conflict.

The three pillars of the Belarusian model are provision of social guarantees, aspiration for parity of income and fair public order. To achieve this, a strong state and a strong active leader are needed — to drive forward to the young economy. It takes just six months to engage a new consumer but production takes years to be established; moreover, the latter requires stability and order.

Where the state is weak, we cannot hope to move smoothly from an administrative to a liberal-market economy. With this in mind, the state retains influence across all spheres; what else would work in such transitory times?

We can overcome anything — including loss making enterprises, lack of competition and low labour efficiency.

However, we must ensure that the Belarusian development model works in application.

64

To preserve and strengthen health

62

To fall in love with the right person and create a family

41,5

To achieve success and carve out a career

37

To become a professional in one’s own speciality

34

To set up one’s own business

23,5

To be a good son / daughter

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 A good tendency

structure, primarily for the new residential districts in Minsk and those regional centres that lack places in kindergartens. OfLast year, demographers f icials are working to registered a record solve the issue to the birth growth for the b e ne f it of you ng first time in two families and, evedecades: 118,500 r y year, at least babies were born ten new kinderin Belarus gartens are being preschoolers visit built across the he 2015 rekindergartens sults are excountry. Accordin Minsk ing to the Deputy pected to continue this positive trend.

Prime Minister, NaHowever, any demotalia Kochanova, there graphic rise is an additionwill be eighty more estabal challenge for the social infra- lishments built by 2020.

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93 000

By Boris Panshin

беларусь.belarus 2015

19

UNIQUE OBJECTS

Health is in focus In Borovlyany, at the Republican Scientific-Practical Centre for Oncology and Medical Radiology, two unique objects are opened: the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Centre and the Molecular-Genetic Laboratory for Cancer Research

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Unsurprisingly, the President’s address aroused great interest at the General Assembly’s 70th session. The protection of motherhood and childhood is among global priorities for the new millennium. While most countries dream of achieving high figures in this area, we can confidently assert that we have achieved much.

Positive demographic changes are the result of great planning and forethought. They are not miracles, al-

though they may appear so against the trends in Europe and in most countries worldwide. Targeted efforts to improve the health care system and ensure its structuring (such as distribution of functions between rural medical and obstetric centres and Republican scientificpractical centres) are paying dividends.

It has taken 10-15 years to see results but today’s optimistic signs are the beginning of a positive trend, which we can only hope will continue.

Cancer is a global problem and the number of

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he two new facilities came under construction in 2013, upon the Belarusian President’s order.

According to initial calculations, the schedule was for five years. However, time is money, so President Lukashenko requested the term be reduced significantly. As a result, over Br50bln has been saved. Moreover, the PET Centre and the Laboratory will begin accepting patients three years earlier, saving lives.

The President has received a report on the operation of our health protection system and on oncological matters in particular. Of course, there are many examples, with two key indicators showing the degree of progress: Belarus’ rising birth rate and falling mortality. The country boasts almost zero newborn and maternal deaths: a statistic few states can rival.

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2015 беларусь.belarus

UNIQUE OBJECTS

Alexander Lukashenko:

those affected is annually growing. Sadly, our country is no exception. In 1990, first cases of cancer were diagnosed among 26,930 patients in Belarus; in 2015, 45,887 cases were recorded. However, according to statistics, the mortality rate in Belarus is much lower than in other CIS states, rivalling that of the average European level: 40 percent.

It seems most likely that growing figures are the result of enhanced diagnostic ability. A special state programme has been adopted in this field, with 80 new methods of diagnosis and treatment developed and implemented so far. Happily, cases of early detection are far more frequent.

Two days before the President’s visit to the Republican Scientific-Practical Centre for Oncology and Medical Radiology, a scientific-practical conference launched, entitled ‘New Technologies in Medicine’. Mr. Lukashenko met participants, who reported that, over the past 15 years, almost 100,000 oncology-related deaths have been prevented in Belarus, thanks to improved oncological care. Moreover, patients have been able to return to ‘normal life’, working and taking care of their families. There are enough cancer survivors to fill a small town, like Soligorsk. It’s a great way of measuring the efficiency of state support in this special medical avenue.

беларусь.belarus 2015

The newly opened Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Centre and the Molecular-Genetic Laboratory for Cancer Research are the strongest instruments to protect human health. These are responsible for saving lives, although it may be hard for us to understand all the technological aspects. No matter: results are key. The Centre’s equipment makes it possible to detect a single cancer cell in a human organism, finding even the gene responsible, allowing doctors to tailor treatment to individual patients.

Only a few states in the world have such personal cancer treatment, but Belarus is among them.

Various medical specialists shared their views at the conference, noting particularly how PET diagnostics are necessary for children’s oncological treatment. Until recently, our specialists were obliged to refer young patients abroad, at $1,000-1,500 per test: a cost that few could afford. Now, diagnosis is available domestically. PET diagnostics are being applied to cardiac diseases also, helping decide treatment, and to neuro-surgery cases, to treat such illnesses as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Belarus is among those states using high-tech approaches, with technologies improving across many branches.

Moreover, with a worldwide reputation,

We’re paying special attention to health protection and this will continue, being vital to saving lives. This is our target and is highly appreciated globally.

Belarus is ranked 53rd for its level of human development (among 200 states): a high result impossible without top-level medicine. Our Republican centres will enjoy leading serious technologies, generating results in transplantology, oncology and cardiology. We should also think about how to promote them to regions, creating the necessary base and conditions. We should involve all our medical public and doctors — to teach them the most advanced technologies.

We’ll create the material base: tomorrow if not today.

You should be ready for this, so that our leading centres achieve their potential. our medical services can be used to generate revenue.

Belarusian IT specialists are also highly appreciated worldwide, earning export revenue for the country and earning good salaries, which encourages them to stay. Information technologies have no borders.

Importantly, the Borovlyany institution has received proposals on co-operation from abroad: from foreign patients wishing treatment and from foreign specialists seeking employment.

By Denis Krymov

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POWER ENGINEERS’ DAY

Energy for the future The Belarusian nuclear power station is to begin producing energy soon, with its first reactor launched in 2018 and the second in 2020, meeting its deadline via three construction shifts daily; recently, President Alexander Lukashenko conducted a site inspection

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he decree ‘On Building the Belarusian Nuclear Power Station’ was signed by the President in November 2013, enabling the general contractor, Russian Atomstroyexport JSC, to begin its work. Since then, much has been done: concrete has been poured for the foundations, necessary workshops have been built and, now, the future station is gaining its concrete features. Works on major buildings and constructions, in addition to some supplementary objects, are in full swing. In all, 99 objects out of 131 envisaged by the project are being worked upon. This year is a busy one. Around 25 percent of the planned budget has been spent, 22.2bln Russian Roubles.

Already complete are a firefighting station and a modern training centre for station personnel (including simulators).

The President toured the centre, also visiting several workshops where pipes and metal constructions are being produced, and viewing the future building for the reactor turbine of block

22

#1. From its top, you can see the whole construction site; the President remained pleased.

A nuclear power station is of strategic importance for Belarus. Its launch will aid the country’s energy independence, while ‘saving’ money in the long run, since natural gas use will fall by 5bln cubic metres a year, and greenhouse gas emissions (and ecological effects) will be reduced. Consumers will see the benefits: even if gas tariffs rise, the cost of electricity will be unaffected.

The Belarusian station is not just an economic or status project; it ensures much more than energy independence. On meeting the Head of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, Sergey Kirienko, the President several times repeated that, if a nation wishes to progress and develop, it needs new projects and should always be ready to learn something new.

“We’ve agreed with the Russian leaders that the station will be built in the shortest possible time. This won’t be at the expense of security but the station will be completed with finan-

2015 беларусь.belarus

POWER ENGINEERS’ DAY cial efficiency in mind,” reminded Mr. Lukashenko. “The most important aspect is that Belarusians should work shoulder to shoulder with Russians and foreigners to learn how to make such complicated projects in the future.”

Rosatom has signed construction contracts with many countries: 12 nuclear power stations are being built similarly to our Belarusian model and are coming into operation. If this enjoys popularity, then our specialists could help Russian colleagues in the future, with construction at other sites.

While the President was inspecting the construction site, asking questions on the station’s future functioning, builders and workers gathered at the training centre. Mr. Lukashenko explained the key motivation for Belarus building its own nuclear power station, saying “We don’t live in a desert. We’re surrounded by nuclear power stations: two in Ukraine and one in Smolensk. Moreover, St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad are completing construction of similar stations and Ignalina station is also close by. We need not worry about having our own. Some time ago, I had to persuade people — especially in Ostrovets — that we needed our own station. Now, I hope, we’re all convinced of having made the correct decision. We should have our own station, for its cheap energy, for the opportunity to embrace new technologies and for the chance of a completely new face for the Belarusian nation.”

Belarusian nuclear power plant: dynamics of construction Since the beginning of the construction of the Belarusian NPP (2013) Reinforcement assembled

arrangement of cover of the stack

turbine evaporative building cooling tower

Power unit #2

arrangement of walls until intermediate slabs

arrangement of cover of the stack

building and installation works

arrangement of external protective shell

arrangement of internal protective shell

thousand cubic metres thousand cubic metres

(including in 2015) thousand concrete tonnes placed

Power unit #1

building of the reactor

concrete placed

arrangement of internal protective shell

Reinforcement assembled

thousand tonnes

building of the reactor

turbine building

evaporative cooling tower

At present, the number of construction personnel at the construction site of the Belarusian NPP totals 4,600 people

беларусь.belarus 2015

In addition to building the nuclear power station, infrastructure sites are also being constructed in Ostrovets: schools, kindergartens and a new block for the hospital. This summer, the Energy Ministry stated that Ostrovets doesn’t need special residential districts for station staff but Mr. Lukashenko disagrees, wishing to see the town, and the region, develop. He responded, “We’ll turn Ostrovets into the most modern and beautiful town; the most educated people will live there. It’s very important for the country. Ostrovets will become an example of how we should be constructing and developing our district cities, of which there are 118 countrywide. This construction site has far reaching goals.”

At present, around 12,000 people live in Ostrovets but, as soon as the station comes into operation, reaching its scheduled capacity, the town’s population will increase by 40,000-45,000.

By Denis Krymov

Word-for-word Chatting to Ostrovets District residents and construction workers, the President was asked about literature and his attitude to Svetlana Alexievich’s Nobel Prize. Mr. Lukashenko replied, “I’m glad for her, as she is a citizen of Belarus. The award means that, regardless of your position, you can still work and create, write, speak your mind and so on in Belarus. I know her works and have heard much discussion on them. I’ve read her thoughts in the printed media, which I daily receive. You know, so many opposition members have pretensions to my position — inside and outside of Belarus. I don’t distinguish Ms. Alexievich from among them or view her as a major opposition member. Svetlana has written good books. She has her own style. I have nothing against this. Even her early works, such as War’s Unwomanly Face, were supported by the Soviet government. Her famous book — Zinky Boys — is another example of our reality.

In my greeting to Ms. Alexievich, I wrote that it’s important that a Belarusian has won a Nobel Prize: the first time since Soviet days. The key now is how she’ll use this. If you are a Belarusian citizen, irrespective of being born in Ukraine, then this is your land: your state, whether you like it or not. You may be flying high, but how will you use this image, this legacy? For the benefit of your people? People should enjoy the benefit of you being fortunate enough to receive this award; we’ll survive any sort of opposition thoughts.

A writer’s work is the most difficult. Like scientists, they must be creative.

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POWER ENGINEERS’ DAY

Sustainable plan

S

Vladímir Korobitsyn

e ve r a l ye ars ago, Ostrovets was no more than a small settlement; now, it’s burgeoning into a bustling town. Its emblem features an o a k , s y mb ol i s i ng longevity and glory, with a huge trout beneath — standing for fertility, the realisation of dreams and justice.

Touring the power station’s information centre, I was surprised to see a cinema. Staff from the future nuclear power station have also rented space within Ostrovets cultural and concert hall, to organise events, including film showings. Posters are everywhere.

Meanwhile, there’s a huge map with red LED lights highlighting all the sites where nuclear power stations operate.

“Eight thousand people have already visited the centre,” I’m told.

“They’ve all discovered how modern our project is, and that all processes are under strict control. However, our opponents haven’t been idle, trying to create panic by putting up posters about ‘Fukushima’, frightening elderly people that their villages will be destroyed, fields flooded and cows killed. We’ve had to visit villages independently, to talk to local residents.”

The General Director of the Belarusian Nuclear Electric Station RUE Mikhail FILIMONOV: The construction is in full swing. Russia fulfills its obligations to the full extent. The power station will be built on time

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Number of residents tripling Life is in full swing in Ostrovets.

New houses are being built, with those involved in the construction process provided with accommodation: engineers and ordinary workers. The General Director of the

2015 беларусь.belarus

POWER ENGINEERS’ DAY

Belarusian Nuclear Electric Station RUE, Mikhail Filimonov, took us to the kindergarten at midday, while the children were sleeping. I could not but smile. I pondered that, since the project is to run for 60 years, it’s quite possible that some of the children sleeping would one day work at the new power station.

Mr. Filimonov replied that it seems very likely, and that the site may also operate much longer, as has been known elsewhere. This winter, a school opened in Ostrovets and, by 2020, the town’s population should have tripled, to reach 35,000. Local authorities are now planning facilities to supplement the existing clubs, school, hospital and kindergartens.

The best nuclear power station worldwide is being built.

Both Russia and Belarus wish to demonstrate how nuclear power stations of the future should appear. It will employ primarily Belarusians: our people, with invited key specialists the exception. We’re inviting those from abroad during construction, mostly from Russia, as this is an example of a Russian station.

In training Belarusians, we need to be guided by Russian experience — which is advanced and truly perfect. Our higher educational establishments train specialists but are failing to prepare post-graduate students. We lack such experts, having very few. With this in mind, we should keep training specialists in Russia.

Focus on endurance Entry to the site is by special permission only. Once inside, you can see production and supplementary blocks, a canteen, administrative buildings, workshops to assemble equipment and buildings where the first and second reactors will be managed. Most of the equipment has been produced in Russia, Belarus and third countries.

“The quality is under strict control, as the reinforced shell of the reactor must be able to withstand a plane crash (of 20 tonnes and at a speed of 100 metres per second),” underlines Belarus’ Deputy Energy Minister, Mikhail Mikhadyuk.

Over 4,000 people are currently working at the site and, next year, many

 The IAEA helped select the site for the nuclear power station, after undertaking inspections. The National Academy of Sciences named over 70 potential sites and, in 2008, Ostrovets was chosen. Criteria were tough, with 20th century records analysed. In 1908, an earthquake was registered in Ostrovets District but, although we cannot know its intensity for certain, it’s thought that any earthquake in Belarus is unlikely to be of more than 4.5 magnitude. The nuclear power station would easily withstand such a quake, as its reactor, steam plant and other equipment have shock-absorbers.

беларусь.belarus 2015

more will come — totalling around 8,000. The Belarusian nuclear power station is being built under the Russian new-generation AES-2006 project (three plus); its system is unique in being automated, even during a ‘power cut’. The first reactor is to be launched in 2018 and the second in 2020: each with nominal output of 1,194 Megawatts.

Everything is on schedule at present, with equipment being installed gradually.

Later, the most complicated stage will begin: commissioning tests. As foreign experience shows, pitfalls emerge usually at this stage. However, Mr. Mikhadyuk believes that no delays are likely. “The station must come into operation in conformity with our set deadlines,” he asserts.

By Dmitry Neratov

YURY MOZOLEVSKY

Vladímir Korobitsyn

Alexander Lukashenko:

25

NEW SCHEME

Convenient variant Two years ago, a national system of road payment was introduced, unique for post-Soviet space

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he PR manager of Kapsch Telematic Services’ BelToll system, Sergey Bury, tells us, “The new scheme is fairer than collecting money by ‘hand’. Toll roads are split into segments, each of around 20km, with drivers paying only for distance covered. Tariffs vary depending on the size of vehicle and number of axles. Devices detect all technical characteristics automatically, as soon as a vehicle drives below the system of payment control.

Two payment methods are possible: using fuelling cards, or by pre-payment.

The former is widely used by car companies, to allow them to pay by noncash methods.”

Who needs to pay to drive along Belarusian roads?

Drivers of passenger cars registered outside the Customs Union — including passenger mini-buses with up to 3.5 tonne capacity, and drivers of trucks and trailers with capacity of over 3.5 tonnes.

What will happen if a driver decides to cheat — failing to install an onboard unit?

The system will detect the car at the first control station. Operators will inspect the vehicle and save its data in a special bank of law-breakers, to which the Transport Inspection has free access.

Inspectors then either find and stop this car on the road or send a penalty to the driver’s postal address. In the first case, the car would not be allowed to continue its journey until payment is made.

In the second case, the driver must pay an increased fee within a set period: 260 Euros for a single case of passing below a control station

without an onboard unit (with a load of over 3.5 tonnes). Another 260 Euros if the same violation is registered within two hours.

Can the system fail? What happens in this case?

Technical failure of the system is impossible (where it fails to perform its function). In all cases, an onboard unit immediately signals — indicating that something has occurred. In this case, we recommend a prompt call to a dispatcher to tackle the situation. If a driver calls our info-line when e-payment is collected by mistake, they bear no responsibility. However, if a driver fails to call, they need to settle the issue with the Transport Inspection. This can take a long time and, most probably, would not be to their advantage.

The intellectual technologies of our system make it pos-

The total length of Belarusian toll roads currently stands at

1189

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km

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2015 беларусь.belarus

NEW SCHEME

Operating network of toll roads

ia n

М-6/E 28 Shchuchyn-Grodno (the 214th — the 287th km) Р-1 Minsk-Dzerzhinsk (the 8th — the 35th km)

a

nd

Li

i a

беларусь.belarus 2015

o

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М-5/E 271 Minsk-Gomel (the 65th — the 130th km)

p

 Intellectual transport systems run by Kapsch Telematic Services for e-payment (similar to Belarusian) are operational in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and the South African Republic. Similar ideas are applied in Russia, the USA, Mexico, Canada, Australia, France, Sweden and dozens of other countries in Europe and Latin America; overall, over 280 projects are registered across 41 states worldwide.

Russia, Kazakhstan and other neighbours are much interested in Belarusian experience of introducing a national system of toll roads.  By August 2014, e-payment for toll roads included the М-1/Е-30 highway, in addition to sections of the М-2 Minsk-National Airport) road, the М-3 (Minsk-Vitebsk), the М-4 (Minsk-Mogilev), the М-5 (Minsk-Gomel), and the М-6 (Minsk-Grodno-Bruzgi: a total of 933km. On August 1st, 2014, another 256km of highways were included: the М-7 (MinskOshmyany-Kamenny Log) and the Р-1 (Minsk-Dzerzhinsk).

As a result, the total length of Belarusian toll road currently stands at 1,189km.

s

ua

М-7/E 28 Minsk-Oshmyany the border with the Republic of Lithuanina (Kamenny Log) (the 57th — the 148th km)

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New areas of roads

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Reference

a v i t L a

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By German Moskalenko

Toll roads

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sible to restore information at the next payment station, which can automatically recreate the previous transaction.

Who are the major users of Belarusian toll roads?

Around 50.5 percent are domestic drivers. Russians account for 13 percent.

Ten percent are Poles, around 9 percent are Ukrainians and 7 percent are Lithuanians. Drivers of other states account for the remaining share.

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k

r

a

i

n

e

Applied tariffs: Passenger cars — 0.040 Euro/km Trucks and buses: 2 axles — 0.090 Euro/km; 3 axles — 0.115 Euro/km; 4 and more axles — 0.145 Euro/km

Exempt from payment:  Transport vehicles (TVs) registered within a Customs Union member state, with capacity of no more than 3.5 tonnes, as well as towed trailers;  Mopeds and motorbikes;  Wheeled tractors and self-propelled vehicles registered within Belarus;  TVs of operational designation;  Route-travelling TVs conducting city passenger transportation;  TVs used to ensure defensive capacity or used to liquidate emergencies or transport humanitarian cargoes within Belarus and other states.

Note: TVs with transit number plates from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia with a capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes (inclusive), and registered within the Customs Union, are exempt from tolls within Belarus.

Cost of onboard units:  20 Euros — for TVs with capacity of no more than 3.5 tonnes.  50 Euros — for TVs with capacity of over 3.5 tonnes.

To be paid in Belarusian Roubles at the official rate of the National Bank (as on the day of payment) Additional information is available at www.beltoll.by.

27

IN COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

Taking into account evident advantages Belarusian machinery sparks interest at RAE-2015

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he Exhibition of Arms, Military Equipment and Ammunition — Russian Arms Expo — has been organised since 1999, in the suburbs of Nizhny Tagil.

Its 10th event was held in mid-September.

The international forum has, since 2013, attracted leading military-industrial companies from Western Europe. This year, former participants chose not to attend, due to sanctions, but the Republic of Belarus was represented convincingly.

Staratel training ground hosts the event, allowing battle scenarios to be recreated before spectators, showing the application of most types of weaponry. Its complex track can be used to demonstrate automobiles (including those using ‘caterpillar tracks’) in action. Trucks and tractor trucks made by Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT) appeared as true ‘kings’.

The whole new range of MZKT wheeled vehicles was on show — known worldwide under the VOLAT trademark (meaning ‘strongman’). They are truly powerful. All mobile Soviet and Russian strategic and short-range missiles use a MZKT chassis. At present, the enterprise’s designers are focusing on enhancing vehicles’ speed, as well as the comfort of drivers and crew.

A four-by-four MZKT-500200 truck aroused special interest. It premiered recently at the Masters of Artillery Fire-2015 inter-

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national competition, held in Saratov Region, featuring a Belarusian team, and was widely admired for its evident advantages: good dynamics, off-road capacity and smoothness of movement. Meanwhile, the military from Russia and foreign countries were most impressed by its ability to navigate potholes and off-road conditions. The MZKT-500200 confidently overcame the most difficult of obstacles.

Nizhny Tagil also unveiled the new MZKT-600201, with its heavy chassis, 8x8 wheel arrangement, and independent suspension of all wheels. A powerful vehicle can be used as a basis for artillery and missile troops, as an ammunition vehicle and as a tractor truck. It’s also able to work under most difficult conditions.

Interest towards MZKT machinery at RAE-2015 was apparent. Despite NATO sanctions, high-ranking military delegations from leading states across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America arrived in Nizhny Tagil, including delegations headed by heads of general headquarters and defence ministers. Most

Interest towards MZKT machinery at RAE-2015 was shown by the foreign delegations of the leading states across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America entered MZKT’s negotiating room and, although no new contracts have yet been signed, foundations have been laid.

Negotiations were also held with Russian partners of the Minsk factory. The MZKT leadership shared its latest news: of its development of a new chassis for the Russian Iskander tactical missile system, which allows for even smoother movement, improved dynamics and automatic gearshift.

In the future, all VOLAT chassis will boast independent suspension and automatic gearshifts, developed by the company domestically.

By Andrew Potvorov

2015 беларусь.belarus

IN COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

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Belarusian drugs can be described as qualitative, accessible and efficient; to achieve these characteristics, our science, production and sales networks have united their efforts. At present, Belarus’ 28 pharmaceutical companies produce over 4,900 medicines, with some extremely modern projects being realised. Belmedpreparaty has a workshop producing anti-tumour drugs — unique within post-Soviet space for equipment and technologies. Meanwhile, the Borisov Plant of Medical Preparations has launched a new workshop able to produce up to 1 billion pills annually, in addition to 70 million capsules. The Scientific-Practical ChemPharmSynthesis Centre has begun work at the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Bio-Organic Chemistry, synthesising substances on the basis of our scientists’ innovations. In addition, the Institute of Physical Organic Chemistry is producing various medications.

“We’ve ensured a high level of competitiveness for Belarusian medicines, regarding quality and price. 70 percent are priced at less than one US Dollar,” Mr. Shein notes, adding that a moratorium on increasing prices on Belarusian drugs is in action.

Prices are not permitted to exceed that of imported analogues. Moreover, over 35 medicines are subsidised and subject to price regulation, being produced at a loss.

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In essence of ambitious intensions A new state programme of pharmaceutical development, which is being launched in early 2016, will have a special attention on export. It is planned to reach a 50 per cent share of Belarusian drugs at the inner market already up to the end of the year.

The competiveness of our drug manufacturing is helping sustain prices. Importantly, Belarusian medicines are able to compete abroad: we sell to 29 states. A new programme of pharmaceutical development is being launched in early 2016, with the focus on exports. At the moment, three companies — Belmedpreparaty, Lekpharm and Pharmtechnology — have GMP certificates confirming full compliance with world standards (as is necessary to begin export supply).

The Belarusian market annually produces over 100 new drugs; these are mostly generic (analogues of imported medicines). Each pharmaceutical company runs its own scientific department to oversee this task — which is not easy, taking several years to be realised. Serious tests are conducted in the process of registration. From January-July, our producers registered 98 medicines never before produced in Belarus, to cover a market worth Br519bln — including Br350bln of state purchases (for clinics and hospitals). Production mainly focuses on the major medicines necessary for modern treatment — including anti-tumour preparations.

Future plans are ambitious, including production of 145 new drugs and 15 substances. To reduce our dependence on imports, new methods of substance synthesis are to be developed and full cycle manufacturing launched. The Academy of Sciences is to play a major role in the process.

By Yulia Vasilieva

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COMFORTABLE HOME

Hospitable gleam of kindness

Syrian refugees Imad and Saza Ahmad have four children

Military conflicts around the world compel millions to leave their native homes and travel, sometimes, thousands of kilometres.

Hundreds of immigrant families, from Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, have found a new life in the south-east of Belarus.

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The Deputy Director of the enterprise, Natalia Samofalova, omel Region, owing to its geography, was the nearest for citizens from takes me to meet Vladimir, who was among the first settlers in Ukraine fleeing the military conflict Belarus. Natalia explains, “They are very positive young peozone of Donbass. 2015 has seen the ple. In spite of what they’ve endured and experienced, they’re second year of a seemingly never-end- always in a good mood. They quickly joined the collective of ing stream of Ukrainian immigrants workers, and are gradually making their way. Our people, of to the south-eastern region of Belarus. course, support them. After all, we understand that they left Young, old and families with small chil- their country through obligation rather than choice.” dren have settled in areas bordering their native land, finding Vladimir cheerfully and readily chats about his past, ala roof over their head and work opportunities. though avoids details about the war. When sad events began to unfold, they decided to go to Belarus. He and his wife chose The agro-town of Uritskoye is a large settlement now Uritskoye as his wife’s relatives live there. Vladimir has home to families from Donetsk and Lugansk areas and its two large agro-enterprises are providing accomexperience of teaching the English language, as well as working with commercial companies, and with telmodation. Almost 15 Ukrainian families are building evision and online journalism. a new life with the help of OJSC Combine Vostok. Its director, Dmitry Korzh, tells us, “People have arHe admits, “In truth, I can’t help feeling that rived with a desire to work and earn money. we’ve had an easy move, despite my initial fears They are industrious and responsible. We have of difficulties in a strange country. I passed my registration with the migration service of Belarus no complaints. In fact, we’ve received obvious ‘gains’. One young man, with the wife, and then found a good job with the enterprise. has moved to us from Gorlovka and we’ve I received a roof over my head, as they gave employed him as a commercial agent. me employment-rented housing, and have so many opportunities. Part of my job encomVladimir Stakhov’s knowledge of foreign languages is helping us make contact with passes things I view as hobbies: working with foreign partners and his experience of a newspaper and music. I want to use these working with the media is very useful. We opportunities well and justify the trust placed now issue our own newspaper: the Vosin me. People’s attitude towards us has been tochnye Vedomosti.”

Refugee from Ukraine Vladimir Stakhov great, as everyone tries to help.”

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2015 беларусь.belarus

COMFORTABLE HOME

New house at a distance of thousands of kilometres

The hostess of the house then greets me: a young woman with a covered head. She shows me around the spacious apartment.

Imad smiles, “This home is good and the rooms are large. Language is the most difficult thing. Certainly, we’re gradually mastering it and I can already pronounce the names of dishes.”

Imad is a chef and has been fortunate in finding almost immediate employment. He has a compatriot who moved to Belarus some time ago and has a restaurant in Gomel. He offered Imad a place as soon as he heard of him arriving. Imad admits, “It’s not simply my job. I’m engaged in something which I know and love.”

Workers at the restaurant readily underline that Imad is a godsend, being reliable, industrious, friendly and professional. Some customers only wish to order the dishes prepared by him.

This Syrian family is adapting to Gomel, finding similarities with their homeland. They say that summer is almost the same as in Syria, but five degrees cooler. Of winter, Imad says, “Sometimes, in our country, we have frosts of up to five degrees below zero. Of course, snow is a rarity. We’ll adapt to this too; it’s not a problem.”

The Gomel Centre of Temporary Accommodation, Social Adaptation and Rehabilitation of Refugees has been helping families from Syria too. They began arriving in February: 14 citizens having to start their lives anew.

It took several months to process the necessary documents, to learn about simple things and to learn basic Russian, through classes, but the families are starting to feel more settled. Workers at the centre have been very helpful and each family now has their own place to live. Jean-Yves Bouchardy, of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recently visited Gomel to check on conditions. He notes, “A joint project between the UNHCR and the Government of Belarus has worked to provide homes for these families, who are also receiving a monthly benefit payment. We’re helping them with legal issues and employment, as well as adaptation. Similar practice is being extended to other regions of Belarus, as about 100 Syrian From Yemen to Belarusian roots citizens have claimed asylum in Belarus.”

The Gomel Centre of Temporary Accommodation, Three Syrian families are living in a new block in the suburbs, with a children’s polyclinic, large shopSocial Adaptation and Rehabilitation of Refugees, alas, ping centres, a school, an ice rink and a water sports has been busy for some years now. It has hosted peocomplex nearby. There are so many facilities! We ple from around the world, each seeking peace. Employees at the centre show me the environment in chatted with the heads of two Syrian families, who the centre where displaced people live. already speak Russian well.

There are spacious rooms, set out as ‘apartHave you mastered Russian over the past 6 months in Gomel? ments’, with bunk beds and simple furnishings.

There is one bathroom per floor. Workers at the Mohammad Cheko has arrived from Syria with his wife and two children, but visited Moscow precentre tell me, “Settlers arrive with families and often have a lot of children. Therefore, we’ve provided viously. He tells us, “I was there several times so I various activity rooms, such as one offering classes in knew basic Russian. When my family was offered settlement in Belarus, we agreed, since our country is war torn. decorative and applied arts, allowing people to learn about We used to run our own shop and had a home; now, we Belarusian national creativity and to show us their own.” own nothing. By nationality, we are Kurds so our survival Further along the corridor there are some new settlers from Yemen, who arrived in Belarus two weeks ago. was in question. Two years ago, we moved to Lebanon and then onwards to Belarus.”

The head of the family, Ahmed al-Fidii, takes his little His fellow settler Chebat Haisam, who also has a wife daughter in his arms, and tells me, “My wife and I have four children. We left home for their sake, as combat opand two children, similarly speaks Russian, having studied erations had approached very close. There were fires and pharmacology in Kharkov (Ukraine). He admits that he readily grasped the opportunity to come to Belarus from explosions so we decided to escape. We chose Belarus as The head Syria. “I understand local people and I can speak the lan- of the family, my wife comes from here.”

Ahmed al-Fidii, guage. It’s more difficult for my wife and children so they Sadly, I didn’t meet his wife, as she was attending Ruswith his daughter sian classes with her two older boys. The children need began taking Russian language classes at the local university straight away.” to improve their knowledge in order to attend school on Resettlement has been harder for the third family, as Imad and September 1st. Her husband notes, “We decided not to delay, Saza Ahmad have four children and are expecting a fifth: it will be as it’s important for children to adapt to a new environment the first to be born in Belarus. They didn’t have any knowledge of quickly, and to find friends. Since our first days of arrival we’ve Russian before arriving but the younger members of the family have been looking for jobs, as we’re both doctors. I’m a surgeon and already picked up enough language to communicate. I’m welcomed used to work in a clinic. I just need to confirm my medical into their home, where the children soon appear from their rooms. qualification, as required by Belarusian legislation. I hope that How are you doing? all will turn out well here.”

The father of the family tells me, “Fine!”

By Violetta Dralyuk

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EXPERIMENT

Nutrition on genetic level Science Food — Products of the Future project is to be presented at the 1st Eurasian Forum of Young Scientists

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oint efforts are being made to develop new products, as the Deputy General Director of the National Academy of Sciences’ Scientific-Practical Centre for Food, Alexander Shepshelev, tells us. Their Science Food — Products of the Future project is to be presented at the 1st Eurasian Forum of Young Scientists, to be held in Minsk from December 1st-4th.

Many are interested to see new ranges such as these. Already, there are supplements available in shops and pharmacies for children and new mothers,

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To the topic  The establishment of BelBiograd is now complete in Belarus: a national sci-tech park focusing on the development of the newest technologies in the field of bio-chemistry, nano-technologies, and microand nano-system equipment.

Belarusian scientists plan to realise around 200 investment projects there by 2021.

those wishing to lose weight or to build muscle. Mr. Shepshelev explains, “Food security has virtually been achieved in Belarus. We’ve now reached the stage where food is going beyond the function of providing energy. We want to replenish micro- and macro-nutrients which our bodies may lack. Moreover, we need to help those who are unwell, ensuring their recovery. Our project envisages the production of individual vitamins and minerals but we’d like to progress even more, creating food at a genetic level.”

The task is topical since over half of all deaths are thought to stem from diseases connected with the circulatory system.

The inter-relation of nutrition is evident; however, hereditary aspects also matter.

The Belarusian National Academy has been studying genomes from birth, to predict certain diseases — such as obesity and heart disease. Products would then aim to correct these tendencies.

Belarusian scientists have made much progress, jointly solving important research tasks and implementing scitech programmes. Regarding the latter, the Scientific-Practical Centre for Food has developed highly efficient equipment to utilise former waste products from the milk, brewery and spirit industry. In addition, scientists have managed to extract components from this ‘waste’ which are beneficial to human health.

Scientists from around the world have jointly created a solid basis for producing such nutrients in the future.

By Vladimir Yakovlev

2015 беларусь.belarus

PREPARATION TO START

 It's hard to believe but it's true Belarus' programmer Oleg Galtsev and group of enthusiasts develops an inexpensive electromechanical arm prosthesis

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lectric motor is used instead of muscles in this prosthesis, while details printed on 3D-printer — instead of bones. As Oleg Galtsev told, the first ready specimen may be created already to the beginning of 2016.

Family tragedy urged the young man to create the project — about 20 years ago his father lost his arm. “My father wears usual cosmetic prosthesis.

For me he is the best expert-adviser who helps to understand what will suit for controlling,” tells the programmer.

Foreign development — bionic arm, controlled by means of smart phone, costs about 25,000 Euros.

While the prosthesis which he develops, the author himself estimates at $500.

He and his team of enthusiasts create the project in spare time. Oleg embodies software component and general concept. While development engineer Sergey Arefiev — the second basic participant of the project, helps with modelling of electromechanical hand. There are also those who help financially or gratuitously gives 3D-printer to print details.

People can follow successes of the project on web-site myotriton.com.

Oleg Galtsev estimates degree of readiness of his brainchild at 75 percent, as after creation of prototype, certain completions will be required.

“Controlling mechanism which will control prosthesis, is ready and has been tested. Now we are working on arm. However, there are problems with a thumb and how to put it into hand prototype. Other fingers are conceptually ready,” said the author of the project.

беларусь.belarus 2015

Into orbit once more Oleg Novitsky to captain crew in 2016

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and its partners have announced members of two expeditions to the International Space Station. American Peggy Whitson and French Thomas Pesquet will set off to the orbital station on November 15th, 2016, on the Soyuz spacecraft. The cosmonauts will spend 164 days at the station and, in March 2017, will be joined

by Russians Alexander Misurkin and

Nikolay Tikhonov, as well as US representative Mark T. Vande Hei. Oleg Novitsky and his colleagues will return to Earth on April 28th, 2017.

Mr. Novitsky will perform the role of crew captain and is the third Belarusian to see our planet from orbit. He previously captained the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft, which launched on October 23rd, 2012.

Famous Belarusian cosmonauts  Piotr KLIMUK Born in Brest Region, in 1965, he joined a crew of cosmonauts and became Yuri Gagarin’s colleague at the age of 23. He made his first flight with aerial engineer V.V. Lebedev, on the Soyuz-13, and took part in three space trips, spending 78 days outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.  Vladimir KOVALENOK Born in Krupki District’s village of Beloe, in Minsk Region, Vladimir was a pioneer of space exploration, making three space flights: the first was in 1977, the second in 1978 and the third in 1981. In total, he spent 216 days in space.

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BORDERS EXTENSION

Round loaf was to taste The National day of Belarus took place at EXPO-2015 World Exhibition

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he theme of this year’s event was, 'Feeding the planet. Energy for life', thus harvest was an appropriate subject.

Those Italians, who had not heard about our Dazhynki festival, now know a new word. Our traditional round loaf was also a new experience and one that was enjoyed by all. The exhibition offers an unmissable opportunity to taste food from many different countries.

Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov described how Belarusians have embraced the EXPO’s atmosphere, “Now Italy has numerous admirers of our dishes such as draniki and machanka. While many Italians have discovered that Belarus is both modern and beautiful.”

It is a little known fact that every tenth tractor and every third mine dump truck in the world comes from Belarus. Italy is the seventh most important trading partner of Belarus and last year the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded 2 billion Euros. Every year Italian families receive thousands children from Belarus, thanks to them strong ties between our people have developed. The director of the Belarusian exhibition hall, Natalia Kurash, described how, for four months, many Italian families visited our exhibition hall with their Belarusian

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guests. The Belarusian diaspora is notable in Italy. During the National day of Belarus I made the acquaintance of two Tatianas who have lived in Italy for many years. They do not forget their native land, moreover, they actively promote it: both are members of the society BellaRus (containing the Italian word bella which means ‘beautiful’), and they came to Milan purposefully to participate in our Dazhynki. They asked for photos, as they want to write about our ‘Beautiful Belarus’ for their local newspaper.

Beautiful people, a melodious language, picturesque costumes and song are heard as Belarus celebrated its National day during the EXPO. The organisers asked all participants to perform their national ceremonies, rituals, dances and songs connected with the agricultural cycle and traditions of harvesting in their countries. The choice for our day was natural: Dazhynki in Italy! Even if Italians and other visitors of the EXPO have not heard such a word almost all cultures have a harvest festival. The Prime Minister of Belarus explained, “The theme of the trade fair is 'feeding the planet', it is absolutely the right theme, but first of all it is necessary to feed our own people.

Fortunately, the food problem in Belarus has been solved; moreover we have turned from net-importers into netexporters of foodstuffs. Last year our

Now Italy has numerous admirers of our dishes such as draniki and machanka. While many Italians have discovered that Belarus is both modern and beautiful 2015 беларусь.belarus

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BORDERS EXTENSION

Belarus has good potential, good technologies that can be shown and offered today

agricultural exports totalled almost $6 billion. This year, in spite of the fact that it was difficult year in terms of naturalclimatic conditions, we gathered almost a tonne of grain per head. The fact that we rank amongst the top-five countries exporting dairy products is also significant. It shows that we have good potential and advanced technology which we can showcase today.”

It is this business aspect of the exhibition that is hidden from the eyes of visitors who like Belarusian draniki, machanka and birch sap, but for the sake of which, hundreds of businessmen from every corner of the globe visit. According to Mr. Kobyakov, the results of Bela-

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rusian participation in EXPO-2015 will be collated later (the exhibition continues until October 31st), but it is already clear that there will be long-term benefits for our national economy and for the representation of Belarusians in the world. He added, “Imagine how many people come through our exhibition hall? About 50,000 every week! Some discover Belarus for the first time, while some see it from a new perspective of our industrial, tourism and cultural potential, they learn that there exists an attractive country in the centre of Europe and that it is possible to be on friendly terms with it in order to build business.

That is worth a lot.”

The First Deputy Minister for Italian Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, thanked our country for its considerable participation and praised Belarus’ adherence to the idea of food safety. Mr. Calenda explained how trade not only increases the income and general well being of the countries and people involved in it, but also brings people together. On September 11th there was a presentation of tourist opportunities in Belarus while Belarusian science days are to be held on September 2930th. Mogilev and Minsk Regions will be demonstrating at the Milan platform until the end of October.

By Inna Pavlova

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own way

Irina Kopchinskaya:

To ensure that Belarusians are seen and heard...

Moscow resident Irina Kopchinskaya, originally from the region of Grodno, is awarded the Frantsisk Skorina Medal for philanthropy

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he President of Belarus has recently awarded the Francysk Skaryna medal to Irina Kopchinskaya, Art Director of the Belarusian folklore ensemble ‘Yarmarka’ from Moscow, for her considerable personal contribution to the strengthening of cultural ties between Belarus and Russia.

Information about the Moscow resident can be found both online and in the press, in her unusual way she has enriched Belarusian national culture. The newspaper Golas Radzimy printed an article entitled; ‘If two motherlands are in your heart’ (GR, January, 24th, 2008).

The article reviewed a conference being held by the Society for Expatriate Links for the leaders of creative groups from Belarusian communities abroad, and Irina was among them. In the interview she described how the Yarmarka group began

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mainly due to her liking for Belarusian national costume, "I restore the details of traditional clothes, searching for them in ethnographic sources. My collection is growing and I currently have twelve reconstructed models. I imagined how beautiful the combination of costume and song would look on stage, and I decided to create an amateur group." Irina explains, “I was born in the capital, and my parents are Moscow residents, while my grandfather is a native Belarusian.”

During this year’s conference of Cultural Diversity in the Federation, in a session entitled ‘Belarusians of Russia’, the Chairman of the community, Valery Kazakov, invited Irina Germanovna to contribute. “A unique project works within the limits of autonomy and maybe autonomy works within the limits of this project...” she said humorously. “I refer to Irina Kopchinskaya's long-term work and her invaluable cultural group." Wellknown in Russia and in Belarus, writer

Valery Kazakov asked the congress to ‘give Irina five minutes’ to show her work in order to have a true taste of Belarusian culture. Irina not only sings, but also revives the melodies of old songs and recreates Belarusian costumes, including distinctive dresses from the different regions. Seeing the costumes makes it possible to imagine how people looked at festivals and holidays in the past.

Why is such detail and accuracy, present in Irina Kopchinskaya’s work, so important in the costume business?

In Belarus for instance, there are many groups and singers who attempt to appear on stage looking like ordinary people, without penetrating the peculiarities of Belarusian national costume. National costume is sometimes seen, even in publications, with a gaudy mixture of styles, colours and cuts, not typical of the Belarusian tradition. It is important that someone with knowledge of the traditions can give a good example to others.

During her speech at the ‘Celebration of Cultural Diversity’ event, the native Moscow resident welcomed everyone in the Belarusian language, "Hello, honourable state! I congratulate you all on this meeting!" She drew attention to the fact that she was wearing the costume of her ancestors from Grodno Region and reminded the audience that she has been making copies of traditional Belarusian costumes from the different regions for the last 20 years, keeping closely in touch with Belarusian cultural historians from the National Academy of Sciences, and also the Chair of ethnology from the

2015 беларусь.belarus

OWN WAY University of Culture and Arts: Tatiana Pladunova and Vyacheslav Kolotsey.

“The special relationship between national costume and song is received in Moscow and at the various festivals with great interest,” Irina said. “For almost 10 years we have been regularly visiting different places. Thanks to the songs and costumes, many people have seen and heard of the diverse Belarusian culture: there is a distinctive Belarusian language, which has four basic dialects, as well as a distinctive style of clothing. This year, our ensemble celebrated its 20th anniversary, and four singers have been in it from the very beginning. They are Tatiana Grekova, Olga Yatskova, Galina Ivanova and Lyudmila Maslennikova. We work hard, we sing songs in different dialects. We do a great deal to ensure that Belarusians are heard and seen in Moscow. We have 16 well-prepared cultural programmes.”

To give an example, Irina Kopchinskaya sang two couplets from songs in various styles, which were recorded in different regions, and delegates and visitors to the conference applauded her.

At the end of September, when the Business and Culture Centre opened in Moscow in the Belarusian Embassy, the special guests were welcomed by the amateur artistes of the ‘Yar marka’ group.

Irina Kop-

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chinskaya introduced five traditional Belarusian costumes from different regions of the country. The residents of Moscow take a great interest in the creativity of the group and its leader. As well as performing in Belarus, Yarmarka participated in the first Festival of creativity of Belarusians from around the world in 2012 in Minsk and Vitebsk. As a journalist, it would be interesting to learn more about her work, following our fascinating conversation.

Irina Germanovna, I heard that while creating the national costumes, you use the drawings and sketches of the well-known artist and historian Mikhail Romanyuk.

Yes, the research of such a well-known expert cannot be underestimated. I also have various slides and photos which show in detail valuable exhibits from regional Belarusian ethnographic museums. I know that the creative heritage of Romanyuk is used by young artists from Rostov-on-Don. The Belarusian artist Vladimir Bantsevich teaches them.

Vladimir is also the author of interesting books for children, leads RussianBelarusian cultural projects, and has been head of the Union of Belarusians in Don for many years. Is it possible to say that his pupils use his sketches when they paint about national Belarusian ceremonies?

I have heard that this is the case. Also a beautiful booklet with those children’s drawings was issued. I think it is wonderful that the young are interested in Belarusian national costume. I also use Romanyuk’s work. I consider it to be part of the general cultural heritage of all Belarusians.

Mikhail Romanyuk is an intermediary between the owners of rare authentic costumes and modern artists, and also designers and fashion designers.

I have interesting volumes by Mikhail Romanyuk entitled; ‘Belarusian National Costume’, published in Minsk in 1981 and 1992 and ‘Belarusian National Costumes’ (2003). Romanyuk created one of them with Victor Govorov (he made slides in particular) in the 1980s. I noticed that not all of them were included in the album, those that were not used are now in my possession: the widow of the photographer, journalist and writer gave them to me. It is interesting to see how he described crafts: he revived both traditional blacksmithing and ceramic crafts, and even learnt to do all these skills himself. On October, 20th, 2012 we had a Memorial event devoted to Victor Antonovich Govorov: about 600 of his slides were shown with distinctive background music.

We have held more than 20 of these literary-musical meetings called ‘Get Acquainted: Belarus’ in the cultural centres and libraries of Moscow. Victor Antonovich came to live in Moscow in the 1970s, although he came from Vetka, the well-known regional centre near Gomel.

My collection has one costume from Neglyubka, and I’m expecting to get another one from Vetka. However, I sometimes hear that Russians in Moscow trace their roots to the southern part of Belarus and see Gomel as

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OWN WAY part of their Russian heritage. For example, the Moscow ensemble ‘Narodnyi Prazdnik’ in its project ‘Funeral of the Arrow’ introduces Polesie’s tradition as ‘Russian’ (though it is from Belarus’ Gomel Region) and teaches people folk singing changing the Belarusian words.

They even issued an album where traditional Belarusian songs are presented as Russian. And in answer to my comments they just say: ‘What’s the difference!!!’

Only those who are ignorant of the facts would see Gomel Region as Russian. It is easy to refer to the history of Vetka to understand who the native residents are and who are immigrants.

Representatives of other nations have lived peacefully in Belarus since ancient times. Belarus has long experience of multinational life. Old Believers ran from Russia to places where they could profess their belief freely. They came to Belarus as refugees where the local people protected them and gave them shelter. Belarusians did not destroy their belief or culture: so it blossomed...

However, we return to costumes. What do you call what you do?

Our costumes are reconstructions.

They are created anew based on those Belarusian models which are available in museums of local folklore, and ethnographic museums.

But how is it possible to get an exact reconstruction without weaving and spinning traditional materials such as flax?

Well, I am not a spinner or weaver.

We restore colour and form not fabrics.

The exact cut and form of the costumes corresponds to how people made them.

How they made it can be seen in the valuable volume ‘Belarusian National Costume: Cut, Embroidery and Decorative Seams’ by Olga Lobachevskaya and Zinaida Zimina (Minsk, Belaruskaya Navuka, 2013). While the texture of the fabric in my costumes is different I try to choose the closest as possible to the original. I take modern flax and fabric, and the basics of the clothes are made from it. I make a copy of hand woven work on the fabric and do the embroidery myself. As a result, I have costumes which

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are close to authentic models. This is my passion.

Do you consider yourself to be an expert in Belarusian costume?

No, just an amateur... though, to tell the truth, I know the main features of pattern and cut. While well-known art historians Olga Lobachevskaya, Zinaida Zimina and Maria Vinnikova are professionally engaged in this business in Belarus, I cannot

I earn my living using my knowledge of German culture, language and German dialects. I also worked in a defence complex for 20 years, with radioelectronic equipment. When the defence complex collapsed at the start of the 1990’s, I finished courses at the Lomonosov Moscow State University and earned the right to teach the German language.

I worked in a specialist German lan-

Our costumes are reconstructions.

They are created anew based on those Belarusian models which are available in museums of local folklore, and ethnographic museums encompass it all. I see a certain model and I decide whether I can restore it or not.

I look at the colour and use everything that I can find on a certain region. I pay attention to whether the pattern is dense or sparse as well as other nuances. From a pile of different fabrics I choose the one I need and make a costume. I already have more than ten costumes complete and, as I am not rich, I collect different rags, and people also bring them to me: as they can be useful in my work.

What do you do for a living?

guage school under the Academy of pedagogical sciences. We involved children from lyceum number 1571 in some of our projects and photoshoots, I had previously taught the German language there. For the last 6 years, I have been teaching lessons on the programme ‘Belarusian Cutting image’, which I devised myself. The picture here shows a beautiful Grodno costume. There is a purpose to my working at this lyceum, which is involved in cross cultural exchanges between Belarus and Moscow.

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OWN WAY

The newspaper Golas Radzimy (October, 4th, 2012) wrote about Gubarevich under the heading ‘Romanticist keen on archives’.

Thanks for the prompt. Perhaps he could help me to learn more about the gentlemen of the Gubarevich family to which I owe my roots. In 2011 I received the previously restricted documents, and I needed identification of my grandfather: his name was Stepan Osipovich, his surname was Gubarevich-Gubarenya. I prepared an article for literary miscellany ‘Skarynich’ using archival documents describing the history of his life, his period of oblivion and memory regeneration. It is possible that, for some reason, he called himself Gubarenya in 1913, working at the Petrograd steamship company. While in 1921 he was already using the double surname in his documents. He was born in the village of Kashubintsy, located 10-20 kilometres from Skidel on the Kotra River. I was born Gubarevich, while Belarusians also have a close surname: Uborevich.

We know that you have creative contacts with well-known folklore expert and ethnic cultural expert Ivan Kruk.

How did you establish them?

We became acquainted in Minsk during a training course for the leaders of creative communities abroad: he was

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the previous speaker to me and I paid close attention and had many questions for him. I attended four such courses.

Ivan Ivanovich sometimes visits Moscow book fairs and we often meet to discuss various cultural-national problems.

To be honest, it was he who helped me to move closer to my Belarusian origins.

Has your ensemble changed over the years?

Not really. Since 1994 the ensemble has had 4 participants, and since 1997 has been called Yarmarka. Everyone has grown up, the women have three or four children. Now the group has 8 people, I. Betanova, E. Naryzhnykh, L. Sopelkina, N. Seliverstova, T. Yeliseeva are our old-timers. We perform often and also hold festivals in the Moscow House of Nationalities, in the Northwest district of Moscow (Strogino). Sometimes we have a problem when those who would like to work with us want to show off on the stage, to be famous while we need ethnographers, artists and composers.

Certainly, new costumes appear in our group. Here is [she shows pictures] the Gomel costume, and I have collected all the fabrics to restore it. While this is a Slutsk costume fully restored. The fabrics are stored in 38 boxes for 38 different costumes, I probably won’t make any more.

Do you loan your dresses for films or any presentations?

No. I do not give them to anybody.

Purposely. I would not want them to become misshapen or pulled in tight. I also want to protect them from getting lost! If we visit or perform in a particular place, we give them information that we use songs and costumes from certain regions of Belarus. Today our repertoire contains more than 400 songs which we have managed to collect from different regions. We have created 16 programmes and all of them are different. In general, I write a programme for each performance, I mention the names of folklore experts, place of recording, names of rural singers etc.

Do you show both songs and actions on the stage?

We do not have a lot of acting as concerts are usually time-limited. For example, some ethnographic collections include sayings, and songs recorded without notes. We take folklore which has not been recorded with a musical background. I have recorded over 240 ethnographers who for more than 120 years worked in this field. I am creating a catalogue of their work.

In one of Anatoly StatkevichCheboganov's books from the series ‘I’m Your Son...’ [it is easy to find them on the Internet, the author transferred them to the library of our Embassy in Moscow] there is an article about the literary critic, Evlaliya Kazanovich. She is a native of Mogilev, comes from a Belarusian aristocratic family, worked in the Pushkin house in St. Petersburg and was one of its founders. She recorded and investigated Belarusian Volochebnye songs and published ‘Dialects of Ozeransky Land’, they are introduced in the book.

"Thanks, I am constantly in search of new ideas as I host the 'Get acquainted: Belarus' events. It takes a lot of time, but I make progress learning many interesting things.

I read that one Russian woman, during the concert in the Moscow house of nationalities, characterised your singing as ‘mischievous, inviting, guttural and even erotic according to modern

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OWN WAY terminology’... What do you think of such comments?

It is just the opinion of an amateur, professionals would laugh at such a review. The way we try to sing the Belarusian songs in our group Yarmarka, is called deep-resonance. In Russia people sing like this unless they are in ethnic Belarusian lands such as Smolensk Region, Bryansk and the Western part of Kursk Region. We learnt to sing in the authentic Belarusian language in remote places of Belarus, and we even passed an examination in Minsk, to the Associate Professor of the chair of ethnology and folklore of the University of Culture and Arts, Tatiana Pladunova.

Apart from museum models, what are your reconstruction of costumes based on?

The collection of Victor Govorov, about whom I've already spoken, has two and a half thousand slides. 600 of them were digitized, including those of

the writer and activist of the Belarusian diaspora in Moscow, Valery Kazakov. In due course, I would like to give this valuable material (which I keep in memory of a remarkable person and researcher) in digital format to Belarus, to Gomel.

It would be marvellous to hold a Victor Govorov memorial meeting there.

Do you have other projects in progress?

Yes I have. I want to issue a retroalbum under the title ‘Travel across Belarus of the 60-80s’, the years when Mr. Govorov made those slides. I also plan to put to rights those songs which are still heard but which are not recorded.

To sing, to record them, to translate into Russian... And then to issue all this as a collection entitled, 'Belarusian Yarmarka sings: 20 years', decorated with pictures of costumes and stories about the separate regions. Once I was given a folklore collection from 1934. The texts were

Time to comprehend traditions How do experts see the work of Irina Kopchinskaya? Are her reconstructions of national costumes, based on models, valuable for Belarusian culture? We asked wellknown researcher and ethic culturologist, folklore expert and teacher Ivan Kruk. The author of 15 monographs and numerous articles about the spiritual heritage of Belarusians now works as Editor-in-Chief at the Publishing House Obrazovaniye i Vospitaniye (Education and Upbringing).

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e can confidently say that the works of Irina Kopchinskaya are of great value, as well as the famous Slutsk belts. Belarus has such authoritative experts as Valery Zhuk and Boris Lazuko who consider this to be a national brand. However, it should always be made clear what is original and what is reconstruction. Master gunsmiths make historical reconstructions, restoring old weapons and armour. If a reconstruction is made at a high professional, artistic level it is very worthwhile. When my grandson, for instance, was born I wondered how to give him the experience of Belarusian fairy

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interesting. I remember the words and melody and I also found unknown lyrics in that collection. It is important to get them written down in time.

In Belarus some folklore groups perform at exhibitions and fairs to entertain the buyers. They create a cheerful festive atmosphere. Have you taken part in such events?

Yes, we take part in Koliada [the preChristian winter festival], we also participated in the Kupala Night holiday in Moscow’s Kuzminki Park, as well as the Slavic writing days in Moscow Oblast and Christmas meetings in one of the Catholic Churches of Moscow. We took part in national holidays in Suzdal, Bryansk. But folklore is different and cannot always be performed in town squares. I consider our art in some measure elitist, because I believe that national culture has a highly spiritual mission.

Interviewed by Ivan and Valentina Zhdanovich

tales and other national creativity? The main thing is that spiritual traditions should be passed from one generation to another Sometimes, at meetings with different audiences there are disputes: for example, should we wear embroidered shirts for the sake of preserving Belarusian authenticity, or not? Although it is not outside appearances that make you what you are, and there should not be any specific rules, traditional clothing can influence the soul. Actors know this feeling well. I have often heard them say that if you put on traditional clothes for a performance you feel and play your role completely differently.

Every day we wear the clothes that everyone usually wears, while at Christmas and for special occasions you can wear our traditional outfits. Not everything that is in our souls should be turned into a show, much less 'to be sold' or performed on stage. I remember that once we arrived in Loev District of Gomel. The local women came to one bank of the river Dnieper, while the second group appeared on the other bank. They started singing! Songs flew across the river to one side and returned from the other. It would be impossible to recreate such a special moment in stage conditions?

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Belta

Soyuz

Belarus — Russia

Huge potential for co-operation Union State’s Council of Ministers makes range of important decisions to strengthen Belarusian-Russian integration

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n September 29th, Moscow hosted the Union State’s Council of Ministers session, with over three dozen issues of Belarusian-Russian collaboration across various areas. Its work was led by the heads of our Belarusian and Russian governments: Andrei Kobyakov and Dmitry

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Medvedev. They discussed the present level and character of economic and sci-tech co-operation of our two states, while outlining prospects for development. Important decisions were made, aimed at expanding collaboration and enriching it with new focuses.

Belarusian-Russian turnover was high on the agenda: an issue especially

sensitive, since Russia is Belarus’ major foreign trade partner, accounting for almost 50 percent of the country’s exports.

Although Belarus occupies just a small share in Russia’s foreign trade turnover, it remains ahead of many, behind only the strongest economic powers: China, Germany and Italy.

Not long ago, our mutual trade exceeded $40bln but, in the first seven months of 2015, it has dropped (against the same period of 2014) by almost 25 percent. Mr. Kobyakov is concerned by this state of affairs, proposing steps to expand mutual trade, including through substitution of imported products with domestic manufactures. He explains that many Belarusian goods rely on at least 50 percent Russian components and materials; up to 70 percent of components for MAZ trucks derive from Russian imports. Accordingly, ex-

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pansion of production is profitable for both Russian manufacturers and the Belarusian state.

Mr. Medvedev views the situation from another angle. Assessing mutual turnover in Russian Roubles, the sum is 20 percent higher. Moreover, mutual trade has not fallen in terms of weight or volume. According to the Russian PM, the further development of our tradeeconomic co-operation relies on lifting barriers to market access between our two states. Mr. Medvedev believes the potential for co-operation is great and that Belarusian-Russian trade-economic relations are multi-sided and diversified.

Further development of co-operation in the economic sphere depends greatly on the formation and realisation of a single industrial policy by Russia and Belarus

Session participants discussed and approved a balance of mutual supplies for the most important products, deciding that Belarus may receive loans in 2016, to purchase components, with a schedule of staggered repayments.

Further development of co-operation in the economic sphere depends greatly on the formation and realisation of a single industrial policy by our states.

The topic was high on the agenda, in addition to a single transport and energy system and migration space. These issues are vital to the Union State development; the outlining of corresponding decisions may take time but the results will be significant.

The problem of a single industrial policy was recently discussed at the 2nd Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia — held under the aegis of the two states’ upper chambers. A plan of decisions has been studied by our prime ministers, as have proposals to lift the ‘permission system’ for automobile cargo transportation to (and outside) the third states. Draft joint actions to counteract terrorism are also under scrutiny and Mr. Medvedev has proposed a single visa for the Union State.

Many issues discussed at the Council of Ministers’ session will be further debated at a sitting of the Union State’s Supreme State Council.

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Belarus and Russian are liaising in realising mutual sci-tech programmes, with the Union State’s Council of Ministers taking some key decisions. Four major projects have been completed in recent years, with results approved. For example, the Standardisation-SG programme has made it possible to significantly strengthen the normative base of co-operation in the field of satellite development and use. Overall, 68 joint standards have been developed and 12 organisational-methodical documents have been approved, enabling our two states to use a single technical language. In addition, the Microelectronics programme has brought production of 62 new microcircuits, eight new transistors and 16 stabilisators, able to operate under extreme conditions (such as enhanced space radiation). The Union State has created a real alternative to imported products.

Among two approved Union State sci-tech novelties are those relating to Auto-Electronics. In the coming three or four years, these should become a major joint project for the Union State. Around 2bln Russian Roubles will be used to produce micro-electronic components for the system of transport management, enhancing vehicles’ safety — including ecological. Leading Belarusian and Russian automobile companies are interested in these studies: MAZ, KAMAZ, BELAZ and GAZ. The programme is likely to bring their produce closer to international quality standards.

As part of the Council of Ministers’ session, several Russian heads were awarded top state awards. The Chairman of the State Duma and the Union State’s Parliamentary Assembly, Sergey Naryshkin, received the Order of Glory. Meanwhile, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Igor Shuvalov, joined the Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Dvorkovich, in being awarded the Order of Nations’ Friendship. On behalf of the Belarusian President, those awards were presented by PM Kobyakov.

By Vladimir Fiodorov

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Reliable neighbours Belarusian-Russian border territory existing with kind relations and mutual help

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t’s already a tradition for the neighbouring Mogilev and Smolensk Regions to help each other during harvest time.

This autumn is no exception, with at least as many Belarusians as Russians within the fields of Roslavl District.

Two teams arrived from the Prigranichny branch of the Klimovichi Bread Baking Factory to help their neighbours in late September. Rape harvesting is now near completion, with Gomel’s Polesie combine harvesters in assistance. Igor Kotikov, who heads the Prigranichny enterprise, explains that they gathered their own grain in August and had even prepared their combines for the winter break. However, it’s never a problem to ‘unpack’ machinery if neighbours ask for help.

Iskra farm, in Roslavl District, also asks Belarusians for help, as chairman Ruslan Sharov admits. They regularly rely on our assistance, even for sowing. With this in mind, the farm plans its sowing season later, so that its Belarusian friends can help out. Iskra’s rape fields cover around 1,500 hectares (the largest territory in Smolensk Region). Meanwhile, Iskra has just one combine, so also needs help with harvesting.

Happily, several people from Klimovichi District are able to work on Iskra’s fields at the moment, harvesting grain. The situation is mutually beneficial, as Belarusian combine drivers have the chance to earn extra wages, while the Russians harvest grain without losses.

Young drivers Alexander Starovoitov and Yevgeny Tuzhikov, from Prigranichny, are working outside of Belarus for the first time but assert that Russia doesn’t feel like ‘abroad’, since only a few kilometres separate the village of Kiseleva Buda — where Alexander lives — from the border. Yevgeny’s village of Zvenchatka is situated directly on the border. Both visit Roslavl several times a month, having friends and relatives on both sides of the border.

Russian Vasily Chemisov comes to Zvenchatka every summer. The Lieutenant-General has lived and worked in

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Moscow for a long time but has never forgotten his homeland, where he grew up in a village. He recently constructed a house near that of his parents. Vasily admits that Belarusians and Russians have always lived in the village: his mother is Belarusian and his father was born in Bryansk Region.

In his youth, local young people used to visit neighbouring Russian Serkovka for dances and Russian and Belarusian villages were true friends — jointly sowing grain, celebrating festivities and assisting each other. He has helped build a beautiful wooden church on a hill in the village, which is visible from the nearby road.

In turn, Valentina Golovanova, from Roslavl, has no relatives in Belarus — but has many friends. Until retirement, she worked at Roslavl Milk Factory, alongside Belarusians from Klimovichi, Krichev and Minsk. She’s still on friendly terms with some. As Valentina admits, many Belarusian products are sold in Roslavl and local people especially appreciate Gorky’s milk and sour cream, sausages from Mogilev and Grodno meat plants and bread baked in Orsha and Mogilev.

Neighbours in the Belarusian-Russian border area share much in common, not only relating to trade and agriculture.

According to the Chairman of Klimovichi District Executive Committee, Vasily Zakharenko, they jointly grow crops and raise and educate their children. Young Russians study at Klimovichi Agrarian College, while Belarusian youngsters visit Roslavl to compete and train (as Klimovichi has no ice palace of its own).

Belarusians and Russians celebrate harvest festivals jointly, as well as sporting holidays and cultural events. Moreover, most participants of the International Golden Bee Festival — hosted by Klimovichi — come from Russia. Here, along the border, people are not ‘insiders and outsiders’: they live as a large family.

By Olga Kislyak

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Second Forum of Regions specifies guidelines for single Union State industrial policy

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Belta

Programme work for regions he second Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia took place this September, in Sochi, featuring representatives of 60 federal subjects of Russia and of all 6 Belarusian regions and Minsk (a greater number than last year). The surge of interest in our integration processes was reflected in the main theme for discussion: the prospects and conditions of forming a single industrial policy for Belarus and Russia, including taking into account the recent entrance of our two countries into the Eurasian Economic Union.

The importance of this topic was fully confirmed at an exhibition held within the forum, displaying advanced scientific, industrial and technical achievements. Many of the items on show were the fruit of various Union State scientific and technical programmes; more than 40 have been already realised.

Before the forum began, participants visited the exhibition, viewing Minsk MTW tractors and Nizhnekamsk KAMAZ trucks, Belarusian BELAZ mine machinery, Minsk diesel engines and Gomel Polesie combine harvesters. Greatest interest was provoked by hi-tech developments, which had their own space in a special exhibition hall.

The State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota, familiarised himself with stands demonstrating the results of Union scientific and technical programmes, including a Union thermal imager, and microelectronics devices. He lingered near the stand of St. Petersburg OJSC Avangard, which encompasses the Russian-Belarusian Centre of Microsystem

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Engineering. The Director General of Avangard, Valery Shubarev, tells us that they chatted about ‘key problems for Russia and Belarus, and the Union State as a whole’. He explains, “Import substitution is essential and, thanks to various Union scientific and technical programmes relating to 'microsystem engineering', we’ve managed to create technologies which are competitive not only domestically but abroad, providing a new level of safety across all spheres, from household to industrial. We’ve created prototype devices which can monitor conditions leading to technogenic, natural and man-made catastrophes, and are now mastering batch production of relevant devices.”

Gennady Kovalchuk, the Director General of Belarusian OJSC Planar (an enterprise-partner of Avangard), adds, “Our co-operation is financially favourable to both parties. We rely on technologies developed by our Russian colleagues, and are creating corresponding up-to-date equipment for them. We are making joint Belarusian-Russian products within the Union State. It’s something we should all aspire to.”

Questions of co-operation in the scientific and technical spheres were considered thoroughly under the theme ‘Realising Structural Policy via Union State Programmes: Developing inter-regional co-operation and co-operative ties between the industrial enterprises of Russia and Belarus'. It was, perhaps, the most representative section of the forum, with discussions held across three sub-sections.

The first was devoted to general issues; the second to scientific and technical co-operative interaction between regions;

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and the third to Union programmes as a tool of industrial policy. Outstanding scientists and experts from scientific institutions joined directors of major research-and-production enterprises, and heads of ministries and departments from Belarus and Russia.

The Deputy State Secretary of the Union State, Standing Committee member Alexey Kubrin, moderated the discussion, setting the tone. He tells us, “Questions of industrial policy are broad and we’ve achieved much inter-regional co-operation. Our process of adopting and fulfilling Union programmes has strict structure and financing, as well as a control system. It is the most effective mechanism of co-operation, providing concrete results. Union programmes aim to solve scientific, technical and industrial tasks, improving our technologies.”

Union programmes in the field of microelectronics are a good example.

One finished in 2014, creating microelements for the launch systems of space rockets, as well as for application at the Sochi Olympics, and in housing and communal services. Other successful programmes are Kompomat and the Union Thermal Imager (for remote Earth sensing from space).

Meanwhile, various other intriguing projects have begun.

The Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technologies of Belarus, Alexander Shumilin, joined the Director of the Administration of Minsk High-Tech Park, Valery Tsepkalo, in speaking to those gathered, alongside the head of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Piotr Vityaz.

Mr. Vityaz commented, “It’s important to see the direction being taken by industry and science for next 20-30 years.

The formation of a single industrial policy for the Union State relies on this awareness. The NAS of Belarus is participating in achieving this. Union programmes are focusing on space, nano- and biological technologies, as well as improving agro-industrial manufacturing. Joint research with Russian colleagues is being organised across six Union programmes, with five already finished, and several under development.

A single scientific-technological space is impossible without a uniform legislative base. As a result of fulfilling the Standardisation programme, we’ve created 69 standards (applying equally to Belarus and Russia) in the field of space machinery technologies.”

Sergey Tsybukov, the Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Director General of the Scientific Production Union for Plastics Procession, spoke to a rapt audience. He noted his desire to join forces with Baranovichi’s factory making automatic moulding machines and with industrial engineers from the Urals, who make press moulds. In this way, by combining technologies, within the Kompomat programme and others, major importsubstitution manufacturing is possible, helping railway transportation and other branches of the economy.

Across the whole forum, many voiced their desire to develop a more efficient method of bringing enterprises together, so that Union programmes may be adopted and fulfilled. A fund of financial support for joint BelarusianRussian projects was proposed, as was a Union programme to support interregional scientific and technical co-operation.

Alexey Kubrin commented, “We can overcome all obstacles mentioned during our session of if we maintain a realistic outlook and encourage co-operation between the federal executive powers of Russia and state bodies of Belarus. We’ve only recently begun to discuss a single industrial policy, which is a complex issue, requiring much systematisation. The most structured element will be our joint Union scientific and technical programmes.”

Many ideas and suggestions expressed by session participants regarding a single industrial policy for the Union State have now been included in the concluding document for the forum. In particular, members of parliament from our two countries believe it necessary to activate investment co-operation between our two countries, in such branches as heavy engineering industry, electronics and electronic mechanical engineering, and high technologies, focusing attention on import-substitution.

It was agreed that wider, multifaceted co-operation is needed between the regions of Belarus and Russia in the innovative sphere, including raising the share of high-tech and knowledge-intensive production in mutual goods turnover. A new programme of scientific and technical co-operation is now needed for our two countries, taking into account the development of inter-regional ties in the innovative sphere.

Forum, dedicated to cooperation of the regions, is a good place for the representatives of the regions to meet with each other, to discuss topical problems and to make certain decisions

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By Vladimir Bibikov

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Good workman does a good job Equal rights in labour sphere require uniform approach to professional qualifications

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past, as national diplomas, certificates of higher education and scientific degrees are mutually recognised. Belarusians and Russians fully use the right to choose their place of residence within the Union State, and have equal rights to education, health care, pension and other social security provision.

Corresponding legislation has been adopted by the Presidents of Belarus and Russia, and has been in use for over a year, bringing equality of rights for citizens. In this respect, the experience of the Union State serves as an example

to our neighbours in the Eurasian Economic Union, and within other international integration associations.

Equal rights and opportunities allow people to seek out jobs and to receive worthy remuneration. In both countries, employer and employee have mutual understanding of the value of qualifications. Meanwhile, condi-

Alexander Ruzhechka

ens of thousands of citizens across Belarus and Russia move freely, without excessive formalities, between one Union country and the other annually, seeking employment suiting their qualification. It is a major achievement of Union integration. Quotas and permissions are in the

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tions of manufacturing are being constantly improved.

The recent Belarusian-Russian seminar devoted to equal rights for citizens across the Union State discussed the need to unify approaches to improving national systems of qualification.

The Head of the Department of Information Policy and Social Security of the Standing Committee of the Union State, Margarita Levchenko, set the tone of discussion, saying, “One of the major purposes of the Union State is to co-ordinate social policy, to maintain worthy living standards. Its activity is determined by the Union State’s concept for social development. We’re currently facing an imbalance in the labour market, with varying requirements by employers and varying qualifications of graduates. A deficiency in well-qualified experts is constraining the economy.”

Belarus considers it vital to preserve and to improve upon the old Soviet system at the heart of training standards for personnel. The First Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Protection of Belarus, Andrey Lobovich, notes various problems, which bring discrepancies in the level of training to meet the requirements of the labour market.

There is, without doubt, a deficiency in highly-skilled personnel, partly because qualifications rapidly become outdated.

Our national system of qualification needs to be more effective, and more adaptable to economic needs, as is true also for Russia.

“To harmonise labour market policy within the Union State, we must undertake a course of reform, and exchange experience across various spheres of activity,” says Mr. Lobovich. “The need for well-qualified personnel is only increasing, so we need a new approach to developing our system of qualification.

Workers need to be guided towards the skills sought by the labour market.”

Russia has been carefully monitoring Belarusian experience, with

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the Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Protection of Russia, Lyubov Eltsova, noting similar labour trends in both countries. She explains, “The level of workers’ qualification has been rising, with well-qualified experts comprising 31.9 percent of employees last year. Young people tend to favour humanitarian studies, despite job opportunities being less buoyant in this area than in others. Just 5.5 percent of those questioned admitted being ready to undertake further training for their current employment, while over 30 percent felt they were somewhat inclined to do so. In order to draw the educational system closer to the requirements of industry, we must improve training among teachers at enterprises.”

The National Council for Professional Qualification, under the President of Russia, tackles similar problems on the labour market, working methodically and liaising with various partners: representatives of trade unions and employers.

The main question is: in which direction should we be moving…? European experience has been studied, with its nine steps of qualification, bringing a corresponding set of legislation, involving local authorities, and co-ordinated standards.

We do not need to set aside everything about our former system of professional certification. On the contrary, Russian trade unions wish to build upon the previous platform, as do Belarusian experts. During the recent seminar, they showed interest in Russian colleagues’ ideas.

The Deputy Head of the Central Administrative Board of Labour and Salaries, of the Ministry of Labour of Belarus, Victor Sidorovich, tells us, “Economic structural reorganisation is changing requirements for qualification. The new system needs to be more flexible, with an updated system

of judging the level of qualification. A document is now being submitted for Government consideration.”

Corresponding industrial councils are contributing their suggestions, helping shape the new system, so that it does reflect the needs of the economy. Individual experts are in demand, such as are trained by the Academy of Public Administration, under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus. The First Pro-rector of the Academy, Alexander Ivanovsky, tells us that more mature people, including company heads, often undertake studies for secondary degrees, and are ready to pay for the privilege.

More than 80 percent of enterprise heads have primarily studied technical courses, with IT experts working at Minsk’s High-Tech Park standing out for their ‘niche’ expertise. They are able to work across the markets of various countries, although each has its own character, obliging them to adjust their qualifications accordingly.

The Deputy Director of the Park, Alexander Martinkevich, asserts, “Our services are not considered to be the cheapest. When Chinese companies launched onto the world programming market, we couldn’t compete on price: only on quality, thanks to the high level of training undertaken by our personnel. They need to be trained according to certain professional standards.”

The requirements of the economy, science and culture, across Belarus and Russia, are diverse, so requirements for professional qualification must change accordingly. This has direct bearing on Union integration, since approaches and standards in this sphere should be equally recognised in Belarus, and in Russia. Probably, this theme will be central to discussion at the next Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which is to be devoted to Union State social policy.

By Vladimir Yakovlev

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Song of friendship performed by young people International Festival of Youth for Union State reveals new talents

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n the days and nights when Rostov welcomes participants and guests of the Youth for Union State International Festival, the Don River becomes a place of great activity. This year marks the tenth jubilee for the musical-dancing marathon, and gathered a record number of participants from Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan: almost 300.

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The State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota, addressed everyone, saying, “I heartily welcome all those gathering in hospitable Rostov. The Union State aims to create conditions for informal communication. The Youth for Union State Festival unites efforts by young Belarusians and Russians in their aspiration to strengthen cultural ties between our nations. In all these years, the Festival has preserved its atmosphere of friendship and unity; the local southern air is warmed not only by the sun but by your hearts.”

Each year, the Festival attracts a greater number of new states. However, each participant can come only once, so that, next year, Rostov will welcome new entrants. The rule allows for maximum exposure and with the aim of revealing as many new talents as possible. Only a Grand Prix holder may return.

The contest, which resembles TV’s Star Factory show, has among its laureates Honoured Artiste Alena Lanskaya, of Belarus; five years ago, she became a 1st degree laureate in Rostov and, a year later, in 2011, won the Grand Prix at the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. In 2013, she worthily represented Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Yegor Sharankov, 18, a Grand Prix holder, is ready to repeat Ms. Lanskaya’s artistic success. After the results were announced, the Minsker admitted that he never imagined that he would win, despite all his preparation. “My friends — who’ve already participated in the forum — warned me that the competition is strong, so it’s hard to win. I viewed Kazakhstan’s Karashash Nsanova as my major rival. This victory shows me that I should continue. The Festival has inspired me greatly,” he tells us.

As expected, the main prize went to Ms. Nsanova. The second award was shared between Grodno’s Kristina Soiko and Moscow’s duo, Cool. Bronze was also ‘split’, between Yekaterina Razumova (from Pugachev), Tatiana Gulyaeva (from Gomel) and Natalia Balenkova (from Zhlobin).

This year’s organisers invited the best of the best to perform: ‘the dream team’ of Yakhontovy Lar (from Chelyabinsk), Vitaly Gordey (Bobruisk), Oksana Simon (Rostov on Don), Max Savin (Minsk) and Vasilisa Starshova (St. Petersburg). A laureate was also on the jury: Alexander Yelovskikh, who won in 2008, joining well-known Alexey Khlestov, Albert Zhalilov and Pesnyary’s Valery Daineko in judging.

At the final gala-concert, all participants came on stage to sing We are Together, with audience members. Next year, the search for talent will continue. Evidently, the Union State is rich in talented young people.

All participants received prizes from the Standing Committee of the Union State and from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarusian-Russian Union.

By Yuliana Leonovich

2015 беларусь.belarus

NOBEL PRIZE WINNER

President congratulates Svetlana Alexievich To Nobel Prize winner, Alexievich Svetlana Alexandrovna

Her major day

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s. Alexievich’s last book — Second Hand Time — was simultaneously released in many countries. Some time earlier, this documentary novel was named the highlight at the Frankfurt Book Fair: the most influential in the literary world. Her books narrate the post-Soviet generation’s painful crisis of consciousness, affecting pride and honour, and historical injustice, our ability to forgive, and the psychology of victims and those who bring death.

The ‘fight’ for a Nobel Award saw the meeting of worthy rivals. According to bookmakers, first place should have gone to Kenya’s writer and playwright Ngugi was Thiong, with second place to extremely popular Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. The top of the list was also occupied by American prose writer Joyce Carol Oates, Norwegian playwright and prose writer Jon Fosse, and American Philip Roth.

беларусь.belarus 2015

Ms. Alexievich’s first press conference as a Nobel Prize holder gathered many reporters in Minsk, from various editions and countries. She named Vasil Bykov and Ales Adamovich as her inspiration, noting, “I’d like Belarusians to be proud of this award, as it belongs not only to me but to my characters, my parents and my grandfather, who studied alongside Yakub Kolas. It is the accumulation of humanitarianism. It’s not a personal achievement, but it’s great that it’s happened this way.”

Speaking of her attitude to this raving success, Svetlana notes that she isn’t affected by public matters, believing that what occurs inside us is more important. The awards ceremony for Nobel Prize winners will take place on December 10th: the day when the award’s founder, Swedish businessman and inventor Alfred Nobel, died.

Truly, Svetlana has been working for inner freedom. She isn’t a ‘state figure’, being rather an artist pondering modern global problems of life and death. She isn’t afraid of speaking or

Dear Svetlana Alexandrovna!

Accept my wishes on being awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Your creative work has touched Belarusians and readers all over the world.

I am sincerely glad for you. I strongly hope that this prize will serve the Belarusian state and the nation. I wish you health, happiness and new creative achievements for the benefit of native Belarus .

President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander LUKASHENKO October 8, 2015

writing her mind and, as a result, regularly draws fire upon herself, inspiring negativity from those who aren’t members of the literary circle. Their reaction may derive from envy. However, as Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich once said, lightning only strikes tall trees.

“Nobody likes to hear the truth,” Svetlana often remarks. Some view her as not fully Belarusian, as she writes in Russian. Not long ago, she was displeased by a ‘patriotic’ literary club, which viewed her as disloyal to the ideas of the ‘Russian world’. Much idle talk has been heard but, eventually, art won out. Her Nobel Prize sets the record straight. I personally consider Svetlana Alexievich to be a Belarusian writer. Owing to her, our literature, culture and country have gained incredible recognition. At present, we are witnessing an historical event.

Probably, one day, some other Belarusian writers will receive Nobel Prize awards, but Svetlana is the first: it’ll be remembered forever.

By Lyudmila Rublevskaya

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CREATIVELY

Symphonic marathon The State Academic Symphony Orchestra, under the guidance of People’s Artiste Alexander Anisimov, has opened the season at the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, providing an unforgettable impression for all music lovers, with two concerts being performed on the same evening, both seeing a full house: an original children’s programme and classical event for adults.

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create magical music. Some time later, a video sequence, shot by the English avant-garde directors, Alan Holmes and Alan Taylor, was added.

Those keen on space fantasy are perfectly aware of the story of a boy who flew to a black hole and returned after several millennia. It’s performed in its musical variant more often at scientific festivals rather than in philharmonic halls. Nevertheless, Mr. Anisimov is convinced that the performance represents not an idea for physics lessons but pure art.

“Of course, we have here a synthesis of science, literature, music and cinematography… I admire all these things and it’s not the first time we have presented projects like this to the public, combining various genres. It seems to me that Icarus on the Edge of Time appeals to both children and adults, just as it was intended to,” commented Mr. Anisimov.

The author’s text, translated into the Belarusian language, was written by popular showman and TV host, Dmitry Kokhno. The proposal to co-operate with maestro Anisimov in such

an unusual format was a true unexpectedness for him. “Everyone understands that my participation in the project is, softly speaking, surprising. When Mr. Anisimov called me and invited for rehearsal, frankly speaking, I, put it mildly was shocked. The appearance with the symphony orchestra on the stage was the greatest trial; it is very honourable.”

The second part of the Symphony Marathon represented a classical programme from concert #1 by Frédéric Chopin and Carmina Burana cantatas

by Carl Orff. It was more familiar in its sound, yet no less brilliant in its performance. It’s no surprise that pianist and Honoured Artiste of Russia, Alexander Gindin, was encored by spectators several times.

A separate advantage was the use of multi-media for enlightening purposes: during the concert a portrait of the composer appeared on the big screen, as well the names of all parts of the piece. This undoubtedly enhances the audience’s experience.

By Irina Ovsepyan

Belta

t’s likely that the speech of the famous scientific figure wasn’t very much clear to children (there were enough teenagers and children in the hall) but provided several intellectual minutes for elder generation.

The development of the space topic in the Icarus on the Edge of Time multi-media children’s performance, when the romance of flight by the first Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin has long faded away, was both unexpected and intriguing. Meanwhile, the appearance of the theoretical physician and correspondent member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Lev Tomilchik, on the philharmonic stage was an even greater surprise. The scientist briefly, and with a humorous note, told the audience about the scientific idea behind the proposed performance.

The basis for this unusual project was work by the scientists and science populariser, Brain Greene, which has inspired one of the prominent contemporary composers Philip Glass to

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2015 беларусь.belarus

TICKET TO EUROVISION

By the way

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 Belarus has been taking part in Junior Eurovision since its establishment in 2003. Olga Satsyuk was the first Belarusian participant and, so far, our country has celebrated two wins: by Ksenia Sitnik (We Are Together) in 2005, and by Alexey Zhigalkovich (Friends) in 2007. Last year, Nadezhda Misyakova was placed seventh for Falcon.

Ruslan Aslanov: our guy in Sofia Junior Eurovision jury admit this year’s finals of national selective round to be among the most contentious — with seven soloists, one duo and two bands taking part

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he professional musical jury and TV viewers were unanimous in choosing Ruslan Aslanov, 13, to represent our country in Bulgaria’s Sofia in November. Signing Magic, the young artiste will compete in the Eurovision-2015 Junior International Musical Contest.

Ruslan is no novice on stage, having first competed in the selection round in 2013, reaching the top ten.

беларусь.belarus 2015

His second attempt earned him the greatest nu mb er of p oi nts a n d a c l e a r v i c t or y.

Meanwhile, TV viewers will remember Ruslan from the Children’s New Wave competition of 2014, in which he was placed third. The young singer also reached the finals of Ukraine’s Voice children’s contest, having been coached by Tina Karol.

Ruslan admits that he values all victories, saying, “I don’t distinguish some as being more important than others.

I prepare for each as if it were my last chance. Before singing, I always speak in my thoughts to the person, very close to me, who is, unfortunately, not with me at the time. However, I know that this person is helping me. I devote this song to all those who need to harness a belief in magic.”

Ruslan admits that he’d love to duo with Yuri Vashchuk, who represented Belarus in the 2014 adult Eurovision contest (most widely known as Teo). “I’d ask him whether he really can bake a cheesecake as wonderfully as he sings about it,” Ruslan smiles.

People’s Artiste of Russia Edgard Zapashny was among the first to offer advice to Ruslan.

He visited the Belarusian TV and Radio Company studio to support young artistes during their rehearsals and urged them to relax, embrace a feeling of confidence and enjoy themselves, regardless of the outcome, while ‘coming on stage as winners’.

By Yuliana Leonovich

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CULTURAL MOSAIC

 Oh, Slutsk sashes!

The Marka Publishing Centre, run by Belpochta, has recently taken the 6th place for its ‘Slutsk Sashes’ stamp, among 70 countries competing in an Austrian event. In 2007, its ‘Birth Bicentenary Anniversary of Napoleon Orda’ stamp took the 10th position and, in 2011, it enjoyed the 7th place for its ‘850th Anniversary of the Cross of St. Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya’.

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rina Shipilovaya, who heads the Marka Publishing Centre, tells us the secret of success, explaining that the serious achievement offers ‘recognition of the high level of skill of the many workers involved’. “They’re deeply interested in their work: artists, designers, translators and many others. Art stamps are produced at various Belarusian enterprises; in particular, this stamp was printed at Bobruisk’s Integrated Printing House (named after Nepogodin).”

Why Slutsk belts?

 Medieval breath on the pages Originals of two Frantsisk Skorina editions arrive in Polotsk

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he Museum of Belarusian Book Printing, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, recently welcomed guests to the unveiling of two editions made by prominent Polotsk-born Frantsisk Skorina: Ecclesiast and The First Book of Kings, released in Prague in 1518. They are kept permanently at the National Library of Belarus but, due to close cooperation between the library and the

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“The Ministry of Communications and Informatisation of the Republic of Belarus has joined Belpochta in promoting the cultural heritage of Belarus through the issue of themed stamps. Since 1992, more than 1,000 different designs have been released, including almost 350 devoted to national culture, architecture, literature and art. Of course, Slutsk belts are wonderful examples of arts and crafts skills, being the result of a unique type of manual weaving. They have become a national symbol of modern Belarus and one of our calling cards. For this reason, they were suggested for 2014 issue, in the shape of an isosceles triangle, by one of our leading designers, Yelena Medved. She has managed to express so much in this stamp, using the tête-bêche method (popular in stamp issue), whereby the placing of stamps in formation creates a ‘larger’ picture: in this case, a long belt. The international experts in Austria were full of praise.”

Polotsk museum, visitors can currently view the originals created by Skorina — the first printer and enlightener.

In September, the museum gave several more special exhibitions. From Great Novgorod, there were rare 16th19th century editions connected with Belarusians. Polotsk’s museum also hosted the Best Books of Belarus event, featuring Belarusian laureates of the Art of Book-2014 National Contest.

The Museum of Belarusian Book Printing accepted its first visitors on September 8th, 1990, during celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Frantsisk Skorina.

 Unusual present as a sign of friendship Spanish artist Josefa Mesa Garcia donates 40 non-canonical Orthodox icons to the Museum of History of Brest

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he Brest Regional Public and Cultural Centre has recently hosted the opening of an exhibition by the Spanish artist — Josefa Mesa Garcia.

Her 40 paintings were brought to Brest by the painter's son, Alfonso Jurado Mesa, who donated them to the Museum of the History of Brest at a solemn ceremony. Josefa decided to present her paintings to Brest as a sign of friendship with the Belarusian Embassy in France and Spain.

Although Catholic, Josefa Mesa Garcia paints Orthodox saints. Her paintings are made in an ancient noncanonical style. The 90 year old artist paints in oil on canvas, leather and fabric. She became familiar with the Orthodox style of painting in Jerusalem several years ago. Being inspired by the art, she began creating her own works.

Attending the official ceremony were the Major of Brest, Alexander Rogachuk, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France, Spain and Portugal, Pavel Latushko. While in Brest, Alfonso Jurado Mesa, who will be appointed the Honorary Consul of Belarus in Alicante in the near future, met Mr. Rogachuk to discuss the possibility of establishing twin-town relations between Brest and Alicante.

2015 беларусь.belarus

CULTURAL MOSAIC

 Musicians conquer Slovenian public Concert by the State Chamber Orchestra of Belarus in Ljubljana a success

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elarusian musicians have taken part in this prestigious musical forum for the second time. The Slovenian audience appreciates performances by the famous Belarusian band. At the concert in Ljubljana, the Chamber Orchestra played pieces by renowned Belarusian and foreign composers for the pleasure of the Slovenian audience.

Belarus is taking part in the Ljubljana Festival of Classical Music and Art for the fourth time and the organisers of the event will invite

Belarusian bands in the future. The recent participation of Belarusian musicians is possible owing to the support of the Belarusian Embassy in Slovenia and Slovenia’s Riko, which has been operating on the Belarusian market for a long time.

The Ljubljana International Festival of Classical Music and Art is one of the biggest and most prestigious festivals in Central and Eastern Europe.

It was organised for the first time in 1953 and, at present, is one of the most important regional art events. Among its participants were the Vienna Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, Teatro alla Scala, the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Russia. In recent years, the festival programme includes up to 80 various musical events attended by about 80,000 people.

беларусь.belarus 2015

 Carnival of still-life works 15 reproductions of famous still-life and landscape works by Ivan Khrutsky exhibited in Brazilian city of Goiânia, with support of the government of the State of Goiás, for 5th year

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insk Region has been developing co-operation with this state in such spheres as trade, investment, education and culture. The exhibition is allowing the artist’s best-loved works to be introduced to Brazilians. The most well-known Belarusian artist of the 19th century failed to gain recognition during his lifetime, and remained forgotten for a full century. Aged 17, Khrutsky travelled from his native town in Belarus to St. Petersburg, where he learnt to draw at the Academy of Arts, and rapidly gained a reputation for his talent.

After three years, he began to receive his first serious awards for his still-life works and became known as a founder of the Russian still-life genre. Had he continued on this path, he may have gained international recognition. However, the death of his father obliged him to return home, to help his mother raise his five siblings.

He continued to paint for the next 10-15 years, in Vilnius, creating out-

 Ballet fans await spring Red Giselle by St. Petersburg’s Eifman Ballet to be performed in Minsk

standing portraits and landscapes. However, Khrutsky spent his last 20 years in oblivion, without any orders. It was only in the mid-20th century that his work again gained recognition, from domestic experts.

In 2010, the public began discussing his works once more, and the 200th anniversary of Ivan Khrutsky’s birth was included on UNESCO’s List of Memorable Dates. An exhibition of his pictures was organised in France to mark the occasion.

This year, Khrutsky’s creativity has been introduced to Brazil, with an exhibition in the city of Goiânia until the end of July. It has already been visited by representatives of the diplomatic corps, alongside political and cultural figures, businessmen and journalists.

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he Palace of the Republic is to host the ballet, on March 26th, 2016.

Red Giselle is justifiably the ‘calling card’ of the Eifman Ballet Theatre, portraying Russian prima ballerina Olga Spesivtseva’s genius and tragic fate.

The director is known for his dramatic tension, expressiveness and visual inventiveness, as well as rich and symbolic choreography.

With unusually expressive choreography, huge inventiveness and wonderful sets, Red Giselle has delighted ballet fans the world over. It is a fitting addition to Mr. Eifman’s work: a career spanning over 40 performances.

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CREATIVE ASPIRATIONS

I met Yelena Baranovskaya at her personal exhibition, entitled Variations. Her pictures, filled with freshness and air, are harmonious and soft, as are Belarusian landscapes.

She depicts late crimsongolden autumn and early grey-blue, misty spring: the inspiration of poets and artists alike. Her works radiate tranquillity and warmth.

Secrets of harmony and inspiration

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n first seeing Yelena, I notice her delicate perfume.

Her painting technique is also delicate, like lace, interweaving soft, w ar m c ol ou rs : opaline rose and white-silver lily. She uses soft, textural patterns, smooth lines and blurred effects, with thick strokes, like the cream on a cake. Her landscapes and still-life works are alive.

Yelena Baranovskaya is an artist, and teaches at the gymnasium-college of arts (named after I. O. Akhremchik).

She is the daughter of People’s Artist of Belarus Anatoly Baranovsky, who introduced her to painting.

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She tells us, “My father taught me his creative secrets. Meanwhile, my grandmother was a lace-maker, making beautiful lace works shown at exhibitions.

Maybe, I have the genetic code for being an artist.” It seems to be no coincidence that her style reminds me of lace...

Yelena’s works have the same silence, peace and calm as those of her father, although with her own unique and recognisable style. She’s been exhibited at republican and international shows, and her works grace various private collections.

Roses, 2013

Softness, reticence, calm, silence...

Somewhere clouds slowly soar...

And with their gentle beauty unite Shades and splashes of light.

2015 беларусь.belarus

CREATIVE ASPIRATIONS

Losk. View from the former ancient settlement. 2015

“Much depends upon who is there to influence you. In this respect, it’s easier for me, because I’ve been surrounded by artists,” says Yelena. Her father was her first art teacher and still supports Yelena, in life and creativity. Her canvases have their own harmony, gentle and charming: the feminine face of art. Some say that a woman only remains feminine while men are nearby to appreciate her efforts but who knows if this is true.

Yelena’s husband, Vitaly Gerasimov, is a professor of painting at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. His works are more expansive and expressive, making a pleasing foil to his wife’s canvases at joint exhibitions: as ‘wine and milk’.

Aren’t such mutual understandings the foundation of a contented marriage?

Life spots.

As though everyone wears their own glasses And lives without recognising life.

All around is so bright, transient, Distinct.

You search for harmony...

.

Yelena and Vitaly’s son holds an award from the Special Fund of the President of Belarus for talented young

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people. Gleb Gerasimov and his wife have also devoted their lives to painting, and also teach at the same gymnasiumcollege. Gleb’s works are theatrical, inviting an audience, showing a distinct figure in each background crowd, as if to whom the picture is dedicated.

Where are we?

As if a spectator has been caught in a picture: A thoughtful hero.

Full of rapidity, Yet lonely.

A white note.

It’s amazing how each family member has managed to preserve his or her voice. Maybe, this is also a credit to Yelena.

Yelena paints Belarus’ places of tranquillity, in which harmony dwells, and fresh air, with fluffy clouds above.

She pulls early spring from a dream and dresses it in ochre and pale blue tones, as well as shades of yellow and crimson.

“I paint mainly landscapes and still-life works, with nature as my major source of emotional inspiration.

There’s no need for me to travel, as

Last snow. 2013

all that I need is nearby. Artist differs from other people in being able to notice things,” Yelena tells us.

Perusing her pictures for a few minutes, you can feel the reality of her vision, with its elements of freedom and silence, and secret happiness. There is no conflict in her clouds, which harmoniously co-exist with sharp, swinging grass. There is no sadness in her palette; rather, she shows us the oft-ignored beauty of the transitional state of nature.

One of Yelena’s still-life works depicts small opaline-crimson roses in a blue vase, tied with a yellow ribbon, reminding us of the energy of a quiet, light holiday, such as Women’s Day. Entitled Recollection, its shades of green, blue and yellow are bathed in sunlight. It recalls days of celebration, when people give roses and smiles.

These artists have a rare gift: being able to transfer their professional secrets, training others. Anatoly Baranovsky taught for many years at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, educating several generations of artists.

Graduates of Vitaly Gerasimov are notable among their contemporaries, for their unique manner and strong

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CREATIVE ASPIRATIONS

Awakening. 2015

Works of Yelena Baranovskaya have the same silence, peace and calmness as those of her father — Anatoly Baranovsky.

It’s the very camertone of harmony, which helped the artist to develop her own style unique, cognitive character. Pupils of Gleb Gerasimov and Veronika Gerasimova also successfully participate in republican and international art competitions and exhibitions.

Yelena seems to have a special pedagogical talent. As her colleagues say, when she came to teach at the gymnasium-college, her group surprised everyone with the number and quality of their works. Even a boy who had arrived from a village and never studied art before organised several personal exhibitions by the end of his time.

The secret is simple. Yelena inspired her pupils with her own endeavour and reaching for perfection. Her own

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pupils’ works are exhibited beside her own, giving her the highest pride.

On the hot summer day I waited for Yelena Baranovskaya, on the ground floor of the gymnasium-college, looking out of the window, I observed her outdoor lesson with first-year students.

Her fluid movements and kind smile show her to be restrained and gentle.

She seems inspired by the process of creation, helping her students with suggestions, approaching first one and then the next, in a certain trajectory, as a sunbeam wanders over the surfaces of crystal and of sculptures, illuminating them with its radiant touch.

Nocturne. 2013

By Olga Ropot

2015 беларусь.belarus