Belarus (magazine #12 2013)

Magazine for you

No.12(963), 2013

BELARUS Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

National park “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” remains unique place on the planet

Pushcha will not endure vanity page

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INTERNATIONAL

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Contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 12 (963), 2013 Published since 1930 State Registration Certificate of mass medium No.8 dated March 2nd, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus

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

Baku greets us warmly

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

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High style of diplomacy Developing inter-

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Reform of court system

action with China is a priority of Belarusian foreign policy

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Mr. Andrey Molchan: ‘African Renaissance creates unique possibilities’

It’s a matter of technique

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es in Grodno and Pinsk acquire new life

Beautiful patterns restored by the tradition Young craftsmen create thread linking past and future

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Past acquires its future Ancient church-

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Ability to keep face An artistic show not

always unites talents but the 2nd Triennial of Modern Belarusian Decorative-Applied Arts — BELARTDECO-2013 (recently hosted by the Belarusian Union of Artists’ Republican Art Gallery) — gives all grounds to speak of a lofty artistic flight of authors’ presentations

Invitation to the ice... Belarusian sports amateurs are no longer surprised at new facilities being built, since arenas and stadiums have been springing up annually for some time. However, the cutting of the ribbon at Chizhovka-Arena has been awaited with impatience, being one of the venues for the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship

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Present-day production at Orsha Linen Mill Hitoshi Tanaka: ‘I love the Belarusian language’ Belarusian State University student

from Japan tells of learning Belarusian and why he dreams of working in Belarus

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Health in our fingertips

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Depository open to everyone Unique edi-

tions from the Turgenev Library in Paris, the Supraśl Lavra of Poland, and the Nesvizh collection of the Radziwill family being stored in the Presidential Library

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish.

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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.

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

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© “Беларусь. Belarus”, 2013

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editor’s note

Crossing

the Rubicon

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n business, prompt reaction to market forces is essential, being the route to success. When goals are clear, there’s no need to waste precious time on contemplation. Time marches on, with one year following on as another ends; since time never stands still we must always be ready to adjust our plans to meet new challenges.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko recently met the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for official negotiations in Baku, determining promising new areas of co-operation and confirming our mutual aspiration towards ever-stronger friendly relations.

“We enjoy a trusting relationship with the President of Azerbaijan, and I’m sure we’ll see more such relationships between our countries. We’ve created a foundation for our relationships, but are faced with the problem of how best to inspire dynamics, so that we move forward. We’re ready, and I see that our colleagues in Azerbaijan are ready too,” underlines the President of Belarus. Baku Greets Us Warmly explores this topic in depth.

Developing interaction with China is a priority for Belarusian foreign policy. On meeting the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus, H.E. Mr. Gong Jianwei, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that Belarus is proud of its relations with China. The meeting was dedicated to Mr. Jianwei’s diplomatic mission to Belarus coming to an end: a special honour extended only to those whom the President believes have really worked to nurture mutual relations with Belarus, showing themselves as a true friend of the state.

The President praised the role of Mr. Jianwei in strengthening the friendship between our two nations while the Ambassador

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thanked the Belarusian President for his positive assessment of his work. The diplomat added that China intends to fulfil all the agreements recently signed by Mr. Lukashenko and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. Read High Style of Diplomacy to learn more about the meeting between the Belarusian President and the Chinese Ambassador.

Not so long ago, the abolition of rural councils was debated and rejected, with the view that local councils make decisions on many daily questions of relevance, providing a reliable link between central power and society. Following local elections in 2015, the presidential election campaign is to begin. Elections to local Councils of Deputies are planned for March 23rd, 2014.

The forthcoming elections are to follow the Government’s newly approved electoral legislation, with parliamentarians approving amendments this autumn. The document has been signed by the Head of State, aiming to make election campaigning more open, competitive and emulative. Election Campaign Is on the Way has the full story.

The Ambassador of Belarus to the South-African Republic, Andrey Molchan, is convinced that Belarus boasts a whole range of competitive advantages, which can and should be used to conquer the South African market and others on the African continent. This is apparent in Mr. Andrey Molchan: ‘African Renaissance Creates Unique Possibilities’ .

Flax has dressed, kept warm, treated and fed our ancestors for centuries. Its dark blue flowers are interwoven on the Belarusian coat of arms for good reason! Some years ago, raw flax exports and rolls of cloth provided some income, but the industry as a whole suffered losses, leading the state to intervene to revive the former glory of northern silk. Flax linens are used in making uniforms for firemen, builders, power engineering specialists and doctors, as well as dressing women of fashion and housewives. Sow Flax — Reap Gold and Time for Great Changes are both devoted to the modernization of the branch, which has the potential to bring major economic dividends to the state.

It’s a Matter of Technique shows that businesses need to occupy a strong position domestically before venturing into external markets: to accumulate financial resources, master production technology and create infrastructure. The more technically complex is production, the more expenditure is needed. Regarding machinery and equipment, much time and huge initial capital is required, as the evolution of Gomselmash Production Association shows. Over the past 10-12 years, it has conquered the world with its agro-machinery.

Well thought-out plans and determination are vital in all spheres where success is sought. We can cross the Rubicon in taking certain decisions, just as Belarusian State University student Hitoshi Tanaka has done in coming to Minsk from Japan. Read Hitoshi Tanaka: ‘I Love the Belarusian Language’ to discover what motivates his learning and why he yearns to live and work in Belarus.

By ViKtor Kharkov

PANORAMA  Pilotless vessel afloat About a year ago, Belarus made a powerful technological breakthrough, rivalling the progress of superpowers in introducing its first pilotless aircraft: Sterkh-BM. Success is now being consolidated, with a pre-production multi-purpose marine model being presented at Tsnyanskoye Reservoir, near Minsk. It is the first such within the CIS.

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Whole world loves to visit Father Frost Tourists from Africa take interest in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

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t’s no secret that Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian tourists comprise the majority visiting the Belovezhskaya Pushcha over New Year, although others arrive from Poland, Germany, France and, even, Canada. At other times of year, visitors hail from all over the world: even from Africa and Arab countries.

 Encouraging more trips Belarusians able to travel to Turkey without visas from next spring The Council of the Republic has approved the ratification of an agreement between the Government of Belarus and the Government of Turkey on readmission. The document

The Residence of the Belarusian Father Frost is the most popular site within the B elovezhskaya Pushcha, having attracted over a million tourists, from 120 countries, throughout the past decade. We can say that it’s one of Belarus’ major tourist brands.

The National Park’s eco-tourism, with green cycle and walking routes, as well as bus routes, is also proving popular, explains Mikhail Chichko, the Pushcha’s chief forest officer. He tells us, “The southern part of the Pushcha — in the Brest Region — is the most developed for tourists but we’re working now in the Grodno Region, to create facilities for visitors. ” will cover labour migrants and those transiting through Belarus.

Citizens of Belarus will be able to stay in Turkey for up to 30 days from their date of entry without a visa and may enter Turkish territory without a visa repeatedly during one year, up to a total period not exceeding 90 days. A readmission centre is to be set-up, and the visa-free regime with Turkey may begin by next spring.

he project is the result of international co-operation by companies from Belarus, Russia and China, with the Shanghai Organisation of Co-operation giving particular support. Work was divided equally, with a Russian company making and designing the craft, using innovative polymeric materials supplied by China.

Belarusian Kvand Intelligent Systems LLC provided the software and a system of automatic control for the pilotless vessel.

The new craft uses modern technologies of composite shipbuilding, providing high operational characteristics, suiting its operation in even the most harsh of conditions. The developers assert that mass production is possible for the highspeed pilotless cutter, which is designed for use in patrolling harbours and similar sites, providing visual and hydro-acoustic data, as well as ecological monitoring. It can be used in rescue operations and in security work, such as clearing mines and detecting submarines. The vessel is barely 6m in length and 2m wide and is designed to have extra equipment attached. While being an independent system, it has automatic, semi-automatic and manual control settings and can operate even 360km from the coast, over a period of 120 hours, using a satellite data link. Its maximum speed is 55 knots.

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VISIT

Baku greets us warmly

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elarusian-Azerbaijani diplomatic relations were established 20 years ago but gained true impetus in 2006, when our embassies opened. These have inspired sincere and trusting dialogue at all levels, in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding. The same tone exists between our Heads of State, who are connected not only by mutual political interests, but by warm relations.

Minsk and Baku regularly exchange visits at various levels: from the highest governmental to those by business delegations. Last year alone, the Belarusian Embassy in Azerbaijan organised well over a hundred visits. Of these, 120 were devoted to the development of trade and economic co-operation, where interaction is ever growing. Since the opening of embassies in Minsk and Baku, trade between our countries has increased sixfold, reaching almost $250 million.

More than 250 companies are involved in mutual trade, supplying around 400 varieties of goods. About 40 Azerbaijani companies act as dealerships for Belarusian goods — including tractors, trucks, refrigerators, washing machines, road construction equipment, elevators, machine tools, motors, food, medicine, tires, wood products and ceramic tiles.

The list is extensive. Moreover, our liaisons extend beyond trade, as Belarusian jour-

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President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev officially negotiate in Baku, determining promising new areas of co-operation and confirming mutual aspiration towards further strengthening of traditionally friendly relations between our countries

nalists saw personally during their tours of several Azerbaijani enterprises.

On arrival in Baku, as well as paying tribute to the national shrines of Azerbaijan, Alexander Lukashenko visited the new Belarusian Embassy building, meeting President Ilham Aliyev in order to open it officially together. One of the most beautiful buildings in the city has opened in one of the most promising areas of the Azerbaijani capital.

Mr. Lukashenko then joined Mr. Aliyev at the residence of the President of Azerbaijan for talks: first face-toface, and then in an extended format.

One of the main topics was further development of industrial co-operation and joint production for sale to third countries, as well as enhanced investment co-operation. Mr. Lukashenko

noted good momentum in trade and economic co-operation between Belarus and Azerbaijan, as evidenced by increased turnover. He emphasised, “We have plenty of opportunities, and can increase volumes by creating joint ventures, rather than purely assembly plants. Of course, we can produce much in Azerbaijan but we don’t need to rely on the local market buying all our goods; it’s important for us to trade together with third countries, entering international markets and selling products from our joint ventures, to gain full benefit.”

President Lukashenko proposed establishing a working group on industrial co-operation within the existing intergovernmental commission, explaining, “This visit is characterised by our finding new areas of co-operation. We’ve received

We’ve received support from the President of Azerbaijan for wider investment in projects, which may arouse interest from the Azerbaijani government and from businesses in Belarus

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VISIT

support from the President of Azerbaijan for wider investment in projects, which may arouse interest from the Azerbaijani government and from businesses in Belarus. We are ready, waiting with offers for you.” Promising spheres for Azerbaijani investments include the petrochemical industry, agriculture, the chemical industry and pharmaceuticals, according to Mr. Lukashenko.

The Belarusian President stressed that co-operation across various spheres would be impossible without paying attention to education. About 150 Azerbaijani students are currently

studying in B elar us, noted Mr. Lukashenko, saying, “These professionals pour into the economy of Azerbaijan annually, bringing significant results.

Without this, there can be no true cooperation.” He added that our countries are successfully co-operating in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.

President Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan highly values its relationship with Belarus and relies on its further development. He emphasised, “Over the past few years, Belarus and Azerbaijan have strengthened their relationship, reaching a very high level

in trade, industrial production, energy and the humanitarian sphere. These years of active interaction have brought us closer, so that Belarus and Azerbaijan are perceived as close and friendly in the region and worldwide. Our relations are based on sincerity, mutual respect and support, allowing us to build a solid foundation for our relations.”

Mr. Aliyev believes that enterprises implementing investment projects and sharing experience are expanding their liaisons, embracing serious content in many areas. However, trade negotiators have agreed to step up efforts to promote co-operation in existing areas and those new and promising. “Among the new themes in our bilateral relations are investment opportunities, and the participation of Azerbaijani companies in privatization within Belarus, as well as joint export to the markets of third countries for our shared ventures. We’ll strive to ensure that these areas are part of our extensive bilateral agenda,” said Mr. Aliyev.

Following the talks, the presidents of Belarus and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration in which they reaffirmed their mutual desire to further deepen and strengthen traditionally friendly relations between our two countries, based on trust and mutual support.

They expressed satisfaction with existing co-operation in bilateral and multilateral formats, noting the high level of co-operation achieved within the past two decades, since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. The heads of state also expressed their readiness to continue developing political dialogue at various levels, deepening bilateral relations in the spheres of economics, trade, military, technology, tourism, science, education and culture, health and environment.

The presidents noted our shared position on various international issues, stressing the importance of deepening co-operation in the international arena, including within the UN, the OSCE, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Eastern Partnership.

By Vasily Kharitonov

2013 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  Normal flight Belarusian and Russian scientists develop protection for spacecraft and ballistic missiles

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 High level indicators Belarus leads among CIS countries for number of transplantations per million citizens

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elarus’s Centre of Transplantology has enabled us to raise the number of such surgeries by more than 35-fold compared to 2005: from 8 to 274. Vasily Zharko, the Minister of Health, comments, “The centre is one of the largest

in Eastern Europe, while Belarus leads among CIS countries for its number of transplantations per million residents.”

International organisations highly rate Belarus’ health service achievements, as Mr. Zharko emphasises, saying, “Our country is ranked 65th among 187 states, leading among CIS countries (Russia is ranked 66th while Kazakhstan is 68th).

It is among those countries with a high level of human development. In terms of infant and maternal deaths, Belarus is ranked 4th best globally, after Finland, Sweden and Norway.”

 Train for ‘hauliers’ Thanks to the close cooperation of Belarusian and Lithuanian railways, the piggyback train Nemunas has made a test run. Called Nieman in Belarusian, the train is able to haul not just containers, but lorries with trailers, which can drive onto special platforms.

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uch technology is still a novelty in the CIS, although is popular in Western Europe, where the idea is called a ‘running highway’: journeys can be made partly by train and partly by vehicle, uninterrupted.

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Naturally, this saves time — and money!

It should greatly help ‘hauliers’ crossing the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, saving them from tiresome queues.

elarusian and Russian scientists have come up with a unique electromagnetic screen to protect aircraft, missiles and spacecraft. The development is part of the Union State Programme for Belarus and Russia, in association with the Russian Space Research Institute and the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. The electromagnetic screen is designed to protect microchips used by air and spacecraft from various types of radiation.

Valery Fedosyuk, Director of the Physics Institute at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, tells us, “Together with our colleagues from the Russian institutes, we’ve invented electromagnetic screens weighing more than a hundred times less than previous solutions, while boasting much greater effectiveness. Moreover, such screens are not susceptible to electromagnetic interference.”

The Nieman train will cover the distance from Kolyadichi, near Minsk, to Kaunas in approximately 11 hours and 50 minutes — taking into account customs registration and border control. Igor Zgursky, who heads cargo work and foreign-economic activity for Belarusian Railways, explains, “Now planning for the new route is underway, we’re identifying possible bottlenecks and exact geography, with a view to making alterations. The destiny of the new train, to a large extent, will be defined by the hauling companies’ interest. However, preliminary analysis shows that Nemunas will be in demand.”

PANORAMA  Brest residents reinvent the wheel Two young Brest residents successful on popular BBC show Dragon’s Den, presenting bicycle wheels as screens for images

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 ‘Crown’ and ‘chamomile’ listed Belarusian sites among those listed as ‘best buildings designed by Soviet architects’

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n authoritative Russian portal has compiled the list, featuring the top 28 fantastic buildings engineered

by Soviet architects in the 1960-1980s.

Hotels, theatres and museums occupy most of those recognised but Grodno’s Regional Drama Theatre, in Belarus, is noted. Its fantastic ‘alien space ship’ design is also sometimes compared to

a royal crown. It is sited near the River Neman, built from 1977-1984, under the Giproteatr Moscow Institute (architect G. Mochulsky).

Belarus’ Belexpo Exhibition Centre, on Pobediteley Avenue, is also commended in the list, being rated beside the Soviet Embassy to Cuba and the Ministry of Transport building in Georgia. Minsk residents know it as the ‘chamomile’ and it was one of the last industrial sites to be built in Minsk before the breakup of the Soviet Union. The pavilion opened in 1988 and has been recently reconstructed.

 Energy of the sun saving money National Academy of Sciences working on supplying agro-towns with energy from renewable sources

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elarusian experts are developing the supply of agro-towns with energy from biogas technologies, as well as solar and wind installations. “In order to supply agro-towns with energy and heating, it’s usually necessary to lay costly gas pipelines.

However, biomass, straw and timber waste can be used as fuel; as can solar and wind energy, saving money,” emphasises Vladimir Dashkov, the

Director of the Power Engineering Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Experts are creating a computer program to select the best system for each town, for testing in one of our agro-towns by 2015. Naturally, Belarusian scientists are drawing on use of European experience.

Biogas technologies have been in use in Belarus for some time countrywide.

he project has received an award from the UK’s Cambridge University, and is among the top-100 best innovations in Great Britain. Artem Stavenko and Kirill Chikeyuk say that the idea was created not just to design new technology but to ‘represent Belarus’. Four light-emitting diodes placed on the spokes of a wheel are operated by a computer microprocessor; as the wheel rotates, our brain perceives a complete picture. All formats of video and images are supported and it’s possible to use the system in most weather conditions — down to minus 10 degrees Celsius.

British investors have offered a significant sum to develop the project, but this would involve the duo losing their ownership over decision-making.

Accordingly, they are currently relying on their own resources. For the coming year, they have the opportunity to collaborate with some well-known European companies to complete the project, which has already involved a great many programmers and engineers. “We previously had the right to use American technologies while the past year of hard work has created a fully-fledged Belarusian version,” emphasises Artem.

The young men have already submitted a patent request and are hoping that their idea will find use in the development of bicycle infrastructure.

They also dream that the project may be useful in preparation for the World Ice Hockey Championship.

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High style of diplomacy Developing interaction with China is a priority of Belarusian foreign policy

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n meeting the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus, H . E . Mr. G ong Jianwei, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko emphasised that Belarus is proud of its relations with China: a great power. The meeting was dedicated to Mr. Jianwei’s two-year diplomatic mission to Belarus coming to an end: a special honour extended only to those whom the President believes have really worked to nurture mutual relations with Belarus, showing themselves as a true friend of the state. Mr. Jianwei helped arrange the Belarusian President’s visit to the People’s Republic

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of China this year, with a joint declaration between Minsk and Beijing being signed to set up major strategic partnerships.

The President stressed, “We’re proud of having such good relations with this great state. These relations began long ago when China was getting back on its feet. Back then, during the development of China, we saw beginnings worthy of attention and we’ve since learned much from the People’s Republic of China.”

The President reminded that, as a Member of Parliament, he recommended examining Chinese experience. He recalled, “We’ve studied China’s experience attentively and I believe we’ve chosen the right policy. We already enjoy a long history of relations with this nation.” He underlined that the

Ambassador of China ‘has been a reliable friend and has tried to cement relations between our two countries — unlike some other ambassadors, who do totally the opposite!’ Mr. Lukashenko hopes that the experience and knowledge gained by Mr. Jianwei in Belarus will allow him to continue promoting stronger BelarusChina relations.

According to the President, every Belarusian is aware of positive BelarusChina co-operation. He stresses, “China is not the future of the planet but its present.” He believes that making decisions on global and regional matters would be impossible without taking into account China’s view. He is delighted at the progress made in Belarus’ interaction with China — especially over the last two years — and recognises Mr. Jianwei’s role in promoting our friendship.

Mr. Jianwei thanked the Belarusian President for his positive assessment of his work, noting, “I accept this not only as personal praise but as praise of China’s leadership and Government.” He added that China intends to fulfil all the agreements with Belarus signed during the recent meeting between President Lukashenko and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

By Vladimir Khromov

CITIZENSHIP

Election campaign is on the way

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Elections to local Councils of Deputies planned for March 23rd, as approved

by President Alexander Lukashenko, meeting Chair of Central Commission of Republic of Belarus for Elections and National Referenda, Lidia Yermoshina

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ot so long ago, the abolition of village councils was debated and rejected, with the view that such councils make decisions on many daily questions of relevance, providing a reliable link between central power and society.

Following local elections in 2015, the presidential election campaign is to begin. In 2016, people will elect Deputies to the House of Representatives.

Naturally, the political and social stability of society relies on democratic processes and the state’s strategy of development will be guided by the results. The coming elections are to follow the Government’s newly approved electoral legislation, signed off by the Head of State, which aims to make campaigning more open, competitive and emulative.

The President stresses, “The loss of three years of development would be catastrophic, so we must take elections seriously, preparing with care. It’s desirable that these elections demonstrate true democracy, allowing people to define who will govern them and the state, how the country will develop and in what direction. This is my unshakeable opinion.” He adds that the present head of the Central Election Commission will continue to organise and oversee political campaigns.

Regarding the financing of elections, the President warns that no ‘superfluous money’ exists, but that those invited to work during this period should be adequately paid. “People engaged in election work should be paid appropriately but we shouldn’t keep people away

from their primary jobs for too long, rather using Government agencies for the bulk of the work; they should use state money allocated for their operation. Of course, those involved in election work should be paid adequately. If we want quality, we must be ready to pay accordingly,” noted the Head of State.

The date of local Councils of Deputies elections was discussed at a meeting between the President and the Chair of the Central Election Commission.

According to Lidia Yermoshina, the term of their powers expires on April 25th and, according to the Constitution, the next elections must take place no later than 30 days before the expiration of this term.

Mr. Lukashenko has approved elections being held on March 23rd 2014.

By Viktor Mikhalev

2013 беларусь.belarus

NEW FEATURES

Reform of court system The judicial system of Belarus is changing, with general and economic courts uniting under a uniform system of general jurisdiction courts from 1st January 2014. The Supreme Court is to head the new system of economic courts from the regions and Minsk, which will continue to function under their current specialisations.

The President signed the 2nd Edict and the Decree formalising the reform at the end of November.

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he latest reform of t h e l aw - e n forc e ment sphere involves advocacy bodies and the powers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor’s Office.

Last year, the Investigative Committee launched, with success; it discussed the need for an improved court system, including the operation of judicial bodies, at its recent November session.

The President of Belarus emphasised that reform has a clear goal; it is not change for its own sake or for the purpose of copying the ideas of neighbouring countries.

Naturally, the well-being of society and individuals relies largely on the state of affairs in this sensitive sphere.

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Many significant questions are solved in court, deciding the destinies of people, the financial health of enterprises and mediating in cases of dispute. Though noticeable improvements have appeared in the work of courts in recent years, a number of problems remain. Judges’ workloads have decreased and new methods are improving the quality, efficiency and availability of justice but we lack uniformity of application by general and current economic courts. Moreover, it can be difficult to identify the jurisdiction of specific disputes. Multiplicity of processes and differences in the application of justice complicate matters: general courts apply a classical form of law while economic courts use arbitration. The majority of Post-Soviet countries have already included economic courts in the general judicial system.

The improvement of the judicial system in B elarus was discussed several years ago but found form in 2013, with the creation of an interdepartmental working group considering how best to unify general and economic courts. The issue is being analysed from the point of view of judges at all levels, led by the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Valery Mitskevich.

He n o t e s t h at t r a n s f or m at i o n s will not require additional staff or budgetary expenditure. He tells us, “We can embody the best and most progressive achievements of general and economic courts, accelerating the use of information technologies into our activity and taking a unified judicial system to a totally new, higher level of functioning.”

NEW FEATURES Another innovation involves bodies of enforcement being subordinate to government executive bodies. From 1st January 2014, enforcement will be co-ordinated by the Ministry of Justice, served by central administrative boards of justice of regional executive committees.

Local authorities will oversee regional governing bodies of enforcement and regional departments of enforcement.

Court — one for all

The Chairman of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sukalo, notes that an overwhelming majority of countries, including post-Soviet states and those of the Customs Union, are developing specialised courts within a uniform judicial system — with one superior court co-ordinating and directing judicial policy and judiciary practice.

He said, “Such is the construction of judicial systems in most European states: a unified system of courts of general jurisdiction and economic courts, with one supreme court at the head, one plenum and one presidium.

This, certainly, would form a uniform, clear, distinct judiciary, with uniform, classical forms of justice and uniform status for all judicial authorities.”

He believes that change would be supported by the whole judiciary.

Calculations

Organisational, material and personnel approaches are also under review. Until recently, economic courts solved these issues independently, while general courts were supported by the Ministry of Justice at regional and district level. Now, the judicial administration will be unified and all corresponding powers concerning courts of general jurisdiction transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Supreme Court. The latter will be completely responsible for all questions concerning the functioning of the system, from delivery of justice to the material and technical support of courts. Chairs of regional courts will have additional duties connected with such matters as repair of premises and disposition of funds, solving financial and personnel questions more effectively.

From 1st July 2014, another stage of reform will begin, with the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court and military courts abolished. Their powers will pass to regional, district and city courts of general jurisdiction, bringing a uniform approach for civilians and the military. This will exclude the possibility of departmental influence, ensuring independence and impartiality of judges.

The issue of military courts arose during discussion of judicial reform, with the President clear in his opinion, saying, “I think it best to act in the same way with military courts as we do with economic courts. Why do we have special structures for those wearing shoulder markings? A major should not try a major. All should be in one set of hands: one court for all citizens.”

Our past left a legacy of specialised military courts, which have already been abolished in most former Soviet states.

Common practise has also been to reduce armies and the number of military crimes.

Belarus is now following suit, with its 30 military judges receiving civil status and working in regional and district courts.

The President emphasises the rationality of the move, explaining, “Our country is compact, so having several structures in the same direction is not rational. We can govern this system from one centre, and will soon see cohesion, acting in one direction. There will be no disagreements in decision-making.”

According to Mr. Sukalo, reform of the judicial system will be smooth and won’t affect the process of justice.

By Lilia Khlystun

2013 беларусь.belarus

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MUTUAL INTEREST

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n late November, a large delegation from the SAR visited Minsk — led by Elizabeth Thabethe, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of South Africa.

Promising areas of interaction came under discussion — primarily, in the fields of agriculture, industry and machine building — as did opportunities linked to our bilateral ties and regional associations — such as the Single Economic Space of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan and the South African Customs Union. Talks ended with the signing of a protocol envisaging measures to achieve set goals.

Ms. Thabethe notes that Belarus is among the SAR’s strategic tradeeconomic partners on the European continent. Interestingly, the SAR governmental delegation was accompanied by South African businessmen, who took part in a forum organised by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, jointly with Belarusian businesses. As a result of talks, a memorandum on co-operation was signed jointly by the SAR Council of Black Entrepreneurs and by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This important visit indicates that Belarus’ collaboration with a leading African state is intensifying. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to the South African Republic (SAR), H.E. Mr. Andrey Molchan, tells Belarus magazine how Belarusian interests are being promoted in Africa.

You represent Belarus not only in the SAR but in some other African states.

Before focusing on aspects of co-operation, we’d love you to describe this region from a geopolitical view. The UN’s recent Human Development Report — The Rise of the South — indicates that a new global trend is being observed: some African states are enjoying 10 percent economic growth, which is truly incredible. What potential does this offer Belarus?

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You’re right in noting that, in recent times, Africa — especially south of the Sahara (called ‘black Africa’ sometimes) — is demonstrating sustainable social-economic growth. The trend is confirmed by the UN in the report you’ve mentioned, and by several major global centres. In line with prognoses by the McKinsey Global Institute, $1.4tr of products will have been sold

in Africa. Demographically, by 2150, the continent may boast the greatest potential workforce: 1.2bn. A quarter of the world’s workers may come from Africa. Meanwhile, a high pace of urbanisation is leading to the spread of an educated middle class, while high-tech and Internet development is contributing to the continent’s further progress.

Mr. Andrey Molchan:

“African Renaissance creates unique possibilities” in Africa by 2020, if present trends continue. Moreover, by 2030, agricultural revenue could reach $600bn and mineral resources could generate $540bn by 2020.

Business Monitor International has calculated that, in the coming decade, Mozambique (commonly viewed as a less developed state) could top the globe by 2022 in its cumulative growth in terms of real GDP and GDP per capita (158.8 percent or $1,840). Other top states in this field could include African Tanzania, Uganda, Cote d’Ivore, Ruanda and Nigeria.

Mineral wealth is Africa’s major potential, in addition to huge agricultural opportunities: 60 percent of the globe’s unused crop-lands are situated

In recent years, there have been fewer conflicts across the continent, with state structures and institutions strengthening. Relatively sustainable political systems are evident in most African states, with the ruling elite focusing on progressive national development.

Africa is gaining a more positive image, as a promising and attractive player on the international arena. As SAR President Jacob Zuma recently said: ‘at present, we can confidently speak of a real African revival in the original sense of this word’: an African Renaissance.

Integration tendencies are spreading and strengthening across the continent and the South African Development Community (SADC) truly stands out, uniting 15 countries overseen by our

MUTUAL INTEREST Embassy. The SADC is dynamically developing and, with its human, territorial and mineral resources, could become a serious economic block in the coming 10-15 years, able to produce worthy global competition.

With this in mind, I can answer your question in the following way: Africa is creating grounds for cooperation with Belarus and the rest

of the world. However, due to a great number of problems, which I suppose we’ll discuss later, it’s too late to assume that the South will dominate the North economically. We’ve already seen attempts by most African states to weaken such dominance, while building domestic policies and economies: not in the interests of western governments and transnational corporations but for their own citizens.

I also need to add that I’m an official representative of Belarus and find it extremely interesting to be here now — observing the above mentioned processes, while defining and recommending to our Government and c omp an i e s t he mo st prom is i ng avenues for our country’s interests. I

contribute in all possible ways to the establishment of mutually beneficial economic and political ties between our countries.

What are the major principles of our foreign economic strategy in promoting Belarusian interests in the SAR? What place does it occupy in the ‘far arc’ of Belarus’ partnerships and allies? What makes this region interesting regarding the extension of our trade-economic liaisons?

The SAR is definitely a locomotive for African economic development, being the natural leader of the whole continent. The SAR boasts the most developed economy (its GDP exceeds $550bn) and transport-logistics infrastructure, but also the most sustainable political and social systems and the strongest African army. These circumstances enable the SAR to play an active and influential role in settling a wide range of pan-African problems.

In the past, the SAR pursued its continental policy alongside other strong states in Northern Africa — primarily Libya. However, as a result of recent events, North Africa is now ruined — playing no role in pan-African affairs.

Nigeria and Angola are attempting to rival the SAR but the latter remains the most powerful and developed state in Africa (with all factors taken into consideration).

In building plans for joining Africa, Belarus must establish close partnerships in all spheres with its leader: the SAR. On gaining a foothold in the SAR and SADC states, our country will then gain access to a large market for its goods, penetrating African markets over the course of time.

I must admit that, until recently, the SAR and the South of Africa in general, despite being declared a priority, failed to be treated as such, due to various circumstances and for various reasons, objective and subjective. When I arrived in Pretoria in December 2011, we had to establish multi-sided relations from scratch, since no clear political dialogue or stable trade-economic ties were

evident. At that time, the SAR occupied 86th place among Belarus’ trading partners and was 79th among those countries from which we imported.

Over the first nine months of this year, Pretoria climbed to 62nd place regarding turnover and 49th position for Belarusian exports.

In 2011, our country exported $14.7m of goods to the SAR; from January-September 2013, this figure reached $22.5m. Importantly, our exports comprise high-tech machinery, trucks, tools and equipment (around 50 products in total), in addition to our ‘heavy artillery’: potash fertilisers and oil products. Taking into consideration our two states’ potential, this is quite a low level: the beginning of a ‘great path’.

Over the past two years, we’ve managed to establish regular political dialogue with the SAR authorities, enhancing possibilities for our interaction with local businessmen — as confirmed by their business trips to our country. Importantly, our enterprises are taking a closer look at the SAR and the South of Africa generally.

Increasing interest in mutual cooperation was also demonstrated at the 3rd session of the Joint BelarusianSouth African Committee on TradeEconomic Collaboration, which took place in Minsk on November 21st22nd. The SAR’s official delegation was led by Elizabeth Thabethe, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of South Africa. The session focused on promising avenues of interaction — primarily, in the fields of agriculture, industry and machine building (as part of bilateral ties and regional associations — such as the Single Economic Space of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan and the South African Customs Union). Talks ended with the signing of a protocol of measures towards achieving set goals.

According to Ms. Thabethe, Belarus is among the SAR’s most significant tradeeconomic partners in Europe.

Interestingly, the S AR gove r n me nt a l Page

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delegation was accompanied by South African businessmen, who took part in a forum organised by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry jointly with Belarusian businesses. As a result of their talks, a memorandum on co-operation was signed between the SAR Council of Black Entrepreneurs and the B elarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Representatives of over 40 companies from Belarus and the SAR took part in the business forum, discussing prospects for business collaboration and outlining steps to promote domestic produce to both markets, via commercial agreements. Our South African guests toured Minsk Tractor Works and visited Belarusian agro-towns, holding bilateral talks with Belarusian enterprises on the possible establishment of joint facilities in the SAR (to produce our machinery).

In order for our agreements to yield real results, we need to build a wise and flexible strategy in joining the South African market, to ensure a firm foothold. The task is far from simple but, once achieved, Africa — and its South, in particular — could significantly supplement Belarus’ traditional markets.

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Regarding the region’s attractiveness, we note the following: • relative proximity to Belarus (in comparison to Australia, New Zealand and Latin America); • a low level of technological development in most states, enabling us to offer a wide range of Belarus-made industrial produce; • a positive attitude towards former Soviet states against the historical ‘insult’ of the West; and • our ability to use our expertise to help solve problems of socialeconomic development.

Belarus is interested not only in African sales markets but possibilities for buying resources and products: exotic fruit and vegetables, meat and

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seafood products and rare mineral resources. Meanwhile, we can accumulate experience regarding mastery of certain mineral deposits needed by our Belarusian industry.

Taking into account all these factors, our Head of State and Prime Minister have set clear tasks for us — diplomats — and exporters regarding this region.

The key principle followed by Belarus in its relations with African states (and the SAR in particular) is its readiness to establish mutually beneficial equalright partnerships and joint action, for the benefit of both sides. We are partners rather than commercial rivals aiming to conquer markets. Such an approach is appreciated by our African friends, who express true interest in strengthening relations with modest Belarus, despite the distance between us.

Mr. Ambassador, what potential have Angola, Mozambique and other states where you have accreditation?

Belarus is optimistic about the future of our multi-sided relations with African states, as their strengthening meets our national interests and those of our foreign partners. We see significant potential and prospects for co-operation with Angola, Zimbabwe,

type of economy inherited from their European colonising nations.

Among the key tasks in this field are industrial development, agricultural modernisation and mechanisation, construction of social-economic infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports and accommodation), and enhanced workforce training — especially of engineers and technical and medical specialists. Of course, these are branches in which Belarus excels in skill and experience, being ready to share its expertise to mutual benefit. We are ready to help others improve their agromechanisation, supplying machinery from MAZ, alongside BelAZ trucks and MTZ tractors. Belarus has a wealth of equipment, tools and scientific devices which could be exported to African countries not currently producing such technologies.

Regarding prospects for mutual beneficially collaboration, spheres under focus include: agriculture (supply of Belarusian machinery and equipment, opening of food processing facilities and construction of agro-towns); industrial co-operation (assembly facilities for Belarusian machinery); infrastructure projects (supplying road-construc-

Belarus boasts a range of competitive advantages relating to the South African market, such as offering ‘value for money’ goods in demand in Africa

Mozambique and Namibia (where we have concurrent accreditation).

Almost all states in the South of Africa face similar problems: food security, employment, and enhanced medical and educational services. They badly need to diversify their national economies, setting aside the colonial

tion vehicles and trucks, and building of bridges and roads); and education (training of students from this region and exchange of lecturers). In addition, tourism, culture and promotion of inter-municipal and inter-regional ties can help create an atmosphere of trust, openness and mutual understanding.

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This Belarusian equipment can be completely competitive at the African market

In this respect, our co-operation with Mozambique is exemplary. In October 2012, joint venture BelAfrica Ltd launched, with the participation of Promagroleasing JSC and Mozambique partners. The facility aims to promote Belarusian machine building equipment and tools to Mozambique and the South of Africa (through leasing or rent) and is already yielding fruit: on May 20th, 2013, a permanent exposition of Belarusian produce opened in the city of Maputo. Belarusian machinery began being sold to Mozambique in late 2012 and we are now seeing significant growth in Belarus-Mozambique trade: from January-September 2013, our turnover reached almost $9m (over six times more than in the same period of 2012) — including $8.7m of exports (an 8-fold rise on 2012).

Taking into consideration this achievement, Belarus is planning further expansion of its presence in other states across the South of Africa.

Talks have begun with partners in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola.

In our modern world, countries are moving away from traditional trade, turning to more mutually beneficial forms of production co-operation. This transition is truly important for Belarus, as Africa is an ideal market for our domestic produce. What action is your Embassy taking, alongside Belarusian exporters?

Against the global financialeconomic crisis, which has affected the traditional markets of the SAR and Belarus (primarily, the EU), our states are interested in finding promising and reliable partners. Belarus can become a

true partner to the SAR and other South African states, offering beneficial terms on a wide range of produce, services and technologies, helping the technological modernisation of the SAR and neighbouring states. Regarding agriculture, we can supply a diverse range of Belarusian agricultural equipment and machinery, as well as fertilisers. We can also advise on agricultural safety, share our expertise and help train specialists.

You are right in saying that we need to shift from traditional trade, especially as it’s a challenge for us to conquer this market with ready-made produce; the local market — especially the SAR — is already saturated with imports, boasting almost every global brand. Tractors alone are being sold by over 40 manufacturers, inspiring some states Page

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to discuss ways of balancing their foreign trade, with import restrictions introduced. With this in mind, Belarus needs to adopt alternative methods — especially taking into account the distance between us, which brings expensive logistics and tough price competition from China and India.

Practice indicates that, to achieve results, we need to take into account the peculiarities and priorities of South African states’ development, while remembering the key principle of partnership. Among the most promising avenues, bringing benefit to both sides, are industrial cooperation, establishment of assembly facilities for our machinery, supplies of our equipment to process meat, milk and poultry, sales of our agro-technologies and knowledge, city planning and infrastructure development.

Belarus is eager to promote industrial co-operation with the SAR and other states in the region — as is beneficial to all sides. Belarusian brands could gain a foothold on the South African market while our partners would gain modernisation of their industrial complex, creating new jobs and manufacturing new produce enjoying regional demand. Such co-operation could be realised via the establishment of joint facilities and assembly plants for Belarusian high-tech produce, with the participation of South African partners.

We are already moving in this direction, our industrial giants joining efforts with African partners. MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor and other Belarusian enterprises are poised and ready.

Good prospects are obser ved regarding the expansion of bilateral interaction in the field of agriculture, since Belarus boasts a well-developed agro-industrial complex. It leads globally in its production and export of a wide range of food products, agricultural machinery and fertilisers. We’ve achieved ultimate food safety and technological agro-independence, while building social infrastructure in rural areas (agro-towns) and developing

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agro-industrial training. All these aspects are arousing interest from the SAR Government so we can certainly develop our bilateral interaction on a mutually beneficial basis.

This year, a joint working group was set up to oversee co-operation in the agricultural sphere, with particular reference to establishing joint facilities to process milk, meat and poultry, and to building agro-towns with a full industrial cycle, as well as social infrastructure. Additionally, the opening of industrial plants to produce complex fertilisers is being discussed. Things are moving slowly but our negotiations have been thorough. In the past, our

ment. The South African Development Community (SADC) stands out in this process. Established in 1992, this tradeeconomic alliance of South African states unites 15 countries at present: Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Seychelles, Tanzania and the South African Republic.

The SADC unites states stable in comparison to those in other African regions. Their total p opulation numbers around 260m and their accumulated GDP equals $920bn. In 2012 alone, GDP rose by around 5 percent

African is gaining a more positive image, as a promising and attractive player on the international arena.

This continent is creating grounds for co-operation with Belarus and the rest of the world

bilateral relations with the SAR lacked concrete agenda for the development of our trade-economic collaboration.

What do you think of the integration processes being observed on the African continent? Will they be able to match similar processes taking place in Belarus? What is the potential for partnership between the SADC and the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan? Could we see a future free trade agreement concluded — similar to that existing between the ACEAN and the Customs Union?

Yes. Integration processes on the African continent are actively gaining momentum, largely owing to the end of a long period of widespread local conflict and war; most African states have now created sustainable political systems, with an elite coming to power, aiming to see gradual national develop-

among all SADC members — despite the global financial-economic crisis.

Among the leaders were Zimbabwe (over 9 percent), Mozambique (over 7 percent) and Congo (over 6 percent).

Importantly, no SADC member state demonstrates a negative tendency, which has inspired SADC governments to launch co-ordinated, strategic planning and stage-by-stage realisation of regional goals.

Efficient interaction with this union — including as part of the Single Economic Space in Eurasia and the SADC in the South of Africa — is attractive for Belarus, as it would contribute significantly to the socialeconomic development of all participating countries. Our main task is to conclude an agreement on tradeeconomic co-operation, establishing a free trade zone. This measure would give

MUTUAL INTEREST all participating states access to major markets in the South of Africa and the Single Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. However, so far, our South African partners are cautious in establishing a free trade zone, being afraid of enhanced competition at the expense of their industry. Such agreements may be possible in future, as our Customs Union would open new markets to SADC goods. Strengthening co-operation through the prism of regional associations has always been a focus of our bilateral talks.

The SAR is known as the ‘economic gate to the African continent’. Which projects do you view as most important regarding strategic expansion of interaction?

No doubt, the SAR is the driving force behind SADC development and leads on the African continent, boasting the most developed economy (with GDP of over $550bn). It also has the most sustainable political and social systems in Africa. These circumstances enable the SAR to play an active and influential role in regional integration processes and in solving wider panAfrican problems. With this in mind, we propose paying special attention to the SAR and this regional block in making strategic sales expansion plans.

A special approach is needed, tailored to the specifics of this region.

Analysis of the social-economic state of SADC members indicates that most are united by shared priorities of national economic development, to solve such problems as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and low standards of living. Taking into account SADC interests, Belarus is attracted by industrial co-operation relating to agriculture, energy (construction of new facilities and modernisation of obsolete plants), infrastructure (roads, ports, bridges, accommodation, and social and industrial construction), mineral mining and transport (railways, in particular).

What are Belarus’ competitive advantages on the South African market?

Belarus boasts a range of competitive advantages relating to the South African market, such as offering ‘value for money’ goods in demand in Africa.

We have well-developed agricultural technologies, we’ve achieved national food security and we have significant sci-tech and educational potential: all sought by African states. Practice shows that Belarusian high-tech goods enjoy demand in Africa, as they offer good value for money.

Traditional sales schemes are less efficient in Africa than in the CIS and Europe (which we’ve mastered already and where our produce has customers).

More flexible pricing is necessary, with a variety of payment schemes. The SAR is the most developed African state, with the necessary finances to buy Belarusian wheeled, tractor, road-construction and other special machinery (on terms proposed by Belarusian manufacturers).

However, other countries in the region lack ready finances.

It’s vital to open dealerships for Belarus’ major companies in Africa, investing in sales and servicing networks, as well as in advertising, to bring efficient promotion of Belarusian goods. Belarusian exporters are sometimes put off by this but, as I’ve already mentioned, our producers are now changing their attitude towards the region.

This year alone, MAZ opened a branch in the SAR and MTZ is considering the same, as are other Belarusian companies.

Not long ago, the South African Minister of International Relations, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, visited Belarus. How do you view our agreements? Will her visit inspire further development and strengthening of our bilateral co-operation?

Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane’s September visit to Belarus was a logical continuation of our bilateral liaisons, which have been expanding recently. This was the first visit of the present South African Minister of International Relations to our country and could be viewed as

The SAR is definitely a locomotive for African economic development, being the natural leader of the whole continent. The SAR boasts the most developed economy (its GDP exceeds $550bn) and transport-logistics infrastructure, but also the most sustainable political and social systems and the strongest African army

showing the SAR’s readiness to build close and mutually beneficial ties with Belarus — primarily, in the fields of industrial co-operation, agriculture and education. As you know, the Minister was welcomed by the Belarusian President in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane informs us that the SAR President is likely to visit Belarus in late 2014, which should take Belarusian-South African relations to a new, strategic level — as Belarus has achieved with most BRICS members.

The SAR joined this union in 2011 and is unlikely to be an exception.

We can state with assurance that an active period is underway for BelarusSAR contacts. I’m optimistic about Belarus’ strengthening relations with this state and with other countries on the continent.

by Nina Romanova

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Sow flax — reap gold

Present-day production at Orsha Linen Mill

Flax has dressed, kept warm, treated and fed our ancestors for centuries. Its dark blue flowers are interwoven on the Belarusian coat of arms for good reason! Some years ago, raw flax exports and rolls of cloth were providing some income, but the industry as a whole suffered losses, leading the state to intervene to revive the former glory of northern silk. Flax linens are used in making uniforms for firemen, builders, power engineering specialists and doctors, as well as dressing women of fashion and housewives

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rocessing enterprises were the first to receive attention. Orsha Linen Mill, which occupies eight percent of the world’s market for technical and apparel fabrics made from flax, has been completely modernised, thanks to about Br250 billion of investment over the past three years. The Director General

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of the enterprise, Vladimir Nesterenko, tells us, “The initial stage of modernisation allowed us to considerably improve our quality of fabrics, as well as expanding our range. By installing new equipment, we’ve extended our production to include clothes, furniture and decorative fabrics, alongside fabrics for footwear and the haberdashery industry, decorative plaids, scarves, tablecloths, bed sheets and soft terry towels — all made from linen.”

MODERNIZATION Mr. Nesterenko notes that the second stage, scheduled for 2014-2015, will increase the processing of long flax fibre from 7 to 10 thousand tonnes, and raise output of clothing fabrics to 22 million metres annually, doubling worker output; naturally, this will bring higher salaries. Modernisation at one of the enterprise’s factories, which processes long flax fibre for export, is nearing completion. Having installed 170 new looms, it can now weave higher quality cloth to almost double the width: to European standards. A finishing shop is also being discussed, with Orsha workers sewing the enterprise’s fabrics into premium-class clothes.

High-quality, thin linen fabric is made from long flax fibre, while 70 percent of Belarusian flax fibre is short. Even that which is considered to be long (numbered 11) is not suitable, producing a real challenge for the industry. Of course, it’s frustrating to need to import suitable quality flax.

Alexander Kosinets, the Chairman of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, emphasises that the technical reequipment of the linen mill should inspire similar modernisation at other mills, since they need to update their equipment in order to supply Orsha with the necessary long flax fibre. A linen holding may be created, to include Orsha Linen Mill and other linen mills across the region, as well as Vitebsk State Technological University and a specialised seed station. He explains, “Such unification relies upon competent management and profit making, at each stage: from field to counter. It’s the only way to bring our flax branch to the highest level.”

Of course, it’s not reasonable to create a holding from unprofitable linen mills, so the regional programme for innovative development includes a sub-programme entitled Vitebsk Flax, aimed at improving quality. Modernisation is underway at Dubrovno Linen Mill, at Postavy Linen Mill and at Orekhovsk Linen Mill, with seven more mills receiving investment next year.

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Director of Dubrovno Linen Mill Anatoly Bosenkov checks the quality of flax

Time for great changes Paying a working visit to the Vitebsk Region, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich sets landmark task for 2015: modernisation of six linen mills for higher level processing

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lax is a major agricultural crop for the Vitebsk Region, which occupies a leading position countrywide for flax-fibre production. Moreover, it’s home to most of Belarus’ flax processing enterprises. Sadly, their equipment is out of date, with no money injected into their modernisation since their establishment.

The existing 40 facilities are to be cut to 25, allowing modernisation to be carried out, explains the PM. He tells us, “Four mills are already operating (with new equipment) and, by the end of 2013 and early 2014, another six will be launched — including two in the Vitebsk Region’s Postavy and Orekhovsk.” Postavy Linen Mill — which the Prime Minister visited recently — produces flax-fibre of a fine quality, even using its old equipment, so its new workshop should easily enhance the competitiveness of its produce.

Regarding financing, the PM notes, “We’ve studied financing issues and the Development Bank has prepared a financial scheme for these six mills. Initial sums have been transferred to their accounts. Modernisation is now decided upon but we need economic measures to generate interest in growing good quality retted straw.” The Prime Minister believes that the latter problem was partially solved at a recent session of the Council of Ministers’ Presidium, explaining, “We’ve taken the decision to level economic conditions of retted straw production for farms and linen mills. In addition, we’ve decided to stop importing equipment: our companies are able to produce the necessary equipment and machinery for the linen industry.”

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EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENT

It’s a matter of technique Any business needs to occupy a strong position domestically before venturing into external markets: to accumulate financial resources, master production technology and create infrastructure. The more technically complex is production, the more expenditure is needed. Regarding machinery and equipment, much time and huge initial capital is required, as the evolution of Gomselmash Production Association shows. Over the past 10-12 years, it has conquered the world with its agro-machinery.

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ven in hard 1990s, Gomselmash remained the CIS only enterprise among large manufacturers of agricultural machinery, which created and serially produced new machines for agro-industrial complex.

During this period, Belarusian universal power units with a complex of harvesting vehicles, boasting obvious economic advantages, have become true escape for the economy of many Russian farms.

Under any conditions and under any market situation Gomselmash continued to work. The company understood well that the most important is to preserve a brand-name design school. Without this, the enterprise won’t be able to develop and advance.

“We haven’t missed a change of generation,” underlines the enterprise.

“We began to prepare for this process in advance. Over five years ago, the company almost ‘invaded’ appointment commissions at many universities while selecting best graduates. As a result, strong specialists, who were retiring on a pension, have managed to pass their priceless experience to youngsters. The connection between the generations of designers wasn’t interrupted and we’ve preserved the school.”

We can only add that, over the last years, the staff of the enterprise’s major

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Long-run calculation

d e s i g n b u r e au have been renewed, alongside its powerful material base of scientific investigations and complex research.

Separate methods of development have also changed; now, designers own innovative instruments of which they couldn’t even dream a decade ago. Computer CALS-technologies and virtual research with the help of SKIF supercomputer enable to receive (with high degree of veracity) the picture of devices’ work in the wouldbe machine and their interaction with each other at the earliest stages of design. This enables to reduce time for the creation of a complex selfpropelled vehicle by at least 1.5-fold (compared to the previous methods) — from 45 to 30 months.

Nevertheless, complex field tests shouldn’t be disregarded. ‘PALESSE’ machinery undergoes strictest tests at leading trial centres of Belarus, Russia and the EU. At present, all major types of produced machinery are certified to meet the requirements of the EU while boasting the right for CE-marking.

By setting up its branch in Argentine, Gomselmash has acquired one more base

for field tests — similar to the Krasnodar Krai in its nature conditions — yet with more extreme harvesting conditions.

“Argentina gathers two corn crops per year, with very high crop yield,” note specialists of the enterprise. “Machinery by some famous brands doesn’t endure such burden and Argentinean heat while our harvesting machines work stable. If the machinery works in Argentina, it will work everywhere!”

The systematic analysis of the whole diversity of consumers’ requirements has enabled Gomselmash specialists to elaborate new area for development.

Its major essence is the shift from the production of separate models of machines to the creation of a model range of technique, boasting various capacity and efficiency. New methods of design developments and technological reorganisation of production have enables the Belarusian company to solve this task within a short period of time — which could seem unreal in recent past.

The creation of a model range of ‘PALESSE’ grain harvesting machines can be considered as the largest achievement in the new history of Gomselmash.

The presence of models in the production programme, meeting the requirements of various categories of customers, enabled the Belarusian manufacturer to occupy strong positions in different sectors of the agricultural machinery market in the neighbouring states and promote its goods to the foreign markets.

The domestic market of harvester fleet is saturated, so the state programme, once set before the enterprise, has been fulfilled. Now, Gomselmash PA plans to actively search and reinforce its positions on new sales markets while expanding the model range of the manufactured goods and enhancing its quality and service.

Much has been already achieved in these areas. Previously, ‘PALESSE’ model range was presented by three major harvesters while now it has six models. Actually, the company manufactures the whole range of machinery to suit the demand of agro-business representatives. Specialists of the company explain the recent tendencies, “Today, agriculture needs more powerful grain harvesters. It’s known that the problem of staff is very acute for agriculture. At the same time, it’s enough large enterprises with big Page

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agricultural lands and rich crops.”

Gomselmash innovations can become a worthy answer — ‘PALESSE GS14’ and ‘PALESSE GS 16’ superefficient harvesters, which currently occupy top positions of the model range. These machines with doubledrum threshers (1,700mm wide) boast the capacity 14 and 16kg of grain per second correspondingly while their engines capacity is 400HP and 500HP. Harvesters are designed for big farms with serious agricultural lands and high crop yield. Moreover, ‘PALESSE GS16’ boasts a system of separation, which best suits agricultural enterprises with large volumes of corn crop for grain. It’s planned that next year these models will be launched into serial production.

However, Gomselmash designers take into account not only interests of the giants of agro-business. They also plan another innovation — ‘PALESSE GS05’ harvester, which has gained a foothold in the lower step of the model range.

Unusually economic machine, with simplified operating system, will come in handy for small farms, harvesting bread in modest volumes.

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These are only several positions of Gomselmash’s promising work, which constantly improves construction of serially produced machines while offering new modifications and creating new models. Due to universality and good value for money, ‘PALESSE’ grain harvesting technique has long become a guarantee of quick and qualitative harvesting for many farms in various countries and regions.

Together, rather than instead At present, Gomselmash machinery is well known not only within the CIS. The geography of export supplies includes China, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. International projects are also being successfully realised.

Once, Gomselmash became one of pioneers in the creation of joint productions on the territory of other countries, enabling the company to bring its machinery closer to foreign consumers while making it more affordable. At present, it is widely known Bryanskselmash.

There’re also similar joint ventures in other Russian regions, which manufacture ‘PALESSE’ harvesters using Gomselmash vehicle sets and domestically-

produced parts. The machinery is adjusted to meet the conditions of local markets and can be sold under their own brands.

For example, this is the way used by Kazakhstan, where the Kostanay Diesel Plant annually produces hundreds of ‘Esil-740’ and ‘Esil-760’ grain harvesters, as well as forage harvesters. In China, the joint venture in Harbin manufactures forage harvesters, alongside corn cob harvesting machines.

The establishment of a joint enterprise is Ukraine is also currently underway, with plans to set up the production at Kherson Machine-Building Plant and Pavlograd Mechanical Plant in the Dnepropetrovsk Region.

It’s difficult to doubt the advantages of ‘PALESSE’ machinery, and it was marked many times at famous agrarian exhibitions. This year hasn’t become an exception either. In October, Gomselmash PA jointly with Bryanskselmash took part in the largest international specialised exhibition of agricultural machinery and technologies — AgroTech Russia. It was organised as part of the 15th International Russian Agro-Industrial Exhibition — Golden Autumn-2013 — and united representatives of over 2,500 companies from 26 countries of the world. Gomselmash specialists have been awarded there Grand Prix, as well as two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Recently, Gomselmash has first managed to present its potential at the most prestigious International Agrarian Fair in Hannover.

Recognition of professionals and everyday practice show that this machinery works both during seasons of high crop yields and in difficult years, since ‘PALESSE’ harvesters are designed for those who want to be confident in their future.

By Violetta Dralyuk

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Belta

FORUM

Media plan for tomorrow

Mogilev has enjoyed much media attention this year, as the cultural capital of Belarus and the CIS. Its rich history, high level of service and hospitality have been praised, especially by those attending the 2nd Belarusian-Russian forum of young journalists: Common View of the Future.

T

he event is a unique platform for dialogue and exchange of opinion with senior colleagues from Belarus, Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan. This year, the Belarusian Ministry of Information led the event, which included an international exhibition and a congress of the Russian press, ensuring a suitable forum for the creative and scientific intellectuals.

Over 150 journalists took part in the three-day forum, following the same format as was used last year in Gomel. Minister of Information Oleg Proleskovsky noted at the opening ceremony, “We’ve set the task not only of improving the professional

skills of media representatives but of developing their intra-professional and international communication skills, helping form a uniform media community across Belarus and beyond. It’s important to acquaint visitors with our country and to show them our most beautiful tourist sites.”

The event was organised by the Belarusian Ministry of Information, the Standing Committee of the Union State, the Belarusian Union of Journalists, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Belarus to Russia. 30 media experts shared their experience and professional secrets with younger colleagues:

heads of leading media sources, famous bloggers and political analysts.

“Language is, for a journalist, both a tool and a weapon. In these times of mass online communication, where a wealth of information exists across different levels — and not always of high quality — it’s an acute issue,” admitted an information security expert from Armenia, Tigran Kocharyan. He urged those present: “Your task is not to share unnecessary information but to seek out that which matters, filtering it from the irrelevant one.”

Gleb Grozovsky, the Director General of the Russian Prime Business News Agency agreed, saying, “The information space is changing rapidly, with information streams growing and the media becoming more integrated. In the foreground is the concept of commercial news. Who else but you should discuss, predict and plan the future development of the media? You, young journalists, define our image of the media’s future.”

Discussions were, unsurprisingly, heated, with conversation continuing through lunch breaks. Among the topics covered were the role of technological innovation in 21st century journalism and the commercial aspects of today’s media.

The future of regional reporting against our age of convergence and multimedia sources also came under scrutiny. The Deputy Editor-in-Chief of RIA Novosti News Agency, Valery Levchenko, the Editor-inChief of Vechernyaya Moskva newspaper, Alexander Kupriyanov, and the Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia, Roman Serebryany, all gave master-classes.

The basis of using factual data in journalism, methods of creating info-graphics, aspects of psychology and the work of convergent editions aroused interesting debate. Most active participants of the Mogilev Regional TV Channel to request participants of the New Media Space: Challenges and Possibilities thematic discussion were invited by the Mogilev Regional TV Channel to take part in a talkshow entitled Reloading. The Belarusian Union of Journalists also contributed into honouring of young and gifted journalists.

By Yulia Obolenskaya

2013 беларусь.belarus

23

EDUCATION

Hitoshi Tanaka:

‘I love the Belarusian language’ Belarusian State University student from Japan tells of learning Belarusian and why he dreams of working in Belarus

H

itoshi Tanaka arrived from Japan just two years ago, but already loves our country. His Russian is good enough to shock strangers and his written skills are just as exemplary. A second year student at BSU’s Institute of Journalism, he only began learning Belarusian recently and has already convinced his teachers that he can storm this ‘Bastille’! At the weekend, he volunteers while chatting to those who are unwell. He loves Belarusians for their sincerity and warm smiles. Here, he tells us why he dislikes Japanese journalistic principles and admonishes us on having the ‘wrong’ sushi.

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If your countrymen came to visit you in Belarus, what would you tell them about our blue-eyed country and which sights would you show them first?

I’m sure that my friends would be really impressed. The National Library would be my first point on our excursion.

When I saw it for the first time it fairly took my breath away.

It was in the evening and it was playing through its various colours, to tremendous effect. I took out my camera at once and began taking photos. Even in Tokyo there’s no such a big library. During my studies, I’ve come to know the works of Belarusian writers and poets. You should be proud of the creativity of Yakub Kolas, Yanka Kupala and Vladimir Korotkevich.

After seminars on Belarusian literature, I think that Frantsisk Skorina is one of the greatest figures in Belarus’ history. One of the most beautiful corners of Minsk is Trinity Hill. We’d visit it together and I’d then take my friends to Stolitsa shopping centre, where I’d treat them to the tastiest ice-creams. If we had more time, we’d visit Brest Fortress, because I’ve started taking an interest in Belarusian history. You know, it’s a special place, to the point of making my hands tremble and my heart beat faster. Certainly, we’d also visit the Belovezhskaya Pushcha and would admire the ‘powerful’ aurochs.

Hum!... It’s interesting to think what I’d show my Belarusian friends in Japan. (pondering thoughtfully) I come from the city of Ashiya, in Hyōgo Prefecture; it’s the smallest Japanese city, but the richest. Actors, sportsmen and writers live there.

We have the sea and very beautiful mountains so I’d take my Belarusian friends on a walk there. Come and visit!

Usually, foreigners are afraid of the great and mighty Russian language, which is traditionally considered to be among the most difficult. You’re breaking the stereotype by not only understanding Russian well, but also speaking it well.

I started learning Russian thanks to... sports. I always liked Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian sportsmen. I once saw a TV interview with a Belarusian kickboxer who interspersed his speech with Russian proverbs and sayings. He did it so adroitly that I couldn’t help being fascinated and began being interested

EDUCATION ence as competition is too tough and they’d be afraid that a student might learn trade secrets. The main things in Japanese journalism are facts and impartiality; only the absolute masters are allowed to express a personal opinion. One day, at the Institute of Journalism, a Belarusian teacher asked me why I had only stated the facts and I was really surprised that an alternative was possible. It was a real eye-opener for me. Now, as soon as I come home from university, I grab a bite and start writing. Certainly, Belarusian journalists write better than me but I’m working hard to improve myself and I’m delighted that my publications are starting to appear in Belarusian editions.

Wow. You’re surprising us! The Japanese are famous for their discipline and capacity for work. However, do Japanese men have time for their family?

Not always. Our men work very hard. It’s rare for the Japanese to leave work on time. Our men usually stay longer, until late at night. In order to make a career, you need to work hard. Japanese women tend not to work, keeping the house and bringing up the children. By the way, a child has full freedom, without rules or prohibitions, until he or she turns 3 years old. Then, their upbringing becomes more rigid, although Japanese parents never hit their children; they only scold.

Have you thought of starting a family here, in Belarus?

I admit I like Belarusian girls more than Japanese girls, who wear rather a lot of make up.

Belarusians are naturally beautiful, more liberated and more talkative. When they start talking, it’s impossible to stop them (laughing). Japanese girls are shy. If a girl has a boyfriend, she won’t dare chat to another guy in his presence. However, I’m not thinking about a family yet. The main thing is a career.

Do you miss your homeland?

I miss my mother. I also constantly think about Japanese food. I’ve tried Belarusian sushi and I hope it won’t offend you if I say yours is wrong. In our country, you have to study for at least ten years to become a sushi chef !

Nevertheless, I’ve fallen in love with your country.

Maybe you’ll start writing in Belarusian soon; I’ve heard that you’ve begun studying.

It’s too early to talk about it but I really like the Belarusian language. I only have lessons once a week and I’m not successful in everything.

Alexander Ruzhechka

in the Russian language. First, I studied at the Russian Institute in Japan and then learnt for ten months in Moscow; the most difficult test for me was grammar. I knew the theory, but using it in practice is like a riddle. After my Moscow courses, I planned to continue my studies but, unexpectedly, my mother fell ill. I had to forget about Russian and began working at a factory; I was there for four years and had no opportunity to use my favourite language. I missed Russian words greatly and life fell into a tiresome pattern of work, home, home, work. I barely chatted to anyone — only my mother and dog. Once, my mother told me: ‘Your face is dead. Maybe you want to continue to learn Russian?’ She had hit the spot so I asked: ‘May I?’ Is it common in Japan for children to ask permission of their parents?

Certainly, children should ask the opinion of their parents before making any important decision: it doesn’t matter whether you’re ten or thirty. As a result, my mother agreed. It was too expensive to continue studying in Japan so I began to look at other variants and was advised to go to Belarus. I’ve never regretted my decision and, when I return to Japan for holidays, I always tell my friends how much I like Belarus. I tell them about the clean, wide streets and the kind people. The Japanese are also very kind but Belarusians are more open. They have the lightest and sincerest smiles. Japanese employees are required to constantly smile at visitors and we even have a saying that ‘A guest is God!’ However it’s difficult to smile constantly; the smile becomes insincere. In Japan, you can’t say what you’re thinking as you need to be always polite and well-mannered. We even chat to friends on formal terms. Quarrels are rare in our country but, if we do argue, it shows that our patience is exhausted. I like that Belarusians just say directly what they mean.

We are united by our common pain. We’ve experienced a terrible thing: radiation. Probably, this has made us spiritually close to Belarusians.

Would you like to stay and work in Belarus?

With pleasure, as I admire the principles of Belarusian journalism more than those in Japan. For example, no major Japanese edition would take on a student for work experi-

By Taisiya Azanovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

25

Medicine and science

21st century medicine focusing on early diagnosis and prevention of disease, moving towards preventive measures

Health in our fingertips Ivan Zhdanovich

L

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ong ago, I recall being surprised to read about Kirlian couple, who invente d a unique device in the early 20th century, allowing us see human auras. I recently came across a website discussing gas-discharge visualisation, based on the Kirlian effect, explaining that Belarusian scientists are studying the phenomenon. Experts from the Institute of Physiology, of the Academy of Sciences, are liaising with colleagues from St. Petersburg’s National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, headed by Professor Konstantin Korotkov (internationally known for his study of human energy in life and death). His computer diagnostics device, the GDV-camera, measures our psychophysical state and functions. He calls it the ‘digital computer stage of the Kirlian effect’.

Medicine and science The camera is absolutely safe and can help detect diseases long before symptoms appear. The GDV-camera has passed clinical trials and was registered in 2011 on the state register of medical equipment, logged by the ministries of health of Russia and Belarus. In Russia, some models are already commercially available, being in demand among physicians and psychologists.

In fact, bioelectrography, or kirliangraphy, is widely used in medical practice by various countries. Only three countries — Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan — do not have any history of using this wonderful device. However, the gas-discharge-visualization (GDV) camera is a rarity in our country.

To find out more, I visited the Institute of Physiology, to test the device and then, later, interviewed medical researcher Vladimir Minyailo, a member of the International Union of Medical and Applied Bioelectrography.

The corresponding member of the Belarusian Engineering Academy works with the Laboratory of Physiotherapy and Balneology of the Institute of Physiology, liaising particularly with Eduard Kashitsky, its leading researcher.

The latter is also a candidate of medical sciences and holds the State Award of Belarus. The duo also works with Prof.

Alexander Sivakov, who heads the Department of Reflexotherapy, at the Belarusian Medical Academy of PostGraduate Education. Of course, a great many other scientists, physicists and doctors are eager to follow their work.

Vladimir Nikolaevich, please, tell us about the physical phenomenon on which GDV is based, and how the camera works.

It’s based on the registration and analysis of the luminescence of biological objects: primarily man. Luminescence is generated by physical phenomena in organisms but is too weak to be seen by the naked eye. Devices can be used to amplify this luminescence, and computer technologies allow us to ‘see’ these photoelectronic emissions. We can view the photons and electrons on the surface of

Yakov Narkevich-Iodko, a Belarusian scientist and doctor, was the first physiotherapist from Belarus to use electric methods.

He was widely known in European scientific circles in the second half of the 19th century. He developed methods of registering the luminescence of our fingers and was the first to note that this could change, depending on our state. He used this method in medicine to diagnose illness.

body as a beautiful flame or blue toned luminescence. Special programs process the data and analyse it. While a lifeless object would have a constant luminescence, a living object is dynamic — its luminescence reflecting various factors.

The camera created by the St. Petersburg scientists is rather simple. As Korotkov writes in his Energy of Our Thoughts, short electric impulses are delivered onto your finger. Being slender and sensitive, it’s a key zone for collection of sensory information. Of course, many believe that our hands are connected to various zones within our body, as promoted by Chinese medicine, which believes in energy channels. Electric impulses raise a stream of photons and electrons, which can be logged by the device and displayed visually on a computer screen. It’s harmless and only takes 3-5 minutes for the computer to process data from all 10 digits. An expert then interprets the picture.

How long have you been investigating this little-understood area of science?

It began with a number of coincidences. After graduating from Zaporozhye State Medical University, I was interested in treating patients holistically, rather than looking at the illness

as something separate. I began to realise that each patient needs an individual approach, so I looked at alternative treatments and became interested in herbal therapy and, later, homoeopathy.

I began working in Sumy city, on the ambulances, which is where I met my future wife, Natalia. She was from Minsk but visiting an aunt in Sumy. So, you see how I ended up in Minsk! Naturally, I was happy to be in a big city, since there are more opportunities for inquisitiveness.

I worked for the 2nd Clinical Hospital’s In-patient Department for some years before entering special clinical studies.

The Ministry of Health then sent me to Yemen, with other experts, gaining huge experience. I had a UAZ car (a foreign version: like an army jeep), which I drove through the desert. My ambulance experience was very useful to me and I gained knowledge of Arabic, helped by living in a hostel alongside Arabs. We treated trauma, poisoning, bleeding and scorpion stings, achieving the impossible to rescue people. For helping the Bedouins I was given an award, although I became unwell, which necessitated me being flown to Moscow, missing the ceremony. The unfiltered water was highly mineralised, and contained Page

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Medicine and science test each person, attaching electrodes to the pulse points on the hands and feet. He then chose the optimum dose of a particular medicine — ranging from a quarter of a pill to the whole tablet. Doses might also differ from day to day, with the minimum dosage always applied, to reduce side effects.

Dr. Sarchuk developed his own scheme of selection and dosage and took note of medicines which complemented and impaired each other.

He gained a huge reputation, attracting doctors from across the whole Soviet Union: from Vladivostok, Alma-Ata, Tolyatti, and from Ukraine, the Baltic States and Belarus. I was able to meet them all. Dr. Sarchuk asserted that traditional medicines were not necessary in all cases. He took the ‘information’ from a pill and ‘wrote’ it on a certain carrier, for suspension in water.

He used wave radiation on healthy and diseased tissue, to measure resonance and diagnose

That’s how GDV-camera looks like

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Ivan Zhdanovich

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sand, which blocked my kidney.

On returning to Minsk, I was then sent to the Crimea, to Yevpatoria, where I came to learn about Victor Sarchuk’s new version of electro-puncture diagnostics, at the Republican Scientific Practical and Centre. Neurologist Dr. Sarchuk also specialises in reflexology and has modified a method of electro-puncture diagnostics invented by Reinhold Voll.

He had developed a methodology of medicamentous testing, declaring that the same dose cannot suit all.

He used a small device, like an amperemeter, t o

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reasons for illness. We could ascertain the structural state of the tissue, helping us select the optimum treatment.

I worked with the device at the 3rd Clinical Hospital, having been given permission from the head doctor. We took an experimental group of ten patients with duodenal ulcer. I tested them with Sarchuk’s device (СВН-1) and then treated them with his water method. The unbelievable happened, with the patients’ ulcers healing without the need for tablets. Usually, they’d have spent three weeks in hospital, taking ten different medicines. Endoscopy showed that their ulcers healed quickly.

I was now heading my department and was able to promote the method, so that it became widespread.

With permission from the Ministry of Health, we opened a training centre at the Republican Dispensary of Sports Medicine. Dr. Sarchuk trained two groups of experts and donated devices to more than 30 Belarusian doctors.

Of course, this new method had the potential to save much money spent on medicine but it still seemed fantastic.

How would it root in hospitals? Of course, it does necessitate spending at least an hour with each patient.

Minsk still has a group of enthusiasts using this method, helped by modern computer technologies. Electropuncture diagnostics is also being taught at the Department of Reflexotherapy, at the Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education. I then began working at the 1st Clinical Hospital, using electropuncture diagnostics.

Did you have another fortuitous meeting?

In 2000, I met Prof. Konstantin Korotkov from St. Petersburg University, at a Moscow exhibition of medical equipment. He was using the GDVcamera to diagnose and I could see links with my own work. I visited him in St. Petersburg and we’ve been friendly colleagues ever since. He’s also the Deputy Director of the Scientific Research Institute for Physical Culture, blessed with a creative team, and has been the

Medicine and science Permanent President of the International Union of Me dica l and Applie d Bioelectrography for the past 15 years.

Annually, in June, during its white nights, St. Petersburg hosts international congresses, which I always attend, meeting other users of GDV-technologies and alternative electrography therapies, from around the world. Minsk doctors and psychologists from the Ministry of Sports and Tourism also take part, as do those interested in reflexotherapy.

Have you used the GDV device on enough people to identify risk groups?

GDV screening allows for quick analysis, so it does lend itself to examining large groups of people. Screening is used to identify illness at an early stage. While working at the International Sakharov Environmental University (ISEU) we investigated how photoroentgenography (small doses of radiation) affect our luminescence, by measuring before and after the use of devices which give off low levels of radiation. Students volunteered for the experiment. In fact, there was little difference before and after, so we can conclude that photoroentgenography is harmless. We wrote a scientific article on the subject and reported at a St. Petersburg congress.

In the USSR and in postSoviet states, screening refers to mass health examination.

Does our luminescence differ greatly?

C e r t a i n l y. A healthy man in full vital force has a steady and bright luminescence.

That of a sick man has ruptures and jagged edges; i t ‘s p e a k s ’ f o r itself. All potential problems are visible in our energy field, although a temporary emotional outburst can affect the picture.

By registering the dynamics of change in GDV-signals during the course of therapy, we gain vital information on the state of health of a patient — even before clinical manifestations occur. This allows us to predict possible disease in a patient and allow timely prevention.

Repeated diagnostics show a ‘balanced’ view.

What else affects our luminescence?

If you change your state of consciousness it can affect your luminescence — such as when you have a burst of adrenaline: sportsmen, actors, singers and doctors experience this. We call it a ‘working’ state.

Our luminescence changes from that of our quiet state. Of course, each person’s luminescence is unique; actors can also change their luminescence depending on the role they’re playing. Sometimes, someone’s luminescence is barely visible.

Prof. Bunsen has been studying alternative states at the Research Institute of Physical Training and Sports, in St. Petersburg.

Our luminescence changes depending on our level of excitement, emotional upheaval or concentration…

That’s right — also during prayer or meditation, and when Page we’re hungry.

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Medicine and science

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What has been the result of you attending congresses annually?

Of course, you make new acquaintances each time. I’ve met Albert Krashenyuk, who set up Russia’s first department of hirudotherapy, based on how our energy changes for the better after the application of leeches. I’m attracted to the idea also and have begun using hirudotherapy.

Please tell us about the forums held in Minsk. How are devices registering luminescence being used in medical diagnostics and therapy?

Not so long ago, at the Yakub Kolas Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, we held a conference and seminars for those using GDV devices. The Institute of Physiology and the B elarusian Engineering Academy took part. Already, 15 devices are in use across Belarus: in Minsk and in the regions. We’re now working with colleges from abroad to arrange an international conference to present all forms of electrographic testing.

Long ago, Belarusian doctor Narkevich-Iodko was involved in your sphere wasn’t he?

Yes, he was a pioneer: the first in Europe to become a professor of electrography! Belarusian scientist and doctor Yakov Narkevich-Iodko had so many skills and talents, being widely known in scientific circles at the Sorbonne, as well as in Rome and Vienna. He was a memberadviser of the Institute of Experimental

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Medicine in St. Petersburg, winning many titles and awards. He developed methods of registering the luminescence of our fingers, and was the first to say that this could change depending on our mood and state.

He used this method in diagnostic medicine, being the first physiotherapist in Belarus to use electrical methods of diagnostics and treatment. He even had approval in Rome.

In 1896, at the international exhibition in Paris, Iodko met Nikola Tesla, from Slovenia, who took a similar approach, believing that we all ‘swim’ in an electric field, and that all our bodily processes are based on electricity. It was a fashionable theme at the time, although the electron was yet to be discovered. Tesla was an ingenious scientist who subsequently demonstrated the luminescence of man.

He blessed Narkevich-Iodko’s continuation of his work and today’s physicists have understanding of his findings.

Do you think that the idea of screening our psychophysiological state through gas-discharge-visualisation will become more popular with time?

We don’t all have the same approach to our health, with some people ignoring symptoms for a long time before visiting their doctor. They may feel tired and listless, irritable or sleepless, but they won’t go to the doctor until they’ve been suffering for some time, losing the opportunity for early diagnosis.

I recall one young man who arrived complaining of never feeling fully rested.

Preventive medicine helps prevent illness. Screening should aim to reveal the early signs of disease, in those not yet showing clinical symptoms. We could examine those at school and at work, to identify irregularities early.

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He felt listless, fatigue, grumpiness and an inclination to being argumentative.

We tested him with the GDV device and applied hirudotherapy: the most powerful treatment. Then, we tested him repeatedly. Everything was restored.

Our central nervous system needs to exist with our other systems in a balanced manner, to ensure harmony and good health. Acupuncture and other methods, such as music therapy, can be used to realign them when this balance is broken. The music of Hubner is known to influence our human body signifi-

Medicine and science

Luminescence of a couple in love, a leaf and a snail

cantly — either for the better or worse, depending on your preference. Clearly, there is no uniform method of correction or treatment, so we need to treat each person individually. Misbalance can be temporary, since we are ‘selfadjustable’. In this case, we just need to supervise, approaching the human body systemically. Integrative medicine exists, as well as complementary and holistic: all take a systemic approach to the human body as an integrated whole. Integrative medicine combines alternative therapies with modern western medicine.

Can your device test people for compatibility, say, for marriage?

Yes, by measuring their luminescence together. All families have a certain dynamic, which affects the wellbeing of each member. It’s the same for any group of people in fact. Combinations can be neutral, positive or negative. Energyconflict can happen when we interact, with the oppression of the field of the weaker person. It occurs unconsciously.

What is the interrelation between luminescence around our fingers and our internal organs?

Each finger is connected with a particular organ: the little finger with the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and the small intestine; and the thumb with our eyes, ears, throat and thyroid gland. These interrelations are long proven, through clinical experience.

German doctor Peter Mandel made a great contribution to diagnosis through gas-discharge visualisation, continuing Voll’s electropunctural diagnostic work.

He developed a special diagnostic table, matching the luminescence of certain fingers with systems and parts of the body. As we’ve already noted, changes in our body are reflected in the quality of the luminescence of our fingers. The ‘normal’ range can be used to analyse the current state and, as with reflexotherapy and traditional Eastern medicine, we can apply change, to accelerate or slow down our main functions.

Hyperactivity of luminescence reveals hyperfunction or hypertrophy of tissue or inflammation.

If you notice anything untoward, can you make recommendations?

Certainly, I am obliged to do so.

First, we need to understand to what degree change is evident. If change is severe or constant, at the expense of the labile nervous system, we need to carry out psychological or psychoemotional correction. If it results in mild symptoms, we call this vegetative dysfunction, which can affect the organs and systems, leading to illness. Disease may already exist without being manifestly evident. If zones or organs have ‘unnatural’ radiation, our

search narrows. I then recommend additional examination, for example, with a urologist if I see clear signs of dystrophy or inflammation of the prostate gland.

It there are signs of arterial hypertension, which can be seen from asymmetry in cerebral hemisphere activity, and by excessive signals from the cardiovascular system or kidneys or adrenal glands, this indicates a high predisposition to illness.

Nothing is certain, as much depends on our lifestyle.

Can a healthy lifestyle and positive thoughts influence our health?

It’s hard to say, since we cannot exclude our surroundings. Various technogenic and psychogenic factors affect our body: harmful manufactured goods, and poor-quality of water and food. I’m not talking about the minor influences of the Sun and space. Physicists call these factors man-made and not man-made.

Summarise please: what are the benefits of preventive medicine?

Modern medicine has enjoyed huge achievements but also deadlock.

We’ve reached certain heights, dispelling many illnesses, so that we rarely hear of them these days. Surgery has improved massively, with transplants common. We can successfully ‘repair’ or change our ‘spare parts’. Unfortunately, many diseases are ‘progressing’, as statistics show. We understand that we need to change our approach, addressing preventive methods.

Transition from health to illness is a process by which our system is strained and fails to adapt. The earlier we foresee it, the more likely we are to find a solution.

The challenge lies in identifying change in our regulatory systems, which govern health. A systemic approach to diagnostics is thus vital. As we say, there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip. Preventive medicine helps prevent illness. Screening should aim to reveal the early signs of disease, in those not yet showing clinical symptoms. We could examine those at school and at work, to identify irregularities early. However, it would have to be a continuous process — not a ‘one off ’.

By Valentina Zhdanovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

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RARITIES

Depository open to everyone Unique editions from the Turgenev Library in Paris, the Supraśl Lavra of Poland, and the Nesvizh collection of the Radziwill family being stored in the Presidential Library

F

oreigners would surely be surprised to learn that most residents of the Republic of Belarus have access to the Presidential Library of B elar us: a rare privilege worldwide.

Ordinary citizens can enjoy reading editions normally reserved for the eyes of state bodies, scientists, historians and employees of ministries. Users can draw on a rich fund of specialised literature — on economics and law, as well as valuable early printed and rare editions.

Bibliotheque Russa Tourgueneff When people go by Government House on Nezavisimosti Square, few guess that the cultural treasury of the country — the Presidential Library of Belarus — is located there, in the right wing. You simply pass a security point, turn a corner and enter the library.

You may meet a minister or two but the library is spacious. It’s modern and stylish so it’s hard to believe that it’s

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actually almost 80 years old, celebrating its anniversary in less than a month.

At first, the Presidential Library was a branch of the State Library and the Bibliographic Institute; later, it was an

within eight years, had restored its volume to its pre-war level, including trophy books.

After the war, two echelons of books were brought to Belarus from

Digitizing editions and formation of electronic collections are one of the major focuses of the institution today

independent Governmental Library. In the 1930s, it was open daily, without any days off, until almost midnight. There were many editions to work with: the pre-war fund numbered nearly 250,000 volumes — most on the subject of economics, politics and social studies.

Unfortunately, during, World War II, the Fascists destroyed all the works in the Library. From 1944, it began to restore its collection gradually and,

Germany: all originally taken from libraries in Belarus. As the Hitlerites ha d plu nd e re d many Eu rop e an countries, there were lots of books: from Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp and so on. Editions from the French Turgenev Library appeared in the Presidential Library (the Governmental Library at that time). It was the first Russian public library, created about 140 years ago by Russian emigrants in

RARITIES The department of early printed and rare editions, perhaps, is the most interesting place in the Presidential Library, holding piles of ancient documents and photos, thick encyclopaedias and directories carefully stored behind glass, in special bookcases. Such unique rarities are found nowhere else: a map of Belarus from 1772 and Napoleon Orda’s engraving of Karolin, near Pinsk.

Document — through kilometres

There is everything you need for work , creativity and inspiration in the library

Paris, thanks to Ivan Turgenev. At the beginning of World War II, the Nazis took editions back to Germany; then, books stamped Bibliotheque Russa Tourgueneff began to appear, scattered across the continent. The Presidential Library has about 500 documents from its archive, which have proven useful as an exchange, in reclaiming Belarusian treasures from abroad.

400-year-old rarity In addition, the Presidential Library of Belarus holds documents from Poland’s Supraśl Lavra, and from

the libraries of Russian emperors, as well as from the library of the Nesvizh Radziwill family. I’ve held a 200-yearold dictionary, once belonging to Jerzy Radziwill; its margins were full of notes.

Probably, someone, not being able to remember compound words, purposefully wrote them out. Books can tell us a lot about their owners. For example, the owner of the Cologne philosophical treatise De Imperio Virtutis, the most ancient book in the library, must have been very careful, since its condition is exemplary. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost 420-years-old!

Napoleon Orda’s engraving “Karolin near Pinsk”.

Minsk Gubernia. (Today it’s within borders of Pinsk, district center of the Brest Region).

“Ruins of princes Wisniowiecki’s castle.

The castle was destroyed in 1709 during war between Peter the Great and Charles XII”

According to Sergey Kvachan, the Director of the Presidential Library of Belarus, digitizing editions and formation of electronic collections are one of the major focuses of the institution today. It’s vital to make ancient, rare editions accessible, and protected from time — such as those from the Radziwill and Turgenev libraries and valuable official documents which reflect state policy. It’s best to make digital copies, for placing online or on discs. Digitisation is part of a state project entitled National Electronic Library of Belarus.

Today, the library uses a great many of the latest technologies, including a remote enquiry service and electronic delivery of documents.

E-books are no rivals to printed word The Library also presents regular exhibitions: for the public and for deputies.

Its current display editions, bearing presentation inscriptions by Maxim Tank, Ivan Shemyakin and other notable figures, who worked in the Library years ago. Writers and researchers can still be met in the Library today.

In its 80 years of operation, the Library has seen much. We now have tablets, iPads and e-books but printed editions remain in demand and the Presidential Library is as busy as ever.

Its strength lies in its specialist books, its unique collections and its rare editions, as well as in the respectful attitude of librarians towards every visitor.

By Lyudmila Minakova

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Return through centuries

Church of communists awaits fiesta

Karl Baromey Catholic Church in Pinsk

Past acquires its future Ancient churches in Grodno and Pinsk acquire new life

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he cities of Grodno and Pinsk in the west of Belarus are considered tourist ‘Meccas’, having retained so much of their history and boasting the greatest number of

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ancient churches — of various confessions. Wandering their streets, your can see the whole history of the country — in its religious and cultural diversity.

Churches Catholic and Protestant, alongside a synagogue, have simultaneously acquired new life in these cities.

In 1782, in the north-eastern suburb of Pinsk, a stone Catholic church was built in a beautiful location, called Karolin: famous now as Karl Baromey Catholic Church. Walking along Kirov Street, it’s impossible not to admire the white church building with its red tiled roof, covered in greenery. Built in late Baroque style, as the age of magnificent Classicism dawned, the luxurious building has witnessed much.

Founded by monks from the Order of Communists, who arrived in Pinsk from Italy, they educated and raised youngsters to serve God. In Latin and Italian, the word ‘commune’ is pertinent.

Born to a noble Italian family, and related to the Pope, Karl Baromey was one of the prominent leaders of the Catholic Church during CounterReformation (when the Catholic Church was fighting the Protestant Church). He was later canonised and became Bishop of Milan.

In 1836, the last monk-communist died in Pinsk and the church was re-consecrated to honour the Holy Trinity. In 1960s, the church was closed and, in order to save the architectural monument, local authorities decided to restore it for use as a concert hall.

This autumn, it again opened to the public, hosting a city concert hall. After the New Year holidays, guests are invited to attend traditional February Musical Evenings and the Karolina Fiesta guitar music concert, as well as piano concerts by local and foreign virtuosos.

Protestant church visited by Bach St. Johann’s Protestant Church in Grodno is Belarus’ only operating Lutheran church. In 1912, it acquired its contemporar y appearance in Neo-Gothic style. However, it dates from much earlier, originally being a tavern. In 1793, King Stanislaw August Poniatowski donated the house to the Lutheran community, since there were many Lutherans in Grodno at that time,

Return through centuries who had come from Germany to work at royal manufacturing workshops.

In 1834, the former three-storey tavern was rebuilt as a stone Protestant church and, later, a tower with a high spire was constructed (bearing a clock).

In Soviet times, the church housed an archive, and, in 1995, was returned to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church.

Today, the Grodno Lutheran community has around a hundred parishioners, including Germans, Finns and Belarusians. Many are brought to the church through their love for Bach, who was a Lutheran and wrote chorales for the church. All services are performed in Russian and German, while observing German traditions. An ancient bell announces the beginning of the mass, rung by one whose grandfather also climbed the steep stairs, in the early 20th century. Recently, an organ was installed and the German Embassy joined volunteers and local authorities in helping restore the church: inside and out.

Choral synagogue in Grodno

Vytautas’ Fara commemorated with a sculpture

Synagogue survives, against all odds

At t h e d e c i s i on of t h e Regional Executive Committee, a sculpture is being unveiled in Grodno, on the site of the famous Vytautas’ Fara (St. Mary’s Church). Due to be ready in 2014, it will take the form of a semi-destroyed arch, with a commemorative inscription. Local authorities plan to try and rectify the mistake made on November 29th, 1961, when the city’s largest Catholic church was demolished. Constructed upon the instruction of the Grand Duke of Lithuanian Vytautas, in 1389, it was commonly referred t o a s Vy t a u t a s ’ Church. Initially made from timber, it was reinforced with stone in the time of Stephen Bathory, in the 16th century.

St. Johann’s Protestant Church in Grodno

On the night of November 27th, a fire broke out in the centre of Grodno.

The synagogue — one of the oldest in the country — was burning. Seven fire brigades were sent to the site, as were road tankers and motorised fire-ladders. Rescuers saw an open flame between the second and third floors, where the wooden boards were burning, and it took them about an hour to extinguish the fire.

Sadly, windows were destroyed and damaged, and the facade blackened, requiring repairs. The old windows were replaced with contemporary double-glazed windows, and the facade was restored, with citizens from Grodno and abroad helping members of the Judaic community.

The synagogue survived WWII, despite the Nazis killing almost every member of the Jewish population in the city. Located in the centre of the ghetto, it was used as a gathering place before sending people to concentration camps or for execution by shooting.

In 1991, the church was returned to its congregation although restoration work only began recently. The first stone synagogue was built in Grodno around 1570, using a design by Italian architect Santi Gucci. The current building was erected between 1902 and 1905 — gin Moorish style. Major Judaic synagogues in Vilnius (currently operating) and in Minsk (which now houses the Maxim Gorky Theatre) were also built in this style.

By Viktor Korbut

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NATIONAL PARKS

Pushcha will not endure vanity National park “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” remains unique place on the planet

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utumn has stayed far longer than usua l, s e eming to endure in the B elovezhskaya Pushcha even until early December.

The leaf-covered ground is hard with frost but there’s no snow yet, although the grey sky hovers low over the hornbeams and forest mist.

All is silence.

“I doubt whether we’ll be able to photograph animals in the wild,” our guide tells us. “They haven’t come to eat yet…”

It seems that winter is defined not by the calendar but by the aurochs, who only gather at the feeding platforms when the true cold weather arrives.

They remain hidden from the eyes of people until then, regardless of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden being in residence.

Road map for aurochs There’s no doubt that foreigners associate Belarus with majestic auroch herds. With great effort, it’s been possible to create the second largest herd worldwide. This is proving a double-edged sword, since there are currently more of the gentle giants than the Pushcha can feed, taking into account the other hoofed inhabitants.

Europe’s most ancient forest has a delicate eco-system, so much money is spent annually on providing supplementary fodder — funded by the state and the national park, from its tourist and timber revenue.

The aurochs remain on the Red List,

NATIONAL PARKS although their number is growing, and they can be unruly, destroying crops if allowed to roam too freely. Farms can hardly shoot them to prevent such damage! Meanwhile, the beasts have a specific diet, which is hard to fulfil in the cold season. Pushcha staff lay out more than a thousand tonnes of hay and silo, beet and salt each winter, attracting the herds to specific locations. From there, it’s easy for tourists to admire them, and some are kept in open-air cages.

Visitors can even buy vegetables to feed

It seems that winter is defined not by the calendar but by the aurochs, who only gather at the feeding platforms when the true cold weather arrives

bears and aurochs. People used to bring bread, but this obviously isn’t the most nutritious option. November was so warm that wild animals had no need to visit feeding platforms, finding food still plentiful among the trees, but winter should creep in through December.

The Deputy Director General for Research at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Vasily Arnolbik, notes that sums spent on the aurochs have risen annually, with lucerne, rape, barley, oats and root crops grown especially for their consumption in specific areas and new feeding platforms constructed.

Contemporary aurochs can’t survive without people, emphasises Pushcha’s senior researcher Alexey Bunevich.

Besides fodder, they receive vitamins and general medication to keep them healthy. The latter can be a problem, since the herd is descended from just seven animals. Inter-breeding has led to a narrow gene pool and lower disease resistance.

The optimum number for the National Park is 300-350 animals, which is 100-150 fewer than at present. The question is what to do with the ‘extra’ aurochs. The Pushcha’s new department for auroch studies was recently created to implement the first stage of the national plan to preserve aurochs in Belarus and ensure their rational use.

Some have already been sent to live in new habitats: the Nalibokskaya Pushcha, the Pripyat National Park, and in forests in Osipovichi, Borisov a n d G ro d n o.

This year, a farm in the Vitebsk Region bought ten of the beautiful creatures.

Today, most of t h e 1 , 1 5 6 Belarusian

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NATIONAL PARKS

There are a lot of amusements at the Father Frost Residence

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aurochs live outside the Pushcha but they have found new homes in Yaroslavl, Karelia and the Orel Region of Russia.

Resettling outside the country’s borders can be problematic but is being aided by a Union State project: supervised by the Centre for Bio-Resources at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and by the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In October, the Pushcha gathered scientists from Belarus, Russia and Poland, eager to discuss the Union State programme entitled Creating the Optimum Natural Habitat for European

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Aurochs, to Guarantee Long-Term Preservation (Auroch Road Map).

If we fail to take the problem seriously, in 100-200 years’ time, European auroch herds may disappear from Belarus and Russia, due to overpopulation.

B etween 2014 and 2018, the programme envisages much teamwork, explains Mr. Arnolbik. “We plan to look at aurochs’ genetics more deeply, creating a centre to preserve and study them. We need to conduct research and select the best animals for breeding with other populations, including in Russia and within the Pushcha, since not all of them see each other.”

Event of world significance This year, the Pushcha’s Diploma of the Council of Europe was extended for five years, as of late March, thanks to a decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It, thus, keeps its protected status. Having initially received the Diploma in 1997, it is now the most titled natural site on the European continent, receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1992 and bio-sphere reserve status in 1993. Sadly, its Diploma was suspended in 2007, when the Council of Europe requested that certain recommendations be carried out to ensure

NATIONAL PARKS celebrations. The 150 year old Christmas tree has new decorations and the magic towers are shining a little brighter, being covered in more lights. Meanwhile, Baba Kargota has come to live alongside Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. Mother Winter now has her workshop and the Museum of Ice life has opened. There is a magical versta [an obsolete Russian unit of length, approximately 1.07km] and magical sign, as well as an avenue of fairy-tale glory.

Mr. Arnolbik admits that they’ve had a few scares with their beautiful Christmas tree, which began to dry up.

With some help, new greenery is now growing. The 43m beauty is the perfect place to make a wish and, as everyone knows, such wishes come true!

Marshes return

Unique oak

biological diversity. Much has now changed for the better, with the appointment of new director Alexander Buryi.

Visiting the Pushcha as a tourist is one thing but, of course, scientists see the site from a different perspective. In fact, the Pushcha has almost doubled in size — from 30.7 thousand to 57 thousand hectares. Over 70 percent of its territory has reserve status and enjoys unique biological diversity. Only those parts very close to settlements are excluded from restrictions.

In fact, the Diploma of the Council of Europe does not bring any financial preferences, being only a title of recognition of merit in wildlife protection. However, it confers prestige on the whole country.

150-th anniversary of the highest live New Year tree in Europe was celebrated in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Happy birthday, fairy tale Time passes quickly and this December marks the 10th anniversary of the Pushcha’s Father Frost Residence, where children gather wide-eyed and people come to celebrate birthdays. In addition, the first wedding occurred in September, when Father Frost’s home was transformed into a registry office for a while.

In January, the estate will welcome its millionth visitor. Father Frost and the Snow Maiden meet a great many children’s groups every day of course.

Various parts of Father Frost’s home have been renovated, in honour of this year’s

The New Year will bring new tasks, including returning several areas of the Pushcha to their original marshland state: Diki Nikor and Zubritsa. In addition, ditches are being given attention, to ensure good drainage, and the APBBirdlife Belarus Public Association is undertaking work. Timber harvesting is taking place over the next couple of years and our Belarusian satellite has now finished taking photos from space, allowing analysis of the forest’s structure in 2014. A new programme governing the trees will then be set for 2016-2025.

An interesting international project began this autumn: a BelarusianPolish-German summer school for students, hosted by the Bialowieski National Park (Republic of Poland) for those studying wood specialities at high schools in Eberswalde, Belostok and Minsk. Next year, our Pushcha will organise a similar event.

There’s no doubt that our reserve has many plans, large and small. Returning from the Pushcha, it’s hard to answer enquiries as to how we feel about this amazing site of wild natural beauty.

Besides being an invaluable treasure, it is a place of spiritual strength, whatever the season.

By Valentina Kozlovich

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Belta

HERITAGE

Yevgeny Markevich who revived weaving in Lida

Beautiful patterns restored by the tradition

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he loom at Lida’s Regional Centre of Crafts and Traditional Culture — Spadchyna — is no museum exhibit, being in regular use by two young weavers.

The eager craftsmen have revived this rarity, Daria Matashuk — the follower of master Yevgeny Markevich

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Young craftsmen create thread linking past and future

HERITAGE creating beautiful cloth, towels, coverlets and belts on the ancient loom, just as their great-grandmothers once did.

Lida resident Yevgeny Markevich, in the ninth form, was on a summer visit to his grandmother in Lyubcha when, with her permission, he began looking in her attic.

His curiosity unearthed an old loom, set aside for dozens of years. His genuine interest in its mechanism won over local grandmothers, who began assembling the ‘krosna’ (handloom) and the urban teenager was soon weaving his first piece of cloth. The neighbours all came to marvel!

Yevgeny spent every holiday weaving, learning the subtleties of the art of our ancestors. When he showed his first woven towel to his grandmother, she was moved to tears.

Today, Yevgeny is a fifth-year student at Grodno State Medical University but still travels to Lida every weekend, to devote himself to his main hobby. The talented young man has already made hundreds of cloths, coverlets and towels but most importantly, has found a partner in Daria Matashuk, who shares his interest in weaving. She came to Spadchyna after graduating from Mir College as a ‘master of decorative and applied arts and an artist of painting’.

Yevgeny warned her that he was no teacher but, despite Daria’s initial frustrations with the handloom, she has learnt a great deal, sharing Yevgeny’s genuine interest and dedication, as is vital. It takes a whole day just to thread the loom, so it’s not a hobby for everyone. In just one year, she has mastered both harness weaving and eight-thread weaving. To the joy of her mentor, Daria now has her own worthy collection, including towels and belts.

Yelena Shchelina, the Director of the Regional Centre of Crafts and Traditional Culture, notes, “The textiles woven by Yevgeny and Daria are unique. These young masters have revived our ancient skills, reproducing the most complicated patterns, as are characteristic of the Lida District. We use their cloths to restore original folk costumes from the region, as well as coverlets, towels, napkins, belts and so on.” Clearly, their work for the museum has great importance.

The young weavers’ work has aroused interest from abroad, especially during the museum’s participation in the trans-boundary Spirit of Our Ancestors Lives in Our Hearts event, in March. Ms. Shchelina explains that the event aimed to promote traditional Belarusian crafts, with woven items on show alongside ceramics and straw weaving.

Daria tells us, “I took some of our belts to Lithuania and was delighted by our neighbours’ interest. In fact, our weaving is similar to that of Lithuania in technique and colour. I did notice that their masters tend to be much older, while our craft was represented by young people.”

She is already keen to pass her knowledge to new pupils, ensuring that the binding threads are passed from the present to the future.

One can’t do without creative approach Masters of Lida Regional Centre of Crafts and Traditional Culture, Spadchyna, create collection of clothes for young people in Belarusian national style, with hand woven elements

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rina Vashkevich, the designer and instigator of the collection, tells us that she is keen to promote national traditions among the younger generation, showing them that it can be stylish and modern to have embroidery on your clothes, as our forebears once did.

Irina trained at Grodno College of Arts and at the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, at the Department of Arts and Design. When she came to work at Lida’s crafts centre, she began designing uniforms for those working on agro-estates. These days, she’s focusing on reviving the beauty of national costumes, via a fashion collection for young people. Her designs are informed by historical traditions and the subtleties of each symbol, resulting in seven complete outfits and more in the pipeline: blouses, skirts, shirts and trousers. Each outfit is unique, with an outstanding feature — such as a embroidered collar or woven belt. These ornamentations sit surprisingly well with modern designs and fabrics, although wool blends, linen and leather are used alongside viscose. Traditionally woven panels feature a great deal, made on an old loom owned

by Daria Matashuk, who learnt the art under Yevgeny Markevich: the master who has revived weaving in Lida.

Grodnenskaya Pravda (Grodno’s Truth) newspaper notes that the collection was a hit at the Treasures of the Grodno Region Festival, where people flocked to buy the exclusive pieces.

By Yelena Svetlova

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DISTINCTIVENESS

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he Artistic School in Vitebsk in the early 20th century earned the city global recognition, with Marc Chagall as its most famous pupil. Of course, many unique artists lived and worked in Vitebsk, including Piotr Yavich, who was taught by Chagall’s teacher: Yudel Pen. Yavich (who died five years ago) is now known as one of the most talented Belarusian painters. Most of his works remain in Vitebsk yet some are found in private collections in the UK, Italy, Germany, the USA, Israel and Japan.

Hungary, where the artist was born, will never forget Yavich, viewing him as their own.

to translate an article from a Hungarian magazine and was aware of Yavich senior’s knowledge of Hungarian. After the work was done, Pen offered to teach Piotr drawing in thanks.

On wave of historical truth Not long ago, Vitebsk’s Art Museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to Yavich’s 95th birthday, showcasing over 20 pictures donated by the artist to the museum during his lifetime.

These works feature the city and its famous personalities, in addition to ordinary workers and theatrical actors.

Yavich’s huge work, entitled Workers’

from the Great Patriotic War. Two stand out: Alexey Danukalov and Minay Shmyrev. The former, young and reckless, with a hussar moustache, is steeped in romantic legends. Yavich probably painted Danukalov from a photo yet knew Shmyrev personally. In his picture, the commander is depicted as an old man who has survived huge personal tragedy.

Many of his pictures were created to fulfil state orders as, according to Ms. Akunevich, was usual for socialistic realism. “In the Soviet 1960-1970s, artists earned their bread by producing copies of famous pictures on historical and political themes,” she notes.

Talent has no borders

Belarus and Hungary view artist Piotr Yavich as their own Chance or fate

Yavich was named Ishtvan at birth.

His father — who lived in Vitebsk — served in the army during WWI and was taken captive by Austrian-Hungarian soldiers. In Hungary, he met his future wife and, in 1918, their son was born in the city of Törökszentmiklós. When the family returned to Vitebsk in 1926, the future artist received a new name.

The short version of Ishtvan is Pishta and his Vitebsk teachers interpreted this as Piotr. As a result, Yavich was renamed.

He became Yudel Pen’s pupil by chance, as the famous teacher needed

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Piotr Yavich

Demonstration in Vitebsk in 1905 is among his most impressive. Olga Akunevich, who heads the Art Museum, believes it to be unique, saying, “The city landscape is painted from life, yet with characters depicted against the background of the Resurrection Cathedral and St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church. The latter was actually demolished during the Soviet anti-religious campaign, so did not exist in the 1950s,” she explains.

Yavich is widely praised for his portraiture, and the Art Museum keeps a gallery of his portraits, which feature various partisan commanders

Vitebsk, Mazurino park

Pictures for the soul Yavich’s grandson — Piotr (named after his famous grandfather) — does not view the artist as a mere representative of socialistic realism. “My grandfather primarily continued the traditions of Yudel Pen, who was educated at the St. Petersburg Arts Academy. They both represented the classical school of painting — as did Rembrandt, Repin and Kramskoy. Such art is eternal: ever valued and appreciated by conservative Europe. My grandfather was a perfect portraitist but also drew still-life works in the

DISTINCTIVENESS Dutch style. His fruit and vegetables look so real you can almost smell their aroma surrounding the canvas.

Did artists of socialistic realism create such pictures?” he wonders.

In his childhood, young Piotr was taught by his illustrious grandfather but now runs a construction business, rather than pursuing art. He lives in Vitebsk — in the home once owned by Yavich, whose canvases decorate the walls. There are around 300: all drawn to please his soul. They depict moonlit nights (resembling the works of Kuindzhi) and vases of field flowers, portraits of his daughter Yelena, grandson Piotr and other

family members, and landscapes of river islets, autumn parkland and lakes. All are inspired by places which truly exist either in Vitebsk or in the Vitebsk Region. In addition, some works depict the Caucuses and Crimea — experimentally drawn in impressionistic style. Despite some tempting offers, the Yavich family have no intention of selling these pictures.

Piotr tells us, “I’d love to open a private gallery in Vitebsk, showing my grandfather’s works. I’ve consulted architects, who say that such a gallery could be built in the house in which I’m currently residing.”

One of the canvases hanging in Piotr’s house depicts a road leading to a red-bricked Roman Catholic church.

At first sight, it appears to be located in a town in the Vitebsk Region — such as Miory, Glubokoe or Verkhnedvinsk. In fact, the church is in Törökszentmiklós: the city in which the artist was born. His grandson visited St. Ishtvan’s Roman Catholic Church, where the great artist was baptised, two years ago. Piotr explains, “Our distant relatives live in Hungary. On visiting, I met people

Piotr is also friendly with several Hungarian diplomats, among them Consul Laszlo Horvath, with whom he has agreed to open a show in Budapest.

Piotr explains that few Belarusian expats live in Hungary — countable only on fingers. “Interestingly, among them is this famous and talented man,” smiles Piotr. “Laszlo believes that the exhibition in Hungary may help develop cultural ties between our two countries.”

The young businessman dreams of opening such a show but admits that time and money are required, a l ong s i d e p e r m i ss i on for m t he Ministry of Culture, to allow pictures to travel to Hungary on his own mini-

Portrait of Alexey Danukalov

Törökszentmiklós (Hungary)

who knew my grandfather well; some even have his pictures. In the 1980s and 1990s, my grandfather often visited to organise shows. I was also pleased to see his pictures hanging in the museum director’s room in the city of Szolnok (the administrative centre of the area in which Törökszentmiklós is situated).”

Not long ago, a Balaton collector — Mr. Duris — contacted young Piotr, having bought a work by his famous grandfather online. He sought relatives of the master, to confirm the work’s authenticity; of course, the manner of drawing and signature spoke for themselves.

bus. However, within the next year or two, the event may be organised.

Vitebsk — Törökszentmiklós: far and near

Historical parallels Pen, who tragically died in 1937, received a memorial service at Vitebsk’s Art Museum, as did Piotr Yavich in 2008. Pen dreamt of becoming a People’s Artist but was only ever awarded a title invented just for him: ‘Honoured Jewish Artist of the Vitebsk Region’. Yavich was never conferred with any title but those who knew him recollect that he was never bothered by such matters, being dedicated solely to his art.

By Sergey Golesnik

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ART

Ability to keep face

An artistic show not always unites talents but the 2nd Triennial of Modern Belarusian Decorative-Applied Arts — BELARTDECO-2013 (recently hosted by the Belarusian Union of Artists’ Republican Art Gallery) — gives all grounds to speak of a lofty artistic flight of authors’ presentations 44

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he name of the forum hides a focus on the presentation’s significance.

The 2nd Triennial of Modern Belarusian Decorative-Applied Arts — BELARTDECO-2013 — is a kind of an artistic report on a three-year period. Its ‘modern’ aspect envisages analysis of the newest tendencies, their definition and even formation.

This year, the event gathered sixty masters of diverse arts: weaving, glass, ceramics, tapestry, enamel and metal. They presented both traditional and experimental works which involved the use of different author’s technologies and new materials.

The show was held under ‘From Traditions to Novelty’ slogan and was aimed to demonstrate modern achievements of the national decorative-applied arts, while attracting artistic youth to participation in the exhibition and promoting artistry to wide public. An independent jury summed up the results of the show, naming winners in several nominations: ‘Preserving Traditions’, ‘Novelty’, ‘Audience’s Prize’. All awards were divided into two professional categories: ‘Debut’ and ‘Professionals’. In turn, audiences were invited to choose winners in the ‘Audience’s Prize’ nomination via a secret voting.

Globalisation, unified production and mass culture level our surrounding down. Artists face a challenge: to preserve our national identity and develop their own artistic language (irrespective of any fashionable ‘trends’). Many participants

ART

Globalisation, unified production and mass culture level our surrounding down. Artists face a challenge: to preserve our national identity and develop their own artistic language (irrespective of any fashionable ‘trends’). Among those participating their works at the exhibition was glass painter Tatiana Malysheva. She managed to bring a nostalgic mood to her images inspired by her own perception of life. Her compositions at the Triennial perfectly reflect her personal artistic philosophy.

of the show demonstrated through their artistry that they are ready to advocate originality and oppose widely spread ineffective imitations.

Among those presenting their works at the exhibition was glass painter Tatiana Malysheva. She managed to bring a nostalgic mood to her images inspired by her own perception of life. Her compositions at the Triennial perfectly reflect her personal artistic philosophy. Her Family Legacy was conceived as a holistic piece.

As I’ve learnt, this work will be exhibited at the Great Patriotic War Museum. Actually, Tatiana’s creations interpret her recollections, and bring them to life through various materials: i.e. foil wonderfully depicts water in her Braslav Lakes, while her Winter Fern composition symbolises circulation of life in nature. At the Triennale’s artistic contest, the master was awarded a prize.

“I’ve dreamt for a long time of depicting several dishes — with reflection and research of encircled objects,” Ms. Malysheva says.

“My Winter Fern composition consists of two large dishes: one is

transparent (on an active blue table-mat) and the other is made of a green smoky glass (on a bright green table-mat). A stylised pattern of fern leaves — made from glass icicles — passes along the diagonal of the dishes. Everything is fixed with a special clue which imitates first snow. Frozen fern remain unmovable within the circle but their live parts are kept in warmth. Here, in the soil, juices of plants — which are actually ‘green blood’ — are moving.”

In turn, the Braslav Lakes work consists of four large dishes made from transparent glass, with triangle foil extracts inside.

“These are my summer impressions of Belarusian lakes: each of them enjoys its own colour and coastal relief,” the author explains.

Originally, Ms. Malysheva studied to become a decorator but after many years of creative effort she’s become a true specialist in ceramics and glass. Actually, her personal motifs play the role: many of her works — showcased at diverse exhibitions — reflect a joyful, festive mood, along with Page

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Galina Krivoblotskaya’s tapestry impresses with diverse themes – depicting flora and fauna, as well as cosmic improvisations. Some focus on chamber problems, while others reflect largescale problems of our modern life. In her works, Galina widely uses allegory, associations and generalization. Her Dialogue with Nature series, as well as such pieces as The Day, Spring Comes, Miraculous Tree, Steps of Quivering Fallow Deer, Joy-Rainbow-Paradise are among them.

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pride in the country. “I often study exhibitions at the History Museum and the Great Patriotic War Museum, learning about memorable dates, which will forever be part of the history of civilisation,” muses Ms. Malysheva. “Details of the harsh things that happened at the front are highly significant for me. I’d like to create a memorial out of soldiers’ canteens and mugs, and use ribbons and medals to decorate it.”

Her artistic technique allows her to re-create any photo on nickel chrome foil, placed between sheets of glass. Her huge dish at the show has ‘stained glass medals’ inspired by her parents’ medals and orders: their legacy.

It’s not easy for contemporary painters to make their own path; they have to prove themselves against the stiffest competition. Sometimes, technical progress ‘overloads’ them as they try to make a name for themselves in art. As a result, their work becomes non-expressive, without underlying thought. Only the talented and gifted can break through the high-tech web to surprise us

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with their archaic or naive style. Only later do we begin to understand that everything is as it should be.

Ms. Malysheva is a master of decorative art and can easily create any image. For example, she has ‘locked’ fire into clear geometric forms that resemble diamonds. This work is at the National Art Museum of Belarus. Her large multi-coloured red, white and blue piece, entitled Festive Vases, is based on architectural principles.

What determined your path in art? What influenced your decisions?

I’ve been drawing since early childhood. Since we lived in garrisons and remote areas, where there was not much cultural life, I was primarily self-taught and always used any opportunity to improve myself. We moved to Minsk when I was in the eighth grade, and it was fabulous, although I was a little bit worried.

Two years later I tried to enter the Theatre and Art Institute’s Graphics Department. At that time, I couldn’t imagine that the

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Decorative and Applied Art Department even existed. However, I failed and became involved in ceramics and glass instead. Glass immediately became very important to me, involving a great deal of effort to create the shapes that I was looking for. Glasswork is a noble profession — the work is hard, yet very delicate. Glass factories are usually located in small towns, which, as a result, always boast dynasties of master craftsmen. This also adds some particular charm to our profession.

You’ve managed to fulfil your potential in this profession.

What is the most creatively stimulating aspect of the work?

I became keen on glass when I was a second-year student and did an internship at Neman Glassworks, where I first tried my hand at making items from glass. My final paper was devoted to stained glass windows. After that, I wanted to work at the Neman Glassworks and become completely engaged in glass making. I left my well-established life in Minsk and spent 13 years in Berezovka.

A special attraction of our work is that you don’t know yourself what the result will be. Sometimes we sit and watch master craftsmen at work. If something they are working on goes wrong, they throw it away, but we may notice that the piece is very interesting and can be polished and improved. Then we sit and imagine what it could be like. We go back to the craftsmen and have them take another look at the piece. They think it strange that what they considered to be defective and a waste could have an experimental significance for us. Gradually, they become involved too and begin to prompt us with their own ideas, creating an endless symbiosis. We became good friends with

them. Finally, a complete set of glassware appears and everyone is surprised at how it happened. Of course, it’s the result of sleepless nights and constant, dissatisfied searching…

Experiments with glass are a symbiosis of creativity and hard work, aren’t they?

Yes, getting an item of glass into the desired shape is undoubtedly hard work. My life changed drastically. I had to wake up at 6am to start blowing at 7am. The factory had a schedule and our workers had to work to that schedule. I had to arrive by 7am and bring some creative ideas and watch to see whether the master craftsmen could create what I had in mind. We had an irregular working day and could sometimes work in the workshops until 10pm. It was a hard job for me.

Moreover, all our pieces were sent to exhibitions, so we had to copy them endlessly. The exhibitions took place in Moscow, Minsk, Leningrad, Grodno and Lithuania.

The search for new techniques, textures and methods has gradually brought Ms. Malysheva to her individual style. One of her favourite works — Architectonics — is inspired by her observation of rain drops. They fly, fall and finally reach the surface, producing big and small spirals. This artwork also uses primarily architectural principles, with seven shades of colour honouring the richest palette at the Neman Glassworks.

Do you feel that you could help, with your advice and knowledge, those who would like to develop these ideas?

During the thirteen years I spent at the Neman Glassworks, several students used to visit us each spring. They came from Armenia, the Baltic States, Leningrad, Page

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Moscow and Minsk. I tried to pass on my experience over a space of two months, which was the amount of time the students had to prepare a term paper or final paper. We helped many students and even now I help as much as I can. For example, Lena Atrashkevich, who teachers at the Academy of Arts, organised the first international glass-blowing symposium at the Neman Glassworks. Twenty-four artists attended, including seven from Minsk. One came from Hungary, two from Lithuania and two from Latvia. Several master craftsmen came from Leningrad, and some represented the Moscow school. During the symposium we got on well and had the opportunity to work with the craftsmen, capturing the process on film. Each of us had half a day to work with the craftsmen. Can you imagine that we were able to bring to life within just four hours that which had taken several months to prepare?

Ms. Malysheva’s talent comes easily today and she shares her experience with students. Moreover, she’s personally participated in the Triennial and her works truly stood out.

Among the exhibition participants were also artists whose works decorate the Independence Palace, the National Library, the Mir Castle and other well-known Belarusian objects.

Galina Krivoblotskaya was one of them. At the Palace of Arts, her jubilee show of tapestry — In Search of Spring — attracted much attention.

Actually, Ms. Krivoblotskaya’s tapestry impresses with diverse themes — depicting flora and fauna, as well as cosmic improvisations. Some focus on chamber problems, while others reflect largescale problems of our modern life. In her works, Galina widely

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uses allegory, associations and generalisation. Her Dialogue with Nature series, as well as such pieces as The Day, Spring Comes, Miraculous Tree, Steps of Quivering Fallow Deer, Joy-RainbowParadise are among them. The master sensitively reacts to the life of our society, responding to its problems and crises — as seen from her Requiem: Trostenets (devoted to the Great Patriotic War drama) and The Path (inspired by the Chernobyl disaster).

Ms. Krivoblotskaya is evidently a person who well understands her ethnic, national roots and realises a high level of the national ethno-culture — as proved by her Poet’s Cradle (dedicated to Yanka Kupala’s 100th birthday), Lyutinka (which is an artistic view on Dunin-Marcinkiewicz’s estate) or Zaslavl Melodies (celebrating Zaslavl’s 100th anniversary). The author is captured by deep personal emotions, human vibrations and movements. With this in mind, all her works irradiate worry over the cataclysms which occur in our nature and minds these days (The Day, Steps of Quivering Fallow Deer). Ms. Krivoblotskaya expressively feels sorrow for the tragedies which she personally experienced (Sorrow, That’s All). Meanwhile, the master’s accumulated experience enables her to focus on monumental forms — truly large-scale in size and sense.

Ms. Krivoblotskaya’s works are kept at Belarus’ National Art Museum, Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum, National History Museum, funds of the Belarusian Union of Artists, Zaslavl’s Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve, Vitebsk’s Art Museum, Gomel’s Vashchenko Picture Gallery, Hajnowka’s Museum of Belarusian Culture (Poland), Moscow’s Museum of Contemporary Art and private collections in Belarus and abroad.

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It’s not easy for contemporary painters to make their own path; they have to prove themselves against the stiffest competition. Sometimes, technical progress ‘overloads’ them as they try to make a name for themselves in art. As a result, their work becomes non-expressive, without underlying thought. Only the talented and gifted can break through the high-tech web to surprise us with their archaic or naive style. Only later do we begin to understand that everything is as it should be.

Really, Belarusians are strong in art — including fine arts. This globally known fact is well proved by international recognition; our masters’ works are kept in domestic museums and foreign galleries. However, little is known of Belarusian posters which actually have a century old history. The Republic Art Gallery of the Belarusian Union of Artists also hosted the 100 Years to Belarusian Poster exposition, celebrating 100th anniversary since the appearance of the first printed Belarusian poster.

As other fine arts genres, the Belarusian poster has its own traditions and peculiarities of historical development. It roots back to the 16th-17th century when engravings (informing on scientific or other discussions) were released as plates with a text.

Among the first such engraving-posters were Frantsisk Skorina’s Panegyric of Skarulsky Brothers (engraved in 1604 in Nesvizh).

Famous artist Yazep Drozdovich was among the founders of the Belarusian poster. Zair Azgur, Ivan Akhremchik, Yevgeny Zaitsev and Anatoly Volkov worked much in this genre during

the Great Patriotic War. After the war, the art of posters continued developing and, in 1948, the 1st Republican Contest of Posters was organised. In 1961, a club of posters began its work and, in 1966, Agitplakat association was founded by the BSSR Union of Artists which united many talented poster painters. The genre was on the high in Belarus in the 1970s1990s, with Arlen Kashkurevich and Vladimir Tsesler being most active poster authors.

In the late 20th-eraly 21st century, the Belarusian State Arts Academy’s Design Department opened a new chair: Graphic Design. Methods of poster art teaching have yielded fruits: in a recent decade, many young poster painters have won international poster contests and biennales. With this in view, the recent show aimed to demonstrate the development of poster art in the recent century. Pleasingly, its organisers met the goal, creating a truly impressive exposition panorama.

By Viktor Mikhailov

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ARENA

Invitation to the ice...

Belarusian sports amateurs are no longer surprised at new facilities being built, since arenas and stadiums have been springing up annually for some time. However, the cutting of the ribbon at Chizhovka-Arena has been awaited with impatience, being one of the venues for the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship.

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longside Minsk Arena, the foremost venue, the new building is to host the strongest teams on the planet. The arena may still smell of paint, but it’s now ready to be the focus of the world’s attention.

Official Information

Alexander Ruzhechka

Chizhovka-Arena’s future will comprise of ice hockey matches, figure skating and short track speed skating competitions and other ice sport events. Of course, it can also be easily converted for other games and sports — such as weightlifting, gymnastics, boxing and, even,

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musical concerts. According to the Canadian company which transforms the largest arena in the USA in this way — Madison Square Garden, in New York — it takes just two hours from start to finish.

Chizhovka-Arena has eight locker rooms, offering the latest conveniences.

The small arena is intended for training students of our sports schools, as well as for figure skating. Between the arenas are a press centre, a conference hall and

a zone for leisure and entertainments.

Besides bowling, billiards and saunas, there are cafes and restaurants, and a wonderful spectator area, with huge windows.

The name Chizhovka-Arena is the working name for the site but will soon be changed, reflecting perhaps the name of one of the financial sponsors, as declared by Yunost club, for whom the sports centre will be the home arena. Most large arenas

ARENA worldwide follow a similar route.

Several large enterprises took part in helping build the sports complex, so the choice remains open to speculation.

Unique The Chizhovka site is truly unusual in appearance, having changed design several times since the initial stage. An Arabian company was the first to prepare the site, which is the second largest in the country. However, the design offered by the eastern architects was set aside, in favour of a modernised copy of the sports complex in Bobruisk, thanks to Belpromproekt enterprise. The result is a wonderful decoration for our beautiful capital and a welcome addition to the district, which has rather lacked sports facilities for young people. The entertainment centre, with its selection of shops rivalling the Belarus Department Store, is sure to prove popular.

The arena is opening in two stages, with only one of two bridged flying

36,000 8,000

square metres: the arena area

and 500: the number of seats around the big and small ice rinks

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: the number of locker rooms, equipped to the latest world standards

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million Dollars: the cost of building the sports

saucers currently open to the public. The smaller of the two is already welcoming guests for group figure skating. Once the whole site has launched, it will be,

without exaggeration, the centre of life in this part of the city. The district is being transformed, having once been considered ‘remote’. Its park on the banks of the reservoir has also been rejuvenated and Tashkentskaya Street, which leads to the city centre, has been widened, to aid traffic flow. Guests of the 2014 World Championship will be able to travel to Minsk’s second largest arena within a few minutes, as will city residents.

Round the ice Hockey players and fans have waited the opening of the arena eagerly, as have other sports enthusiasts. The capital has lacked venues of sufficient size to host European level events. Now, basketballers, handballers and, even, representatives of bandy are keen to use the new facilities.

Young handballers opened the gym; however, M i n s k ’s volleyballers are to take up

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ARENA

Yevgeny Vorsin, the Chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation, tells us, “In applying to host the World Ice Hockey Championship, our country had some serious competition, with our victory in many respects inspired by our plans to build the second largest arena in the capital. I’m sure that it will be in demand even after the World Championship. It may be problematic to fill the stands but it has a unique location and fans are sure to appreciate its facilities.”

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permanent residence: men’s squad Stroitel and Minchanka — a women’s team. Both play at a high European level but, until now, have been training and playing national matches in the small hall of the College of Arts and Crafts. Volleyball Director Alexander Mishin is a regular visitor to Chizhovka Arena already, attending frequently over the past month to try and remove any inconveniences. He tells us, “The gym is excellent: perfectly suited to the needs of our Belarusian players. We can only express our thanks. Nevertheless, certain elements still need completion — such as flooring and other technical matters.”

Both of the arena’s halls are designed to host

Alexander Ruzhechka

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competitions but a few shortcomings still need to be fixed by January, in time for the traditional Christmas hockey tournament organised by the President.

It may be a ‘baptism of fire’.

Children Yunost club emblem is now on show over the central entrance to the arena.

Of course, besides being a professional team, it runs one of the strongest c h i l d r e n‘s

sports schools countrywide, as the Deputy Director General of HC Yunost-Minsk, Igor Molchanov, underlines. He sees the new complex as the last brick in creating an independent system of sports training for Belarus.

“After the transfer of ChizhovkaArena’s ownership to the club, the total number of students at Yunost school will be about 570, all enjoying amazing facilities. Most of the locker rooms at the small arena will be for children, including showers, tools for sharpening skates, and drying rooms for uniforms and equipment. There will even be TVs for analysing play. There’s no doubt that other teams in the Belarusian championship will envy Yunost’s training facilities,” Mr. Molchanov emphasises.

Just a few hundred metres from the new arena, a hotel has been reconstructed, with one floor being set aside for our hockey players’ accommodation.

Besides training at Chizhovka Arena, sportsmen will have close access to the two other ice arenas in Minsk — in Gorky Park and in Pritytsky Street. The arrangement makes sense on many levels and is considered to be the most effective solution.

By Dmitry Komashko

INTELLIGIBLE DIALOGUE

Uniformed students with shoulder stars Minsk’s police and rescue services take English classes in the evenings, to help guests attending Minsk’s 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship

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h e f ore i g n l a n g u a g e class I sat in was unlike any ot he r I’ve s e e n , catering for two dozen uniformed policemen in a spacious room at Minsk’s gymnasium, at 6pm. Makarov guns were visible on holsters and handcuffs hung on belts but English language teacher Nadezhda Kuruleva remained unconcerned. She doesn’t care how many stars her students bear on their shoulders, focusing only on helping them learn them to speak and think in the language of coming fans.

The lesson began with checking of homework. Naturally, the lessons include knowledge of specialised vocabulary: ‘judge’, ‘arrest’, ‘sentence’, ‘robbery’ and ‘thief ’. “Wonderful, my dears!” Nadezhda

smiled, and split her class into two groups: the first were to be witnesses to a bank robbery while the second would be policemen, questioning in order to compile an identikit. It was a successful activity and is sure to prove useful.

The second part of the lesson focused on applied language knowledge, with pupils needing to clearly explain to foreigners how to reach the National Library, Minsk Arena or the National Art Museum. All know the route in Russian but it’s a challenge to translate into English. Laughter came easily. After nearly five minutes of trying to receive directions, one ‘military-foreigner’ sighed and offered his thanks, before saying goodbye!

Pocket phrasebooks edited by the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Academy

have been handed out to each of the 400 students, featuring phrases to cover greetings and pleasantries, as well as practical information — such as requests for documents and tickets. Each Russian transcription is accompanied by an English translation. The aim is for the students to help guarantee security at the 2014 Ice Hockey Championship, as well as at Minsk’s hockey arenas and hotels.

‘101’ dispatchers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Centre of Operative Management are in their third year of studying English, being taught to make the right decisions in emergency situations and respond in English. Dispatcher Tatiana Pavlyuchuk tells us, “Twelve of the Centre’s 15 dispatchers have received their foreign language certificates, having learnt the right vocabulary to deal with emergencies and disasters. Each of the five dispatches on each shift can now advise on what should be done if a thermometer is broken, or if someone is stuck in a lift or lost in the city. If something new emerges, we have phrasebooks on our tables to help. During the European Cycling Championship, senior students from the Linguistic University worked alongside us as volunteers; however, we didn’t receive any serious calls from foreigners. We had a few calls asking how to switch on Wi-Fi in their hotel room!”

Since July, Minsk’s rescuers have been receiving calls from the European number: 112. It’s likely that the service will prove popular among guests during the Championship. To ensure its proper operation, dozens of volunteers will come to the Centre from the Linguistic University (on days when national teams arrive). The Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Press Secretary, Vitaly Novistky, tells us, “A special phrasebook has been compiled for the World Championship, soon to be distributed to all district and regional departments.”

In addition to rescuers and policemen, Minsk National Airport employees are learning English — as are taxi drivers, and public catering and hotel staff.

By Sergey Ivanov

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CULINARY TRADITIONS

Belarusian cuisine: yesterday and today

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th century artist Ivan Khrutsky loved to paint still-life works, especially featuring fruit. If we care to purchase grapes, apples and plums, distributing them across various bowls and plates, we can recreate some of his pictures! Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to recreate Belarusian cuisine from those times based on his canvases; we’d certainly be limited to desserts.

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Recently a fundamental book of traditional recipes was republished: Lithuanian Cook. First distributed in the 19th century, it served to help housewives in Lithuania and Belarus (referring to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania). Of course, our two countries share a common cuisine.

In Vilnius, you can easily order kolduny (large meat dumplings) or draniki (potato pancakes). Such dishes are also found in Germany, where sausages with cabbage are similarly a staple. In Poland and Western Belarus, stewed cabbage and meat is called bigos. The Germans may like to lay claim to inventing the dish but, naturally, many other nations would say the same. Perhaps it matters not, as long as cuisine is tasty and healthy.

According to experts, modern Belarusian cuisine is notable for its great variety of cooking methods: blanching, stewing, roasting, boiling or, sometimes, all the above! Recipes are designed to be less oily than in the early 19th century,

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Still-life with food and allow for great creativity. It’s impossible to prepare food in exactly the same way as our ancestors since many indigenous Belarusian products — such as turnips and stewed beans — have disappeared, and our cereals are quite different today. However, some foods remain the same: cabbage, buckwheat and pumpkin pancakes, trickled pastries, pickled products, berry fruit liqueurs, home-made sausages, suet, baked juicy meats and, of course, not forgetting the magnificent potato! Belarusians today eat about 174kg of potatoes annually (half a kilogramme daily). As for meat, Belarusians eat poultry and pork more often than beef or lamb.

Returning to the traditions of cooking, Alexander Belyi is an expert on ancient recipes, having been studying ethnic cuisine for many years. As to why Belarus has more sushi bars than other examples of foreign cuisine, he tells us, “Japanese and Italian dishes have gained

CULINARY TRADITIONS popularity in our country over the last decade because of rising standards of living. People have more disposable income and these eating options tend to be more affordable. It’s an age-old process, absorbing dishes from other countries, gradually making them our own. Draniki went to Germany from our lands, thanks to Jewish innkeepers. Knysh (a stuffed pie) — beloved of Belarusians and Ukrainians — arrived in the USA thanks to Jewish emigrants, becoming a fast food staple. Meanwhile, potato kishka (gut) is very popular in Poland; the word itself is Belarusian, not Polish.”

You may find, on trying foreign dishes, that cuisine has been inspired by familiar Belarusian recipes; it’s an infinite process of exchange! In fact, the Euro-commission has put Lithuanian curd cheese on the list of protected products. Prepared by pushing the curd through muslin sacks, knotted at the wide end to create a ‘cone’, the cheese appears in a wedge shape: klinkovyi (wedge-formed cheese).

Belarusian villagers still make this home-made cheese, hanging the bags in their kitchens, as their grandmothers did before them.

 There are few restaurants serving Belarusian cuisine abroad but one is in New York: Syabry, owned by Alexander Malkeyev, from Gomel.

He founded his restaurant eight years ago, although he has been in the USA for a quarter of a century.

He is self-taught and employs cooks from all over the world, such as Juan from Mexico, who prepares cottage cheese pancakes.

Most customers order food to be

Although Lithuanians tend to think of the cheese as their own, even the Adyghe, living in the mountainous Adygei Region, in the Russian North Caucasus, make a similar cheese. Kindred to the Abkhazians, they usually serve klinkovyi (or adygei) cheese as their first course.

Having tasted it, I can say that it’s very similar to Belarusian curd cheese, despite being made thousands of kilometres apart. It’s as if the people of Earth live on a wheel, inventing dishes independently and simultaneously, so that all believe they have the true origin of the recipe.

Interestingly, Poland is known for its ‘senkach’ pastry cake (meaning ‘knots’).

In Lithuania, they call it ‘šakotis’ (also ‘knots’). It’s even found in the Grodno Region of Belarus, being called baumkuchen (indicating German origin).

Clearly, products can be almost identical, with only real gourmets able to discern the differences. In order to see taste the subtleties of Belarusian cuisine, by region, it’s great to visit the various gastronomic festivals, which are held throughout the year.

The C her r y Fest iva l in Glubokoe lasts a whole week, featuring a fair, a food-tasting event and a scientific conference. 2013 saw the unveiling of 2m tall Vishenka (Cherry), created by Vitebsk sculptor Ivan Kazak: a cylindrical pedestal in the form of a trunk, crowned by a branch bearing ripe cherries. The Glubokoe District is long famous delivered: a service given free of charge. The phone rings every five minutes with orders for tasty draniki, mochanka, kolduny and borsch. The restaurant is clearly popular. Alexander asserts that his business is more a labour of love than a source of great income, telling us that serving American style food would generate greater revenue. However, he prefers making draniki to hamburgers!

for its cherry orchards, first introduced

by Boleslav Lapyr, who brought back seedlings from Poland for his garden.

From there, they spread to local farmsteads, and to the whole region.

Each year, in Polesie’s Motol, gourmets gather from across Europe, America and Israel for the Motol Delicacies Festival.

Jewish cuisine is served and master-classes are organised by well-known culinary specialists from Israel, as the village was once a large centre of Judaic culture.

The international musical-sports holiday Big Bard-Fishing, which is held in the Bykhov District, sees the largest volume of fish soup served in the world, using a pan able to hold almost 5,000 litres! The fish is local, from Lyuban farm, and locals donate onions and herbs from their kitchen gardens.

Meanwhile, in the Volozhin District, agro-eco-farmsteads serve organic produce, grown in the heart of the Nalibokskaya Pushcha. The route begins with a visit to the World of Bees museum, where owner Vasily Frolov invites you to sample his honey. At Martsinova Gus farmstead, you can meet Alexander Belyi, who serves dishes once beloved of 19th century aristocrats.

Rogachev is home to condensed milk production, although the delicious delicacy is also made in Glubokoe and is just as tasty in my opinion. Rogachev recently unveiled a 4m tall condensed milk sculpture, marking the 75th anniversary of the town’s Milk Canning Plant.

It is the first such of its kind worldwide.

You could easily spend a whole holiday travelling the length and breadth of Belarus, seeking out delicious dishes.

However, if long trips are not your thing and you like to cook at home, try watching Belarusian Cuisine on the Belarus 2 TV channel, on Saturdays.

Yelena Spiridovich, the well-known star of the show, demonstrates how to recreate ancient recipes in your own kitchen, while historian Larisa Metlevskaya and head cook Vartan Sanamyants share their insights. Bon appetit, or, in Belarusian, ‘smachnoga’!

By Viktor Korbut

2013 беларусь.belarus

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Award box expanded with bronze Ilya Volkov comes third at Junior Eurovision-2013

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ate in the evening, on November 30th, the winner of the International Junior Eurovision Song Contest was announced in Kiev. Belarus — long recognised as a leading European ‘forge’ of strongvoiced starlets — again confirmed its title as an unofficial leader of the competition.

Unlike our adult performers, who are yet to exceed Dmitry Koldun’s 6th place, our young talents are rarely out of the

Eurovision top five. Belarus has already earned two gold, one silver and one bronze at the junior event.

This year, Ilya Volkov, aged 11, took bronze with his rendition of Sing With Me (his own melody and lyrics). In second place was Ukraine’s Sofia Tarasova, and Gaia Cauchi, also aged 11, from Malta, took first prize.

Sadly, the European organisers are concerned that, each year, the number of participating states falls significantly — down from 16 countries in the first year to just 12 in 2013. Perhaps a lack of high-budget sponsors has led to Junior Eurovision’s failure to expand its geography. Television companies organising national selection rounds foot the bill. The Belarusian State TV and Radio Company spares no trouble nor expense in preparing young artistes, which may be a reason for our success, appreciating that Eurovision is one of the few major opportunities for worldwide promotion. We have rather succeeded in this at Junior Eurovision, especially thanks to Ksenia Sitnik’s 2005 win and that of Alexey Zhigalkovich in 2007. Belarusian performers have also claimed one second, one bronze, one fourth and one fifth place.

Russia gave Belarus the greatest number of points (12) while Malta and Moldova both gave 10 points and Ilya received 8 points from the Netherlands, Georgia and Ukraine.

Macedonia gave Belarus 7 points, while San Marino, Armenia and Azerbaijan gave 6 points and Sweden 5 points.

By Yuliana Leonovich

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