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Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

Where there is bread, there is song

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Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 3 (978), 2015 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

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

Algorithm of mutual interest

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

Serious investors always come with good support Belarus keen to continue

co-operation with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Mission for development This year, the United Nations marks its 70th Anniversary. Belarus-UN interaction boasts a rich biography, as we’ll explore in coming issues

Spring arrives early

Talent and kindness create a miracle Although rarely found on TV or in glossy magazines, women’s work is essential to our modern culture of behaviour

Kilobytes for school exercise book

Movement to knowledge

No escape for illness thanks to stem cells Republican Scientific Medical Centre for Cell Technologies receives first patients

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Dishes according to ancient recipes The village of Motol, located in Brest Region, is known for its Museum of Bread, as well as for baking buckwheat and millet on the stove

Fashion for taste

History peeps out of windows Sergey

Baglasov has spent more than 30 years always busy — on architectural projects, corrections, and their realisation

Conversations between countrymen Local historian Ales Zaiko collects language traditions of residents of Ivatsevichi District

“Raubichi” confirmed the class

Seeing the world through goggles Soon the fans of young, yet enjoyed by many Belarusians style in art — ‘steampunk’ — will demonstrate their works at Minsk’s Centre of Modern Art

54 When colour tells of grief or pleasure

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish. Distributed in 50 countries of the world. Final responsibility for factual accuracy or interpretation rests with the authors of the publications. Should any article of Беларусь.Belarus be used, the reference to the magazine is obligatory. The magazine does not bear responsibility for the contents of advertisements.

Publisher: “SB” editorial office This magazine has been printed at State Entertainment “Publishers “Belarus Printing House”. 79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No. 714 Total circulation — 1884 copies (including 724 in English).

Write us to the address: 11 Kiselyov Str., Minsk, Belarus, 220029. Tel.: +375 (17) 290-62-24, 290-66-45. Tel./Fax: +375 (17) 290-68-31. www.belarus-magazine.by E-mail: mail@belarus-magazine.by Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977 For future foreign subscribers for ‘Belarus’ magazine, apply to ‘MK-Periodica’ agency. E-mail: info@periodicals.ru Telephone in Minsk: +375 (17) 227-09-10.

editor's note

Eternal Values

hat do we most value? We might declare that nothing is more precious than human life. Of course, few would disagree. In this respect, we feel the horror of the military conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. Until recently, the idea would have seemed no more than a dreadful nightmare; now it is reality. Close by, thousands of peaceful citizens are dying: children, women and the elderly. May God grant Minsk the initiative to find a peaceful resolution to the military conflict in Ukraine. We hope it is crowned with success, since life has eternal value on Earth. Meanwhile, we praise those who risk their life in the struggle against epidemics, those who help the poor and hungry, and those who work towards preventing military conflict around the globe. The United Nations Organisation, which now celebrates its 70th anniversary, retains its authority. Belarus-UN close co-operation boasts a rich biography, as we’ll explore over coming issues. This month, read the first instalment in Mission for Development. Bread being the stuff of life, was worth its weight in gold during the siege of Leningrad. It was the saviour and the benchmark for well-being and labour achievements. For a long time, agricultural reports detailed how much ‘bread’ had been harvested. Even today, it’s not easy to make a good loaf, despite our modern technologies. The profession of bread maker is revered even in our high-tech age. People often say: ‘Praise the hands which smell with bread’, adding that ‘If there’s bread there will be song!’ Bread is at the heart of society, life and celebration. You can read about the Museum of Bread in Belarusian Polesie, in the village of Motol, which is certainly worth a visit, to learn recipes of Polesie bread baking. Motol’s karavai (wedding loaf) traditions, handed from generation to generation, are being submitted as part of Belarus’ intangible treasure and may yet attain UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This issue of our magazine also offers insight into Doktoro Esperanto. A memorial plaque on the facade of an old building long served as the only reminder of the wellknown founder of Esperanto, Ludwik Zamenhof, who once

lived in Grodno. The house of Doktoro Esperanto, as he is known around the world, stood deserted for ten years, until local entrepreneur Nikolay Shamin claimed the building, being fascinated by its former resident. The house has been reconstructed with maximum authenticity, and Nikolay now intends to open an exhibition devoted to the founder of this still popular language. The south-eastern region of Belarus, Gomel Region, is known for its untouched landscapes, powerful industrial potential and unique ancient traditions, as you can read in Spring Arrives Early. Its magnificent Pripyatsky National Park is one of the most popular tourist sites in Belarus, being rich in flora and fauna, huge marshes, wide meadows, oak trees and broad-leafed woods. It is the ‘Belarusian Amazonia’. The ‘lungs of Europe’ are home to the largest forestmarsh complex on the continent, enriching the air with oxygen. Meanwhile, its oak groves are unique in Eastern Europe in structure and diversity. Pripyatsky National Park also has international status as a key ornithological territory, boasting 256 species of birds: of these, 65 are listed in the Red Book of Belarus. Its flood plain is the largest migratory channel for birds crossing Europe, inspiring ornithologists to visit from every corner of the globe. In addition, the reserve is home to wild boar, elk, fallow deer, red deer, hares, foxes, muskrats, raccoon dogs, beavers, and rare aurochs, European minks and lynx, badgers, and both edible and garden dormice. The wilderness brings us a unique outdoor experience, and visitors can also enjoy Pripyatsky’s Museum of Nature, which portrays the landscapes of Belarusian Polesie, with inhabitants, at various times of the year: large hoofed animals, insects, reptiles and amphibians, and a herbarium of rare Belarusian flora. The hall of Polesie folk customs and history includes a traditional home from the region. By Viktor Kharkov

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Panorama  81 percent of Russians sympathise with Belarus

Index of positive attitudes, the year of 2015 (%)

Belarus ready for mutual visa abolition with Republic of Korea

Israel

81 80 China

Belarus

The European Union

Levada Centre poll, devoted to Russians’ international sympathies and antipathies elarus tops the countries towards which Russians feel kindly, with China in the second position, receiving 80 percent of positive reviews. Just 11 percent of Russians feel badly towards Belarus, and 8 percent feel similarly towards China. Meanwhile, 55 percent of Russians declare a positive attitude towards Israel. Interestingly, Russians are now demonstrating less interest in the West: in early 2014, 51 percent of respondents felt positively towards western states, but the figure has now fallen to 20 percent. Just 24 percent of Russians sympathise with Ukrainians (against 26 percent in early 2014).

 Activating contacts

Over 50 percent of Russians believe that their country is a rival or an enemy to the West and 56 percent consider that Russia needs to strengthen its relations with the Muslim world.

he Foreign Ministry of Belarus has confirmed its readiness for the mutual abolition of short-term visas with the Republic of Korea. The proposal to submit a bilateral visa abolition agreement was made during the 8th round of Belarus-South Korea ministerial consultations, hosted by Seoul. Acute issues of Belarusian-Korean relations and those relating to the international agenda came under discussion, with mutual progress in the trade-economic, investment, science, technology and IT spheres highlighted. Talks also focused on prospects for interaction and integration within the Eurasian space.

 Higher school at highest level Head of Education Department of Council of Europe, Sjur Bergan, rates Belarus’ chance of joining Bologna Process as ‘high’

 Diamond research 2014 among most successful in the National Academy of Sciences’ history

ast year, 19 agreements were signed with foreign innovative centres and $6m of contracts were concluded: almost $1.5m more than in 2013. In addition, $1.65bln of products were established under state sci-tech programmes. Belarusian scientists discovered a method

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of creating diamond-based quantum computers and defined a new marker for thyrocele, making it possible to further plan its treatment. They have also gained understanding of why people cease breathing during sleep. Some developments have been acknowledged globally and, in late 2014, a special super-conducting resonator was developed: a key element of the International Linear Collider, which should help us to learn more about our Universe.

r. Bergan was part of a recent delegation from Bologna visiting Minsk. He noted that the visit would not have been made had Belarus’ potential membership been unlikely. A number of meetings took place with representatives of Belarusian institutions of higher education (chancellors and students) and there was a meeting with the Minister for Education, Mikhail Zhuravkov. Mr. Bergan explained that the delegation sought information on Belarus’ higher education system, which he already views as having competent experts who have offered their opinions in a ‘friendly and open’ manner. He believes that much has changed for the better over the past three years, since Belarus submitted its first application.

UNION OUTLOOKS

Algorithm of mutual interest Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin discuss prospects for Union State development

he President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has recently taken part in a meeting of the Union State’s Supreme State Council held in Moscow. He also met the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to discuss topical issues concerning our bilateral co-operation and the development of integration processes. The Supreme State Council’s session was originally planned for late 2014 but had to be postponed. As the Eurasian Economic Union has begun to implement its agreements, issues concerning integration priorities have emerged. There are those who believe that the Eurasian vector is more topical at present and that the format of two states would be to risk returning to the mistakes of the past, but this view fails to consider that the EurAsEC made way for the Eurasian Economic Union when the latter became more advanced. As regards the Union State, such a shift hardly seems possible in the future. Apart from economics, the two-sided union enjoys defence integration, political co-ordination of action (including in the international arena) and interaction in the field of social guarantees. It would take a considerable length of time for the Eurasian

Economic Union to reach a level of this kind; accordingly, there is no alternative now to the Union State as a flag bearer of post-Soviet integration. This is confirmed by the agenda of the top-level talks held in the Kremlin. At the start of the first meeting of the Belarusian and Russian presidents, Mr. Putin stressed that different integration configurations do not exclude each other. In turn, Mr. Lukashenko noted that the time has come to formalise all agreements achieved last year in the Union State format. To open the Moscow meeting, the Belarusian Head of State highlighted the importance of the Supreme State Council’s session, “Last December, we discussed our relations with Kazakhstan, mostly in the economic sphere. We expanded the Eurasian Economic Union as Kyrgyzstan and Armenia joined us. We have previously discussed these topics at our meetings in Sochi and Minsk. Now we have an opportunity to formalise our talks and negotiations and make some concrete decisions, vital to move the situation forward in the current climate.” Mr. Putin agreed, saying, “Much has been achieved in recent years but there is still work to be done. I’m now speaking of the establishment of a common market of Belarus and Russia and the creation of a Single Economic Space. However, the Union State also has issues

which need solutions, particularly as far as social issues are concerned.” Before the session, Mr. Lukashenko received a surprising honour when the Russian President awarded him with the Alexander Nevsky Order, a high award bestowed upon prominent Russian and foreign political figures and representatives of foreign businesses for their merits in co-operation with Russia and their contribution to its socio-economic development. The Supreme State Council session had over ten issues on the agenda. Among them were the results of the Belarusian-Russian trade collaboration in recent years and the fulfilment of the programme of co-ordinated foreign policy activities. As is traditional, the formation and spending of the Union State budget was debated: the new list of approved expenditure totals almost 5bn Russian Roubles (around 85 percent of the sum would be spent on the financing of 36 joint programmes and events). This time, the session had another important focus: an additional issue was put on the agenda dealing with the strengthening of the Belarusian and Russian governments’ efforts in enhancing bilateral trade co-operation. Recently, the issue of a possible loss of the Union State’s integration significance — against the background of the Eurasian Economic

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UNION OUTLOOKS

“The keynote of our event is that we’ve always been together in difficult times and at the present. We’ll jointly manage this difficult situation. Truly close nations and brothers act this way. The small minority who think that we are experiencing insurmountable problems can be reassured. In this current complicated situation, we know how to act and have already agreed to overcome it jointly, as is natural for fraternal nations”

Alexander Lukashenko

Union established in early 2015 — has been high on the agenda. But as Mr. Lukashenko explained, “We owe much to the Belarus-Russia Union, it has become an example while creating the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space and

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then the Eurasian Economic Union. As a result, we are now able to discuss the possible ‘integration of integrations’ and probably the expansion of the Eurasian Economic Union, primarily proceeding from its functions and authorities.”

The agreement on the establishment of the Union State was signed 15 years ago, the President stressed that it was a ‘landmark decision that did more than merely strengthen the strategic partnership of our fraternal nations’. As in any relations, economic co-operation faces problems from time to time. Mr. Lukashenko is convinced that our two countries have so greatly advanced in the issue of integration that it would be inexcusable ‘to lose forward momentum or create any barriers to further progress’. The Supreme State Council session had several stages and the adoption of priorities and the more important midterm tasks of the Union State were among the key issues. The 2014-2017 plan of action was briefly discussed and, according to the Belarusian President, “Our governments have worked on the document for a long time. It aims to define the steps for the Union State project to receive new dynamics and clear focuses for further development.” Mr. Lukashenko also spoke about bilateral trade co-operation, “Sadly, our turnover has fallen slightly in the last two years. An unfavourable foreign economic situation is the main reason for this. However, we may be blamed for creating some tension in our trading relations and unbalance in economic policy. As a result, artificial barriers for the free movement of commodities are created. All these barriers must be lifted. We aim to do this, whilst also creating a single industrial policy and a single market. These meet our common interests and are of great importance for other integration projects.” Belarus and Russia have prepared a list of joint action to remove the existing barriers in mutual trade in both products and services. As Mr. Putin stressed, such measures ‘presuppose the expansion and participation of businesses in both states.’ According to the Russian President, Belarus leads among the CIS states concerning the volume of Russian capital investments: last year, they made $6.3bln. Belarus has also injected $2.3bln into the Russian economy. By Vasily Kharitonov

PRIORITIES

Continuing on the topic

Summarising the last meeting in Moscow, of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the President notes, “In this difficult situation, we know what to do and have agreed on solving it together, as befits fraternal peoples.” Such is the essence of the documents approved at the Kremlin.

riorities for further Union State development until 2017 include strategies for trade and economic co-operation and a clear, unified anti-crisis plan, aimed at minimising the negative effect of global shocks. Why is a common plan of action required? It’s understandably difficult, even for large countries, to withstand the world crisis alone. Our Belarusian and Russian economies are so closely interlinked that it’s impossible to work separately; to try and do so would bring only aggravation. Russia is responsible for just under 49 percent of Belarus’ foreign trade turnover, although our country has been working hard to find new markets, with some success. The Eastern vector remains foremost, and our country is one of Russia’s main trading partners (holding fifth position behind China, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy). Such mutual attachment explains our shared interest in furthering dynamic trade and economic co-operation. Our common anti-crisis strategy aims to maximise access to products and services for Belarus and Russia, across both markets: an area fraught with problems over recent months. Belarus appreciates the complexity of the situation in which the Russian Federation finds itself, having empathy with the sanctions bestowed on our partners. However, this should not af-

Belta

Strategy of mutual benefits fect our bilateral co-operation. We need a common approach to assessing the quality and safety of products, monitored at a higher level, to avoid discrepancies in departmental interpretations. Presumably, all these subtle nuances will be taken into account when implementing our governments’ common plan, in which we aim to help economic entities expand their provision of products and services for state needs: a superb tool to stimulate activity and support our enterprises in today’s unfavourable global market. Also significant is the promotion of investment co-operation: a trend evinced equally on both sides: last year $6.26 billion of Russian investments came to Belarus, matched by an impressive $2.25 billion from Belarus into Russia. We could list many examples since no sphere exists in which we fail to cooperate. Importantly, Belarus and Russia view each other as mutually valuable partners. Vladimir Putin’s award of the Alexander Nevsky Order upon Alexander Lukashenko (for helping improve the social and economic development of Russia) is a bright touch. Of course, cooperation between our two countries is of mutual benefit and is more vital than ever in times of crisis. Undoubtedly, our efforts will bring new profitability. By Dmitry Kryat

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CONCEPTION OF RELATIONSHIPS

Serious investors always come with good support Belarus keen to continue co-operation with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

elarus has already received 1.65bn Euros for the implementation of investment projects. A new strategy of interrelations with the EBRD is being elaborated for 2016-2018, as announced at a meeting between the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti. Mr. Lukashenko commented, “I’d like to ask the EBRD to consider removing all restrictions on co-operation with Belarus — especially in regard to state-owned enterprises — once they finish examining the situation in our country. The Government will show you state-owned enterprises so you can decide whether the bank can liaise with them on a wide range of issues.” He stressed that the Government will guarantee the reliability of any such collaboration. Mr. Lukashenko underlined that Belarus is ready to offer options and consider EBRD proposals to further interaction with Belarus and, perhaps, via Belarus with other states. The President of Belarus has suggested a number of new ‘in country’ projects to the EBRD, including investment into public utilities. He notes that Belarus has done much to reform this sector. Modernisation of public transport is another sphere of concern. As Mr.

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Lukashenko notes, “There is an outstanding situation regarding transit from east to west and vice versa, due to events in Ukraine. Belarus is the only safe and reliable route but the growing flow of transport via Belarus may overload our infrastructure. Accordingly, we are promptly modernising the transport system, both road and rail.” Besides making its request to the EBRD, Belarus has asked the World Bank to support this initiative and has been received favourably. The Head of State has asserted, “We could resolve this issue within two years. If we do not, the flow of transport via Belarus could be too high for us to handle in future.” The Belarusian President spoke of co-operation in agribusiness, noting, “We’ll be glad to see you interested

in such projects. I understand that no serious problems exist between us and I guarantee that it will be the same in the future. You won’t have problems co-operating with Belarus. If we agree, we’ll guarantee this collaboration on behalf of the state, will support it and will do our best to make this co-operation efficient and honest, as well as safe and free from corruption.” In his turn, the EBRD President mentioned that co-operation between the Bank and Belarus has been growing over the past three years, with the Bank investing over 700m Euros, despite restrictions. “I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve attracted good investors to Belarus,” noted Suma Chakrabarti, adding that he refers primarily to Stadler. He underlined that the Bank greatly appreciates the role played by Belarus and thanked both Mr. Lukashenko and nation at large for acting as an intermediary in regulating the situation in Ukraine. “This is the most important issue in the region. It greatly influences both the economy and politics,” said Mr. Chakrabarti, adding that the Bank highly appreciates the role played by the Belarusian side.” Mr. Lukashenko noted that Belarus is trying to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, with much work taking place ‘behind the scenes’. By Vasily Kharitonov

THE UN AND BELARUS

Mission for development This year, the United Nations marks its 70th Anniversary. Belarus-UN interaction boasts a rich biography, as we’ll explore in coming issues.

t present, the UN unites 193 countries and over 30 affiliated organisations. The goals of the United Nations were stated in the UN Charter after WWII and they still remain the same: to keep peace throughout the world; to develop friendly relations among nations; to help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms; to be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations to achieve these goals. The UN thus works in five main areas, namely Peace and Security; Development; Human Rights; International Law and Humanitarian Assistance. Though often perceived as predominantly focused on the first of the five, the UN development efforts are overarching. In over 170 countries of the world multiple agencies work to ensure sustainable development for better and dignified lives of people.

Belarus has been active in the United Nations from the very beginning — one of the 50 founding members to sign the Charter in San Francisco in 1945, but also the first post-Soviet state to open the UN representation on the ground in 1992. Today, the extended United Nations family in Belarus is represented by 13 entities — United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Na-

tions Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations High Commissioner on Refuges (UNHCR), United Nations Office for Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations De-

partment for Public Information (UN DPI), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Bank, International Financial Corporation (IFC), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and partnering International Organisation for Migration (IOM). These entities are united under the Resident Coordinator’s system to join their efforts and deliver tangible results. The cooperation between the UN and Belarus is twofold and mutually beneficial: whilst the UN provides assistance to Belarus (financial, expertise etc.), Belarus benefits from the UN in opening itself to the world and showcasing its achievements and aspirations. In the course of the past 20+ years the UN has collaborated with all sectors of the Belarusian society. One of the UN’s main advantages working here is the solid partnerships the organisation has built over the years. These partnerships are based on impartiality, mutual trust, transparency, efficiency and accountability. Working together with national — the Government, the

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE UN AND BELARUS

Family photo exhibition“Thousands of Discoveries” in Minsk organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

civil society and academia, the private sector and the Church — and international partners the organisation brings them together to make a real difference in people’s lives.

governance, local and regional development, tourism development, domestic violence, gender equality, child protection, people living with disabilities, Chernobyl and many more. There are over half a million people living with disabilities in the Republic of Belarus. The United Nations is working on supporting Belarus in acceding to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which has been ratified by 152 countries to date. In November 2014 Belarus hosted an international conference on juvenile justice. Child injuries are a very serious issue here in Belarus and the UN is working seriously with the Government and civil society on a policy level and towards implementation. A whole range of projects related to youth are currently on the forefront of UN’s agenda. 2015 is proclaimed the Year of Youth in Belarus and the UN has gladly joined in marking this year with a multifold of activities related to young people, including the ones from vulnerable groups. The UN in Belarus is launching a UN Youth Advisory Panel, a pioneering global initiative. It will consist of 15 young people from various backgrounds and social groups. These young Belarusians will

The cooperation between the UN and Belarus is twofold and mutually beneficial: whilst the UN provides assistance to Belarus (financial, expertise etc.), Belarus benefits from the UN in opening itself to the world and showcasing its achievements and aspirations The broad scope of joint UN’s areas of work includes, but not limited to, energy and environment, migration, human trafficking, refugees, health, HIV/ AIDS response, sustainable economic development, private sector and PPP,

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bring the youth voice to the work of the UN, at the same time ensuring that the interests and needs of young people are taken in consideration not only at the UN programmatic, but also at the national policy levels.

For many years a number of UN agencies have been partnering with Belarus on fighting the global challenge of human trafficking. The Country is an ardent advocate of this issue in the global arena. Upon the initiative of the Republic of Belarus the International Day for Human Trafficking was announced by the UN GA a year ago. The UN agencies work with victims of human trafficking, as well as building capacity of the law enforcement and other specialists on the ground. Historically refugees asking for asylum in Belarus come from Syria, Afghanistan and Africa, but in the light of the recent events, more than 30 thousand people came from Ukraine during the last year and require some form of assistance as well. UNHCR is the leading agency in working with refugees. And then of course there are such crucial and cross-cutting areas as environment and economic development. UN agencies, and UNDP in particular has had a number of projects aimed at improvement and assistance in these areas for many years. Belarus is known as the ‘lungs of Europe’. It still has more than 40 percent of forest cover, and Belarus takes environment protection quite seriously. The UN delivers assistance and partners with various stakeholders, including Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Energy Efficiency, environmental NGOs on climate change and environmental protection; biodiversity and waste management, environmental education and protection of water resources, environmental policies and resilient cities based on the principles of green economy. Concerning economic development, the UN is trying to help open up more space for the private sector to work in Belarus. As a former Soviet Union country, Belarus still has more than 60 percent of the economy controlled by the state. But the state recognises that there is a need now to expand the space for the private sector. The national capacities are built with the help from UN-supported expertise to develop an effectively functioning

THE UN AND BELARUS

UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Sanaka Samarasinha visits kindergarten in Vietka, Gomel Region’. EU-UNDP project “Area-Based Development of the Chernobyl-Affected Areas of Belarus”

mechanism of public-private partnership in Belarus. Speaking of environment and economic development one should not forget the long-standing problem of Chernobyl. Belarus is the country that was most affected by the Chernobyl disaster. It’s right by the border of Belarus and to this day there is 400 square kilometres of land which is considered an ‘exclusion zone’. And we’re still seeing of course many years later the consequences of Chernobyl on the people of Belarus: cancer cases have grown up 34 percent over

the last ten years. Affected livelihoods are evident not just in the exclusion zone but also in the surrounding areas. The UN has been helping the country to overcome the consequences of the disaster in many possible ways. 29 years after, there is still work to be done and things to be taken care of. Chernobyl-related goals are reflected among others in the next United Nations Development Assistance Framework. Healthcare being one the top national priorities, UN agencies are working with communicable diseases, in par-

Looking at the statistics, Belarus has done incredibly well in achieving almost all of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Fifteen years ago poverty was over 40 percent — now it’s 4 percent. School enrolment is over 99 percent. And Belarus has advanced 15 positions just in three years to become №53 in the Human Development Index in 2014

ticular tuberculosis and HIV/ AIDS, and non-communicable diseases. Over 6,000 people are provided with antiretroviral therapy preventing 4,000 new HIV cases and 2,000 AIDS deaths. 19 methadone substitution therapy points have been opened all over the country. Tuberculosis is threat that the global community has been fighting for years; owing to joint enhanced efforts in Belarus the annual drug susceptive TB rate has decreased by 1,000 and the mortality rate has dropped twice in the past five years. However, multi-drug resistant forms of tuberculosis remain a great challenge, as the rate is growing annually. So is the level of cardio-vascular diseases and cancer rates. High levels of tobacco and alcohol consumption, low popularity of healthy lifestyle are the fast increasing issues of concern for the nation. Looking at the statistics, Belarus has done incredibly well in achieving almost all of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Fifteen years ago poverty was over 40 percent — now it’s 4 percent. School enrolment is over 99 percent. And Belarus has advanced 15 positions just in three years to become №53 in the Human Development Index in 2014. Although many things have been achieved

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THE UN AND BELARUS

At the international conference “Strengthening Belarus-UN Development Cooperation: Results, New Perspectives and Emerging Opportunities”

through a successful partnership of Belarus and the UN, at the same time, like in many other upper-middle income countries, challenges remain and need to be urgently addressed. Acknowledging the results and assessing what yet has to be done, the UN stands ready to continue assisting the Republic of Belarus in its development efforts and aspirations. International Development Assistance is an important instrument for implementing socio-economic reforms to foster sustainable development of transition economies. But not only financial assistance — transferring expertise and exchanging knowledge is crucially important in 21st century. For countries like Belarus, in the regional and global context, horizontal partnerships are one the key tools that the UN sees successful for further programmatic strengthening and ensuring efficient delivery of results. Currently the Government of Belarus is finalising the development of its National Strategy for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development until 2030 which will determine the national priorities for the country for the next fifteen years. The UN in Belarus has been invited to assist the country in this

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Celebrations of the International Mother Earth Day at the Bartenikha depleted peatland (Volozhin District) — the place of implementation of the UNDP/GEF “Biodiversity” and “Peatlands-2” projects

process. The second United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2016-2020, which is currently being finalised, is aligned with the national development priorities identified by the country. It is also closely linked to the Post-2015 global agenda for development, aimed at providing support and assistance to the country in areas where it is most needed and protecting the most vulnerable groups of the Belarusian population. The drafting the UNDAF took most of 2014 and was based on an inclusive and participatory approach, involving national partners from all sectors. It culminated in a large scale international conference on “Strengthening Belarus — UN Development Co-operation: Results, New Perspectives and Emerging Opportunities” jointly organised in January by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the United Nations in Belarus The conference was attended by more than 250 people, including representatives of 22 UN agencies, international development partners from 39 countries, key national partners from 50 Government institutions and 30 NGOs, as well as representatives from the private sector, youth, academic institutions, national and international

banks. It was an excellent opportunity for a very diverse audience to be able to sit at one table and exchange their views, for international and national partners to discuss the practical aspects of delivering assistance to the country and to explore new modalities of cooperation for the coming years. Speaking at the Conference, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha, stressed: “The UN’s work in Belarus has and will continue to be about building partnerships that make the difference in the lives of people who most need us. I used to say that the United Nations is in some ways a window for the rest of the world to know Belarus as it really is. For Belarus it is as well — a window to the get to know the rest of the world. Belarus has a lot to offer to the global community and I hope that the United Nations system can help in this regard. But today I would also like to change that, because if it is a window — it makes you stay outside and looking in, or inside and looking out. I would like to suggest that the United Nations is actually an open door that will help people walk in and out and get to know each other as friends.” By Вениамин Михеев

BASIC VALUE

Towards human rights equality

Minsk is hosting a series of round table discussions on human rights, chaired by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, as part of the Public Dialogue project

uman rights are a basic tenet acknowledged by all democratic states. At present, all UN member states have ratified at least one of the nine major international agreements on human rights; many have adopted four or more — which indicates the generality of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, although these norms are fixed in national constitutions and legislative acts, in practical terms, many countries still find they have gaps in their implementation of the codes. So far, the Declaration’s goal has not been fully realised. Accordingly, we are constantly searching for ways to overcome obstacles to the full implementation of the human rights standards. The first Minsk meeting was devoted to the concept of human rights in the modern world — attracting representatives from the Foreign Ministry, academicians, international experts, journalists, students and post-graduates of the Belarusian State University.

The topic of the universality of human rights in the modern world — initiated by the UN Resident Co-ordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Belarus, Sanaka Samarasinha — aroused controversial discussion. According to Mr. Samarasinha, the debate on human rights is rooted in the cultural and historical traditions of different nations. “Opponents of universal standards of human rights assert that relations between the state and society should be guided exclusively by cultural traditions. These people state that traditions and cultural values are sufficient factors for the protection of human dignity. On hearing such claims, I say: if traditional culture makes it possible to ensure human dignity, then it can easily accept and realise human rights. However, in some countries, cultural traditions condone discrimination according to sex, race or other attributes. From the UN’s point of view, cultural traditions have no right to cause damage other people.” By Anastasiya Shoplya

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Greetings

Belta

State awards are a good present for women on March 8th holiday Representatives of a variety of professions attended the solemn event

Gratefulness and respect

om e n a c h i e v e success in every sector of the national economy, w it h m a ny of them holding leading positions — the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said as he presented the state awards on the eve of International Women’s Day. This spring event is always special as it marks International Women’s Day. “This holiday symbolises our profound respect to our mothers, wives, sisters and female colleagues,” the President said. “On this day, we thank you for your contribution to the development of modern Belarusian society, for the role you play in state construction, the economy, industry, culture and family. The eve of March 8th is a good occasion to honour our women for their outstanding achievements.” Representatives of a variety of professions were attending the solemn

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event. Mr. Lukashenko particularly praised medical workers: according to him, the latest achievements in Belarusian medicine would have been impossible without their professionalism and solicitous natures. He also stressed the importance of women’s successes in commerce and catering, communications, banking, the light and food industries. “Women are the heart of their families. Moreover, they are also the defenders of our motherland and promoters of peace and order in our society. At present, an increasing number of women find their vocation in the army, police, customs and the emergency services. Most public servants are also women.” he commented. Mr. Lukashenko believes that women play an important role in the development of education and science, physical training and sport, saying, “The outstanding sporting and scientific achievements of our women glorify the country.” The Pres-

ident thanked workers from the social service sector, as it is impossible to overestimate the role of women in matters of charity and helping those in need. “I thank you that you make our world better with your hard work, talent and kindness,” Mr. Lukashenko said. “In creative and public activities, in the manufacturing industry and public service you are the source of new ideas, a fount of creative force and you find optimal solutions in the most difficult situations. Whatever your professional achievements are, you never forget about the most important things, namely your families and the health and wellbeing of your kith and kin. You are the keepers of hearth and home,” he added. The President expressed hope that the state awards would be an appropriate Women’s Day present which will demonstrate the profound respect and love for all the women of Belarus. By Veniamin Mikheev

STRIKING EXAMPLES

Talent and kindness create a miracle Although rarely found on TV or in glossy magazines, women’s work is essential to our modern culture of behaviour

Zoya Kovalenko: book restorer

Of course, many are not only beautiful but talented professionally. Such women may seldom appear on TV or in magazines but they worthily represent our country in Belarus magazine, preserving our national cultural traditions, without which humankind might hardly exist. Belarus could hardly be imagined without these women. Here they are! Zoya Kovalenko brings books to life

Artur Prupas

ver y ye ar, B el ar us hosts several beauty pageants, with pretty new faces regularly appearing on our TV screens. W i t h spring in full swing, our streets are full of stunning ladies, turning gentlemen’s heads. If beauty saves the world, men should thank women for the care they take with their app e ar anc e, which pleases not only themselves but those a r o u n d them.

Everyone needs a doctor’s expertise from time to time, since our bodies age. Similarly, books are born as fresh editions but, over time, receive injury and wear, requiring assistance. Covers and pages may be stained or torn, meaning that emergency aid is needed. People tend to use glue or scotch tape but this isn’t ideal, creating more damage and failing to look neat. Books are more than a source of knowledge: they are cultural monuments and works of art. Sadly, only a few specialists are trained in restoring editions properly. Staff at the National Library enjoy restoring books but only a select few are admitted to its Department of Restoration and Conservation of Librarian Documents. Pleasingly, I had the chance to meet Zoya Kovalenko, who heads her department. It rather resembles a hospital, with laboratories and operating tables. Staff analyse, cut and place books on shelves, to ensure that ‘healing’ goes well. Afterwards, Кіраўнік дыпмісіі Яўген Шастакоў editions are returned to reading halls.

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STRIKING EXAMPLES rience, investigating the most popular programmes from past seasons: musical, psychological, entertaining and sporting. After looking at ratings, our creative team begins brainstorming. It’s not easy producing a TV project, as much knowledge and experience in the field of Belarusian television is needed. You need not only an interesting idea but a notion of how to bring it to the screen. Our team boasts psychologists, who forecast how viewers will respond to certain information or an entertainment idea.” Ms. Mikulskaya is so full of ideas that you can’t help but be intrigued by what she has planned. She is truly an enchantress, working her magic from the shadows. Vitaliy Gil

Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya: an expert on Marc Chagall Anzhelina Mikulskaya at the shooting stage

Ms. Kovalenko admits that restorers’ work never ends, telling us, “Almost each of the nine million books kept at the National Library needs repair.” She never wearies of bringing editions back to life, as she loves her job. She does feel anxious that only a few young people enter the profession, which hardly lures with large salaries. Here, inspiration reigns, as well as a feeling of duty. Who else would restore books if it were not for those like Ms. Kovalenko? All those borrowing editions from the National Library should remember that Ms. Kovalenko’s hands have held the pages.

Producer Anzhelina Mikulskaya, who heads the Directorate of Special Projects at the All-National TV Channel, never appears on screen, preferring to work behind the scenes. However, she’s a major miracle maker, telling us, “We first study others’ expe-

Vitebsk is globally known as Marc Chagall’s homeland: the place where he grew up. He loved the city and painted his best works there. In the 1990s, art expert Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya learnt from archive documents that the house where the prominent master once lived remained on

Lyudmila Khmelnitskaya, head of the Mark Chagall Museum (on the right) and Valeriya Gayshun, author of Jewish dolls collection, included in “In search of the lost” exposition

Modern television aims to surprise us with original projects but those familiar with neighbouring states’ programmes will know that many shows are, in fact, imported. In recent times, Belarusian television has regularly purchased foreign programmes despite having its own creative ideas and talented personalities.

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Anzhelina Mikulskaya: enchantress of the TV screen

STRIKING EXAMPLES Pokrovskaya Street. From 1998-2014, she headed the Marc Chagall Museum and continues to study the life and creativity of her ‘hero’. Ms. Khmelnitskaya studies the catalogue of archive documents (kept in Belarus and Russia) relating to Chagall; the museum, on Pokrovskaya Street, attracts hundreds of tourists, thanks to her efforts. Chagall’s house is situated just 10 minutes from the Vitebsk’s bus and train stations, so even those leaving the city in an hour can visit the unique site. Ms. Khmelnitskaya is a wonderful tour guide to the city, knowing so much about its buildings, which often have a connection to Chagall. Among them are the Art College (at 5a Pravda Street), which Chagall directed from 1919, and the Trade School (on Lenin Street), as well as the Governor’s Palace (which Chagall visited as Commissar for Artistic Affairs). He also visited Vitebsk’s Art Museum, which housed the Palace of Work after the Revolution, hosting artistic debates. Chagall depicted the building on the Dvina River in one of his paintings.

Svetlana Zaskevich: coin designer

Svetlana Zaskevich

Ms. Zhvikova is among those who have been preserving the traditions of Belarusian fashion since Soviet times, although she is an innovator rather than a conservationist. It’s no easy task to stand against global brands — now widely available in most shops. However, the lady with the beautiful and fashionable name of Elvira does all she can to promote true Belarusian style for future generations.

It’s impossible to assert that Belarusian Fashion Centre designer Elvira Zhvikova is a Belarusian Coco Chanel since she doesn’t create new trends and has no influence on Belarusian enterprises’ coming collections. However, many celebrities view it as an honour to wear clothes designed by Elvira. She has an eye for fabrics and colours distinctly Belarusian and fashionable. “We once showcased our linen clothes in Germany. Eco-friendly clothing is to the fore in Europe but those in the West are sceptical of designers from Eastern Europe. In fact, foreigners have been pleasantly surprised by our designs, textiles and quality of sewing. We use silk, wool and linen in our clothing for women, in styles romantic and elegant. Event those who work at fashionable boutiques often buy our dresses.”

Artur Prupas

Elvira Zhvikova: a lady of linen thread

Belarusian purses lack metal coins, since all our money is paper. However, the Republic does produce a small number of commemorative coins through the National Bank. Among such designers is artist Svetlana Zaskevich: a graduate of the Belarusian State Arts Academy. Her original, fashionable and unusual ideas, and willingness to accept criticism and instruction, have brought her success. Working with great creativity and quality, making truly original designs, she has helped place our ‘iron Roubles’ on the map with collectors. Only a few people know her face but archive documents confirm her authorship, which begins each time with fantasies and dreams, followed by painted sketches or computer designs. Later, plaster or wax moulds take over. Several of Ms. Zaskevich’s coins feature the first Belarusian dukes. One is devoted to Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, for which she chose to live for some time in a nunnery, to better depict the saint, showing her dedication to her craft and for which she deserves special honour.

Elvira Zhvikova

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STRIKING EXAMPLES

Olga Khizhenkova: a miss of mercy In 2008, Vitebsk’s Olga Khizhenkova won the Miss Belarus Pageant. However, unlike many other winners, Olga did not move abroad; she chose to remain in Belarus, where she married not a wealthy foreigner but a local man. She now devotes her life to rehoming unwanted dogs and cats, rather than fashionable clothes. Few

birthday, and decided to join adult life with the help of leading producers. Her aim is to make a profession of singing, although she has only just begun her studies at Minsk State Arts College’s Pop Music Department. Clearly, Darena (whose name means ‘God-given’) boasts unusual talent. At the age of four, she began singing and, by 5, was being taken by her parents to a vocal studio. As well as being a wonderful singer, she has stage presence and can dance well, being fond of street dance and figure skating. It’s quite probable that, in a few years, we’ll see Darena at the major Belarusian ice palace: a breakthrough for the country’s artistic culture. There’s no reason why she shouldn’t realise all her plans, entertaining us with bright concert programmes. Every year, Belarus joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, on March 8th. This wonderful holiday allows us the opportunity to show our mothers, sisters, daughters, friends and wives how much we love and appreciate them. Most men would agree that we must honour not only beauty but the talents of women, who experience challenges and whose efforts create perfect results, arousing admiration.

more involved. I can hardly say how many homeless cats and dogs have stayed at my house: over 50 for sure. My husband supports me in this. No other situation would have been possible, as I would have never married a man who didn’t similarly love animals,” she explains. No doubt, beauty reigns in our world but it’s accompanied by kindness. Olga is among those who are making our world more beautiful and kind, doing so wholeheartedly.

By Viktar Korbut

Olga Khizhenkova

If beauty saves the world, men should thank women for the care they take with their appearance, which pleases not only themselves but those around them

беларусь.belarus 2015

Darena Ignatenko: voice of a new generation There is a saying that a person’s name influences their life and fate. This truth is well confirmed by Minsker Darena Ignatenko: the youngest participant of the Academy of Talents TV project. In early January, she celebrated her 16th

Alexander Ruzhechka

of Olga’s acquaintances know of her work but she has an online advertisement, seeking a new owner for a cat she found near her house. The next day, she brought the cat to see me: one of our ‘younger brothers’. “For a long time, my desire to help stopped at mere pity. However, as soon as I moved to my own flat, I became

Darena Ignatenko

Alexander Ruzhechka

KNOW-HOW FOR PUPILS AND TEACHERS

Kilobytes for school exercise book

ith this new idea, the teacher has ultimate control. All the pupil has to do is to study. But when will electronic exercise books and class registers be a daily reality? According to the Deputy Director of the Belarusian State University

of Informatics and Radioelectronics (BSUIR) and co-author of the programme Electronic School, Pavel Lis, both documents are ready to be used. He explains, “The essence of a school exercise book is organisation. If a pupil has forgotten to write down his homework, or the page was lost, the electronic version is available.” He described how schools using the devices in trials recorded an average increase in progress of 1.5 points.

An electronic exercise book sounds attractive. There is no chance to add another 10 marks or tear out the page inviting parents to school. The fact that schools are interested in the introduction of electronic documents is confirmed by the number of visitors to the web-site schools.by. Last month there were up to 400,000 hits. However, of the 1,600 registered schools, only 35 actually implemented electronic documents. Some registered merely out of interest and to make use of the site within school. Others plan to use the system with selected classes. Many prefer to remain

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KNOW-HOW FOR PUPILS AND TEACHERS with the traditional method of keeping books in their hands. There is optimism however as far as the project is concerned, as it is being used in diverse places such as Zaslavl, Rechitsa, Grodno and Soligorsk. There are a considerable number of educational institutions who have freely chosen to use the Electronic School and who were not participants of the experiment. Pavel Lis considers this good evidence to prove that the financial cost of realising the project will not hinder its development. There has been some discussion as to whether the system is too complicated for teachers to understand. Pavel points out that teachers are highly educated intellectual professionals and cites Minsk high school №40 where teachers are using the system, having learned it with no difficulty. In this particular school, paper exercise books and registers are already seen as old fashioned. According to the author, network operators are ready to join this common cause, having already subsidised tariff plans of teachers with free Internet traffic for educational resources, for using class registers and school exercise books, and also for the sites recommended by the Ministry of Education. As well as the developers, soon the service could become free for parents. Those who have paid in advance will get access to additional services. Pupils will have a self-education re-

source, while parents will be able to use analytics and forecasting of their child’s progress. “The essence of forecasting is in setting a mark that parents want to see at the end of a term or a year,” explained Pavel “And the programme monitors the situation in each subject in real time. Depending on the level, the child’s progress will be shown in different colours: red, orange or green. The first two are a sign to the parent that progress deviates from the set norm. The methodology of analysis is now in the process of consultation with the Ministry of Education. Such analysis is usual for those who enter grammar schools, colleges and universities. The site will give recommendations about gaps in knowledge. This service is currently under testing.” The possibilities of these electronic documents are limitless. For example, if a teacher wants to attach a video lesson or presentation to a pupil’s homework it is now possible. Another matter is that the question concerning storage of this content has not been solved yet. If everyone wanted to add videos, the space on the school server would quickly be filled. “This issue is being looked at now.” says Pavel. “The solution could be to store additional information in a different place, for example in the Ministry of Education, where it would be reviewed. In this way, all the best work from teachers would be available to their colleagues.”

 The theme of school electronic documents has been under discussion since 2000. Entrepreneurs tried to promote the product in Russia, Ukraine and in our own schools. Many appealed to the Ministry of Education for support, but frequently it was the question of a Russian product that required costly adaptation for our Belarusian educational system. As a result the preference was given to a domestic product, which did not require adapting. The project was finally realised at the expense of an investor, but without the use of budgetary funds. Today it is one of the most successful examples of state-private partnership. Similar projects are successfully running in Russia, Slovakia and Holland.

Pavel Lis, co-author of the programme Electronic School

Our teachers are highly educated intellectual professionals. For example, in Minsk high school №40 teachers with great experience have learned to use electronic registers and diaries with no difficulty

The developers are working for the second year on the important issues of the safety of information, data encryption, reserve storage and copying. Mr Lis is not afraid of the system being hacked, even if he was to admit that any gifted young hacker could decide to correct his mark in the electronic register or exercise book, the breach would contain information about time and address. This would constitute a cybercrime and would be a great risk for the sake of a better mark. By Vera Arteaga

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NEVER TOO LATE

Movement to knowledge

Pensioners defy age, having serious goals

Age is no barrier to learning about the latest technologies, as Minsk’s older generation knows well, mastering Skype and social networks as well as how to use a computer mouse, icons, files and folders

mitry Kirienko, who teaches computer literacy, tells us that many of his older students arrive with their own digital notebooks or personal laptops. He begins with the basics, explaining the hardwear of monitor, drive and keyboard. Where they take their device down an unwanted route, he steps in to rectify their mistake and, like with small children, he also has to quiet his enthusiastic class at times. Classes are held twice weekly, with obligatory homework, which the students do assiduously, with great results. Just two

weeks in, they can easily open folders, print and save documents. Dmitry explains, “Many view surfing the Internet as a miracle.” Of course, the practical possibilities are endless: paying bills, booking train tickets and doctor’s appointments and, even, shopping. The programme comprises twenty lessons, although some learn more quickly, having arrived with a degree of computer literacy: others are utter novices. Piotr Borovets, among the latter, comments that he used to be bemused by the automated computer kiosk at the Post Office, preferring to queue for assistance, but can now use Skype. He demonstrates by calling one of his neighbours. Of course, he’s not an advanced user but

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NEW SERVICE has already learnt a great deal. Dmitry notes that most of the older students want to master the Internet to help them communicate with their children, especially if they live far away, so social networks and Skype are priorities. The students are currently learning how to use Twitter. Lyudviga Yakubovich tells us, “Initially, I bought a laptop so that I wouldn’t break one belonging to someone else, but I had no idea how to use it.” She explains that her son installed a programme and instructed her on how to call him but now she wants to learn more: how to watch a film or to find an interesting recipe. So far, she has learnt how to pay her accommodation and telephone bills online and has read her first e-book. She is keen to buy a tablet now. “My grandson laughs but I’m truly interested,” she smiles. Larisa Goryachkova has her own plans. She worked as a mathematics teacher for many years and, after retirement, has a lot of spare time, which she is keen to use well. “It’s tire-

The programme comprises twenty lessons, although some learn more quickly, having arrived with a degree of computer literacy: others are utter novices some to be retired — even when it’s deserved. If life starts at 40, then why not master something new after 55,” she jokes, turning the leaves of an e-book on her iPad. “My Institute friends from Canada and Chile have been urging me to join Skype, so that we can chat live.” This has inspired Ms. Goryachkova to attend the courses. Her grandchildren are truly amazed and have no doubt that she can do anything: even jump with a parachute! “Many people have come to us: over 100 so far,” underlines Lyudmila Avdeeva, the Deputy Head of the Day Care Department at the Social Services Centre in Minsk’s Tsentralny District. “At present, we have ten groups, of eight students each, with new enrolment expected in two

months’ time. We never turn anyone away.” Interestingly, even women over the age of 70 attended the courses and all have mastered computer literacy. There’s nothing to be afraid of. By Inna Gorbatenko

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Information at the touch of a single button A new free mobile appliance was launched recently, entitled ‘Yandex.City’ and providing information on such Minsk services as dry-cleaning and footwear repair outlets, car repair garages, 24 hour pharmacies and cafés.

round 54,800 sites are listed, and almost 22,000 reviews have already been submitted, accompanied by over 10,400 photos. Co-ordinated with geographical bearings, it enables the users to find what they need quickly — and offers a voice search. The most popular searches are for banks, car repair services, hotels and cafés. More often than in Kiev or Moscow, our urbanites search for driving schools, gyms, currency exchange offices and food stores. Meanwhile, restaurants and cash machines are less popular requests. Similar applications exist abroad, but are primarily aimed at places of entertainment; Minsk’s focuses on more pragmatic issues. The Head of Yandex in Belarus, Maria Petrova, says that service resembles friendly advice, answering such questions as ‘Where is the nearest police office / foreign cash machine / café with Wi-Fi?’ Naturally, the application relies on reviews being uploaded by users, so that information stays up to date since organisations sometimes change location or sphere of activity.

FAST AID First aid should be primarily fast, it is not only about ambulances manoeuvring through the city traffic jams and searching for the necessary house. Is it possible to have a system where doctors already knew the information about a patient without even having opened the door of the apartment where he or she lives? In Pinsk a scheme for this has been developed using popular technological devices.

Sergey Konyukh, the Head Doctor at the Pinsk Central Polyclinic: The idea of equipping the Pinsk first response emergency team with tablets appeared only recently. We have not adopted someone else’s experience. We simply learnt that such practice exists in some countries and so we bought devices and implemented them. We understood immediately the advantages of tablets and did not hesitate to purchase them. The Pinsk City Executive Committee supported the initiative and city businesses helped financially. The tablets are a visible part of the project but not the only one, behind the scenes the creation of a uniform database for public health services in Pinsk and district was the first stage. It is only with an efficient database behind them that the tablets will save lives. Without it they are no more than toys.

Tablet for health

uring the daytime, the traffic is slow in the city centre. Even the width of Pervomaiskaya Street cannot cope with the volume of cars. On approach to the traditional jam near the railroad crossing, it seems at first that we will not move an inch, but closer to the railway tracks other cars begin to move to the right, and our ambulance slowly makes it to the centre of the city. We hasten to Kirov Square from where the call was made. An elderly Pinsk resident is complaining of arrhythmia, speed is of the essence. The young doctor Valentin Trotsky sits on the front seat. It is his second year working with the emergency team. On the way to the patient he communicated constantly with his colleagues, a medical assistant and a driver, now his attention is concentrated on his electronic tablet. The young physician takes it when we are in a jam and takes his eyes off the screen only when we approach the house. He notices our interest in the device and explains that on the way to the patient, he has been studying all her details. Since the end of last year, the electronic database for all city and regional

establishments of public health services has been operational in Pinsk. Valentin explains that now the patients’ medical record is carried on a special server. It stores information about all applications to the central 1st city polyclinic and children's polyclinic. The database also contains information about visits to the city hospital and children's hospital all of which is accessible to emergency doctors at the click of a button. The doctor shows me the tablet. The display shows surname, name and patronymic of the patient. There is information on address, age and social status — a pensioner. On a separate tab it is possible to see recent visits to the polyclinic and any doctor’s diagnoses. But this information is of an exclusively therapeutic character. The data on visits to narcologist, venereologist and other ‘sensitive’ doctors are not shown here. There is enough information to help render aid to the patient more effectively and more qualitatively. There are also diagnoses from experts such as therapists, surgeons, allergists and others. Valentin notices that it is the first time that the patient has complained of arrhythmia. It’s unlikely in these circumstances that patient will need to be admitted to hospital, but will probably be treated at home.

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FAST AID We arrive at the destination; the team goes to the patient and returns in twenty minutes. Valentin Trotsky smiles: the electronic database has proved its efficiency once again. The old woman was not able to remember the last time she had visited the doctor, the information was however, easily gained from the tablet. There are many similar cases, even though the Pinsk emergency team has only been using the devices for the last three months. One particular patient was coughing blood, but would not admit that he was ill with tuberculosis, only the information from the uniform database helped to cast a light upon his illness. Something similar occurs to people who pass into a comatose state, usually diabetics whose sugar level quickly increases in the blood. Of course, it is impossible to inject additional glucose when the person who is lying unconscious cannot explain the nature of his illness. Again, the invaluable tablet can save the lives of chronically ill patients. It is impossible to say that the database contains information about all patients in Pinsk and district, as not every

The electronic database for all city and regional establishments of public health services is operational in Pinsk resident has visited the doctor since the launch of the scheme. Valentin Trotsky is certain however that the database will eventually contain exhaustive information about everyone who visits the doctor before a year is over, and it is already saving lives. The Head of the Pinsk infirmary, Sergey Pasevich, agrees: the eight electronic devices with which the ambulance cars are equipped have already proved their worth. Certainly, the young doctors had no problems with the transition to tablets, while the more senior colleagues

had to work a little harder. In due course all have agreed that the benefits of using the tablets are obvious. On the way to patients the doctor can learn practically everything about them from possible allergic reactions, the last date of any electrocardiogram or vaccinations to previous diseases. Sergey Petrovich is sure that it helps the public health services of Pinsk to improve their efficiency. For minimal expense, this additional information makes it possible to reduce the time needed to help patients as well as reducing the number of precautionary hospital admissions. The Pinsk emergency response scheme will not only be limited to information about patients. Soon each tablet will have a special navigation programme helping doctors to reach even the most remote districts of the city more quickly. The next step would be to equip all tablets with a special device for electrocardiograms with the results registered on the tablet. In the case of hospitalisation of the patient, their electrocardiogram could be transferred with them to hospital. By Artem Kiriyanov

Time to update encyclopaedias Information Ministry to implement Electronic Encyclopaedia Republic of Belarus project in 2015

ccording to the Information Minister, in the era of IT, a new approach is needed in creating encyclopaedias. With so many changes in the spheres of economics, politics and culture since the 2008 release of the seven-volume Republic of Belarus encyclopaedia, updating is essential. Encyclopaedias can’t be printed every year of course. Lilia Ananich stresses that the Republic of Belarus Electronic Encyclopaedia project enables information to be updated far more regularly. She explains, “At present, the project is being launched in Russia and is undergoing a preparatory stage in our country. I think that we’ll start its implementation this year.” Meanwhile, modern printing technologies enable ‘print on demand’ copies to be made.

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The Director of the Petrus Brovka Belarusian Encyclopaedia Publishing House, Vladimir Andrievich, emphasises that work has begun, with archives revised and technical specifications elaborated, for submission as needed. He comments, “We have a good basis and good encyclopaedists. Together with young specialists, we’ll be able to make a seriously high quality product.”

NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR TREATMENT

No escape for illness thanks to stem cells

Igor Volotovsky sees great prospects for applying stem cells

Republican Scientific Medical Centre for Cell Technologies receives first patients

he Centre is the first to widely use stem cells in its treatments. It operates over a modest few rooms and an operating room, with a total area of 380 square metres, at the polyclinic of the NAS of Belarus. Its staff comprises several experts and has big plans. NAS research supervisor Igor Volotovsky comments, "We are results-focused, using business ties developed during the fulfilment of the recently completed Union programme on using stem cells for treating serious illnesses. Other participants from Belarus include the Belarusian State Medical University, the Belarusian Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education, and the 9th City Clinical Hospital. Al-

ready, even at this stage, we’ve managed to develop basic treatments for such illnesses as chronic trophic ulcers, which are consequences of diabetes and sclerous diseases. With colleagues from the Emergency Hospital’s BSMU Surgical Department, including Stanislav Tretiak — a chief correspondent member of the NAS of Belarus — we’ve treated 25 such patients: 24 patients with ulcers are now dramatically improving.” The clinic is now preparing patients for stem cell transplants, isolated from adipose tissue and grown (with the help of fission). The Institute of Biophysics’ equipment is unique, meeting international GMP norms. Mr. Volotovsky takes me to view the process, looking through the double windows of the sluice chambers, since sterility requirements are strict. The rooms are

equipped with microscopes, centrifuges, sterilisers and special refrigerators. He explains, “Source material is put into a special ‘matrass’, where stem cells replicate.” He indicates a small transparent plastic bottle with an orange cover. “One cycle takes 20 days and, to treat one patient, we need five million cells identical to his own. All reagents and medical ware are currently imported as, unfortunately, attempts to replace them with domestic versions are yet to be successful.” Preparations containing authentic stem cells can be held in various forms — including a gel or an injection. These substances are part of the patient’s flesh. Treatment occurs at the Centre of Cell Technologies, which has already concluded agreements with the largest Russian scientific centres, using their devel-

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POPULAR PROJECT

Ideas hit the bull’s-eye

opments. Mr. Volotovsky asserts, “We’ve concluded an agreement with the St. Petersburg Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, regarding use of ‘Dermal Equivalent’, for treating burns, the degeneration of gums, and bedsores. We’ve agreed with the Moscow Institute of Transplantology of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Results of 100 Ideas for Belarus competition are summed up

he popular youth project is already in its fourth year. During this time it has turned from a one off event into a large-scale competition, the winners of which get support for the realisation of their ideas. Last year the advisory council received more than one thousand new ideas and one hundred of the best were chosen. The authors of these innovations were invited to the National Exhibition Centre BelExpo. For the first time participants introduced their developments not only to experts, but also to the general public. All the offerings from the young scientists, inventors and thinkers are worthy of attention. Some of them are deserving of a special mention. For example, the young research assistants Denis Adamchik and Sergey Solomevich have developed preparations for the treatment of cancer by means of local

about the application of ‘Sferogel’, for treating diseases of the joints. We hope to solve ‘the problem of the century’, as this illness is called, as it can cause loss in mobility. Meanwhile, our preparations and those of our Russian colleagues, created using stem cells, are much cheaper than imported analogues.” Russian preparations are now undergoing medical certification in Belarus: a rather costly and lengthy procedure. However, from 2016, we should have uniform certification for medical preparations across the whole Eurasian Economic Union. This will considerably accelerate and facilitate the application of cell technologies in Russian preparations at the Minsk centre, and vice versa. We’ll reach a new level and plan to double our floor space, with new rooms and laboratories, including a bank of stem cells. The list of illnesses treatable with such technologies is sure to extend. By Vladimir Bibikov

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By Natalia Dovlatova

pavel chuyko

The Institute of Biophysics has the only Center for stem cells generation in Belarus, meeting international GMP norms

chemotherapy. Dmitry Busel, a postgraduate student at the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry has proposed that accidents at junctions and pedestrian crossings will considerably decrease if special anti-slip strips are used. Olga Ostaltseva, from the student research and production centre has developed the technology for a ‘business incubator’ making it possible that the dream of many, to eat rolls and not to get fat, may become a reality. Leonid Gonchar, a schoolboy from Grodno, invites us back to the days of the Great Patriotic War through an amazingly realistic virtual museum. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic, Mikhail Myasnikovich considers the 100 Ideas for Belarus project is a great success, “It has acquired huge popularity. Young people have great potential and it is necessary to help them to realise it for the benefit of the country. Even in difficult areas of research, the young people seem to be able to come up with solutions. Our economy needs such creative ideas.” The advisory council has nominated the ‘golden top-ten’ of the projects; the winners will receive a grant from the Belarusian innovative fund.

Anastasia Lapko (the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus) at “100 ideas for Belarus” exhibition

ETERNAL VALUES

Where there is bread, there is song Since time immemorial, bread has been appreciated by Belarusians as a symbol of skill and prosperity. Even today, the tradition remains of greeting eminent and important guests with an offering of bread and salt: not only as festive etiquette, but as a sacred ritual symbolising hosts’ hospitality and cordiality. The gesture shows openness to benevolent dialogue, trust and readiness for mutual help and support. The offering promises visitors a comfortable stay in a country of material and spiritual riches, where bread dominates. People say: ‘where there is bread, there is song’. Every stage of life is connected with bread and it provides work in fields, grainprocessing factories and bakeries — all under state control. Bread has been a traditional food of Belarusians since olden times. Moreover, by 2015, we should be harvesting at least 10 million tonnes of grain.

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odern Belarusians still consume large quantities of bread, d e s pit e adopting a healthier lifestyle. Every supermarket trolley is sure to contain a loaf: the staff of life. This may be a brown rye loaf beneath or a more fragile long white baguette on top of other purchases. Of course, every cafe and restaurant table also offers slices of bread: white and brown.

‘As is the land, so is the bread’: a slice of history Belarusians show extreme respect for bread, even a reverent attitude, as is ‘in their genes’. The Dudutki Folk Museum, which celebrates ancient national crafts and technologies, located near Minsk, features a unique bakery teaching visitors much about bread. The Dudutki website also explains traditions connected with the process. It should never be roughly broken and even breadcrumbs are valued, being kept from falling on the floor. To tread upon them is seen as quite distasteful. Every woman should traditionally know how to make a loaf and should be careful not to do so when she is in a bad mood, since this can affect its quality. Traditionally, dough should be always soured by a small piece of old mixture from the bottom of the trough (from the previous batch). On the morning of baking, flour is added to the pre-dough and thoroughly kneaded with the fists. Meanwhile, the oven is heated and carefully swept out with a broom, with the dough formed into a loaf and placed on a special wooden shovel, dusted with flour or cabbage, maple, sweetflag, or horseradish leaves. With the help of the shovel, the loaf is placed into the oven and baked for 1-2 hours, depending on the oven’s temperature. Four to seven loaves were usually

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ETERNAL VALUES baked at once, depending on the size of the family. The readiness of bread could be checked in various ways: by the appearance of steam or by its ability to ‘jump’ in the hand when held with one and knocked with the other. If a crumb floated in water, it also showed that a loaf was ready, as did clean piercing with a knife or small stick. People might listen for the correct sound on knocking a loaf or touch the loaf to their nose: if it wasn’t too hot, it meant that the moisture had evaporated and the bread was cooked.

Gradovy bread was baked from rye grout (unsifted, being cleared only of husks) while Polovy bread comprised r ye f lour half mixed with barley, oats, buckwheat or wheat. Pot ato bre ad fe ature d t he addition of boiled or ground potato, w hich made it prone to quick ly hardening. Meanwhile, in spring and times of poor harvest, people often ate chaffy bread, from oats, barley, wheat or r ye chaff rather than flour. It was said that the loaf was easy to travel with but made walking difficult.

In spite of the fact that volumes of bun and rich products have considerably grown, Belarusians still prefer bread

Traditions in bakery are in favor

Loaves were then laid out to cool, with leaves removed and the crust slightly moistened, to avoid hardening, being covered with embroidered towels. Workers at Dudutki tell us that, in past times, B elarusians didn’t always eat ‘pure’ bread, prepared only from rye flour. Poor harvests, war and natural disaster obliged t h e m to a d d ot h e r i ng re d i e nt s .

Sorrel leaves, orach, acorns and frozen potatoes might be added to rye. An old saying: ‘there’s no trouble in adding orach to bread, only when there is no bread!’ People first began baking wild cereal grain 15,000 years ago. Ubiquitous Wikipedia notes that ancient Eg yptians were the first to bake bread from loosened dough by means of fermentation (the basis of

ETERNAL VALUES

Belta

Alesya Krupoderova, process engineer of “Gomelkhlebprom” bread department, with “Volotovsky” trademark bread, which is in demand

modern bread baking). In the 1970s and 1980s, Soviet breads were small in number. Belarusians still prefer mostly rye bread or rye and wheat flour mixes (using dense and liquid ferments). After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the number of varieties grew, and bread making is now a well-developed branch.

Bread unites us The slogan can be seen on billboards across Minsk, stirring memories connected with bread. Each of us has our own ‘bread’ story. My own reverence for the fragrant ‘crust’ began in childhood, as it does for many. My family always served bread with breakfast, lunch and supper and, as children, we might go walking with a slice. I recall our neighbour’s boy having a thick slice scattered densely with crunchy sugar, to our envy. The sugar darkened directly on the bread, due to water having been first sprinkled. The next day, we all copied him, competing in our methods of eating

the delicacy. I wasn’t personally keen, as I told my parents, so my grandmother, laughing, cut a piece and scattered salt and oil instead. I still enjoy this treat, although the vegetable oil of today tastes different from the home-made sunflower-seed oil of Ukraine’s Kharkov District, dense and fragrant. When I was older, I’d be charged with going to the nearest shop to buy bread, on Belgorodskaya Street, at the Belgorodsky shop. It was located along the road to the Russian city of Belgorod. I remember the sour flavour of that fresh, frequently warm bread and the grazed crust, which we ate on the way home. Such an aroma! Similar bread is found in Kletsk and Nesvizh; on visiting these cities, I always buy traditional Nesvizhsky brick-bread, baked from r ye and wheat flour. It does not grow mouldy nor harden, showing that it’s made from natural ingredients. Nesvizh has a loaf of breathtaking beauty, made in national style.

If we have bread, we have everything “Living in Paris is not good, as there is nothing to eat: no brown bread!” complained Alexander Pushkin to his friend, Count Piotr Sheremetiev, visiting France. I can’t help but recall those words when I am abroad on holiday: in Greece, Bulgaria, Egypt or Cyprus. Their white and grey bread is extraordinarily tasty, but there is no brown bread at all. Returning from faraway countries, I always choose rye bread — especially Narochansky. I never grow tired of eating it, or any other rye bread. Experts in flour-grinding and cereals, bread-baking and macaroni, at the Central Management for Bread Products of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs, note that Belarusian bread is made only from natural ingredients. Its research into local bread-buying habits shows that 90 percent of Belarusians prefer rye bread or that made at least in part with

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ETERNAL VALUES

rye flour. Nourishing and healthy, it contains proteins and carbohydrates, microelements and major mineral elements, including B vitamins and essential amino acids and fibre. As the Belarusian proverb says: ‘bread strengthens the heart’.

wort, invert syrup, caraway seeds, linseed and other additives. These create a distinctive aroma and help preserve freshness, without the need for artificial preservatives. Malted rye bread is becoming especially popular, among rural and urban residents,

At the republican contest of consumers’ preferences ‘The Product of the Year’ Narochansky bread of bread-baking plant №2 has been retaining the honorable first place for many years, having been awarded the Grand Prix! Visitors to Belarus also seek it out Irina Barantsevich, who heads the department, tells us that rye breads use fermented yeast and various strains of lactic acid bacteria, as well as riced potato, malt, treacle, kvass

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comprising more than 60 percent of bread production volumes. Manufacture is carried out strictly to meet demand, with ranges gradually expanding in our shops. Up to

2,000 varieties of bakery product are made annually, with around 40 types of bread. The assortment is being ever improved, with less popular bread varieties phased out, replaced by increased volumes of more saleable loaves. For example, in 2014, 500 new types of bread and flour products were developed. Shops are happy to take on board customer suggestions, for passing along to such enterprises as Minskhlebprom, which unites six bread-baking plants across the capital (making it the largest). Their location ensures that high-quality, fresh bread arrives in shops every day.

Narochansky bread… and more Belarus Segodnya once printed the story of how this distinctive loaf came to be created, in 1986, thanks to Svetlana Zagnetova, the chief technologist of Bread-baking Plant #2 in 2011. It was the first enterprise to master the production of malted rye breads.

ETERNAL VALUES Ms. Zagnetova is now in charge of marketing and sales. Hailing from Smargon, she often visited Vilnius as a child, becoming familiar with brown malted rye bread. She tried to bake her own loaf but wanted to make it lighter than that of the Balts. Eventually, she discovered the recipes of elite grades and worked with colleagues to perfect a new version. They added potato, as our grandmothers did, as well as rye malt, treacle and caraway seeds. Thus was Narochansky bread born, enriched with secrets from the best Belarusian village bakers. Colleagues from other Belarusian bread-baking enterprises soon adopted the technique.

Volumes began at just 100 loaves a day, with many refusing to believe it would be popular — especially as it was rather expensive at the time. Ne ver theless, the bread quick ly gained a following. Ms. Zagnetova also named the bread, choosing from such suggestions as Lugovoy, Ozerny, Lesnoy and Semeiny. It took some time for her to decide upon Narochansky! It retains its place, having been awarded the Grand Prix at the Product of the Year event! Visitors to Belarus also seek it out. Each Minsk bread-baking plant has own selection of breads: #2 produces Narochansky, Yubilyarny

Beautiful and tasty karavais, an integral feature of wedding ceremonies, “bread” holidays and meetings of guests at different levels: from the family to the state one, also draw their attention

(w it h its maple le af ), Troitsky, Radzivilovsky and Storozhevsky ; #3 has Borodinsky; #4 is known for Baltiysky loaves; #5 has Mayski and Avtomat-Aromat; while #6 produces well-established Sitny. It’s impossible to confuse one with another. It’s also more common these days for bread to incorporate nuts, dried fruits, linseeds, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Besides traditional shaped loaves, you may buy those that are long or round, as well as rolls and buns. Food additives are used in small quantities, to improve the nutritional content. Some loaves are recognisable not just by appearance but by flavour or aroma. Each region of Belarus has its own preferences. Rye malt breads enjoy demand countr ywide, but different enterprises use their own particular recipes, making them unique. Znatny Suvenirny is the bread of Baranovichi bread-baking plant, while Zorka Gandlyu loaves are made at Brestkhlebprom. Vityaz and Dvinsky bread is produced at Vitebskhlebprom, while Izobilny loaves hail from Borisovkhlebprom. Grodnokhlebprom makes Gorodnya bread, while Mogilevkhlebprom creates Detkovsky and Gubernatorsky loaves. Finally, Slaviya bread comes from Gomelkhlebprom.

Innovations and exports

Belta

Belarus is now starting to export bread to the USA and Israel, as Ms. Barantsevich notes. She explains, “Our enterprises have mastered the technology of producing frozen goods. It’s labour-consuming and power-consuming but we continue.” Enterprises under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food have been exporting frozen bread to Israel and America, but mostly to neighbouring regions of the Russian Federation. Over the first 9 months of last year, 5,000 tonnes of frozen bread was supplied to Russia, generating revenue of over $6.1 million. Our bread is natural, with a long

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ETERNAL VALUES expiration date, so it’s not surprising that foreign consumers are keen — including those living in the USA. All visitors to our republic praise the quality of Belarusian bread, while remarking on the wide assortment and unique flavours. Additives can impart colour but only natural fermentation produces our well-known Narochansky, Bulbash, Dvinsky, Detkovsky, Zoloto Poley and Znatny Suvenir loaves, so loved abroad. Belarus’ small bakeries comprise just 3 percent of production, with the rest being state run. Of course, there is always room for improvement. Irina believes that some buyers will always make traditional choices (Narochansky, Borodinsky, Darnitsky and Verkhnedvinsky loaves) but others are eager to try something new. By Valentina Zhdanovich

Useful

FACTS about

BREAD

 In days gone by, bread made from plain wheat flour was called a ‘pie’ and affordable only be those with money to spare. Peasants ate bread from rye flour with various additives. As traditional Belarusian families had many children, the mother of the household would often bake 10-15 loaves, weighing 6 pounds (about 2.5kg) each, using 1-1.5 poods of flour (more than 16kg).  There’s no secret to making dough but Belarusians made it in a barrel, pouring a little flour into warm water and leaving it to turn sour and ferment. More flour was then added to make flexible dough, as for pancakes. The barrel was covered by a towel and left overnight in a warm place, so that it rose and thickened by morning, ready for kneading. Some was always left at the

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bottom of the barrel, to help the next batch. Every loaf was baked unleavened, and without salt, which was expensive.  Even today, domestic bakeries use natural fermenting processes for bread, which can be time and labour-consuming. Leningradsky and Ivanovsky techniques are popular, while thermophilic lactic-acid bacteria are added.  Many Belarusians bake bread at home, with the help of bread-baking machines, which are convenient, with unquestionable advantages, allowing us to experiment with recipes: using tomato juice instead of water for instance or mixing in fried onions with bacon.  The average Belarusian is thought to eat nearly 160g of bread daily, although this doesn’t include loaves made in restaurants and cafes, which increase in number every year. Bread and bakery products in Belarus are made on an industrial scale: by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s 52 enterprises (56-57 percent); by Minskhlebprom (17-18 percent); and by Belkoopsoyuz (18 percent) and small, private manufacturers. (Based on AiF newspaper data in Belarus)

UNUSUAL MUSEUM

Dishes according to ancient recipes The village of Motol, located in Brest Region, is known for its Museum of Bread, as well as for baking buckwheat and millet on the stove

ts draniki (potato pancakes) with kidney beans are particularly appetising, as is its recipe for stewed beans with onions and carrots. No one forgets having a Motol homecooked sausage, or lardon from a wooden vat. Mean-

while, at Easter, there are all manner of cakes and pies. Mo s t i mp or t a nt l y, re s i d e nt s know how to present their dishes attractively. Those in Ivanovo District began celebrating their love of cuisine several years ago, via the Motol Delicacies Festival, which is utterly

unique. There is even a Museum of Bread in the village. The ‘tasty’ holiday is held in August, suffusing the settlement with the aroma of freshly baked bread. Aniks-Saniya private baker y, which opened the museum, makes its own cookies, pies and pastries, as director Nikolay Stasevich tells us. Those visiting the museum can take classes in the ancient art of bread making, including grinding flour by hand, sifting and making dough. “We’ve collected unusual recipes for making bread, as well as rare utensils, and other exhibits,” he explains. Tourists can watch a film about the ancient custom of baking, and the ceremony of dividing the ‘karavai’ (round loaf ) at a wedding. Expert Motol residents bake the loaf in the house of the groom, and that of the bride, with the work of their bakers shaping the destiny of the new couple. A number of stages are essential: kneading; placing the loaf in the stove; decorating it with dough ‘cones’; and partition. Prayers and songs accompany each step of the process, to bring good fortune to the marriage. Olga Matsukevich, the founder of the Motol Museum of the National Way of Living, notes that the round loaf tradition has existed for many centuries. She emphasises, “People began making the round loaf around midnight, keeping all others away, to ensure that the dough wasn’t contaminated or bewitched.” Vadim Prokopchuk, the regional co-ordinator of the UNDP project Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, which is operating in Brest Region, is delighted with the museum’s work. He comments, “Many recipes for baking bread in Polesie have been gathered here. In the future, Aniks-Saniya may even make its own souvenir goods.” Motol dwellers revere the round loaf ceremony, passing it from one generation to the next. They would

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UNUSUAL MUSEUM dearly love to see it awarded the status of an intangible treasure of Belarus — or become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage. Of course, Motol is known for more than just its bread. Despite having just 4,000 inhabitants, it engages in all manner of food production: its branch оf the District Consumers Society has a sausage shop and one for fish, while Shikolai private enter-

notes the village’s long association with cuisine. Italian Bona Sforza, the wife of the Grand Duke of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Sigismund I the Old, helped Motol gain the Magdeburg Right in 1555. By setting up home in Motol, she attracted skilful handicraftsmen and traders. According to legend, such Motol surnames as Polto and Kulbeda have Italian origin, while the surname Kuzyur is

The Motol Delicacies Festival draws European tourists every year, bringing revenue into the village. The Museum of Bread is confirmation of this fact prise also deals with fish and seafood. Minuka makes sausages and smoked products, and Agro-Motol co-operative’s early potatoes are spoken of far beyond Belarus. Local authorities, businesses and international organisations are all eager to support Motol’s niche success. Nikolay Shikolai, Chairman of the Koopprom branch of Iv anovo D ist r i c t C onsumers S o ciet y,

of German origin. However, today’s most popular surnames are Shikolai, Kashteliyan and Minyuk. It seems that around 90 percent of Motol residents are already running their own entrepreneurial businesses,

without waiting for the Government support. They all believe in ‘helping themselves’ rather than expecting assistance from others. The Chairman of the Ivanovo District Executive Committee, Yuri Bisun, underlines that no one is afraid of hard work in Motol. The Motol Delicacies Festival draws European tourists every year, bringing revenue into the village. The Museum of Bread was created with USAID/UNDP Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Development funding, becoming part of the ‘Motol Highway’ tourist route. It joins the new ‘Motol Venice’ estate, the local Museum of Folk Life and National Creativity, the Museum of National Medicine (in neighbouring Strelno village), Fiodor Dostoevsky’s Literary Museum (in the agro-town of Dostoevo), eco-routes on the River Yaselda and numerous agro-estates. By Valentina Kozlovich

At the traditional festival in Motol

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MASTERS

Cake-winner. Author is Dmitry Antipenko from Gomel

Fashion for taste Belarusians traditionally enjoy taking part in international culinary competitions, having won major prizes at the 2012 World Culinary Olympics, held in Germany, and ten medals (gold, silver and bronze) at Luxembourg’s Culinary Arts World Cup in 2014. Every Belarusian participant returned home as a winner, showing that our land of white storks, blue lakes and tolerance is also home to delicious and beautiful pastries.

efore a chef can rise to the top of the culinary Olympus, he or she must prove professionalism along the way. For about ten years, Minsk has hosted the Bread and Confectionary exhibition annually, gathering talent from across Belarus and beyond. Last year, the event included the International Championship of Culinary Arts and The Triumph of Style and Taste contest, whose winners then represented our country at the Culinary Arts World Cup.

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MASTERS The Ministry of Agriculture and Food joined forces with the Ministry of Trade and Baker journal to organise the contest: one of many for Baker editor Lyudmila Ovsyannikova and her magazine.

Foreign media, the jury and guests praised our Belarusian participants for their hard work and modesty. I felt proud of their courage and determination in bringing works from their imagination to life. Meanwhile, think of the difficulty of transporting delicate creations, battling changes in temperature (not to mention clearing customs).

Confectionary history Creative confectionary making became popular in the 16th century, when a Belgian pharmacist’s cough medicine recipe turned out as chocolate. The ancient Egyptians may have been among the first to master the art of making candies, using dates as their main ingredient. Belarus’ feast of hon-

Natalya Sharay

‘Sweet’ personalities Dmitry Antipenko, Inna Varennikova and Natalya Sharay all took gold medals, while Inna Yakovchuk and Nadezhda Bogatenko claimed silver. Others also won prizes but the works were so amazing that, in my opinion, we shouldn’t focus on rivalry, rather offering the admiration deserved by the perfection of this culinary art form. It takes skill and experience to turn ingredients into a masterpiece, working with delicate filigree and other techniques. Of course, skill must also be combined with love for your work and patience. Such cakes become exhibits in museums rather than being eaten. Olga Rybaltovskaya from Baranovichi produced her ‘Assol’ cake, measuring half a metre tall. Her bronze medal effort now resides at a confectionery in Luxembourg. Nadezhda Bogatenko, who works for Vitebskkhlebprom, gave her interpretation of Kasimir Malevich’s pictures, while Nina Yakovchuk, who works at Zhlobin’s Bread-Baking Plant, presented amazing sugar flowers. Alexey Ivanov, from Gomelkhlebprom, brought a touch of Belarusian authenticity with ‘jewellery’ wicker baskets filled with cones and mountain ash branches. His colleague, Dmitry Antipenko, a multiple winner of culinary competitions, added coolness with his ‘Master of the Seas’ caramel creation.

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Inna Varennikova

ey cakes and gingerbread with nuts was among the most popular in days of old. Recipes are now easily available, and can be achieved in any kitchen: whether making simple biscuits or petit fours, or slightly trickier profiteroles. No professional training is needed, and plenty of day courses exist, growing in popularity of late. In 2014, Belarus produced 151,200 tonnes of confectionary, using 57,500 tonnes of sugar and 93,700 tonnes of flour. Photos of incredibly beautiful cakes often appear on personal social network pages, while a variety of television programmes encourage us in this pursuit. Every hostess wants to surprise her guests with a dessert not only delicious but visually splendid. It’s long been fashionable to present loved ones with a cake embellished with an edible photo or flowers. The sky is the limit

Ivan Zhdanovich

MASTERS

Olga Metlitskaya and her exclusive cake

when it comes to designing cakes. One wife even made her husband a ‘roast pork’ cake: on biting into the slice of meat, he discovered only cake! True masters in the art are found at forums, competitions and championships, such as Party Queen, for female confectioners. Held during the SIGEP trade fair in Italy, one of the largest in Europe for confectionary, bakery and ice cream making equipment, it gathers more than 112 countries, with Belarus among them.

Healthy can be delicious Most shops now sell hand-made cakes from small entrepreneurs, making us wonder if state bakery ‘titans’ will soon become a thing of the past. Of course, stateowned enterprises take great care to ensure that their recipes are healthy; Minsk’s №5 Bread-Baking Plant offers a cheesecake made without any chemical additives. It’s delightful to admire colourful stalls of sweets, and cakes designed to look anything but edible! Some are too marvellous to destroy by cutting. I’ve seen a cake in the

form of hundred dollar bills and another made as a hat with bows and flowers: a winner of the Best Confectioner competition, created by young Olga Metlitskaya. The talented confectioner has worked for Vitalyur, in Minsk, for 10 years, taking part in various city and international contests, at which she always claims prizes. Which culinary competitions have you entered? In 2008, I won bronze at the World Culinary Olympiad in Erfurt in Germany — held every four years. It requires as much preparation as the sporting Olympics! In Brest, where I lived before my marriage, I entered a culinary competition and took second place. I’ve also won regional and national contests. What are your plans? I’m keen to develop, reaching an international level, and want to take part in professional workshops and master classes. In short, I have no wish to stop. Why are such competitions important? They encourage us to improve our skills and certainly bring happiness. Think of how much delight and joy a cake can bring at a festive meal of family and friends. Are recipes still important for ‘artistic cakes’? At the very least, the cake must be edible! It’s quite tricky to avoid chemical additives these days, so a cake without them is rare. However, at competitions, the ingredients list is scrutinised closely. As the ‘architecture’ of fancy cakes differs, are different skills needed from those in normal baking? Drawing veins on sugar petals and making little figures or ships can’t be easy. Of course, any knowledge is welcome but confectioners learn through experience generally. Each year, the international professional standard rises significantly, so I think that related courses cannot be far off in coming. For the time being, we are driven by personal desire and inspiration. Where do your ideas come from? From ever ywhere: while on public transport, or reading, or before falling to sleep. You close your eyes and suddenly see your future cake! It’s like any other art — sewing, painting or design. At work, does one person come up with the recipe and another decorate? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to share out the jobs, since some people like making figures and other prefer icing but it’s not the case. A technologist can, certainly, do his bit but we often make just what a customer chooses. Is it difficult to decorate a cake? Everything depends on experience, which makes all things easier. I sometimes spend several weeks making decorative elements. Did it take long to make the bow on your cake-hat? No, just a couple of minutes. By Alisa Krasovskaya

2015 беларусь.belarus

ADRESSES OF RENEWAL

A memorial plaque on the facade of an old building served for a long time as the only reminder of the well-known founder of Esperanto, Ludwik Zamenhof, who once lived in Grodno. The house of Doktoro Esperanto, as he is called all over the world, stood deserted for ten years, until local entrepreneur Nikolay Shamin claimed the building in 2013, being fascinated by the unusual resident. The house has been reconstructed with maximum authenticity, and Nikolay now intends to open an exhibition devoted to the founder of this still popular language.

The house of Ludwik Zamenhof in Grodno

Doktoro Esperanto

udwik Zamenhof (his Russian name was Lazar Markovich) was born in 1859, in multinational Bialystok: at that time, part of the Russian Empire. He considered Russian as his native language but, since childhood, spoke Polish and German fluently. Over his lifetime, he studied eight other languages. His family promoted linguistic inclinations, as his father, Markus Zamenhof, and his uncle Joseph taught languages, and were experts on literature and polyglots. From early youth, Ludwik dreamt of giving people a common, easy way to understand language, to overcome alienation. He began developing a universal language as a pupil and devoted all his life to the idea. Of course, it took time and persistence: his father threw his first notebook into a stove, wishing his son to focus on ‘real business’, instead of imaginings. The talented boy then studied at two universities: in Warsaw and Moscow, becoming a good eye-doctor. However, he never gave up on his ideas and had finished his first sketches by the time he turned 18 years old. By 1885, Zamenhof had written a manual, publishing four brochures over the coming two years — in Russian, Polish, German and French. The author took on the pseudonym of Doktoro Esperanto (‘Esperanto’ is

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“In every person, I see only a human. I estimate everyone according to their personal qualities and acts. Any insult or oppression of a human I consider as a display of barbarism”

translated as ‘one who hopes’) placing his own philosophy into his new language. He wrote, “In every person, I see only a human. I estimate everyone according to their personal qualities and acts. Any insult or oppression of a human for belonging to another nation, with another language, religion or social class, I consider as a display of barbarism. I believe that countries belong not to this or that nation, but completely and equally to all inhabitants, irrespective of their origin, language or social status.” The new language quickly became popular. In 1888, the first society of

Esperanto experts came into being, issuing a monthly newspaper. Those early days saw most ‘users’ hail from the Russian Empire; Pushkin’s Blizzard was the first literary translation into Esperanto and various literary figures praised the ingenious language, helping to promote it — including Leo Tolstoy. It spread from Russia into France; it was there that, in August 1905, the first World Congress of Esperanto took place, gathering nearly 700 Esperanto experts from 20 countries. In 1893, Ludwik Zamenhof moved to Grodno with his family, living there for four years, running a private eye clinic. It is this building which is now owned and renovated by Nikolay Shamin, who tells us, “We found people to kindly donate exhibits for display since, unfortunately, none of Zamenhof ’s belongings remain in the house: only a few 19th century glass chemist bottles, probably held by Doktoro Esperanto. A memorial plaque to the founder of the amazing language will soon return to the facade.” It is difficult to know how many people speak Esperanto today, but perhaps 20 million. Thousands gather for the annual world congresses and many of these may yet visit Grodno, to honour the memory of Doktoro Esperanto. By Yelena Semenova

IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE PAST

History peeps out of windows Sergey Baglasov has spent more than 30 years always busy — on architectural projects, corrections, and their realisation

Alexander Ruzhechka

r. Baglasov has received a special award from the President for his considerable personal contribution to restoring and reconstructing the historical and cultural complex of Minsk’s Svobody Square, including an adjoining building. Many only dream of having such a guide take them around the historical centre. Sergey Georgievich kept me company for an hour or two. He asks me if I’ve ever b een to Prague or Kraków and I admit that I’ve been to

the latter, for two days. At this, he makes his point: it only takes two hours to feel as if you’ve seen Minsk’s Upper Town and Troitsky Suburb. There’s even time to go to a café. To leave sufficient impressions, a city needs a certain volume of sights, which Minsk lacks. It’s unexpected to hear this from someone who spends his life restoring the historical part of the Belarusian capital. He has even received an award for his efforts, but Baglasov follows his own path and speaks frankly. He notes that tours usually set off from the Town Hall, since the Upper Town began growing in the 16th century, when the original wooden building was erected (although its exact location is unknown). Of course, time brings change and this part of the city has developed over the centuries.

Кіраўнік дыпмісіі Яўген Шастакоў

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IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE PAST

Tours usually set off from the Town Hall. In today’s conditions it is correct. The Upper Town began growing in the 16th century, when the original wooden building was erected (although its exact location is unknown). Later it was restored According to Mr. Baglasov, to follow history more precisely, tourists should set off from the city gates, whence Minsk began. The Trudovye Reservy Sports Centre is nearby but the architect is more interested in reviving Minsk’s castle complex, with its entrance gate. Plans have been submitted for it to become a museum, but realisation is likely to take some time, and who knows what changes to the plans may occur. The remains of a 12th century church have been found not far away, although a large part of its ‘historical layer’ was destroyed during construction of the metro. Nevertheless, Mr. Baglasov is sure that an interactive exhibition is possible, able to interest visitors. Tourists also love to see handicraft stalls and take part in making artefacts (such as carving a bow). Such activities are planned for the future castle complex. “Without its castle complex, the city lacks even half of its history,” Mr. Baglasov emphasises. Plans include building a pedestrian bridge over Bogdanovich Street, connecting Svobody Square with Minsk’s castle complex. A sculpture of the founder of the Belarusian capital, strongman Menesk, is intended for the same site. Setting aside ‘virtual’ projects, we turn to Cyril and Methodius Street, which boasts the restored Great Gostiny Dvor (guest court) on one side and the ‘Scales’ sculpture (a symbol of the Magdeburg Right) on the other. The court is one of two once existing, saved in the late 1970s by local residents. At the time, Nemiga was being demolished, and there were plans to demolish the Upper Town as well. Public protest and the support of the creative intelligentsia (including well-known writer Vladimir Korotkevich) allowed it to remain and to be restored. Small Gostiny Dvor still awaits reconstruction. In building the metro, it was much damaged, but a design has been made for its restoration. Sergey mentions his dislike of traffic jams, hoping that the Upper Town will eventually be completely pedestrianised, with parking created under October Square. Clearly, there are many plans for the future, but much exists of

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which we can already be proud. The Monastyrsky complex is the pride of designers, boasting a 75 percent booking rate. The area has become a real historical haven, embellished by various museums. Mr. Baglasov says that people often blame architects for falsification during restoration. However, I can see the different colours being used in building, to mark out the old from the new. Sites of historical value are protected by the state, so everything follows scientific techniques and is conducted under close supervision. Much research takes place. I can certainly confirm that you are seeing classical restoration of facades. Regarding criticism, some question the need for restoration at all, preferring the idea of constructing something modern; others are quite the opposite, wishing to make the whole site exactly as it once was. We cannot please everyone. We aren’t living in the 19th century: much has happened in the intervening years and we have issues with transport. A city of two million inhabitants cannot exist as it did when there were only 200,000 residents. We must find a compromise. Most artists, directors and actors seem to want to correct something. Troitsky Suburb pains me rather, since it wasn’t of architectural, historical or cultural value at the time of its reconstruction. Accordingly, only the facades were restored authentically. The roofs were lifted in order to tile them, which is far from historical reality. Our tour has taken barely an hour: plenty of time to see what exists, and what will be. My guide offers to escort me to Rakovsky suburb but I assert that it’s hardly likely to appeal to tourists, lacking historical detail. The detailed city plan foresees moving a bread-baking factory and other sites of such a type but it’s unknown when the suburb will join the historical centre of Minsk. Nevertheless, it’s obvious that only Svobody Square, the castle complex, and Troitsky and Rakovsky suburbs can help our city gain that ‘volume’ so prized by Mr. Baglasov. By Nastya Sovrasova

REGION

Spring arrives early Wild landscapes, powerful industrial potential and ancient traditions characterise Belarus’ south-eastern Gomel Region

stablished almost half a century ago, the archaeological collection at Gomel’s Palace and Park Estate remains one of the largest countrywide, with over 90,000 artefacts: dating from Upper Paleolithic times until the Late Middle Ages. Curators tell us that the territory of the modern Gomel Region began to be populated during Paleolithic times, 23,000-26,000 years ago. Artefacts have been unearthed in the districts of Chechersk (Berdyzh village) and Kalinkovichi (Yurovichi village). The climate was cold and vegetation poor, as common in the Arctic tundra, resulting in hunting and gathering. Rocks and mammoth bones were used to build homes with central hearths. Cutters, scrapers, spears and knives have all been found in these villages. In the 7-6 century BC, people in the territory of Gomel Region began making farming implements from

Since 1998, Gomel has held the status of a centre of interregional communications for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine

iron, having extracted metal from bog ore. Meanwhile, fortified and unfortified settlements sprung up, with formal burial and cremation sites placed local

along the banks of streams and rivers. The ancient Slavs, which Roman and Byzantine historians and geographers classed as veneti, sclaveni and antes, left behind a legacy of sites. The Slavs supported trade links with the Celts of Central Europe, as well as the Scythian tribes of the Northern Black Sea Coast, and Ancient Greek and Roman cities. The Greeks sold those in the Dnieper and Sozh regions ornamentations made from precious metals, alongside glass beads, pottery (amphoras) and fabrics. In the first millennium AD, primitive societies began to transform into feudal regimes. Old Russian annals, entitled Tales of Bygone Years, include information on two Eastern Slavic tribes living in the 9th-12th centuries in Gomel Region: the Dregoviches and the Radimiches. Engaged in agriculture, stockbreeding, hunting, fishing, beekeeping, trade and crafts, the Dregoviches lived between the rivers Dnieper, Berezina and Pripyat. At the end of the first millennium, they

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REGION

Famous Gomel park over the River Sozh

formed a tribal principality centred in Turov, first ruled by Prince Tur. Meanwhile, the Radimiches made their home beside the River Sozh and its tributaries, led by Radim, who hailed from Western Slavic lands. They kept independence until the late 10th century, governed by their own princes and elders. Together with other tribes, they participated in military campaigns led by the Kievan dukes against the capital of the powerful Byzantine Empire: Constantinople. After unification across the Old Russian state, the Dregoviches and the Radimiches joined other eastern Slavs in gradually merging. From the late 10th century onwards, the lands of the Dregoviches became subordinate to the Turov princes, with the Turov principality among the strongest principalities in Ancient Russia. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, Turov became a major eco-

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nomic, political and cultural centre of Rus, as a hub for sewing, bone carving, jewellery, pottery making, metalwork and wood processing. All manner of crafts and trade thrived, with goods transported along the River Pripyat west and east. The capital of the principality became adorned with magnificent churches, with one 12th century site unearthed as recently as 1963, similar in appearance to the cathedrals of Kiev and Vladimir. Turov’s status as one of the most ancient centres of chronicle writing is proven by the 11th

century 'Gospel' fragment found there in 1866: the oldest known text in the territory of Belarus. Turov is still known far and wide, including tales of its miraculous healing stone crosses.

Events and faces The history of the region is rich and diverse, including some tragic episodes: princely internecine wars; the occupation of Kaiser Germany; and the heroic struggle of partisans and underground resistance fighters against the Fascists in World War Two (1941-1945). Gomel Region was the first to be liberated in WWII, hosting Operation Bagration, which marked Europe’s release from Hitlerite Germany and ultimate victory. Monument to the first resident of Gomel at the bank of the River Sozh in Gomel

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REGION

Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace

Residents of Gomel Region were also stricken by the Chernobyl tragedy of April 1986: an event bringing great losses to the national economy and wounding residents to the very heart. However, it did not break them spiritually, inspiring a call to arms to help tackle the social and economic consequences of the nuclear disaster. Gomel Region’s deserted settlements are now reviving, thanks to a competent financial policy and residents’ diligence. Since 1998, Gomel has held the status of a centre of inter-regional c om mu n i c a -

tions for Bel ar us , Russ i a and Ukraine, promoting economic investment, trade and cultural co-ope r at i on , w h i l e

strengthening integration between Slavic states. Gomel Region is known as the birthplace of double Hero of the Soviet Union Pavel Golovachev, as well as People's Writers of Belarus Ivan Melezh and Ivan Shamyakin, and artists Georgy Nissky and Gavriil Vashchenko. It also brought forth diplomat Andrey Gromyko, and Olympic champions Leonid Geyshtor, Yelena Rudkovskaya and Roman Petrushenko, alongside aircraft designer Pavel Sukhoy, architect Stanislav Shabunevsky, ethnographer and historian Yevdokim Romanov, and scientists Lev Vygotsky and Vladimir Bely. Today’s Gomel Region is one of the nation’s most highly-developed industrially, boasting mechanical engineering, light industry and the processing of chemicals, wood, food, building materials, steel and metal roll. It hosts the count r y ’s l a r g e s t volumes of salt production, and is rich in deposits of combustible shale, brown coal and potash salts; moreover, 1,500 peat fields are being explored. Its natural wealth is helping improve the living standards of each resident.

Supporting manufacturing Today’s Gomel Region is home to many of the nation’s leading enterprises, generating income successfully: among them Mozyr Oil Refinery, Belorusneft, and the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ). BMZ, located in the regional city of Zhlobin, is one of the world's largest suppliers of metal cord for buses, employing more than 12,000 people and showcasing the highest level of industrial advancements and high technologies. Its modern equipment is efficient, operated by employees who have been trained well. As a result, over 90 percent of its exports are sold to Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa, with its market ever widening. New trading partners include Angola, Burkina Faso, Kuwait, Gabon, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Taiwan and Indonesia. The enterprise is always being updated technically, with major modernisation in the final stages this year, across four key sites. BMZ tells us that its production line for small-section wire mill iron is soon to become operational, having machinery installed and adjusted by foreign experts. Over 342 million Euros have been invested to date in BMZ’s expanded production facilities.

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REGION

Monument to Buratino and his friends

Lungs of Europe The magnificent Pripyatsky National Park is one of the most popular tourist sites in Belarus, being rich in flora and fauna, and sensitive habitats: marshes, water meadows, oak groves and broadleafed forests. Pripyat Polesie is known as the ‘lungs of Europe’: home to the largest forest-marsh complex on the continent,

Besides offering lovers of the wilderness a unique outdoor experience, Pripyatsky National Park has a magnificent Museum of Nature, portraying the landscapes, with inhabitants, at various times of the year: large hoofed animals, insects, reptiles and amphibians, and a herbarium of rare Belarusian flora. The hall of Polesie folk customs and history includes a traditional home from the region.

Pripyat Polesie is known as the ‘lungs of Europe’: home to the largest forest-marsh complex on the continent, enriching the air with oxygen. Namely marshes enrich the air with oxygen best of all enriching the air with oxygen. Its oak groves are unique in Eastern Europe in their structure and diversity of species. Pripyatsky National Park has international status as a key ornithological territory, with 256 species of birds: of these, 65 are listed in the Red Book of Belarus. Its flood plain is the largest migratory channel for birds crossing Europe, inspiring ornithologists to visit from every corner of the globe. In addition, the reserve is home to wild boar, elk, fallow deer, red deer, muskrats, raccoon dogs, beavers, and rare aurochs, European minks and lynx, badgers, and both edible and garden dormice.

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Calling of spring As nowhere else in Belarus, Gomel Region has preserved the custom of the 'Calling of Spring': held from late February through March. Each settlement has its own date and traditions but this ceremony is most vividly evident in the village of Tonezh, in Lelchitsy District. Residents young and old go to the local hill to summon forth the sun and its warmth. Tonezh’s ‘Chirochka’ custom is named in honour of the ducks, which are first to arrive as the snow starts to melt. Hun-

Alley of the enamored in “Festivalny” park

dreds of bird-shaped biscuits are baked, for enjoyment by all those who gather: from across Belarus and beyond. The custom is beautiful and reminds us sincerely of the traditions of centuries past. Among the families most involved are the Drinevskys, whose female members decorate a fir-tree, as a symbol of the continuation of rural life. The menfolk carry it to the hill, where an old oak grows, singing songs, dancing and joking all the way, while treating passers-by to chirochka biscuits, which bring good luck. People old and young sing spring songs (vesnyankas) while waiting on the hill, and as the menfolk secure the firtree to the oak, encouraging flying birds to deliver spring to Lelchitsy District. Afterwards, celebrations begin in earnest, with ancient entertainments and games, songs and fun. Among the activities is tobogganing, as folklore expert Maria Tushinskaya explains. She tells us, “During the holiday, it’s necessary to toboggan, as of old (even when there is no snow!). This is thought to encourage Mother Earth to share her power for the coming year, protecting participants from ill-health and misfortune.” The culmination of the ceremony is the burning of an effigy of winter: if it burns quickly, spring will be early; if it takes longer, frosts will endure. By Violetta Dralyuk

USEFUL EXPERIENCE

The Palace of the Puslovsky family in Kossovo District

Conversations between countrymen Local historian Ales Zaiko collects language traditions of residents of Ivatsevichi District

vatsevichi District is known for the Palace of the Puslovsky family, located near that of the parents of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, in the Merechevshchina nature reserve, as well as the post office in Nekhachevo, the Holy Assumption Church in Bobrovichi, and the Oginsky Canal. Many more attractive sites exist, as senior citizen Ales Zaiko emphasises. Living in Zapolie, he is convinced that no other place in Brest Region offers such a diverse cultural life as Ivatsevichi District. He asserts, “We can compete with Brest as the cultural capital this year.” Ales views himself as a historian by nature, although he used to teach Belarusian language and literature. He is still involved in school life, being a keen ethnographer and writer. Even the Ivatsevichi District Executive Committee recognises his expertise, having signed his diploma, in the 75th year of the anniversary of the district.

Despite being only an amateur, Mr. Zaiko’s recently published Settlements of Ivatsevichi District is worthy of any professional, detailing village life in full. He explains that it covers 110 settlements, including Alba, Avsto, Byten and Yatvez. Visiting Ales in Zapolie, time seems to fly as I listen to his stories. His study is filled with dictionaries and encyclopaedias, with more in his cabinets. Meanwhile, framed photos sit right up to the ceiling, as he’s also a keen photographer. He explains, “I’ve been creating various collections: of flowers, trees, people, and architecture. My first exhibition was held in the district museum, with captions added by my countryman and childhood friend Ales Ryazanov.” “Do you know what gives me strength?” he suddenly asks me, through half-closed eyes. “Love! Nothing can be done without love and love can inspire any amount of work.” His wife, Antonina, is also a historian, working as his first reader, transcriber and proofreader, as well as his adviser and

reviewer. Naturally, he dedicated his book about district villages to her. Zaiko was born in Zapolie, and studied in Brest, becoming a teacher after his time in the army. All his life, he has recorded proverbs and sayings, jokes and puns, as well as wedding speeches — as given when dividing the loaf. Words tender and abusive have found their way into his records, as published in his Dialectical Dictionary of Kossovo District and Phraseological Dictionary of Kossovo District (Kossovo is a little town, founded in the 15th century). In 2015, he’ll publish his next book. In one cabinet, there are many envelopes, each containing several dozen cards, upon which he writes his notes, including whether a word or expression is already recorded, with links to dictionaries. Suddenly he asks me, “What does ‘obora’ mean?” I’m silent, so he tells me that it’s a cowshed. He regales me with more unusual words: ‘shuma’ (broad-leaved trees); and ‘gvost’ (needle-leaved trees). He loves to collect

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USEFUL EXPERIENCE

 Land rich with talent Dubrovno masters renew the tradition of ‘marachevskiye’ clay penny whistles

Andrew Tadeusz Kosciuszko was born on February 4, 1974 in Kossovo farmstead

the older words still in use in rural areas — such as ‘gusnut’ — as used to denote the thickening of liquid, such as soup. Mr. Zaiko is also a collector of legends. One, which he heard in 1974, he proudly calls About the Origin of People in Belarusian. Marfa Shchurko from Zapolie told him why the Earth is populated by ‘good people’ and ‘all other sorts’. The legend

a sheep brought forth only calm and patient people… and so on. Mr. Zaiko funds the publishing of his books himself, selling items to do so. He tells us that he wrote prolifically until 2009, when he fell sick. It made him feel that he shouldn’t waste any time! He now has a lot more help, and the District Executive Committee has published his book about settlements. Meanwhile, the district newspaper publishes his local history articles.

Although he is only an amateur, no other professional made more than he for preservation of the district’s authenticity states that Adam and Eve had seven sons but only one daughter, which inspired the men to all wish to marry her. To solve the dilemma, Adam placed his daughter in one closed pot, with a female bear in the next. The third held a sheep, the fourth a hen and the fifth a goose. The sixth pot contained a duck and the seventh a snake. The son who married his sister brought forth good and fair people. He who married the bear had descendants who were severe and silent. The son who married

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Full of energy, Ales has even organised a local history display at the school in which he used to work. On show is a Bible from the Palace of the Puslovsky family, which he bought for 100 Roubles in Soviet times. He acts as a tour guide to those who wish to view the exhibits. As to village life, he has no regrets, urging others to value their ‘forest’ and refrain from seeking happiness abroad. By Valentina Kozlovich

t was little over a year ago that Lyudmila Chervinskaya decided to revive the endangered tradition of clay toy penny whistle making. As a member of Dubrovno District Craft Club, she has taken on an important role; the craft will be eligible in the future for the status of a craft of historic and cultural value for Dubrovno District. The region was famous for clay crafts, and in the past housed large workshops. The famous master toymaker Anna Maracheva lived here, included in the encyclopaedia of Belarusian folk art as one of last masters able to make such toys. Her works include ‘marachevskiye’ horses, birds, ladies and other characters and she is famous far outside Vitebsk province. Collections of her works are stored in museums in Minsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg. “Through use of our own funds, and donations from older residents of the district we have several of her penny whistles that have been restored by Lyudmila Chervinskaya. Now she gives free rein to her own imagination in creating new examples of the toy, but follows the same techniques keeping the characteristic appearance and sound of the old whistles,” explained Olga Alexeeva, the Head of Dubravushka National Guild of Master Craftsmen at the Dubrovno District Craft Guild. Vitebsk regional centre of folk art is currently hosting an exhibition of the work of these guild members and master craftsmen. The best of their work is on display. Among the exhibits are examples of willow weaving, straw weaving, straw and fabric appliqué, embroidery, knitting, patchwork, weaving, pottery, carving and many more crafts.

TRAVELLER’S DREAMS

‘BELARUS’ yacht for Fiodor Konyukhov

first met the well-known seafarer and international journalist, who I view as the eighth wonder of the world, quite by chance, having begun chatting in a queue at a Moscow bank. We b ot h were passionate about art, which was enough to become friends. In 2004, we began to prepare the fifth global navigation on the ‘Belarus’ 53m mega-yacht, arriving in Australia under the State Flag of Belarus. Our trip’s mission was to be the gathering of environmental information, using compact, automated equipment onboard, studying not only the

atmosphere but water contamination by oil and radioactive waste. Unfortunately, few people today remember preparations for the sailing, which was supported by the Chairman for Information Policy Commission, of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, Valery Drako. Only a handful of Government officials, including Parliamentary and Sports Committee members, were involved in co-ordinating and signing the papers. Meanwhile, we worked with Russia’s Institute of Oceanology and Oceanography to plan the journey. The Russian-Belarusian Expedition

Council was created to help arrange port docking and the commercial operation of the vessel once the ‘circumnavigation’ was complete. After our trip, the yacht would be obliged to stay in Belarus. For a number of reasons, the plan failed to materialise, but Fiodor held no grudge. One year ago, during his opening of an exhibition of his pictures in Minsk, he admitted, “I love Belarus with all my heart. I studied at Bobruisk’s College of Art and I am happy that the Republic is a symbol of peace and the unity of fraternal peoples.” Revenue from works sold was donated to the construction of the Church of Theophany : being built in Minsk’s Loshitsa district. At the opening of the exhibition, Fiodor expressed his hope that he would yet be able to sail Belarus’ flag across the whole globe. Our country’s prestige is growing thanks in no small part to sporting success, such as brilliant victories at Olympic Sochi, and the organisation of the grand Ice Hockey World Championship. Belarus is also known for its peacemaking mission: Minsk’s agreement on cease-fire in two eastern regions of Ukraine. Meanwhile, we have been at the heart of creating the Eurasian Economic Union. A member of the Federal Expert Council of the Government of Russia, Anatoly Kharlamov, notes, “The first step is always the most difficult. We have had to achieve understanding and approval from all parties: the country, under whose flag the circumnavigation will take place, the organisers and Fiodor Konyukhov himself. We’ve done everything. In this regard I always remember words spoken by my uncle, Russian ice hockey star Valery Kharlamov. He declared that ‘every puck in the opponent’s net brings us closer to victory’. Now, eight years on, we’re reviving this forgotten project; we believe that we’ll succeed in making Fiodor’s dream come true.” By Alexander Ivanov

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Alexander Stadub

HOSPITABLE CHAMPIONSHIP

“Raubichi” sports complex

“Raubichi” confirmed the class The World Biathlon Championship, recently hosted by Raubichi, was a major event among junior tournaments, attracting dozens of thousands of fans and several hundred participants from all over the globe, including Finland and New Zealand

aubichi is known for hosting significant sporting events and was originally built in 1990 to host the first USSR World Biathlon Championship. Later, it became a hub for the country’s winter sports, gathering worldclass sportsmen twice, and junior colleagues on many occasions. Raubichi’s history is rich but the recent event has opened a new

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page, marked by the first significant reconstruction in 25 years. Poland’s Tomasz Sikora, returning to Belarus as team coach for the first time after his 2004 European Championship win, can hardly hide his surprise at the improvements, saying, “I’ve heard that much had changed but could never imagine the scale. It’s impossible to recognise Raubichi. It was a great complex even in the past but now it’s incredible. I think few rival it in Europe.”

HOSPITABLE CHAMPIONSHIP Most guests seem to agree, with a great many athletes having now chosen to train at the centre. Belarus has bold yet realistic plans to bring world biathlon back to Raubichi, wishing to host a cup round or the world championship. Franz Berger, the Race Director of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), is full of praise for the facilities, although IBU First Vice President Victor Maigurov believes that the stands could be improved upon: a suggestion to which Raubichi’s directors concur. Russian Victor Tikhonov, who won the first World Championship in Raubichi, has guaranteed assistance to the Belarusian application for hosting the world event in 2021 or thereafter: until then, the sporting calendar is already scheduled. However, as recent junior battles have demonstrated, the local slopes will never be empty.

Participants and champions

The head coach of the Belarusian national team, Andrian Tsibulsky, is cautious in making too many assumptions but feels quietly confident of success. Among those he sees that future stars of the track are Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold

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All junior biathlon competitions arouse interest since our young athletes tend to make the shift to adult tournaments more easily, moving from ‘youth’ champions to winning ‘adult’ medals (although not with100 percent success of course). Such countries as Brazil, Australia and New Zealand have been taking part in recent biathlons, although hardly with an idea of claiming victory. Rather, Norway’s Ole Bjørndalen and Tarjei Bø, France’s Martin Fourcade and Belarus’ Darya Domracheva (who many times won junior competitions) are the rising stars of our time.

(who won four medals in Raubichi) and Russia’s Alexander Dedyukhin (who also won several medals in Belarus). He praises France’s Lena Arno and Ukraine’s Yulia Zhuravok (who hit every one of their 60 targets over four races) and agrees with silver relay winner Emilien Jacquelin who, being asked about standing alongside Fourcade and Jean-Guillaume Béatrix, commented that ‘time will tell’. These words are true of almost every situation.

Belarusian gold It’s always pleasant to win at home and, without wishing to place undue pressure on our young sportsmen and their coaches, we cannot help but yearn for medals. Coach Vladimir Makhlaev, who trains our Belarusian girls, was smiling after the sprint race in which Dasha Blashko, 19, took her first ever gold. Her success alone quietened any sceptics regarding the future of Belarusian biathlon. In the pursuit, she sadly missed out on a medal but Mr. Makhlaev is optimistic, saying, “The key to victory is confidence: eve-

Belarusian Darya Blashko won the sprint race at the Junior World Championship in biathlon

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HOSPITABLE CHAMPIONSHIP

The team of Belarus won in the girls’ relay race at the Junior World Championship in biathlon

ryone has seen that Belarus’ sportswomen can compete and win at the world level — given necessary attention and support. We shouldn’t ignore the outer regions: Dasha Blashko comes from Vitebsk Region and Anya Sola is from Novopolotsk. I hope it will be easier for promising young athletes to prepare for major competitions now.” Those who won the relay on the last day of the junior competition couldn’t agree more. Their first ever such victory will surely not be their last.

Our Dasha The World Junior Championship saw Darya Blashko taking the limelight, amidst much excitement and a victorious mood. Her individual gold and relay triumph soon had fans and journalists comparing her with triple Olympic medallist Darya Domracheva. After an amusing incident in the pursuit, when Blashko mistakenly placed herself at her rival’s stand, shooting with 100 percent accuracy (repeating Ms. Domracheva’s past error) the association was certainly to the fore. If only all our young sportswomen might demonstrate such impressive results. Medals won at junior events do not foretell automatic future success but, as coaches admit, Dasha has great potential. She admits, “There’s no need to compare me to Domracheva. Dasha is a great sportswoman while I’m just beginning my path. I shifted to biathlon just six years ago, from cross-country skiing. Two years ago, I had a fiasco at the World Champi-

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onship in mountainous Obertilliach; I was unprepared for its conditions.” Ms. Blashko’s Raubichi gold follows four race victories during the national selective championship; she also won the Belarusian summer biathlon championship. While others read detective or romance novels in their spare time, she is fond of researching the life of great Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen. By Dmitry Komashko

Sergey Bulygin — Olympic champion and four-time world champion: It’s not so difficult to compare the championships of two decades ago with those of today. People think that biathlon has changed, with all athletes skiing faster, raising the level of competition many-fold, but this is rather an exaggeration. It’s true that much has changed since my own days but, believe me, it’s always been a challenge to win a world championship. Accordingly, junior medals are much appreciated, although they guarantee little. Those who win medals in Raubichi gain the chance to work with the national team, participating in IBU Cup rounds. Victor Krivko and Maxim Vorobey are up and coming biathletes, alongside our victorious sportswomen. We need to support them all, helping them make further progress.

LIFESTYLE

Seeing the world through goggles

Sergey Gayko

Soon the fans of young, yet enjoyed by many Belarusians style in art — ‘steampunk’ — will demonstrate their works at Minsk’s Centre of Modern Art. The first exhibition is to take place in May, enabling guests to get acquainted with the exposition while also communicating with representatives of this ambiguous trend.

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teampunk’ defies definition as an art form, being a blend of late-19th century culture and the fantasy genre. Its heroines

might wear a corset with metal inserts over their dress, sewn from natural fabrics, adorned by a revolver at their belt. Goggle glasses often complete the look, while a flame-thrower and gas mask would complete the impression. Nothing is too daring, with mechanical accessories all the rage.

The notion of ‘steampunk’ has only recently arrived in Belarus, although its older fans have long enjoyed elements of the genre, without knowing that it had a name. The ‘game for adults’ is one enjoyed by married couple Sergey and Yelena Gayko. Other founding fans are musician and direc-

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LIFESTYLE tor Olga Akulich, and Dmitry Tikhonenko: the ‘master of copper affairs’. Dmitry’s beautiful and unusual creations are admired far and wide. Such is the following that lovers of ‘steampunk’ now regularly meet in Minsk cafes and clubs. Businessman and father Sergey Gayko is at the heart of the subculture, organising themed parties in the capital. Asking him to define the philosophy of ‘steampunk’, he cannot give me a simple answer, believing that its essence lies in defying definition, combining seeming opposites. Sergey admires writer Yevgeny Kluyev: in particular,

how you define it, such views are always subjective. In defining it, we remove part of its soul, as the saying goes. Naming an idea does not give it substance. We have adopted the term ‘steampunk’ only because it’s convenient to do so. Does this name equate to a definite historical epoch? Yes, to the Victorian age, but the time period isn’t relevant. That time was the last for ‘living things’; there was a transition to industrial manufacturing, yet many items were still made by hand. They were high quality and ‘real’. Now, synthetic materials domi-

Steampunk is a hobby, nothing more. We all live in this reality, whether we like it or not. Moreover, we influence life with each act of creativity — such as by making unique items. Those I make, as well as my attitude, are real his Between Two Chairs, where the writer clearly reveals the essence of asymmetric dualism. Certainly, the meeting of opposites is a well-trodden path by artists and writers through the ages and the paradox of human communication is that, in voicing our opinions, we run the risk of being misunderstood. So are conflicts at home and work born... Sergey, some view ‘steampunk’ as just another passing trend while others see it as a form of a passive aggression. A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard, comes to mind. As far as I understand, ‘steampunk’ is a departure from reality, to an imaginary world. What is your personal interpretation? For me, ‘steampunk’ is the form of expression: a lifestyle. No matter

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nate, and not always of high quality. Such items have their advantages, since

fashion is transient; there’s no point in making clothes to last years. From the point of view of profit, you’re absolutely right. However, there is more to life than money. What benefits do you bring? I have a workshop where I create various interesting items in ‘steampunk’ style: each unique and unavailable elsewhere, unless you pay a great deal of money. Is there a fundamental difference between decorating a dress in rhinestones or diamonds? I prefer natural materials. Those who built the Moscow metro in the 1930s wrote that wooden seats ‘should be covered with a transparent varnish, to avoid the temptation of painting’. Meanwhile, our main Nezavisimosti Avenue is built to last, using old techniques. Its plaster endures, which is an unthinkable luxury for modern constructions. I, as a designer, know what I’m talking about. What do you do in your everyday life? I produce exhibition stands and design interiors for shopping p av i l i on s , s h op s and cafes. Now I understand what attracts you to ‘steampunk’. It offers a platform for

Yelena Gayko

LIFESTYLE creative fantasies. What activities do you engage in? We organise costume parties, invite musicians, dance, hold contests, organise exhibitions, and take photos. In short, we have fun. We are now preparing our May exhibition, having gathered enough like-minded people. Among them are literary figures, filmmakers, artists and designers. Is it an escape from imperfect reality into an illusory world of ideals? Shouldn’t we rather try to influence those aspects of life we dislike? You see a contradiction where none exists. It is a hobby, nothing more. We all live in this reality, whether we like it or not. Moreover, we influence life with each act of creativity — such as by making unique items. Those I make, as well as my attitude, are real. Aren’t you afraid that ‘steampunk’ will be judged only on its gaudy costumes? It depends on your goal. Those who wish to find out more will do so, while others are happy with a surface perception, expressing through costume and appearance, and mocking life a little. Cur re ntly ‘steampunk’ is at a peak of popularity, with fans seeking out vintage interior items, goggles, walking sticks and so on. Who sews your clothes and makes your accessories? Many items are just reproductions, in plaster — but not all. Walking sticks I order f rom B ogd an Shimanovich, who makes them skilfully. A great number sew costumes from whatever is at hand; there are no strict rules, which allow you to

‘play’. Yes, we emulate the fashions of centuries ago, but add a little imagination to create ‘steampunk’ style. I don’t enjoy ‘steampunk’ because it’s popular; on the contrary, I see myself as having set the style. Two years ago nobody knew about ‘steampunk’; now, the word is used commonly to describe, for instance, a lamp! How have you aided the popularisation of this trend in Belarus? I’ve not done so alone. One New Year’s Eve, my wife and I organised a thematic party at home, ‘issuing a call’ online. So many people wanted to join us, including Olga Akulich, who offered her help professionally. That was the beginning. In a short time, well-known Dmitr y Tikhonenko joined our society. He had enjoyed the hobby for a very long time: now that hobby has a name. Hundreds of people from various regions of Belarus attend our parties. What i s the fe male image in this style: a fragile girl with a bouquet of field flowers or a militant Amazon?

The Victorian age was one of geographical discoveries, travel, and colonisation. Woman could be dynamic, inquisitive and curious. Dressing in this style, she might carry binoculars. She doesn’t need to sit home waiting for her husband, rather taking an active role in her own life. She may well wear a hat and skirt, but her spirit is more than her costume. How do you see the future of ‘steampunk’? You wish me to praise the movement but I dislike the sphere of words for their own sake. Postmodernism proclaims the idea of ‘spying for spying’s sake’. In pinning down a phenomenon, we may move further from its essence. Each evaluation is subjective. I live in the real world, performing real work, as I think is right. If everyone acted similarly, our world would be a better place. I don’t care whether ‘steampunk’ is remembered for having bettered the world or not. By Alisa Krasovskaya

Steampunks are preparing for the holiday

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THEATRICAL EXPERIMENTS

Stories told with gestures

Minsk hosts the 3rd open forum of Belarus’ experimental theatres: PlaStforma-2015

rtists from Minsk, Grodno and Mogilev have been joined by Polish, Lithuanian and Latvian teams, all coming at their own expense and without asking for a fee. They are representatives of the ‘art of excluded people’. Plastic theatre as a special art does not exist in the Belarusian consciousness yet, and also is currently lacking state support. However, some domestic teams are well known abroad and the recent forum attracted officials from the French and Polish culture ministries. An incredible gap exists between traditional and modern dance. This gap is even wider when speaking of choreog-

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raphy and plastics. The new style is not dancing theatre or ballet: its representatives oppose classical choreographic glamour, beautiful dresses, luxurious decorations and tuneful melodies but focus on the absolute freedom of bodies and movement in the space. Plastic theatres are at the beginning of their development in Belarus. Some regard this new style as ‘modern’ and others think it has its roots in the practice of mime and ancient pantomime. There are also those who view the trend as ‘newly invented systems of dancing culture’. Performances of plastic theatres include elements of clownery, acrobatics and pantomime while their improvisation and absurdism are sometimes intermixed with fantasy and dreams. A human body is the major indicator of

feelings and texts and psychological nuances play a minor role. Modern theatre appears to be tired of words. ‘Plastics’ comes from the Greek word ‘sculpture’. In a plastic theatre, these are sculptures of human bodies. Being strange, ugly or comical, they actively move and are ready to amaze the audience at any moment with their tricks. One of the founders of this trend in Belarus is Slava Inozemtsev, who also initiated the 3rd Belarusian PlaStforma — ‘the theatre of plastic grotesque’. There is more to this new idea than meets the eye. Belarusian plastic theatres have their peculiar features: they include philosophy, an interest in Japanese ‘bunto’ dances and special spiritual practices. This is a separate world to traditional dance that is interesting for young people in particular. Sadly, some theatre critics have no sympathy with such troupes; the latter are mostly privately run, lack their own buildings and rely on enthusiasts. They are often dismissed as ‘sub-culture’. Mr. Inozemtsev’s InZhest Theatre has been in operation since the 1980s. It’s has toured Germany and Europe receiving prestigious awards at Russian and Ukrainian mime parades. In over three decades of its existence, the troupe has trained dozens of artistes but is still only known as a people’s theatre from the Plant Integral’s House of Culture. This small recognition however, enables the theatre’s head to receive a salary, artistes enjoy a stage for rehearsals and audiences have the chance to enjoy projects filled with artistic anarchy and a synthesis of traditional arts with philosophy. Nine theatres of the kind are now to be found in Belarus and among the most famous are Alexander Tebenkov’s Gallery (from Grodno), Olga Skvortsova’s Skvo’s Dance Company, Olga Lobovkina’s Karakuli and finally Slava Inozemtsev’s InZhest. All brought their new shows to the festival including Irina Anufrieva, a former pupil of Mr. Inozemtsev’s now living in Sweden. By Tatiana Orlova

ART

When colour tells of grief or pleasure Explaining the principles of his creativity, Minsk artist Anatoly Kuznetsov invites us to his workshop, to view his inner circle of pictures I know that you moved from Russia; how do you come to be in Belarus? While ser ving in the army, I wondered whether to eventually go to St. Petersburg or Moscow. I chose Minsk, studying at the Art Institute, with no regrets. I felt comfortable in Minsk, where I had the chance to express myself. The teachers had mostly studied in Moscow and St. Petersburg but the general atmosphere was different. What induced you to aspire to creative freedom? I’ve always been fascinated by colour; it excites me. At times, this has been to the detriment of my work — as the St. Petersburg school would say. If you are naturally drawn to colour, your work lacks ‘fine’ quality, although this is not true of using a wide brush. I cannot say that I painted badly, as I painted like other artists and always received good marks. I measured myself by the level of the St. Petersburg school. My teacher, Piotr Krokholev, allowed me to go to St. Petersburg, on the River Neva, where I painted for a week. Today, you see non-figurative painting as being more meaning ful to you. How do you explain this? It was a long journey that was inevitably heading towards abstraction

Artists need a vast range of knowledge and should know their own priorities

or, rather, to non-figurative painting. I learnt to think subconsciously. My ear can see too. I still use colour actively, allowing it to float freely and speak: of grief, and pleasure, and all the nuances of feeling. Do you imagine your audience, and aspire for them to understand your intentions? In truth, I try to hear myself. If I feel my own response, others will too. Not everyone, but some, will understand. I have many acquaintances who discuss this notion and have told them my stance before. Being unlike other ar tists, is it harder for you to find ‘understanding? Unfortunately, today, there’s little non-figurative painting. There is emasculation, with no rhythm or colour, as has been evident in Europe for a long time. Artists need a vast range of knowledge and should know their own priorities. I do perfectly: colour, colour and colour! It creates rhythm, which becomes a system and directions. To maintain your own impetus, you should work constantly. Was your vivid style already in evidence at the Art Institute? Time and work evolve your style. Did your teachers understand you? Yes.

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ART

Anatoly Kuznetsov likes vast areas: sometimes his canvases need large space at the exhibition

And were there those who did not understand? I was not a dissident; I worked hard, studied, tried. There was almost no information on painting styles. We simply had brochures with titles like ‘Ideology of Bourgeois Culture’, expressing certain directions. I saw these but I did not understand at that time. I do not consider myself to be purely avant-garde, as I don’t turn things upside down. I only try to manifest something of my own. What’s your attitude towards holding exhibitions? Are they a great event or you are indifferent? I’m not indifferent. I used to have many exhibitions; then, the exhibition halls became empty. They are again being put in order, although I often think there is a lack of il-

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lumination to view works. Exhibitions are vital for artists, to allow them to take stock of their image. You see your work in a new light, which helps you progress. Every artist needs exhibitions. Artists spend many hours in their studio. What do you think about while working? Many things. It sometimes crosses my mind to give up because, as a rule, it’s a struggle to make a good picture. You begin each canvas as if for the first time. For the picture to establish itself you must work hard, physically and morally. Frequently there are difficult periods: the colour won’t work well, or an image won’t take shape. You think that maybe it’s better to drop it but, the next day, you enter the workshop and try again, this time ‘winning’.

Do your pictures have names? Certainly. I have whole cycles. ‘White Suite’ is one I’ve been working on all my life. It began with figurative works. ‘Colouristic Spaces’ an ‘Vibrations of Light’ followed, but the most unexpected is ‘Valley of Pharaohs’. I never imagined creating works on an Egyptian theme. What do the names of these cycles refer to? ‘White Suite’ has white canvases, with slight nuances. If you paint through the white, it creates a delicate effect, with tender sensations. You see a sensual beginning, although it’s difficult to explain. Why have I continued with this cycle all my life? There are periods when you are ready to work and others when you don’t paint anything. Time passes and you return to an

ART

Pictures from ‘Valley of Pharaohs’ cycle are the author’s reflection on the secret of eternal life

idea, feeling ready. Moods shift with passing days. You may feel differently tomorrow than you do today, or have a period when you sustain a particular mood. If someone works in a realistic manner, they reflect on a certain event via a plot. You simply use colour and other elements to reflect the diversity of reality. Is this a challenge? My plots are flexible, with movement and rhythm, straining on the surface, the relaxing, in flux. Colours pass from hot to cold, and from cold to hot. I work within a concept of space, which is more than spots or stains. They move and talk. They make contact at an intuitive level, deep and philosophical. Those spaces accumulate, creating a theme. What are your creative plans? I have many. I’m painting a cycle connected with the philosophy of Laozi of China, who wrote ‘Way and Perfection’: a conversation about the perfection of the human soul. It speaks to me and inspires me. My cycle is called ‘Metaphor of Forgotten Truths’. I write through painting. If you had time, what would you create?

I paint on emotional themes and often go to the lakes, to feel close to nature. I never imagined that Belarus would have this effect on me, making me feel that it was my place. I painted ‘In Memory of Kurosawa’ while sitting near a lake, looking at old reeds while the snow hung in the air. It made me think of neorealist Kurosawa, who worked with contrasts. Belarus allows me to perceive emotional vibrations connected not only with colour but with hearing and smell. Could another place have the same effect? Colours are special here and have helped me to elevate my work. I assume that most of your works come from your imagination, from within. Do only some small parts reflect external sources? It’s difficult to explain. Some ideas come through sight, while some cannot be explained. Everyday life brings many experiences, which inform our thinking. I paint trees, houses and reflections in water. I paint from life, but I try to see what others do not. Are you an optimist?

I don’t think so but I am positive by nature. Do you ever make corrections to your works? Certainly, and through necessity, since not everything can come right the first time. I’m capricious with colour. I begin spontaneously but there comes a time when you have to try and look more objectively. I may sit for an hour or two, thinking and looking, without painting. It’s very useful. Being an artist is not a trade but a condition. You must examine yourself rather than aspiring to be in the public eye. I don’t want to be fashionable; I want to be my own self. I always tell young people this: follow your heart. His creativity is intuitive, since he assures us that he approaches a canvas with no idea of what will come; images appear ‘in the course of improvisation’. Kuznetsov’s pictures seldom have an obvious subject, with contours shaded and dissolving in space. He works beyond the constraints of realism, looking deeper, into experience, thoughts and feelings. Such is his choice. By Victor Mikhailov

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Fragment. Valley of Pharaohs. 2006. Canvas, oil painting. 195x450