Belarus #6 2013

No.6 (957), 2013

BELARUS Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

Magazine for you

Forum of evident innovations

26

INTERNATIONAL

Advertising retro style

Socio-political Weekly

This advertisement appeared in the first issues of The Minsk Times weekly and remains the same today

Fill up so you are not left behind!

The country’s only English language newspaper can be bought in Belsoyuzpechat shops and is available by subscription in Belarus and aboard

Subscription indexes for Belpochta catalogues: Departmental — 637302 Individual — 63730

Contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 6 (957), 2013 Published since 1930 State Registration Certificate of mass medium No.8 dated March 2nd, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus

6-7

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

Strategic decisions were made in Minsk

Editor: Viktor Kharkov Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

4 8

Efficient pragmatism of co-operation According to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session held in Astana

Bright stars illuminate road to tomorrow for young talents

38

Vadim Kondrashov

32

Following salsa beat

42

Pleasant surprises New infrastructure

45

Author of golden rules Invisible treasure

45 48

countrywide while monuments of ancient architecture are restored

of Belarus is its people. There are really unique persons among them, for example, Ivan Kruk, Rector of the Institute of Culture of Belarus

House of memories Small village of

Mikhalki in Bereza District of Brest Region opens remarkable museum: House of Grandpa Khvedor

54

54

All roads lead to Mir

12

Valentin Velichko: ‘We are brothers forever’

20

Symbols of new industry Belarus

22

Conserving heat in the home

20

28

28

is trying to take its seat in “nanotrain”, which speeds up

New residential buildings using high energy conservation

New beginning for linen mills

Russia and Belarus to join efforts in reviving leadership in flax cultivation and processing

Embracing commercialism Yanka Kupala Theatre believes profits are possible

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 “Belarusian House of Press” Publishing Office” UE. 79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No.1958 Total circulation — 1952 copies (including 733 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

Alexey Dudarev: ‘I’m not ashamed of what I’ve written’

Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish.

Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977

50

For future foreign subscribers for ‘Belarus’ magazine, apply to ‘MK-Periodica’ agency.

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

© “Беларусь. Belarus”, 2013

2013 беларусь.belarus

editor’s note

Modern and Historical Parallels

O

ur mood tends to be influenced by what happens around us, with pleasant events lifting our spirits and sad news depressing them. Of course, global events can also influence our feeling of well-being unless we are very thick-skinned. Gloomy prognoses of another world economic crisis may seem pessimistic but, perhaps, being prepared is the best way forward.

The best solution is a long-term plan of action. Even regional associations can play their part and the Eurasian Economic Community has influence on a wider scale. Our partners’ desire for further integration and attraction of new members is obvious, as you can read in Efficient Pragmatic Co-operation. This looks at prospects for partnership, based on the results of the Eurasian Economic Community Summit, held in the capital of Kazakhstan.

Minsk picked up the torch, hosting the next the EEC Summit as soon as the previous one finished in Astana. As President of the Council of the CIS, Belarus hosted a CIS Heads of Government Council session, continuing Astana dialogue in Minsk. Not only CIS prospects came under focus but the importance of setting principles to guide the evolution of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space within

беларусь.belarus 2013

the Eurasian Union. Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan are eager to gain observer status at the future Eurasian Union (to launch in 2015) and are already invited to offer their opinions, as you can read in Day of Strategic Decision Making.

Naturally, young people should be treated as the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Accordingly, the Belarusian Government is always ready to support youngsters’ideas and projects, with the view that this will benefit the Belarusian economy, culture and science. At a recent meeting with gifted pupils and students, President Lukashenko highlighted that Belarus offers young people every chance to realise their potential. Nearly 800 university-preparatory schools, vocational schools and art schools operate, alongside tens of thousands of clubs, groups, studios and scientific societies for young people.

Various academic competitions and festivals annually help us to discover the stars of the future. Read more in Stars Light the Way to Tomorrow.

Symbols of New Industry tackles how Belarus plans to jump aboard the speeding trend towards nanotechnologies.

The ideas involved seem so futuristic that it’s hard to know where fact ends and fantasy begins. However, a great many countries are investing in this sphere, hoping to win the gamble and take their market share. Belarus has a chance to be among the pioneers, taking advantage of this window of opportunity.

Belarus is already training thousands of experts in nanotechnology, with our leading universities having set up syllabuses and the Association of Nanotechnologies, which links higher education with industry.

Read about Belarusian Agro Industrial Week in Forum of Evident Innovations, to hear about the latest machinery and technologies being used domestically and sold abroad.

A popular British website, femalefirst.co.uk, has compiled a list of the most beautiful castles in Europe, including the fortress situated in the Belarusian village of Mir. Other mentioned include Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, the residence of ‘Dracula’, Bran Castle, in Romania, Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania and Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. Like other European countries, Belarusian architecture is elegant and classical.

Naturally, Belarus is knitted to Europe in many ways, including its tragic WWII history. We share no borders with Germany but Mir Castle is inspiring cultural dialogue between us, thanks to the discovery of a unique 19th century collection of portraits and decorative art objects which belonged to Mir Castle. Found in Germany by Olga Popko, the Director of the Mir Castle Complex Museum, these rare items are now headed for display in Belarus. Find out more in All Roads Lead to Mir.

BY Viktor Kharkov

PANORAMA

Indicators fill with pride

by 21,000 people,” Ms. Nevero emphasised.

She is proud of Belarus’ child health indicators, with the infant mortality ratedown to just 3.4 per thousand in 2012: the best figure in the CIS (Russia’s rate was 8.7 per thousand). The infant mortality rate (under

Belarus is rated 33rd among 160 countries for its favourability as a place for giving birth to children and is ranked first within the CIS

 Convenience of e-technology

“T

he state support of families with children has played a significant role in encouraging a rise in population in the Republic.

Belarus is now ranked among the top countries for conditions for having children, holding 33rd position out of 160 countries worldwide, and being ranked first within the CIS,”reported the Chief Pediatrician of the Ministry of Health, Elena Nevero, speaking at a press conference in Minsk.

In recent years,the natural decline in population has begun to tail off. “Last year,the crude birth rate was 12.2 per thousand, while the crude mortality rate was 13.3 per thousand. Last year, for the first time, our child population increased

 Potential for international co-operation China ready to raise investments into Belarus

T

he Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus, Gong Jianwei, notes that major projects are being implemented in the energy and cement industries while, in Borisov, assembly of Belarusian-Chinese automobiles has already been launched.

Sending applications to Belarusian Government through info-kiosks

S

5 years) was 4.4 per thousand and the crude mortality rate among children was 46.2 per 100,000, which is also very low.

“This has been facilitated by sustainable funding, ongoing training of medical staff and the availability of all types of medical care, including high-techt reatments,” Ms. Nevero added.

This year sees the start of reconstruction of the M-5/E 271 MinskGomel highway and construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Vitebsk Region, alongside a facility producing sulphate bleached pulp (with an annual output of 400,000 tonnes) at Svetlogorsk Pulp and Paper Mill JSC. Mr. Jianwei emphasises, “We need to move forward, expanding areas of co-operation. I see huge potential in the financialand-currency sector, as well as in informational support and agricultural processing. Today’s volume of

ensor kiosks have been installed at the House of Government to allow citizens to send electronic applications to the Internet-reception room of the Council of Ministers.

The info-kiosks contain information about the structure and areas of activity of the Council of Ministers, as well as its regulations, visiting hours and other useful data.

Applications sent in electronic form are considered equally with written applications.

direct foreign investments is insufficient but many credit lines have opened.” He comments that Chinese companies are showing interest in the modernisation of flax production and in the Belarusian flax industry as a whole. The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park is another important are a of bi latera l co-op erat ion, promoting manufacturing, research, housing construction, trade and provision of services. It’s expected that large transnational companies will join Chinese investors in coming to Belarus.

2013 беларусь.belarus

INTEGRATION

Efficient pragmatism of co-operation

A

longside the presidents of B elar us, Russia and Kazakhstan, the session also involved the heads of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, both of which are eager to join Eurasian integration. Various decisions were adopted by Belarus and its existing two partners, aiming to support the building of the Eurasian Economic Union. Before the heads of state began their work, Alexander Lukashenko held a bilateral meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

“Our bilateral relations have been developing dynamically, with various obstacles and issues promptly addressed at the presidential level. Our experts and governments work well too,” noted the Head of the Belarusian state.

Mr. Lukashenko also noted success of the recent visit by Kazakhstan’s Prime

Minister to Belarus. “I met him and we discussed a range of issues. Moreover, his delegation travelled to all corners of Belarus. The Prime Minister stayed a little longer in our country, due to his interest in separate issues, which we appreciated greatly,” underlined the Belarusian leader.

The President assured his Kazakh colleague that, “Kazakhstan is a most attractive and promising partner for Belarus, planning many projects to which we can contribute. We know that you welcome our involvement in modernising your country. We’re ready to take part, helping with this modernisation.

We have quite a few projects and almost no problems regarding their implementation, which indicates the level of our co-operation.”

Speaking about the summit in Astana, which was held within the framework of the Single Economic Space, the Belarusian President noted that the parties should take several steps

The most important aspect is our common aspiration to integrate further…Integration should be evolutionary so we need to unite efforts and search for points of coincidence, gradually

беларусь.belarus 2013

According to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sessionheld in Astana aiming to push forward this integration association, which is not only talked about but which is reckoned with. “We hope very much that, sharing similar positions on major issues, we’ll be able to reach a consensus,” he emphasised.

Mr. Nazarbayev agrees with such assessment of the summit. The President of Kazakhstan noted that bilateral trade is showing an upward trend, with joint projects being realised. He views our two economies as complementary and has invited Mr. Lukashenko to pay an official visit to discuss the development of bilateral relations in more detail.

The presidents of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan were joined by the presidents of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, welcomed by the Chairman, Mr. Nazarbayev, who recalled that, in December 2012, it was agreed to hold three meetings this year, to promote the pace of document adoption. Further integration and the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union is a priority for our three states. “ Today is our first top level meeting within the framework of this agreement. The most important aspect is our common aspiration to integrate further. Foremost, we agree that integration should be beneficial for everyone.

States integrate in order to receive that which is inaccessible individually.

Integration should be evolutionary so we need to unite efforts and search for points of coincidence, gradually,” noted Mr. Nazarbayev.

Belta

INTEGRATION

The President of Kazakhstan told journalists about the results of the meeting, including the major news that Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine are being given observer status in the new Eurasian Economic Union. Mr. Nazarbayev asserted, “We’ve discussed enlargement prospects for the Customs Union and the Single Customs Space. As you know, Kyrgyzstan has already submitted an application to join the Customs Union, which we are considering. A task force has been set up to develop a roadmap for Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the Customs Union. Meanwhile, Ukraine is keen to have observer status within the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space and within the future Eurasian Economic Union. The President of Ukraine and the President of Kyrgyzstan were invited to attend today’s session to take part in our discussions. We upheld their intentions and made a corresponding decision: by autumn, the necessary documents

will have been prepared, enabling us to approve them at the next session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.”

A member of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Sergei Rumas, explains, “The Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Victor Khristenko, has been given the necessary authority to sign a memorandum which should be concluded at the next meeting of the CIS Heads of Government, in Minsk, on May 31st. This will allow representatives of Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan to attend sessions at the invitation of the Chairman of the Council or the Chairman of the EEC Board. They won’t be able to vote but will have the opportunity to take part in discussions and voice their views.

Moreover, they’ll be able to put forward their proposals, to be discussed by the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Draft documents on the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union are to be submitted to the heads of state by next

May. Mr. Nazarbayev explained, “We plan to launch this from January 1st, 2015, so draft documents should be submitted for consideration to the heads of state by May 1st, 2014. Now, our major goal is to eliminate all obstacles to the Customs Union and the final formation of the Single Economic Space. On the basis of this work we’ll decide how to strengthen our integration processes.”

As expected, the Astana summit reaped results; the heads of state approved the idea of sharing an agro-industrial policy within the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space. An agreement was also adopted on information sharing in the sphere of statistics. Eurasian integration is just gaining momentum, yet is attracting great attention worldwide.

The presidents finished their work by visiting Astana’s new Opera and Ballet Theatre (currently under construction) and Mr. Lukashenko attended a working dinner on behalf of Mr. Nazarbayev.

By Vladimir Khromov

2013 беларусь.belarus

Belta

INTEGRATION

Strategic decisions were made in Minsk Post-Soviet integration progressing well as May ends

беларусь.belarus 2013

I

mmediately after the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session had ended in Astana, Minsk hosted the CIS Heads of Government Council, as the CIS Chair. A day of intense work began with the understanding that the talks begun in the Kazakh capital would continue.Before the session, the President of Belarus spoke to delegation leaders not only of general CIS prospects but of the principles guiding further development of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space — and their evolution into the Eurasian Economic Union.

The three states of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan are evidently gaining momentum in their integration, with many documents — agreed upon in Astana — signed in Minsk to help guide the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space and the future Eurasian Economic Union [named the EEU by journalists] — to include Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.

INTEGRATION Before the meeting, President Lukashenko held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan, Annamuhammet Gochyev, noting the significant progress made in our two states’ interaction. In the coming future, the two presidents plan to discuss all prospects of co-operation in detail.

Of course, bilateral relations support multilateral integration. Talking to the delegation leaders of the CIS Heads of Government Council, the President noted the key results of the recent Astana summit. Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan have expressed their desire to become observer members within the future Eurasian Union (to be formed in 2015) and have been invited to take part in an active dialogue. Mr. Lukashenko emphasised, “They’ll be invited to all sessions. We are open to them and they’ll take part in all discussions.

We’ve guaranteed that, if they wish to join the Single Economic Space and our Economic Union, they’ll pass this path without any restrictions. They’ll have to join all our agreements existing by that time.”

The benefits of this alliance are clear to all. As Mr. Lukashenko noted, the Eurasian Economic Union’s launch will see all tariff restrictions between member states lifted — including in the sphere of oil-and-gas. He explained, “We still have many tariff and non-tariff regulations to tackle — even within the SES. Admittedly, Russia has taken a serious step forward in announcing that, in 12 to 18 months (no later than January 1st, 2015) it will have lifted all its tariff restrictions — including in the sphere of oil-and-gas. However, it has warned all members and invited observers that this will only be possible if we unify our economies. By 2015, when a Union treaty should have been signed, all the ideas currently on paper should be operational.”

Mr. Lukashenko then added, “We’ve agreed that the Union would be economic while the political problems — which might hamper its development — would be solved.

We shouldn’t focus exclusively on economic co-operation since this is affected by politics, diplomacy and defence.

We’ve agreed to solve these issues gradually.”

Evidently, the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space and the Eurasian Economic Union are an example of multilateral interaction for all former Soviet republics to follow. An advanced interstate union would be impossible were it not for the CIS. Mr. Lukashenko admitted, ‘Political transformation, which was painful for most post-Soviet states, involved the overcoming of financial-economic difficulties. The CIS has managed to preserve its key principles of trusting relations between nations, spiritual kinship and close cultural and trade-economic ties.”

Of course, economics must remain at the heart of the CIS. “Taking into consideration the significant role of service exports in our states’ economic relations, we must act promptly to facilitate the creation of our free trade zone for services,” the President stressed.

The key initiatives behind Belarus’ chairing of the CIS in 2013 were explained by Mr.Lukashenko, who noted, “We could have proposed even more profound agenda as I know that some CIS states are interested in strengthening integration as much as ourselves. However, we have chosen ideas which can be realised…”

We’ve agreed that the Union would be economic while the political problems — which might hamper its development — would be solved

The CIS Heads of Government Council met at the recently launched President Hotel and Belarus’ initiative on co-operation in the field of environmental protection was passed by a solid vote. In addition, education and sports related decisions were made and eleven joint projects were signed in the fields of IT, transport and medicine — alongside other documents.

On the same day, Minsk-Arena hosted the SES Business Forum, gathering around 600 participants — including top managers of large companies, bankers and economists. They focused on practical issues regarding our three states’ economic interaction, with the day ending in several important decisions; memoranda were signed by Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, to enhance their co-operation with the Eurasian Economic Commission, as Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Mykola Azarov, noted. “The Customs Union is our top partner. The decision — sealed with our signatures — indicates that Ukraine wishes to co-operate with the SES as closely as possible,” he asserted.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Djhoomart Otorbaev, said, “This step will serve our state interests, enabling us to improve the competitiveness of our businessmen and the investment climate.”

Other CIS states also appear interested in the BelarusRussia-Kazakhstan trilateral union or, to be more precise, the ‘2+3’ alliance. Later that day, prospects for the latter, as well as the results of the CIS summit and Belarusian-Russian Union State issues were discussed by Mr. Lukashenko and Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev at the Zaslavl state residence.

By Dmitry Kryat

2013 беларусь.belarus

TALENTS

Bright stars illuminate road to tomorrow for young talents

T

Laureate Ekaterina Shimanovich

he Head of State recalled his State of the Nation Address, given in April, noting that the country’s economic renewal relies on knowledge, production modernization and informatization of all spheres. He aims to see creative people promoted to key positions in the state apparatus, science and enterprises.

He noted, “In solving these problems, we rely on youngsters and will be doing everything possible for you, relying on your participation and your hands”.

“You should direct your abilities and intellect to creation and launch of the latest information, nano-, bio- and other technologies, so that our country can enter the cutting edge of innovative development, occupying its own niche globally”.

“Your powers, inspiration and unlimited imagination can drive forward science and culture. You can enrich Belarusian art with new genres and trends, while creating works imbued with patriotism, to glorify our Motherland.”

беларусь.belarus 2013

“The State requires new ideas and projects from the youth that might promote Belorussian economics, culture and science to a higher level of development, which shall always be rewarded in reply” — President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stated at the meeting with gifted pupils, students and talented youth Alexander Lukashenko also admitted that all possibilities for youth realization are provided in Belarus.

Mr. Lukashenko emphasised that Belarus boasts almost 800 gymnasiums, lyceums and schools of art, as well as thousands of clubs and studios offering extra-curricular activities. Young people enjoy every opportunity to explore their talents and to display their knowledge and skills at competitions and festivals.

Meanwhile, young scientists, artists, painters and musicians receive state support from the Presidential Fund.

Those with leadership skills successfully participate in the activites of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union.

According to the President, such efforts do yield fruit. Last year, Belarusian schoolchildren and students won over 50 medals at international Olympiads, and around 100 prizes and diplomas at prestigious festivals and contests.

The President added, “The I Sing!

TV project has become a bright event, helping handicapped children, orphans and young talents from one-parent or large families. The entrants are

an example of how believing in your dream can bring success, regardless of any difficulties.

Hundreds of paths are open to you: search, create, risk and discover. Of course, each one of you has a unique, dazzling personality. Be confident in reaching for your goals, achieving your plans through hard work, while remembering your moral responsibility to others. As prominent physicist Albert Einstein said: ‘Let kindness, beauty and truth be the ideals which light your way’.”

Mr. Lukashenko thanked the teachers for their great efforts in nurturing such wonderful pupils. “They may please you with new victories. Let gratitude live in their hearts for the teachers who opened their path to the peaks of knowledge and mastery,” noted the Head of State.

He urged everyone to continue the academic year with hard work, successfully passing exams before enjoying a good summer.

Mr. Lukashenko also bestowed awards on those being given special Presidential funding and the finalists

Belta

TALENTS

Participants of the meeting

of the I Sing! TV project. Participants then told the Head of State about their successes and achievements, sharing their hopes for forthcoming victories.

The Belarusian participant of the Eurovision Song Contest, in Swedish Malmo, Alena Lanskaya, attended the meeting. The President noted, “Our entrant performed at a public event viewed by millions, for which we should be appreciative. Moreover, she appeared to good effect in many respects at the contest. We should never take such results too personally”.

“I know how you feel, Alena, about the way Russia voted; those 12 points uncast in your favour show how politicised and, even, falsified this contest is. Those who read the news have probably learnt about the scandal around the falsification of voting results in one of the participating states. I won’t even speak about the geographical voting principle”.

Just relax, listen and enjoy the music and performers. I don’t want to cast doubt or question the winning entry as the girl from Denmark was very good and her performance was great. However, our

girl was just as good. Therefore, I suggest we stay cool and calm regarding such voting results.”

After chatting with the youngsters, Mr. Lukashenko stayed for a concert featuring scholarship holders of the Special Presidential Fund for the Support of Talented Young People.

Finally, he urged all the students to keep pursuing their goals, without ever giving up. He underlined, “Never be disheartened at any stage of life. Your defeats are only chances to begin afresh at claiming victory.”

There is no doubt that annual meetings of Alexander Lukashenko with talented young people have

already transformed into a wonderful tradition. By the way, gifted children prominent in the sphere of arts, together with holders of the Special Presidential Fund for the Support of Talented Young People, met with Minister of Culture of Belarus Boris Svetlov on the same day, right before the meeting with the President, at a newly-opened cultural center — the Art Gallery of Mikhail Savitsky. All young people were awarded with Special Presidential Fund certificates, award pins and souvenirs. Young artists presented their own art works to the Minister of Culture in their turn. Thus, for example, Ekaterina Shimanovich — a holder of the Special Presidential Fund for the Support of Talented Young People, a student of the State Academy of Arts, and a winner of the golden medal at the 7th Delphic Games in Astana nominated in the “Visual Arts” category — presented her own picture to the Minister of Culture. Her picture was presented in Kazakhstan last year where Ekaterina claimed participation in a corresponding competition with it. “Such competitions are held not in every country, that’s why I’m grateful to our Minister for this possibility,” — the girl said. It should be admitted that the Fund keeps constantly supporting the talented youth by providing the latter with placements and “tours” to prestigious international competitions. A lot of awards holders returned in Belarus right on the eve of their meeting with the President, having brought new awards won at the 8th Delphic Games held in Novosibirsk.

By Vasily Kharitonov

Belarus boasts almost 800 gymnasiums, lyceums and schools of art, as well as thousands of clubs and studios offering extracurricular activities

2013 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  Geography of flights to enlarge Belavia buys another Boeing

T

 Resources of steel trunk Belarusian Railways participates in 12th international Inter-Transport exhibition and conference, in Odessa

T

he Odessa Sea Commercial Port Exhibition Complex hosted the event, gathering representatives of transport and cargo logistics companies from across two-dozen CIS and European nations. More than a thousand professionals from 150 companies took part, discussing prospects for development of the transport and logistics industry and sharing their experiences, while finding new business partners.

For Belarusian Railways, such exhibitions are a unique way of showing cargo owners and leading transportation companies the true potential of the railway

network, helping to strengthen our position on the international market of transport services. In particular, experts from Belarus held a series of meetings and negotiations with leading service providers and freight forwarding companies from Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine: all conduct carriage by rail.

Successful examples of cooperation by Belarusian Railways are already evident with foreign partners in the Black Sea region, where the ‘Viking’ and ‘ZUBR’ trains run regularly between Ilyichevck and Odessa, as well as between the Lithuanian and Latvian ports of the Baltics. ZUBR’s volume of carriage is fast growing: in the first four months of this year, 200 container trains took this route — up 34 percent on the same period of last year.

 Fairytales draw us closer Over 150 tales about modern Belarus sent to UNESCO by schoolchildren

T

he unique Belarusian-Omani project is dedicated to EuropeanArab dialogue between the West and the East, and between Belarus and the Sultanate of Oman in particular. The competition of children’s tales was

10

беларусь.belarus 2013

he new aircraft is the twenty-first in the fleet, having passed a full inspection to meet international safety standards. This is Belavia’s sixth Boeing 737-300 which is designed to carry 150 passengers in economy and business classes and can travel up to 4,000km without needing to refuel, achieving a maximum cruise speed of over 800 kilometers per hour. It is destined for the busiest charter routes, to Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Egypt, and for scheduled flights to Tel Aviv, Tbilisi and Rome.

Belavia plans to enlarge its fleet by purchasing aircraft manufactured in Brazil: an Embraer-175 (with 76 seats) and Embraer-195 (with 107 seats). By 2017, the company expects to purchase another three Boeing 737-800s and will decommission its Tu-154. The fleet will then comprise 27 aircraft, allowing coverage of more destinations and greater frequency of flights. held from March to April, marking the International Decade of the Rapprochement of Cultures, lasting through until 2022.

The jury has selected the 13 best tales, for translation into Arab and English, illustrated and published as a collection. The competition was organised by the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs, the National Commission of the Republic of Belarus for UNESCO, and the Ministry of Education.

PANORAMA  Comfortable border crossing

 Diaries enter history

International Peschatka border checkpoint, with capacity to process 2,000 passenger cars daily, soon to open on Polish-Belarusian border

T

he EU Representative Office in Belarus notes that the new international Peschatka border crossing is undergoing infrastructure development, partially financed by the Poland-BelarusUkraine trans-boundary co-operation programme. The total cost is about 5m Euros, enabling the checkpoint to inspect 2,000 passenger cars daily, as well as 50 buses and 200 trucks.

To date, only citizens of Poland and Belarus were able to cross the border here, and only in passenger cars. The restructuring allows Peschatka to grow from being the last purely inter-state checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish

 School buses arriving on schedule Minsk Automobile Works launches School Bus social project

W

ithin five years, all villages should have access to transport for school children, enabling them to travel to and from their places of education safely. In time for the

Unique ambassadors’ diaries collated in new edition: Monuments of 10th18th Century Belarusian Literature border (of six) to being international, allowing movement of citizens of any nationality.

Twelve buildings have been constructed, including the main site, facilities for inspection and pavilions for customs clearance of passenger cars. Its innovations include automatic scanning of number plates, enabling the identification of automobiles on the wanted list. Contemporary international requirements are met, using the latest high-tech equipment, ensuring speed and comfort during Peschatka checkpoint crossings.

new academic year, Minsk Automobile Works will have manufactured 60 new school buses — 10 for each region.

MAZ’s first small school bus appeared two years ago, undergoing tests for certification and technical trials.

The buses meet the requirements of the Russian Federation, with export sales in mind, explains Sergey Krel, MAZ’s Head of the Passenger Technology Sales Department. A recent presentation in Kazan aroused much interest.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan are also keen to purchase the buses: a contract for 50 vehicles is being negotiated. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education of Chuvashia is also showing interest.

The model has already won first prize at a competition hosted during the World of Buses-2013 exhibition, in Russian Kolomna.

T

he masterpieces of ancient Belarusian literature have been translated into Russian and adapted to be easily readable today, featuring polemic essays, poetry and spiritual literature by Kirill Turovsky, Frantsisk Skorina, Stefan Zbarazhski, Symon Budny, Lev Sapega and Simeon Polotsky, among others.

“Many of these texts are being published for the first time — such as the ambassadors’ diaries and Ipatiy Potey’s descriptions of the council in Brest (Berestie). They’re interesting not only as monuments of literature and examples of written language but as historical sources,” emphasises Prof. Ivan Saverchenko, who heads the Department for Belarusian Literary History at the Centre for Belarusian Culture, Language and Literary Research (National Academy of Sciences of Belarus). The doctor of philological sciences is also the coauthor of the book, which presents major genres of ancient Belarusian literature: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Enlightenment (tales, legends, chronicles, military and mystical stories, memoires, sermons, Catechisms, polemical essays, ambassadorial diaries, satirical works and spiritual and secular poetry). Each chapter is accompanied by illustrations and scientific commentary.

Monu m e nt s of 1 0 t h - 1 8 t h Century Belarusian Literature is released to coincide with World Book and Copyright Day, founded in 1996. This aims to attract attention to printed works as a source of knowledge, stressing the role of books and the importance of copyright in developing world culture.

2013 беларусь.belarus

11

partnership

12

беларусь.belarus 2013

Ivan Zhdanovich

F

rom the very beginning of the conversation with Valentin Vladimirovich we had a feeling that this man is in the right place. Being a clever and subtle companion, he is abreast of dozens of different issues, easily takes up any topic and develops it in a masterly manner.

However, it seems as though there is a line that he would never step across, and those inevitable sharp details that he tones down.

We understand such caution and diplomacy. At one time, talking to a clever philosopher, for whom searching for the meaning of life is not a mere name, we realised an interesting principle. The scientist said, “If society is not mature enough to digest some information, it should not be disclosed too early.” In order not to do harm to the process of evolution.... Mr. Velichko showed himself during the conversation not only as a master of his trade, but as an experienced diplomat. He could even joke, but, on the whole, he was supremely self-collected: after all, we were talking about serious things such as a long-standing peoples’ friendship and today’s collaboration of the neighbouring countries. After having a conversation with the Ambassador we were sitting in the lobby of the Embassy with three fellow countrymen living in Kiev and continuing to work.

Mr. Velichko, to whom we had already said goodbye, appeared as it was lunch time and started asking us why the Belarusians were sitting there and not drinking tea and coffee? We made excuses saying that we drank in his office. Compatriots hold a pause. Valentin Vladimirovich said with mock severity, “Though you are on the territory of Belarus now, just like at home, I am in charge here, so you have to listen!” No longer protesting we were enjoying tea with sweets and biscuits from our Kommunarka. In a couple of hours Valentin Vladimirovich came again to have some our pictures taken at the monument to Vladimir Korotkevich.

He even told us how difficult it was to

Valentin Velichko:

‘We are brothers forever’ In our journalistic rally through Ukraine the first stop was Kiev. There, at 3 Mikhail Kotsyubinsky Street, at the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Ukraine, we had a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Valentin Velichko.

partnership bring our ‘classical writer in bronze’ to the territory of Ukraine…

We watched the patriarch of Belarusian diplomacy not only in contact with us, but also with the embassy staff — Yuri Sluka, Alexei Zhukavets, as well as First Secretary Marina Yesina. By the way, we are much obliged to her for the help in the organisation of our meeting with the Ambassador. And, summing up the events of the day in Kiev, we were pleased to see that the main note in music of communication playing within the walls of the embassy was kindness.

‘You are a longheaded fellow!’

Now I am the only Ambassador being the second one since the opening of the diplomatic mission. I have been serving here for almost 12 years already.

My predecessor was Vitaly Vladimirovich Kurashnik — a Belarusian person who was born in the village of Divin in the Kobrin District. However, he worked and matured as a director on the territory of Ukraine: first in the Donetsk Region, then he was Mayor of Yevpatoria and later he was promoted to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Crimea. He vacated his seat of the people’s deputy of Ukraine and became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Ukraine.

Here is a rare instance: a citizen of another state became our ambassador. He did a lot of good things for me.

I came from Sidorovtsy village of the Volozhin District and was born in 1944 in wartime. My family and I lived in Rakov, where I finished high school. My father did not come back from the war. My mother married for the second time and gave birth to three children — there were five of us in all, two passed away, and the rest, thank God, are alive. After graduating from Leningrad Technological Institute I started working on the shop floor and then took a position related to Komsomol work. I was the head at the district and regional level doing Soviet and party work in Gomel. And even at that time, in fact, we were extensively co-operating with Ukraine. I spent my whole conscious life

in the Gomel Region. There was a head of the region who I appealed to. Having good intentions he always loaded me with work, as one would say now, patronised me. He noticed every mistake I made and immediately drew attention to it, but I did not take offense. And over the years I realised that life was very demanding of me. You know, I’m more demanding of those who are brainy than of those who are incapable of doing more than they can.

Over time I became the Secretary of the Regional Party Committee, after having been a member of the Young Communist League, graduated from the Academy of Social Sciences in Moscow, worked in the District Committee, Executive Committee ... And one day this wise man met me and asked if I ever thought of why he had made me work that hard? Without waiting for my reply he answered himself, “Because I saw that you are a long-headed fellow”...

On friendship As for our very strong friendship with the Ukrainians, I remember there was an anecdote in Soviet times. The leading comrades in the Chernigov Region receive a call from Kiev. They are asked, “Why are you not sowing?” “Because we are in the

border areas. Before the erection of the monument the Garden of Friendship was founded on the fringe of the forest on side of Senkovka village: the Russians planted birch, the Ukrainians — chestnuts and maples, the Belarusians — willows and rowans. To this day, there remained a beautiful grove... The Festival of Friendship was launched in 1967 when local youth decided to celebrate the Day of the Soviet Youth and appealed to ‘big uncles’ as they are called now on the Internet. The latter did not remain indifferent. A year later, in June 1968, Komsomol members and youth of the Klimovsky District of the Bryansk Region of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Gorodnya District of the Chernigov Region of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Dobrush District of the Gomel Region of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic decided to meet for the second time...

Meetings are still held there, with lots of people coming: last year there were about 70,000. Various courtyards are decorated; craftsmen and artists exhibit their works. People come to see each other.

This cheerful festival is held mainly under the auspices of the governors from each

However much we, good friends and neighbours from Belarus and Ukraine, like and respect each other, no matter how sincerely we communicate, but if there are no economic relations forming the basis, there will be no prospects north!” they answer. “Then why do they sow in Gomel?” “Because they are in the south!” Yes, we were friends with people from Chernigov and we knew each other very well...

There is a Friendship Monument on the border of three countries: Belarus, Ukraine and Russia and three regions: Gomel, Chernigov and Bryansk. It was built on the initiative of young people in

of the regions by turn. During the festival souvenirs and other things can be bought for both Belarusian and Russian currency, as well as for the Ukrainian hryvnias. Just like in Soviet times, everything is imbued with sincerity and goes without conflict. A good tradition ... Senkovka village is on the territory of Ukraine, and there is an idea: to herald the 1025th anniversary of Orthodoxy as the start of construction of the temple.

2013 беларусь.belarus

13

partnership

According to my status I’m supposed to be in different border areas. The Chernigov Region is the northern gate of Ukraine and it has close ties with the Gomel Region. Volyn, for example, is on friendly terms with the Brest Region.

Different fairs and economic forums are held in regions. We also host the Days of Culture of Belarus which, for example, have recently taken place in Kharkov. We rented the Opera House for such celebration. Kharkov is a major industrial and scientific centre — the former capital of Ukraine. There were mainly our fellow countrymen in the hall, who were older than middle-aged. And when we talked to them in the Belarusian language, they were very happy, though being distressed about the fact that they themselves could not speak. People living outside their homeland have a craving for their mother tongue as well as for their history. I know that all people in the Ukrainian borderlands watch Belarusian television and listen to the Belarusian radio. Chernigov, Zhitomir, Rovno, Volyn... Many relatives and friends live on both sides of the border. When summer begins two and a half thousand cars cross the border at border checkpoints every day. People go on vacation and visit their relatives and friends.

Many Belarusians here ask me if the Law on Belarusians Living Abroad will be passed. However, I cannot say anything on this point. There is the Vienna Convention, and no matter which country an ambassador represents, in the letter of credence is written something like this: I ask to believe everything that the Ambassador will say on my behalf. And the head of the state signs it. So, as long as I am not sure of something I do not express my opinion.

That is the position I hold...

The Belarusians, our fellow citizens, have scattered among different countries.

Everyone has his own destiny. And different paths have leaded them there.

They have created families, have friends, lifework there... But everyone who I happen to meet, remember his mother-

14

беларусь.belarus 2013

Ivan Zhdanovich

On diaspora

Valentin Velichko (centre) with guests and colleagues near the Embassy of Belarus to Ukraine

land and ancestral roots. In Kharkov our fellow countrymen are mainly the military, engineers and technicians. They were placed there after universities because it was one country, then got married, gave birth to children... There were large military communities in the Lvov Region, for example the Precarpathian Military District. It was the power of the USSR on the western borders. Many Belarusian officers eventually stayed there. And they are very grateful to us for paying attention to them and keeping in touch with them.

Tens of thousands of our compatriots live in Ukraine and they are mostly elderly people. There are less young people here: today boys and girls know where they go and why. It is not fate anymore that throws them into a foreign land — they choose it themselves.

Almost each region of Ukraine has Belarusian communities with different levels of social activity. Much depends on the leaders of the diaspora. General Sergey Kulikov, a much respected man, leads the Belarusian society in Lvov. A lot of good things have been done there thanks to him and Honorary Consul Igor Ivanovich Drotyak who strongly supports the Belarusian diaspora on his own initiative. They publish a newspaper, there is a Sunday school there, and compatriots receive practical help as well. There is also a wonderful choir, where they sing Belarusian songs. The

community provides buses for kids, going on vacation in our Zubryonok Children’s Recuperation Camp and other Belarusian camps. Last year, for example, the choir from Lvov was invited to give a concert in Slutsk and in Baranavichi artists met with people, stayed overnight and performed their songs.

Belorussian societies, communities, fellowships are created here by Belarusian people in order to preserve their spiritual connection with the Motherland. By the way, for those who wish to become familiar with the Belarusian culture, there is such a possibility in Kiev State University named after Taras Shevchenko. There, at the Institute of Philology the students along with the English and Ukrainian languages intensively study Belarusian. The Centre of the Belarusian Language and Culture was established there, which this year has been named after V.S. Korotkevich. We have repaired the room and the audience all by ourselves. We have bought furniture and books and installed the computers and other equipment. The Centre also exchanges teachers with BSU. This is a strong foundation for the development of further scientific and cultural contacts between our countries.

This spring we together with Advisor Yuri Parfyanovich were in Donetsk, there took place the presentation of the book — Memory Asks the Word. And, of course, we met with compatriots there. The fellow

partnership countrymen in Vinnitsa have published the similar book too. And we helped them. There, by the way, was erected a monument to the participant of the Great Patriotic War N.E. Nikitin — the father of the head of the Belarusian community in Vinnitsa.

Ukraine today is an ambiguous country: people in different regions have different mentality. In the old days they used to say that we do not have any nations or nationalities — there is a community: the great Soviet people. Nevertheless each of us had the traditions of fathers and grandfathers, its own history... Today people come back to the ethnic roots, explore their ancestral past, write genealogies, and this is as it should be. There is a lot of Belarusians in the Donetsk Region, including well-known people.

Gennady Chizhikov became the Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the country, Vitali Moskalenko, Rector of the Medical University is Belarusian.

Our people also hold other executive positions. Irina Orekhovskaya is a remarkable person in Kiev and a member of the Council of National Minorities of Ukraine. You can name dozens of other Belarusians: artists, doctors and teachers.

Meanwhile, the majority is, of course, the military. Piotr Vladimirovich Laishev, for example, has lived here all his life, but came from the Korma District of the Gomel Region. Being a respected man, he was a Counsellor of the Embassy of Ukraine in our country and is now actively involved in the affairs of the diaspora. Last year, we held a general meeting of heads of societies from all regions. I think, we will hold it this year and we will find means to pay for travel expenses. We invite our compatriots to Independence Day and provide different kinds of help for communities. Belarusians are law-abiding people and usually indifferent to politics.

Generally, I repeat, these are people who are socially mature. Our compatriots have authority everywhere, respecting the laws of the host country. Therefore, they do not create any problems.

As a rule, we get information about the needs of compatriot organisations.

In Ukraine there are a lot of creative teams working in the regional public associations of Belarusians. The Embassy maintains a file with more than two dozen of the registered teams. Practically every community has its creative team. The largest ones are in Chernigov, the Donetsk Region and Kharkov. There are organisations in Kiev and Odessa. The intensive work is carried out by the Belarusians in the Crimea, Vinnitsa, Kirovograd, and the Chernigov Region. Rovno and Zhitomir are also in good standing with us. For example, teams need national costumes, musical instruments, printed music and other literature for their work.

And we consider their merits and, as they say, give credit where credit is due. We visit communities and bring everything they need as gifts. And we help them to formulate their wishes to the Belarusian state authorities. We are actively working with the Office of the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities.

There is one more important thing to know: the Belarusian diaspora in different countries has its own features. I assured myself of that working in Latvia and Finland. The Belarusians and Ukrainians have a long common history, Slavic spirituality, one thousand and eighty kilometres of the common border. We easily adapt to each other, like brothers. Here is one interesting example. There is Glushkovichi village in the Yelsk District, where in Soviet times was the Belarusian-Ukrainian choir and artists performed in suitably matched stage costumes. Even in Moscow. And people in these places still go to visit each other. Once a Ukrainian came to the village and stayed there for four years at one countrywoman’s. They had a baby boy.

Then they broke up and he returned home.

After a while his wife followed him, and a year and a half she lived in the nearby the Rakityansky District. It so happened that she had a conflict with her groom’s brother.

He called border guard and said: suchand-such citizen of Belarus has illegally crossed the border. Border guard came and detained her for having no registration and no customs mark. I got a phone call.

I jokingly told them to punish her most

severely, because this citizen could have undermined your economic strength!

“No,” they replied, “we just do not know what to do with her...”

On economy However much we, good friends and neighbours from Belarus and Ukraine, like and respect each other, no matter how sincerely we communicate, but if there are no economic relations forming the basis, there will be no prospects. Ukraine is our strategic partner. We have become the fourth country in terms of volume of trade with Ukraine, with just Russia, China and Germany being ahead of us.

For the previous year our turnover was $7.9bn with a positive balance of $3.2bn.

For reference: it is almost a billion more than the turnover between Belarus and all CIS countries except Russia. And 75 percent of the goods supplied by us to the CIS countries, except Russia, go to Ukraine.

So I said that we had Days of Culture in Kharkov and everything was done at our expense. The same thing is about the economy. It is necessary to find mutually beneficial projects, to build the same trade and economic relations. After all, you can drive once along the one way road.

Therefore, there is a flow of traditional Belarusian products to Ukraine and vice versa, plus the development of regional cooperation. There is, for example, the joint Belarusian-Ukrainian production of tractors in Kiev and Nikolaev.

Assembly, sale, service — everything is made jointly. I am sure you know that no country opens its markets to friends or neighbours — you have to win them.

Thus, Mogilevliftmash has been supplied its products to Ukraine for three years.

Today, we assemble 800 elevators; two models have been already certificated.

And it gives the right to participate in a tender. A joint venture was established in Vyshgorod on the premises of the former military enterprise Karat. They work well. Mogilev provides 85 percent of the equipment, Sevastopol is also involved.

If our tractors are supplied, then we need towing equipment and attachments:

2013 беларусь.belarus

15

partnership

Ivan Zhdanovich

drills, ploughs, cultivators... MTZ-82 will do for a farmer, but for a cooperative it is geared to yesterday: we need high-capacity tractors, with a horsepower rating of 350, capable of ploughing with 9 ploughs. And we are not just exposing them, we have conducted tests in the Vasilkov District, near Belaya Tserkov — there are research institutes and experimental fields there.

We have been exhibited the machinery of Lidmash and Bobruiskagromash. So there is some progress going on.

Ukraine’s way is one to cooperation with us. Why am I so sure of that? You can see that there is there a reduction in steel production facilities — it is a crisis. It means that food production and therefore agriculture will be developed here instead. By the way, condensed milk produced in Rogachev, Glubokoe, Lida is supplied here...

Ukraine has plenty of fertile land, it possesses one fourth of the world's black soil. In general, it is a rich country: it is one of the world’s top ten producers of grain and metal and the first in the world in sunflower oil production. And as they say, Ukraine has the whole periodic table in its subsurface: gold, oil, gas, uranium...

So, the agricultural sector will require agricult u r a l

16

беларусь.belarus 2013

machinery. Gomselmash has in-process stock, and it collaborates with a combine factory in Kherson, however, there has been little progress made. Today our MAZ has 18 dealers in Ukraine. There is a contract for the supply of 1200 grain carriers for this year, largely threeaxle ones with capacity of 20t. BelAZ machinery has been supplied too. Each product has a niche. There are more than 80 dealers of Belarusian products in Ukraine.

Let us take another statistics. Today in Ukraine 70 percent of the production is sort of ‘preserved’ at the 1990 level.

There were about 25 million of cattle and four and a half million is left now, cows amount to about two and a half million with 80 percent of them being owned by the private sector. There is almost no collective breeding in Ukraine. Therefore, experts say that the Ukrainians will buy equipment for land cultivation, create cooperative organizations, build machine and tractor stations. I think our equipment will be high enough in demand.

Here is my another observation.

Production of mineral fertilizers is privatized in Ukraine. In general, 96 percent of industrial products are produced in the private or rental sector. And private interests often do not coincide with the public ones! Private owners are even not interested in raising the level of production. There is still a decline in GDP of Ukraine. In the first quarter it is 1.2 percent less than in the previous year. The private owner seeks and finds its profitable niche, and officials should think of the country’s needs. Do you know why Belarus supplied here nearly one hundred thousand tons of sugar? Because our stock was sold out. The private owner has cash turnover and keeping reserve is not profitable for him, that is your problem and you should purchase it, he says.

When building a strategy for cooperation with Ukraine, our senior managers need to know the following: today some entrepreneurs here have a hundred thousand acres of land, which is actually privatised. They are waiting for a law to legalise this property...

Here is another problem. Today, in order to increase agricultural production, Ukraine needs to purchase equipment, and this requires budget adjustments. The government has raised money, but parliamentarians cannot secure a quorum for voting: some are boycotting, others are not coming to meetings... I think these difficulties are temporary, and our agricultural machinery will be in demand on the lands of our neighbours.

On trade and economic co-operation Today no one will invest in the economy of another country for no particular reason, so the best way is to build up joint production, no ‘do-gooder’ from Ukraine, Russia or some other country will come to us. We do the same thing with the Ukrainians. For example, the Gomel Carriage Works established a joint venture with a huge factory in Kryukov, in the Poltava Region. About one million dollars have been invested — the partners are going to produce train cars. Investors are attracted by the fact that we participate in the Customs Union. Now electric trains are supplied to Kazakhstan. As for the project we are primarily interested in wheel sets and casting, metal, and this is, in fact, forty percent of the train car. Another major project Motor Sich (a world famous company producing engines for aircraft, helicopters) has purchased Orsha aircraft plant. Do you think they will manufacture engines there? No, that is logistics.

Our partners understand: Belarus is the centre of Europe, the territory of the Customs Union. It is of benefit for them, and they make investments, pay taxes, provide jobs for Belarusian citizens, and we should not be afraid of that. You see the gas pipe sold to Gazprom is filled, the second line Yamal-Europe will soon be put into service. And Ukrainian pipeline Severny Potok is projected, but experts predict that it will be worthless.

You may ask why Russia does not create a consortium here. It is necessary to repeal the law, which stipulates that public property shall not be privatised

partnership in Ukraine. Abolition of the law requires 300 votes in the parliament, and there is no way to poll them... So they have a hard time paying 426 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres of gas in Ukraine, and consumers — for 500. This is even more than in Western Europe!

Life also makes adjustments to the form of international contacts and co-operation between Belarus and Ukraine. New circumstances require new approaches. For this purpose we have an intergovernmental commission on the Belarusian-Ukrainian cooperation. It is helmed by First Deputy Prime Ministers: Vladimir Semashko on the part of Belarus and Sergei Arbuzov on the part of Ukraine. But the projects are being worked out by experts from all ministries and departments. According to the results of the commission meeting, a protocol is made up and agreed. When it is signed we have a law put into effect, they prolong it by the Cabinet. At the end of May [the conversation took place in early May] dozens of different projects will be considered: on transport, energy...

For example, we buy from Ukraine more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, for them it is an excess, overflow.

Or take cakes, by-products of sunflower oil production. We buy a lot of them too.

We have well-developed cattle breeding so this is a good additive to feed-stuff.

And for them it is waste: they have no cattle to feed.

And one last thing. Do you know why we have higher quality? Because we still have GOST standards and they have now technical specifications. So all is not bad that is old...

On cultural dialogue Once, reporters asked me if the Ambassador of Belarus was satisfied with the level of cooperation between our countries in the cultural sphere. I answered no and in other spheres too!

And made a pause... Your colleagues livened up. And I said I want more, and for this purpose my colleagues and I are working here. And if today the citizens and delegations from the border areas come to

We, Belarusians and Ukrainians, are brothers forever. Thousands of our compatriots married each other and became blood relatives long time ago, and we have children and grandchildren in common each other — they do not need Valentin Vladimirovich. They know each other, give concerts to each other and exchange creative teams. This happens regularly in the field of education, management and other spheres. When we were celebrating the 65th anniversary of the regions Brest residents went to Volyn and people from Chernigov came to Gomel. They brought very good teams. We can only be glad that there is communication between us.

Last year, Belarus held Days of Culture in Ukraine which was taking place at the two sites. It was beautiful: there were concerts in Kiev and Lvov. Though these events are good they are one-time. Of course, they show the levels of classical arts development. Thus, the Kazakhs have recently come to Kiev: there was a band with a dozen best solo numbers and ballet. But it is not the whole culture of Kazakhstan!

I do want more, but I realize that culture if to talk about the so-called cultural sphere depends on the economy. If there is economic development there will be the rise of culture, for there will be means to raise it. Then we will be able to host any events. For example, when we held an event in Kharkov, there performed the Zhyvitsa ensemble representing Mozyr Oil Refinery. The plant sent a team, provided a bus... And we, in our turn, decided on accommodation and catering for artists. And all this is often organised at the level of personal relations: if you respect me I respect you. There is cooperation between our music academies. Our universities of culture and art exchange both teachers and young talents. When we hold contests of pianists, singers, violinists, young ballet dancers, we also invite the Belarusians. And it is great: the

talent may be seen and appreciated only if to show it.

Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk is a form of fruitful contacts, which involves huge creative forces of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. We do have them. But you have to agree that if, for example, an ensemble from the Crimea goes to Belarus to give a concert, it will cost them a pretty sum, they do not have enough money for that .... However, I know that Head of the Belarusian community in Sevastopol Alla Gorelikova wants to give a big concert in Minsk with her ensemble Belaya Rus. She is a good organiser. But how can we implement such a project?

The distance between Kiev and the Crimea is 1100 km, and between Kiev and Minsk — as much as 1800 km. You cannot drive it at a time therefore you need to spend the night somewhere...

It means that cultural contacts require considerable sums of money.

Believe me, we want the Ukrainians and Belarusians to communicate more often and know more about each other.

First Secretary of the Embassy Marina Yesina has just recently taken Ukrainian journalists to Belarus, 32 people from all regions. They have travelled over the Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev regions for a week. Of course, it involved expenses for filling the bus, providing food and sleeping accommodation for people. But we did it! Just think about it: to interview three governors! Ukrainian journalists visited Nesvizh, Alexandria, Gomselmash, Spartak and four agricultural enterprises.

It was a very extensive program. But how many impressions and interesting publications it gave!

Interviewed by Valentin and Ivan Zhdanovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

17

FORUM

Territory for partnership 10th Gomel Economic Forum gathers over 400 companies from 24 countries, with South-East of Belarus presenting over a hundred promising projects to potential investors

T

he Gomel Region is t he l arge st i n Belarus, occupying almost 40,500 square kilometres: a fifth in the country.

With serious industrial potential and material and human resources, it boasts many advantages. It’s location bordering Russia’s Bryansk Region, as well as Ukraine’s Kiev, Chernigov, Zhitomir and Rovno regions, makes it a convenient transport hub, benefitting from major transport links: road and rail. The city of Gomel is situated on the Kiev-St. Petersburg and BryanskBrest crossroads. Up to 90 percent of the country’s rail cargo runs through the Gomel Region, alongside around half of all Belarus’ passenger trains.

The Gomel Region is the most forested countrywide, with over 42 percent of its territory covered. The area also has oil; over 1m tonnes are extracted annually. Moreover, the region is rich in gas, rock salt, peat, black and brown coal, chalk and sand for glass- moulding. This impressive list includes granite, gypsum, shale coal and rare metal ores.

18

беларусь.belarus 2013

Such a situation is especially beneficial against the region’s background of industrialisation. Around 300 large and medium-sized enterprises operate, accounting for more than 20 percent of the Republic’s industrial production.

The most developed Gomel Region branches revolve around fuel, chemicals, oil extraction, machine building, timber processing, pulp and paper, food and steel. Its industrial giants have an international presence: Mozyr Refinery, the Belarusian Steel Works, Belorusneft, Gomselmash and Gomel Chemical Plant. All took part in the 10th Economic Forum, including a match-making session for definite projects.

Polesie-Lelchitsy — Belarusian Ruhr Each branch in the region presented its promising projects: from the construction of caterpillar tractor and a crushed stone plant to the establishment of an aqua-park and 21st century cinema.

Belarus’ first regional industrial park — Polesie-Lelchitsy — also took part, introduced as a nationwide concept launched under the title ‘Lelchitsy Region’. Over the past few years, the western territory

of the Gomel Region — which covers the five administrative districts of Yelsk, Zhitkovichi, Lelchitsy, Mozyr and Petrikov — has been confirmed as the richest in Belarus for natural resources, not unlike German Ruhr.

Polesie’s fuel and energy resources are abundant, including deposits of brown coal, shale coal and peat. Industrial deposits of brown coal in the Zhitkovichi and Petrikov districts have been assessed at around 100m cubic metres and initial exploration is now being undertaken at the Tonezhskoe and Lelchitskoe brown coal deposits in the north (thought to exceed 250m tonnes). The Turovskoe shale coal deposit, in the central part of the region, is thought to have in excess of 2.7 billion tonnes.

FORUM opment was signed at the Forum, with massive potential for all those interested; the ‘green light’ is illuminated for new partners.

Belta

Active ties

Industrial deposits of brown coal in the Zhitkovichi and Petrikov districts have been assessed at around

100

m cubic metres

A processing plant, able to deal with 4m tonnes of coal annually, is planned, alongside an electricity power station and an enterprise manufacturing organic fibre fertilisers.

Deposits of other mineral resources (rock salt, granite, facing stone, peat and sand for glass making) are also impressive but, until recently, lacked efficient rail links. Happily, railway lines are to be extended to connect with Gomel’s Polesie-Lelchitsy Industrial Park.

The Glush kov ichi-L elchitsyMikhalki line is to stretch 121km and be ready for use by 2020, ensuring transportation of 13m tonnes of cargo and 340,000 passengers annually.

A quadruple agreement on cooperation regarding the park’s devel-

Business meetings were held not only in Gomel but in the Rogachev District, where the ‘Tourism and SocioEconomic Development of Territories’ conference took place.

Guests visited a range of sites funded by international projects, even taking roles in a theatrical performance of marriage proposal at the crafts centre in Strenki village. In order to woo his Belarusian bride, one Italian bridegroom had to pass traditional tests of log sawing, wood chopping and Polka dancing.

The group also visited the Belarusian Puppet Eco-Museum, which preserves unique national crafts, and toured Pridneprovsky Sanatorium: well-known in the CIS and beyond for its high quality services, which attract foreign patients.

An Italian delegation was welcomed, headed by the Vice Mayor of Lucca (Tuscany), Carla Reggianini, and the President of the YRA Humanitarian Association (Associazione Umanitaria YRA), Egidio Lazzarini. For the past twenty years, residents of this Italian city have received children from Chernobyl-affected regions, helping them recuperate.

The Italians visited Zhuravichi boarding home for handicapped children, with whom the Italian YRA Association has long liaised. Children and visiting adults could hardly conceal their joy at meeting; then, the foreign delegation toured the orphanage’s living areas, as well as its creative and sports facilities.

The ‘Tourism and Socio-Economic Development of Territories’ event concluded with signing of a treaty on socio-economic liaison between the Rogachev District and Italian Lucca.

The Gomel Region has acquired another city friendship: the most important result of all.

By Violetta Dralyuk

2013 беларусь.belarus

19

NANOTECHNOLOGIES

Symbols of new industry

N

anotechnologies are the science of the future, although some are sceptical as to whether their industrial application will reach fruition any time soon.

Various countries are already investing heavily, hoping to keep at the cutting edge of innovation, taking advantage of emerging trends. Without doubt, Belarus could take its place among those leading the way.

Technology is about to leap forward, with a ‘window’ of opportunity opening before us, enabling us to make a large jump. The last time that this happened, Japan, South Korea,

20

беларусь.belarus 2013

Belarus is trying to take its seat in “nanotrain”, which speeds up

Singapore and Taiwan became industrial leaders within a few decades, without any prior indication. Research convincingly proves that nanotechnologies will be at the heart of the next technological cycle.

The Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Sergey Chizhik, notes, “It’s a sensible move, since our entire world is built on the ‘nano-’ principle — from top to bottom, from atoms to molecules. The arrival of spring sees green leaves appearing ‘from nothing’; new technologies appear in a similar fashion, when previously successful branches begin to exhaust their potential. Traditional manufacturing relies on non-renewable

NANOTECHNOLOGIES resources: energy and materials. Belarus boasts good intellectual potential so we should be paying attention to creating high value added products, where each kilogram is valued at dozens of thousands of Dollars.” He mentions the precision instruments industry and pharmaceuticals, as well as the nanoindustry.

The state is creating suitable sterile environment, with vibration reduction protection, to allow nanotechnologies to be explored.

Naturally, highly-precise instruments are needed to measure nano-particles. These primary investigations are vital, so that Belarus can find its niche in this emerging sphere.

Ultimate breakthroughs are yet to occur, making this a truly exciting time for science. Pleasingly, in 2011, around $15m was generated from this infant industry: a small but notable foothold.

In fact, 27 new developments have commercial potential. “These enable us to say that we can shape this industry. I’d like to underline that I’m referring to the industry rather than science,” notes the Head of the Ministry of Economy’s Science and Innovation Policy Department, Dmitry Krupsky. The opening of the fullerene molecule in the early 1980s was the first signal for the development of the new branch. Since then, around 1,500 related companies have been set up worldwide, primarily in the USA. According to Mr. Krupsky, another 5-7 years will pass before we see the new industry really start to assert itself in the same way as computers, the Internet and IT software.

Mr. Chizhik adds that nanotechnology is already finding application, such as in microcircuits, uniting computer technology within mobile phones. In addition, pharmaceutical enterprises are developing medicines with nanoparticles, which can target problems specifically.

Nanotechnologies have application in farming, such as the processing of seeds to increase crop yield. Undoubtedly, some areas will make more use of nanoinnovations than others.

Training is underway to maximise staff potential in Belarus. There are already 870 specialists in the Republic connected with nanotechnologies and leading Belarusian universities have begun teaching corresponding courses. Of course, jobs do not yet exist for such graduates but 1,650 young people will have studied in this sphere by 2017. The recently established Association of the Nanoindustry could connect universities and industry and, of course, a ‘stock’ of potential employees is needed. “Practice shows that the more people we have boasting a particular speciality, the wider is the range of potential entrepreneurs,” notes Mr. Krupsky. For example, if a radio-technical institute hadn’t been established in Minsk — one of the five mathematical centres in the Soviet Union — we would hardly have such a developed IT industry today.

It’s difficult to make progress from empty space.

There are already

870 specialists in the Republic connected with nanotechnologies and leading Belarusian universities have begun teaching corresponding courses

Krichev factory produces pilot batch of ‘dry’ cement

A

new cement facility with an annual production capacity of 1.8m tonnes successfully trialed its first batch of ‘dry’ cement in late May. The enterprise is now conducting further operational tests — to check for cracking. Krichev attracted over Br1 trillion in investment last year, via loans from Chinese Eximbank and from Belarusian banks. The new

facility is to focus on ‘dry’ cement production.

In late 2012, KrasnoselskStroy materialy JSC also brought a new technological line into operation, with a capacity of 1.8m tonnes of cement annually. The Belarusian Cement Plant (situated in Kostyukovichi) launched a similar line in July 2012.

Together, these three plants should be able to produce up to 10m tonnes of ‘dry’ cement annually, with the existing lines already covering domestic needs. Their manufacturing capability will aid exports and help in producing new cement-based construction materials, for use in Belarus and for sale abroad.

Vadim Kondrashov

Large-scale investment project

By Tatiana Kovalevich

2013 беларусь.belarus

21

PROJECTS

F

Conserving

heat in the

home

New residential buildings using high energy conservation 22

беларусь.belarus 2013

rom April of this year, residential buildings are being designed only with energ ysaving technologies.

“For our country, this is an almost revolutionary task, although the subject isn’t new worldwide or in Europe,” notes the Deputy Minister of Architecture and Construction, Dmitry Semenkevich.

Only new contracts are affected, not existing buildings, but Mr. Semenkevich notes that the move will bring pressure on designers to meet their schedules, while implementing the new rules. “We understand that this is an additional burden on design organisations in terms of increased costs,” Mr. Semenkevich adds. “These technologies and design solutions affect not just the technological parameters of buildings, but every aspect of their design.” It will be interesting to see how the new rules affect costs over the next six months, since this will ultimately affect the price of energy efficient housing.

Ventilation systems are being designed to conserve heat, since 60 percent of a home’s warmth is lost in this way, rather than through the walls or windows. Naturally, new materials and innovative approaches are likely to come to the fore in response to the new legislation, as Mr. Semenkevich emphasises.

He notes that enterprises are no longer obliged to pay into the state innovation funds, since these are now financed from 10 percent of the tax on profits. Instead, enterprises can use the money they would usually have transferred into the fund to upgrade their own facilities.

Major changes have been made to legislation governing construction, with just over a hundred norms in place (other directives serve only as guidelines). “It’s a great opportunity for design organisations to reconsider how they work, bringing more of an innovative approach,” Mr. Semenkevich underlines.

Some investment projects will receive state support, with some particular

PROJECTS construction projects already approved and bank loans allocated (for later full or partial repayment).

Producers are worried whether their innovative products will be in demand since design companies tend to prefer tried and tested technologies, being cautious about new proposals.

Meanwhile, manufacturers lack experience of market promotion. “The question of enterprises helping fund new approaches is very interesting,” asserts the Deputy Minister of Architecture and Construction. “I firmly believe we should move away from companies receiving innovative products at the expense of the state.”

Since designers are limited by legislation, it’s best for producers to liaise directly with customers, to allow innovations to be closely tailored to specific needs. In addition, all avenues of promotion should be explored: catalogues of goods for domestic and foreign buyers; attendance at trade fairs to present innovations; and participation in trade conferences. “We’re ready to assist enter-

prises in promoting their innovative products,” notes Mr. Semenkevich.

“However, within the framework of the Customs Union, we face a situation of open competition, on equal terms with companies in Russia and Kazakhstan.”

Latest technologies with maximum effect

Chairman of the State Standard, Sergei Semashko, who heads the Energy Efficiency Department. Speaking at a press conference in Minsk, he noted, “We are considering upgrading boilers in order to burn biomass fuels with maximum efficiency.”

The World Bank is leading support in the sphere of energy efficiency in Belarus, emphasises Mr. Semashko.

He reported, “ Together, we are already working on one project and have agreed on the implementation

World Bank to give Belarus $90 million for energy saving programme

B

elarus is focusing on the use of local fuels, particularly biomass resources, explains the Deputy

Design organisations remain cautious. “We consider the decision of switching to energy-efficient construction hasty, for several reasons,” admits the Director of Institute "Minskgrazhdanproekt", Oleg Bykovsky.

He questions the feasibility of the new approach. Even if prices raise by 7-8 percent, as is usual with experimental homes, buyers will need significant additional funds to foot the bill. Meanwhile, it may take some time for expenditure to pay for itself in lower heating bills. “I’m not saying that we should return to the Stone Age but the operational issues are undeniable,” Mr. Bykovsky stresses.

The Deputy Minister of Architecture and Construction adds, “A programme for energy-efficient construction has existed since 2008, with enterprises encouraged to explore new solutions.

I believe that design organisations will step up to the mark, implementing our new policy. It’s simply essential.”

By Timofey Karbyshev

of another,with a budget of US$90 million, to enable reconstruction of boilers fueled by biomass fuels.”

T h e M i n i s t e r o f E c o n o my, Ni kol ai Snopkov, has tol d t he Presidium of the Council of Ministers that the Energy Efficiency Department is working to raise the efficiency of industrial energy consumption, introducing modern energy-efficient technologies and equipment, heating activation and increased use of local fuels.

2013 беларусь.belarus

23

RESOURCES

Rich water dimension Water is an abundant treasure in Belarus, unlike elsewhere, but rational use remains essential

I

s Belarus rich in water reserves?

The departmental head overseeing levels of air pollution and water resources (of the Belarusian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection), Mr. Zavialov, admits that per capita access to water in Belarus equals that of the average European (5,800 cubic metres) while exceeding that of Poland or Ukraine (just 1,700 cubic metres). The Vitebsk and Grodno regions enjoy the most abundant water resources, with the Brest and Gomel region having the lowest levels.

24

беларусь.belarus 2013

Belarus’ surface water comprises 20,800 rivers, around 10,800 lakes, and over 1,500 ponds and reservoirs. The Dnieper, Zapadnaya Dvina, Nieman, Zapadny Bug, Pripyat, Berezina and Sozh are the largest rivers, while the Naroch, Osveiskoe, Chervonoe, Lukomskoe and Drivyaty are the largest lakes.

Belarus also has great volumes of underground water, including healing springs: there are 235 mineral water wells, with 124 used by spas and water bottling facilities and over 80 used by sanatoriums.

Many countries are experiencing a deficiency in clean drinking water and the situation is unlikely to improve, asserts Officer-in-Charge of the UN Department of Public Information in Belarus, Victor Radivinovsky. He notes that water resources are essential to life on Earth, yet 85 percent of global waste water is not cleaned before discharge, polluting sources. Pure drinking water reserves are falling and, over the past few decades, prices have risen accordingly.

The question arises whether Belarus can share its rich reserves of water.

Andrey Kovkhuto, the Director General of the Belarusian Research Geological

Exploration Institute, stresses, “Belarus has a great deal of underground water.

Consumption of bottled drinking water is increasing annually, with over 30 facilities involved in the process. As regards exports, only one Belarusian company sells bottled water abroad: to Lithuania.”

Our closest neighbours have their own water resources, while high transportation costs make it unprofitable to sell water abroad. Israel has to desalinate sea water but Belarus is unable to export there at a profit. Nevertheless, Mr. Kovkhuto believes that our ‘blue wealth’ could yet generate income. Nineteen underground water reserves have been prepared and are seeking investors, to allow Belarusian mineral water to be sold in Europe. As Mr. Kovtukho admits, a water pipe to those countries in need is not the solution, since quality could not be maintained.

Modern technology envisions bottling directly at source, without preparation, to preserve natural water quality.

Having provided such drinking water to its citizens, Belarus could become a life-giving source for other states, which have failed to protect their vital resource in due time.

RESOURCES

Mineral extract imminent Belarusian shaft free mining he Belarusian Research Geological Exploration Institute has a special department working on environmentally friendly mining technologies, including extraction of minerals through underground dissolution: hydraulic output. Andrey Kovkhuto, the Director General of the Institute, tells us, “Hydraulic output is used for extracting minerals directly and immediately from deep underground, without the intermediary stage of building a mine or digging an open-cast mine.” The main advantages are that the method is friendlier to the environment and is cheaper, saving money spent on digging deep or open-cast mines, which takes time and much equipment.

“Meanwhile, in comparison, when you mine potassium salts, soil is attached to the minerals,” notes Mr. Kovkhuto.

Energy of mineral deposits Latvian specialists interested in Brest residents’ experience of geothermal energy use

A

delegation from Latvia’s Jelgava recently visited Berestie greenhouses. These have been using alternative energy sources for the past three years, warmed by the local 1MW station, which generates heat from underground thermal sources. Around one hectare of greenhouses are heated in this way, saving on $2,000 of fuel annually, as Berestie’s Director, Nikolay Dolbik notes.

Latvia’s geothermal potential is greater than that of Belarus, as its underground waters reach a depth of up to 1,500m, being almost 60 degrees.

Berestie plans to launch another project soon: bottling mineral water.

Belta

T

Double energy of water New hydroelectric power station constructed using unique Italian technology

A

month and a half ago, Italian PVB Group SPA agreed to construct a new hydroelectric power station, located on the River Nieman. The most recent visit to Minsk saw the Italians present their final investment project to Belarus’ ENERGY T.I. EST and the Investment Finest Company, which is ready to inject over 110m Euros into the new power station.

With a capacity of 45MW, the new station could be ready within 2.5 years from the contract’s signing: construction will take just one year, but 18 months are needed for various approvals and organisation.

The Italians’ technology is unrivalled, generating double the power from the same volume of water as classic turbines. The Italians have already built several such hydroelectric power stations in Italy, as well as across other European countries.

They are currently building a similar power station in the USA. The Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, Igor Voitov, notes that the investment treaty to construct the hydroelectric power station on the River Nieman has been discussed with foreign partners. Meanwhile, Belarus could host Italian production of equipment, for export to CIS states.

Over 50 Italian companies and four international banks are setting up an association of industrial enterprises to implement various projects in Belarus, via a registered corporation, which will represent their interests.

By Dmitry Pimenov

2013 беларусь.belarus

25

EXHIBITION

Alexander Ruzhechka

Forum

of evident innovations Belarusian Agro Industrial Week becomes platform for progressive experience

A

ustria and Lithuania, Germany a n d Poland, Russia and the United States, France and Singapore, Denmark and Ukraine were among the 20+ countries sending 480 companies to the 23rd International Belagro Expon, held in early June in Minsk. The exhibition took place at two sites: Gastellovskoe JSC d emonstr ati on field near Minsk and at the football manege on Pobediteley Avenue.

The latest models of farm machinery and advanced processing technologies were on show, alongside innovative techniques for crop selection and cattle breeding. The intellectual component was a distinctive feature of Belarusian Agricultural Week, which was held at the same time as Belagro.

Smart engines The expressions ‘smart engine’, ‘smart cow’ and ‘smart farm’ were heard in various corners at the forum, showing the technological component of today’s innovations. Naturally, efficiency is vital in a world of fierce competition.

Belarusian agriculture has made a real breakthrough over the past 20 years, not only providing for the domestic market but earning foreign currency through exports: worth $5bn last year. Modern equipment and technologies are the foundations of this success.

Belarusian companies to ok ab out 70 percent of the exhibition area, unsurprisingly.

Technical modernisation of the agricultural industry in Belarus became a priority after the collapse of the Soviet Union; in the early 1990s, the country produced just 17 percent of the machinery and equipment farmers needed. Today, domestic enterprises manufacture a whole range of agricultural engines,

Over

480 companies from 20 countries participated in International Belagro Expo

26

беларусь.belarus 2013

EXHIBITION which sell well at home and abroad.

According to Vladimir Semashko, the First Deputy Prime Minister, exports of agricultural machinery and equipment were worth $1.5bn last year. The Belagro Expo is the perfect way to present the progress made in the past year. Mr. Semashko tells us, “The Exposition is a platform for sharing experience. The presence of exhibitors from leading countries across Europe and the CIS allows us to discuss export supply contracts for Belarusian agricultural equipment and technologies, as well as for meat and dairy products and cereals. We’ve also discussed liaisons in livestock breeding.”

Gomselmash is traditionally one of the stands drawing most attention, always impressing visitors with its huge harvesters. It has helped domestic farms upgrade their equipment, supplying about 1,500 new combines annually. This year, Gomselmash introduced its prototype ‘Palessie GS 16’ combine, able to grind 16kg of grain per second. Yet to be released, it’s currently undergoing trials.

According to Gennady Svidersky, the Deputy Minister of Industry, demand for such harvesters will grow with rising crop yields; last year, Belarus produced 34.5 tonnes of crop per hectare on average and the figure looks set to rise.

Farms aim to collect 10 million tonnes of grain in total this year.

Lidselmash JSC presented its new half-track harvester alongside its detachable 3.1m wide mowing machine, its seed spacing drill (with plastic tanker) and cross-functional pneumatic seed-drill (with fertiliser attachment). Its rakes and mowers are already in production while its seeding-machine will launch this autumn, allowing simultaneous sowing and fertilisation.

Another novelty is Minsk Automobile Works’ three-way tipping

grain hopper, as introduced at Belagro.

This convenient, high-performance machine is already receiving orders, with Ukraine signing a contract for 1,000 new models. Mr. Svidersky stresses that such forums give enterprises the perfect opportunity to meet customers, demonstrating their achievements and discussing prospects for future work.

With so many enterprises gathering in one place, customers flock to see the latest innovations.

The Scientific and Practical C e nt re for Ag r i c u ltu re Mechanisation at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus presented over 70 machinery models and types of equipment, designed for soil treatment, cultivation, harvesting and storage of potatoes. Visitors were greatly attracted by machinery for sorting potato tubers by size and shape before distribution; naturally, this helps our farms to sell on the international market, since consistency is key. Alexander Blyznyuk, the Experimental Plant Director (a subdivision of the Scientific and Practical Centre), says proudly, “It’s a completely new development, put into production this year. We’ve sold 20 units to Russia and Ukraine, where rival machines are double the price.”

Livestock also drew large crowds. Of course, it’s always a delight to see cows, goats, poultry, horses and pigs at agro-fairs. There was even a master class in sheep shearing, hosted by Nikolay Koptik, from the Scientific and Practical Centre for Animal Breeding at t he Nat i ona l Academy of Sciences. He is the country’s only expert

1

Contacts into contracts Belarusian agribusiness can now compete with that of any country wor l dw i d e, b e l i e ve s A l e x an d e r Chernogorov, the Russian Deputy Minister of Agriculture, who attended the opening ceremony of Belarusian Agricultural Week this year. His words are confirmed by growing interest from foreign companies in attending Belagro and by the growing number of joint ventures with Russia.

By Lilia Khlystun

A le x

ander

R uzhechka

Belarus is ranked the first in the world for volume of condensed milk exports

in this field, having trained twenty years ago. He explains, “Sheep shearing is not easy task, especially when you have to deal with sheep which have semifine wool — as bred by our scientists at Konyukhi agricultural production cooperative in the Lyakhavichy District.

I’m ready to teach the trade to those who are interested and I might add that sheep breeding is growing in popularity in Belarus now. A state programme was adopted in May to provide farms like Konyukhi with government contracts.

Wool and meat from sheep are in demand. In fact, the centre has 3,500 sheep. Alexey Kovalchik, who heads the farm, tells us that a stud farm will open in 2016, to raise the population.

2013 беларусь.belarus

27

CREATIVITY

Russia and Belarus to join efforts in reviving leadership in flax cultivation and processing

R

ussia and Belarus have made strides in flax cultivation, resulting in Orsha Linen Mill’s fabrics (Vitebsk Region) being much admired recently at an exhibi-

New

beginning for linen mills 28

беларусь.belarus 2013

t i on i n Fr a n k f u r t .

Meanwhile, Vologda Te x t i l e e nt e r pr i s e leads in flax processing in Russia; based in the Russian city of Vologda, the enterprise has attended the Premiere Vision international expo, in Paris, for many years.

CREATIVITY French flax seeds have been used for flax processing at Dubrovno Linen Mill for some time now. It is doing well, unlike most of the rest of the industry. It’s hard to compete with European trendsetters in Belgium, Italy and Turkey, so Russia and Belarus are keen to join forces in their competitive struggle.

A programme of innovative development of flax within the Union State of Russia and Belarus is in progress; let's look at the most important regions for this industry and what‘s going on at the largest enterprises.

Weaver loom or spaceship?

Flax is not just Belarus’ oldest crop, it’s the pride of the nation; flax flowers are depicted on the state emblem and large sums are allocated by the state to maintain and modernise the flax industry. Orsha Linen Flax clothing is a stable trend line in youth fashion

Special machinery

Stalks change into fibre After reconstruction, Shklov Flax Mill is the most modern in Belarus; its new line for processing raw flax enhances quality and even makes use of the waste by-products; oil is made from the discarded seeds while the stems are used for fuel at boiler plants and to form fuel briquettes. Belarus has 42 flax mills but, by the end of 2015, only 30 will remain, 18 modernised to follow the Shklov model.

Look to the future

Vadim Kondrashov

Much of the specialised machinery used in flax cultivation is designed in Tver, at the All-Russian Research Institute of Flax Cultivation Mechanisation (Russian Agricultural Academy), with the help of Belarusian experts, explains Mikhail Kovalev, its director. He tells us, “Automated double-row teams were developed in the USSR initially, with Western Europe taking up the idea. Now, they tend to lead in applying innovations, while we fall behind. We need to be more resilient, finding application for our unique range of theoretical designs (unseen in Europe, Canada or the USA). Our high-performance flax harvester in Tver was engineered in co-operation with the Scientific and Practical Centre of Belarus for Flax Cultivation mechanisation. Belarus is ready to mass produce this model of harvester.”

long carpets for trains. Vologda Textile is also doing well, boasting the most modern looms in Europe; some of the technology, such as digital printing and digital yarn clearing, are quite futuristic. The automatic ‘thread re-loader’ allows looms to be rethreaded within 40 minutes rather than 2-3 days.

Nikolai Aleksov, the head of Vologda Textile, tells us, “The industry needs access to low-interest loans and needs to organise staff training, as well as improving the quality of raw materials, to ensure it succeeds in the commercial fashion business. We also need good distribution networks to promote linen goods. We’re ready to work with Belarus so that Orsha Linen Mill will be our partner rather than our rival, helping us face modern challenges — such as Chinese expansion.

Mill is a great example, being one of the major producers of linen fabrics in Europe.

Major reconstruction is occurring across the whole branch, to improve efficiency but, already, over 65 percent of fabrics are exported to Europe, Canada and Japan.

Kostroma Linen Factory in Russia has already been modernised, inspiring IKEA to become the enterprise’s biggest client. It has even won a contract to supply official souvenirs for the 2014 Winter Olympics and produces such diverse goods as gunpowder bags and

Flax shives (from within the stem) are used for fertiliser, while the meal can be added to pastry for bread-making.

Flax is also part of gunpowder production, geotextiles and, of course, the production of linen. It’s even used in the production of building insulation and artists’ canvases. In Gavrilov-Yam, in the Yaroslavl Region of Russia, Moscow entrepreneur Maxim Sukharev is using his experience in the pharmaceutical business to make health supplements from flaxseed oil.

Another unusual use of flax is in the production of medical cotton, as seen at Vologodchina, in the village of Sheksna, in the Vologda Region. Using equipment from all over the world, they’ve developed their own method of making disposable napkins for medical use, alongside packaging for bakery products. Vologodchina is keen to buy Belarusian flax and may even open a joint processing company in Belarus.

By Sergey Gomonov

2013 беларусь.belarus

29

TELEMEDICINE

Not long ago, famous American scientist Kenneth Brockman — a 2005 Nobel Prize winner (for developments in radiation safety) gave a lecture at Gomel’s State Medical University.

Expeditious aid

N

eedless to say, information technologies are ever advancing, turning yesterday’s dreams into reality. The aim of our modern intellectual revolution is to make our lives easier. Promotion of informatisation is among the top priorities of Belarusian

30

беларусь.belarus 2013

state policy and, in years to come, should embrace every sphere. Online education and telemedicine are obvious applications, but computer systems can be used for all manner of purposes — from calculating fuel consumption to helping trade. Moreover, it’s a costeffective way of raising access to a range of services.

Around a decade ago, the Gomel Medical University’s Pro-rector for

Clinical Work, Dmitr y Ruzanov, became acquainted with telemedicine, on a visit to Gomel’s twin-city of Aberdeen. “Since it’s an island state, it’s impossible to have doctors and narrow specialists everywhere, so telemedicine is well-developed here. Naturally, I was impressed and keen to introduce the idea domestically. Success is taking time but we can already speak of positive initial results,” he says.

FACT During his years of work on the can connect to specialists in particular Telemedicine project, Mr. Ruzanov fields, enabling us to dispel doubt.” has become convinced that there are Mr. Kisten recollects a recent case, advantages and endless possibili- “We had a patient suffering from ties. Training and consultations can pneumonia. Treatment seemed obvious be provided, regardless of distance. but we saw no improvement so something Expert advice can even be given during was wrong. Using our telecommunicasurgical operations. tion channels, we contacted Gomel’s The district town of Petrikov is Medical University, whose specialists two or three hours from Gomel but noticed a faint tumour. Diagnosis was the local clinic’s ‘telecommunication’ clear eventually and proper treatment room connects it to the regional centre chosen.” He’s convinced that this and the capital (via the Internet). Mr. promising medical avenue should be Ruzanov explains, “An online council promoted, explaining, “This year, we of leading specialists can be gathered, plan to launch teletraining for staff. from the region or countrywide, to look Leading doctors across the region will at the results of medical examinations. train personnel on more unusual proceInformation is analysed, with district dures, so they know how to proceed.” doctors and the patient communiFifteen Gomel Region districts are cating online, allowing diagnosis to already applying telemedicine, with be made and treatment specified.

The quality of the transmission is so good that you can  A single session of telemedilisten to a heartbeat from cine can save several hours of 100km away. Telemedicine time from a specialist, speeding is bringing highly qualified medical aid to rural areas up diagnosis in emergency of the Republic.” situations and bringing specialThe Buda-Koshelevo ised aid to remote districts District is less than — including those affected 100km from Gomel, by the Chernobyl disaster. w i t h i n a n h o u r ’s drive of the regional centre, yet the local territorial medical association’s head doctor, Oleg Kisten, advocates telemedicine without doubt. He comments, “We joined the project in 2011, hardly spending much to install the equipment. In fact, our main a threelateral connection established challenge was persuading specialists to (region — district — Republic). However, change their routine and have confi- it’s necessary to ‘bind’ all districts, doing dence in our initiative. Fortunately, this as quickly as possible. As specialwe’ve now moved forward, going ists admit, it’s not an issue of finances from just 18 teleconsultations in the but of psychology. More doctors need to first year to, at least, ten a month. The ‘come onboard’ with the idea to achieve results are evident. Previously, we had progress. Mr. Ruzanov has even greater to wait for results to be returned to our plans, saying, “We’ll trial telemedicine in district clinic from the Gomel hospital, village clinics this year, and aim to adhere which ‘wasted’ time. We had access to European telemedical standards, using to a regional consultant but this also ICT and the expertise of our specialists.” took time and money. These days, we

By Violetta Dralyuk

Medicine delivered by ‘magnetic guide’ Belarusian Additional Liability Company Magnomed wins gold medal for best innovative technologies in medicine at All-Russian Zdravnitsa2013 Forum

T

he Forum gathered over 300 institutions and companies from 18 countries, with Belarus showing its innovative magnetic delivery of medicine to the brain. Alongside business circles, members of the common free market zone attended, as did the heads of governments of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The unique magnetic treatment is simple in theory, yet requires skill to deliver, since the brain is so well protected: against potential toxins but also against the potential help of healing medicines (for example to combat tumours). During animal testing in Belarus, magnetic nanoparticles have been directed by a magnetic field, ensuring penetration to the desired location. Of course, it’s important that the particles do not form a ‘lump’ which could block capillaries and it’s vital that the composition of the medicinal remedy remains unchanged by magnetism. Research continues but patents have already been applied to various discoveries. Now, significant financial resources are required from investors, for promotion through international forums.

2013 беларусь.belarus

31

ISLAND OF LIBERTY

Following salsa beat Arturo, a clothing vendor at a shop inside Cuba’s Melia Varadero five-star hotel, learning that I am from Belarus, asks me, in excellent Russian, to convey greetings to Ambassador Alfredo Nieves Portuondo. Seeing my confusion, he laughs, telling me, “We studied together at Lvov Political College; a significant portion of our older generation studied in the USSR.” One can’t argue with historical realities. For a long time, the Island of Liberty was a child nurtured by the Soviet Union. Now, the child has grown and become independent, inviting us to visit.

T

he Moscow-Havana Aeroflot flight lasts nearly 13 hours, so it’s rather pleasant when the plane isn’t full.

You can lay down in the emptier central rows, allowing you to hit the Cuban beaches revived and ready for action. Early May tends to be busier of course, because of the holidays. Russianspeaking tourists love Cuba, despite the great distance. My eight-day business trip flew by and I wondered why that should be so.

32

беларусь.belarus 2013

There’s no doubt that Varadero resort is stunningly beautiful: like a postcard or Bounty chocolate advertisement. The sea is deepest azure. Besides Russian, you hear English and French and don’t be surprised to meet Canadians; Cuba is as close for them as the Crimea is for post-Soviet citizens.

Cubans are known for their friendly and relaxed nature, which dances to the beat of salsa; their favourite word is ‘mañana’ (tomorrow) and we can’t help but associate them with a rocking chair on the porch, a glass of rum, a cigar and endless chatter in the hot sun. Accordingly, life has its own pace. It can take time to be served in restaurants and buses rarely leave on time. Some shops open only for an hour and a half, after the end of a siesta. It’s best to ride those same waves; look at life through their eyes and relax.

You’re on holiday after all! There’s no hurry.

Stereotypes I spot two glamorous Moscow girls taking pictures and imagine them uploading them on Facebook: bronzed bodies and mojitos. Like most visitors, they’ll go dancing all night to Latin rhythms and buy a selection of ‘Che Guevara’ souvenirs for friends.

Our Cuban guide, from the Useless Notes programme, Raisa Kamenker, tells us, “As a rule, tourists tend to rush to the beaches, not only in Varadero, but those on other popular islands. However, more people are starting to seek tours, being fed up

ISLAND OF LIBERTY with Turkey and Egypt. Some of the older generation see Cuba as a dream from childhood, remembering their pioneer days of singing Cuba is My Love. There are plenty of people who can speak Russian, as we feel nostalgia for our Soviet past. Russian tourists see local children wearing red ties and cry.

Many chose Cuba above Mexico or the Dominican Republic as a result.”

Few would battle jet lag for the stereotypes I’ve detailed so far. Of course, there’s far more about Cuba than white sand and hot sun, alcohol and tobacco, salsa and rumba. Its classic, retro cars, and unique history of revolution and socialism, are matched by exotic landscapes and elegant architecture. Nowhere on Earth is quite the same.

Know how to present oneself “Cuba has 14 monuments and 257 national s ite s ,” n ote s Tou r i s m Mi n i ste r Manu e l Marrero. “We’re developing ‘event’ tourism, h av i ng a l re a dy h o s te d t h e 1 4 t h Wor l d Championship in Underwater Photography

and a range of golf tournaments. We’re organising a tournament on catching marlin next.

It all helps our tourism.”

Perhaps few potential holidaymakers realise what Cuba truly has to offer. Accordingly, the Authentic Cuba programme intends to enlighten us. Its 500 year-old Spanish colonial town of Havana is one of ten local UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the well-preserved pavements, narrow streets, enticing open doors and unglazed windows give it a feeling of cosy safety. The most noise I’ve heard is from the arrival of a group of journalists, who drove in single file blaring their horns like Spanish conquistadors!

An old signora with a cigar in her mouth tells my Spanish-speaking colleagues a story, with passionate gesticulation, while a group of students

In 2012, a grand total of 2,838,607 travellers visited Cuba, bringing income of over $2.6 billion.

Over 1,000 Belarusians have made the trip since the beginning of this year.

 For Belarusian citizens, no visa is required to enter Cuba but 25 Cuban Pesos (about 20 Euros) is payable in airport tax on departure.  If you spot a wonderful souvenir, buy it straight away, since you may not find the same elsewhere.

Prices tend not to vary between hotels and dutyfree or souvenir shops.  Cuba is safe, so you’re unlikely to be attacked or robbed, but still keep an eye on your possessions.  Shops tend to be American in style but many hotels in popular tourist places offer European outlets.

ask me to take their photo; then, I get a local barman to mix me his specialty — a Pina Colada.

Tourism should bring Cuba a considerable share of income, after its traditional nickel mining and export of medical services.

However, most ordinary people live very modest, on low incomes. Cuba inspires emotions not easily explained. Perhaps looking at photographs is the best way to understand: admire the beaches of Varadero, the architecture of Havana and Trinidad, the natural beauty of Pinar del Río and the Ciénaga de Zapata and the revolutionary zeal of Santa Clara. Cuba’s flavour is that of paradise: unique.

By Dmitry Umpirovich Minsk — Havana — Varadero — Minsk.

2013 беларусь.belarus

33

ADOUR

А

Thirst for travel

li Baba, Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin from One Thousand and One Nights, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the most ancient city on the planet, Baghdad, in which ‘everything is calm’: these images have fascinated Alexander Kozlovsky since childhood. Now, aged 28, he has managed to visit three-dozen countries by hitchhiking, including Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran and Uzbekistan.

Born and raised in the Belarusian city of Orsha, he learned the English language to advanced level before entering the Belarusian State Economic University. Graduating with honours, he then began working as a translator, knowing English and German at conversational level. He also studied French, Georgian, Turkish and Farsi, fuelling his desire to travel and fulfil his childhood dream.

He learned that ancient Assyria is located on the territory of present-day Iraq, whose ancient capital, Nineveh, is one of the most dangerous cities in the world — now known as Mosul. This didn’t deter him though and he set off as a tourist, alone, without any knowledge of Arabic, but a great desire to see Iraq’s archaeological sites for himself.

34

беларусь.belarus 2013

To see the sights of ancient Assyria, Belarusian hitchhikes to Mosul His intentions are, perhaps, best illustrated by an excerpt from the book he began writing on his return: ‘... Most of all, I wanted to see a lamassu: a mythological creature with human head, the body of a bull and the wings of an eagle. I first saw copies in the Mesopotamian Hall at the Museum of Fine Arts, named after Pushkin, in Moscow. Encyclopedias then taught me that the creature first appeared in ancient Assyria. There, human-bulls with wings guarded the entrances to public institutions. You might say: “I still don’t understand why you want to go to Iraq? Is it simply to look at sights long since disappeared? The Ishtar Gate of Babylon can be viewed at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin and bass-reliefs of lamassu are seen in museums worldwide: the biggest collection is in the Louvre. Other treasures ​​are in the British Museum!”

Perhaps, you are right. However, why do millions of tourists come every year to the site thought to be the city of Troy in Turkey? After all, nowhere is completely safe for travel. The answer is obvious.

People want to visit the places where our civilisation first grew!’

Alexander, are you a fan of adventure tourism and were you anxious at the prospect of entering Iraq: still a site of civil conflict?

ADOUR It’s not my style to visit ‘hot spots’ in an army jeep, protected by military escort! It would be boring. When you hitchhike, everything is different. If you don’t believe that you can travel far using this method, read Anton Krotov’s book on traveling through the Middle East and Asia or Valery Shanin book about his journey through Europe and the USA. It’s also useful to look through the Lonely Planet guides, which help travellers on a tight budget. It’s true that Mosul is considered to be the most crimeridden city in the world, but nearly 2 million people live there and it has one of the largest universities in the Middle East. It’s the most dangerous city in the world, with 30,000 students walking around. It’s strange, don’t you think?

Since last year, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has removed Iraq from its list of countries to which it advises citizens not to travel.

Why did you apply for your tourist visa from Moscow? Was it difficult to obtain?

I spend a lot of time in the Russian capital because of work. This is why I applied to the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow.

I only managed to convince the consul that I really wanted to see the sights after my eighth visit (laughs). I entered Iraq from Turkey, through Kurdistan.

The latter officially belongs to Iraq but its relationship with official Baghdad is extremely tense. After receiving a stamp at the Kurdish checkpoint of Ibrahim Khalil, in Mosul, it was harder for me to find a hotel bed. I always carried my tourist document — in Russian and Arabic. This eliminated the need for me to explain myself to the armed men at every checkpoint in an unknown language.

What’s it like in modern day Iraq? Is there any tourist infrastructure?

In the Old Town of Mosul, the ‘charming 19th century houses’ (as described in pre-war guide books) have been mostly destroyed. Local residents associate the word ‘Nineveh’ with a 4-star hotel rather than the museum.

The manager, thinking me to be a rich

foreigner, tried to charge me $150 a night to stay there, although the official price is half this amount. After talking with locals, I found a modest room at $7 a night in a building where students lived.

Of the $1000 I took for my trip, I spent about $300 in Turkey and only $30 for 5 days in Iraq.

Were you disappointed by the sights?

As it turned out, the ruins of the ancient Assyrian capital are within the Army Staff compound, so I thought entry would be prohibited. However, the ‘general’ (as his subordinates called him) arrived in an armoured jeep and not only ‘allowed’ me in but also kindly acted as a guide. I walked around the ruins of the Palace of Ashurbanipal, saw the Nergal Gate (built during Saddam Hussein’s reign) and took a photo of the Mosque of the Prophet Jonah. I also saw Mosul’s biggest attraction: the 52m tall minaret of Al-Hatba. It is called ‘humpbacked’, being a little like the ‘leaning’ Tower of Pisa. In September last year, UNESCO approved its restoration.

In my book, I say: ‘Taking pictures of an unremarkable piece of stone, I was surprised to find Akkadian cuneiform engraved on the back. Among the grass, dust and sand, lay fragments of reliefs, on which you could see depictions of legs, trees and animals. As the palace was built in the 7th century BC, the reliefs belong to that period. I had to lift my feet to step over artefacts, to preserve them for posterity. I felt like a real archaeologist.’

In Mosul, you had a strange and rather terrible incident, being put in jail. What happened?

I photographed the Nergal Gate, which is located next to the police station. The law enforcement officers were frightened, thinking that I was taking their pictures rather than shots of architecture.

They didn’t find anything illegal in my photos but I was put into

jail while they checked; they took my passport and mobile phone.

How did the Iraqis treat you as a prisoner?

Humanely. In the police station, I was given tea and cakes. Everyone was smiling and looking at me with excitement. I felt welcomed rather than arrested. The other prisoners gave me mattress space and shared the food relatives brought to them.

How did you get out?

The day after my arrest, a local man came to see me, whom I had met at the hotel. With his help, I sent a text message to my father, who was in Moscow.

Fortunately, he did not panic and really helped. He got in touch with the head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Baghdad, Jamshed Boltaev, who led talks with the senior Iraqi military to aid my release.

Do you regret anything about your extreme trip?

I regret the worry I caused my parents and not being able to complete my journey. I’m not a crazy young man but I really want to go back to Iraq!

Maybe, I will go as a guide. I’ve just written a guide to the country: the first in Russian. I hope that Iraqi diplomats in Russia will help with its publication.

I’ve already published my notes about my journey online (www.sanyokbelarus.narod.ru/kniga_vii_ nastoyaschii_irak).

Believe me, Iraq is a very interesting place. After all, the Tower of Babylon was built there. According to some scientists, it’s where Eden was located. Postwar Iraq is not a paradise for touristsbut,each year, it becomes more open to them. So far, only organised groups tend to go. In my view, it’s worth visiting.

By Sergey Golesnik

2013 беларусь.belarus

35

мастацтва PERSONALITY

36

беларусь.belarus 2013

PERSONALITY

мастацтва

Ushacha:

meandering river of time This river has no fame and is barely noticeable on some maps yet the banks of the Ushacha have been the birthplace of many outstanding Belarusians. It is a poetic river, bringing forth such talents as Petrus Brovka, Evdokiya Los and Rygor Borodulin. They were born and raised on its shores, as was Vasil Bykov: a writer who explored a lot of the common Belarusian men in WW2. The Ushacha flows and the sun rises and sets in the peaceful sky of Belarus…

Text by Viktar Korbut Photo by Dzianis Ramaniuk 2013 беларусь.belarus

37

HISTORICAL PARALLELS

R

ecently a popular British website, called femalefirst. co.uk, compiled a list of the most beautiful castles in Europe.

A fortress situated in the Belarusian village of Mir made its way onto the list, alongside Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, the residence of ‘Dracula’ in Romania, Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania and Prague Castle in the Czech Republic.

The architecture of Belarus and other European countries is much alike, being elegant and romantic. Of course, we are tied historically on many levels.

Although Germany has no common borders with Belarus, the tragic episodes of World War II bind us. Mir Castle is encouraging a cultural dialogue between our two countries, bringing German tourists to Belarus. In fact, Olga Popko, the Director of the Mir Castle Complex Museum, recently found a unique collection of portraits and decorative art objects once belonging to the 19th century owners of Mir Castle, in Germany: part of the inheritance of Princess Stefania Radziwill, they passed to her son, Peter Wittgenstein, and, after him, to Princess Mary Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst — his sister and wife of the Chancellor of Germany.

Olga tells us, “I’d been searching for these things for several years but found them by pure accident. I’d been enquiring about a portrait of Stefania Radziwill, being curious to discover her appearance. Her daughter took her husband’s surname of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst and I hadn’t realized that Schillingsfurst is also the name of a city in Germany. Once I discovered this fact, I wondered if there might be a museum and conducted an online search. I found the Schillingsfurst Museum’s site and my trip really sent me into a state of excitement. I found a collection, which, alas, doesn’t belong to Belarus anymore; it includes four portraits of Stefania. It’s the most marvelous discovery we’ve seen in a long time!”

38

беларусь.belarus 2013

Prince Constantin HohenloheSchillingsfurst, who owns the Radziwill’s collection in Germany, has agreed to help with exhibiting the rarities at Mir Castle. Historians are viewing the find as one of the most important in the study of the Radziwill and Wittgenstein family histories. The new materials are to form the basis for extending displays at the Radziwill Hall and at the Wittgenstein Hall in Mir Castle.

Meanw hile, in 2013, B elar us for the first time attended the F.re.e international exhibition dedicated to tourism, water sports and travel, held in Munich. Of course, our national

stand promoted Mir Castle above all others, with Olga Popko helping encourage visitors to consider travelling to the ancient fortress. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells us,“Our first experience of participating in the exhibition has revealed great tourist interest from Bavarians regarding visits to our country.”

All the formalities connected with bringing those Radziwill rarities to Mir and organizing the exhibition were settled between Olga Popko and Constantin Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst, through the offices of the Belarusian Consulate General in Munich.

All roads lead to Mir Waif helped disclose unknown pages of history

HISTORICAL PARALLELS Naturally, there are many more stories of cultural liaisons with Germany.

Belarusians often visit Frankfurt, but often only to transit its famous airport, which is one of the largest hubs in the world. On having a few hours between planes, on landing in Frankfurt, I once decided to explore the city briefly. Since ancient times, it has been the financial capital of Germany (and is now home to the office of the European Central Bank). These days, our publishers are keen to promote our editions there, at the annual Frankfurt Book Fair.

To reach the histori c a l c e nt re, t a ke the metro from the airport, to t h e R om e r District, changing at the m a i n

station (Hauptbahnhof). You’ll find the town hall, where the kaisers of the Holy Roman Empire were once crowned, and the first person you’ll meet will be Goethe; a monument to the writer is situated near the metro exit. Belarusians know this name well not only from school days but because he wrote the libretto for the opera Faust, for which our compatriot, Prince Antoni Henryk Radziwill, wrote the music. The latter is also well-known for founding the Berlin line of the Radziwill family; there was even a Radziwill Palace in Berlin.

For the first time, in Frankfurt, I visited a Lutheran church, where I was shocked at the bare interior, with neither icons nor sculptures on the walls. There were only two commemorative plates in honour of notable persons, inscribed in ornate Gothic script. While Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have the atmosphere of a museum, filled with majestic beauty, the Lutheran church had only a crucifix above t he a lt ar. O n ly God was present, no embellishment. Of course, Protestantism became the dominant religion in Belarus

in the 16th century, as promoted by Simon Budny, who wrote the first book published in the Belarusian language within the territory of modern Belarus: a Protestant ‘Catechism’. It was printed in Nyasvizh, which was also owned by the Radziwills. That noble family connects so many cities and countries!

Nuremberg is even more famous than Frankfurt and is just half an hour away, by direct flight. The great artist Durer was born there, and the inventor of the globe, Martin Behaim, and the creator of the first wristwatches,Peter Henlein, both lived in Nuremberg.

Belarusians are likely to be intrigued to know that Polotsk was mentioned in the Nuremberg Cartel: one of the first European newspapers, published in the 16th century. It’s Belarus’ first mention in the international media.

Nuremberg, like Minsk, suffered during World War II, losing about 90% of its architectural heritage through bombing;walking through the old part of the city, you may not feel it at once, even though the spaces between the Gothic Protestant churches are mainly occupied by new houses. These blend so well with their surroundings that it’s easy to forget.

Some half-timbered buildings, of wood and stone, remain, with their crooked walls and authentic beams, which have survived the centuries.

The secret of Nuremberg’s resurrection is simple: the number of new buildings in the old centre is matched by the number of original buildings, while the new ones are designed to match in height and colour, having pastel shades in gray and lemon, and in using natural materials of stone, wood and metal.

Belarus has many similarities with other countries in Europe and with the wider world, which promotes mutual understanding between millions of people. We should certainly visit each other more often, following the example of Olga Popko. You may even find your own amazing discovery.

By Viktar Korbut

2013 беларусь.belarus

39

RECONSTRUCTION

Past locked away What does the future hold for the restored Puslovsky Palace and what greetings from the past are to be discovered in its vaults?

40

беларусь.belarus 2013

T

hose restoring Kossovo Castle (Puslovsky Palace) recently discovered a wonderfully preserved centuries-old copper pot, a china fragment of a plate (inscribed ‘Columbia’), fragments of forged railings and a collection of 19thearly 20th century bottles in various sizes. The finds near the town of Kossovo are certainly intriguing. We visited the Ivatsevichi District to explore the cellars of the famous palace and penetrate deep into its history.

“We’ve been working here for half a year already,” explains Brestrestavratsiya JSC foreman Anatoly Maximchik, who is leading the restoration works. “It’s an interesting job, as we discover more artefacts each time we go down deeper into the cellars, which host the drainage system, laid in the time of Poland’s rule.

Not long ago, we found the remains of a tile but we’re yet to find any glass — only bottle fragments.”

In fact, the floor of the palace hall was made of glass, allowing viewing of an exotic fish pool beneath: quite unique for the 19th century. The restoration works are a major project,

especially as the palace had 132 different rooms. Having visited the site, I can vouch for the progress made already. The building was in very poor condition previously, but the ruins are transforming: foolish graffiti has been washed away from its walls, double glazing is now installed in the wing being used for a hotel, the basement has been reinforced, partition walls are up and the roof has been fully repaired.

Soon, communication lines are to be laid and restorers will begin on interior decoration. The final stage envisages restoring the East and West towers and the grounds.

There’s no doubt that the Castle will become a major tourist attraction, with its rich history and undeniable beauty.

Local people recall that the sun lit one of its rooms for a full two and a half days each year and that tapping on the window sill of the East wing’s second floor could be heard over the whole building — such were the acoustics.

Pots were built into the castle’s East wall (one of the recent fragments is likely to be from this source) and these may have caused the effect.

By Sergey Dovlatov

PANORAMA  Children’s Day unites friends Children gather for festival at Friendship Monument on border of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine

T

he International Children’s Festival ‘Friends, Syabry, Druzi — Together!’ saw major celebrations on June 1st— 2nd, near the border of our three Slavic republics. More than 150 children took part, from the regions of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, with the event formally hosted by Ukraine.

 See you on Zamkovaya Hill Festival of Traditional Culture ‘Braslavskie Zarnitsy-2013’ gathers participants from nine countries

A

bout a thousand people took part in the event, which gathered choirs, artists, craftsmen and members of historical reconstruction clubs. Guests came to Braslav from across Belarus, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Armenia and, even, Venezuela.

The first day of the forum began in the district House of Culture, with a festival of children’s crafts and a disco. The square near the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin hosted the

T h e l ar g e - s c a l e fe s t i v a l w a s dedicated to International Children’s Day, with the opening ceremony of concerts and dramatic performances held at the Friendship Monument.

The Ukrainian organisers prepared intellectual contests, competitions and games for the youngsters, as well as numerous excursions, cultural and educational events and meetings with veterans.

The international holiday is a traditional, annual event celebrated on the territory of one of the three Slavic republics. Last year, the festival was hosted by the Gomel Region.

 Three Saturdays at Town Hall June of jazz in Minsk

E

arly summer will see Svobody Square hosting Jazz Saturdays at Town Hall for the first time, welcoming well-known musicians from 10 countries. In the heart of Minsk, jazz artists from France, the USA, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, Britain, Ukraine, Poland and Germany will join leading Belarusian groups such as Apple Tea, The Lipnitsky

opening ceremony of the festival, before launching a regional vocal and choral contest entitled ‘Braslav choral assemblies’. The National Academic Folk Choir of the Republic of Belarus (named after G. Tsitovich) also gave a concert.

Other venues around the city hosted a range of interesting events, with the Museum of Traditional Culture organising an art exhibition: ‘Braslav land joined us’.

In the evening, Zamkovaya Hill became enveloped in the romance of past centuries, with a performance of ‘Brachyslav’s Sword’, featuring knight clubs. This ended with a colorful fireworks display.

The last day of the holiday saw a theatrical procession of participants and guests from the town square to the forest park of Lesnichevka, followed by a gala concert, a courtyard competition and a folk festival.

Show Orchestra and Konstantin Goryachy’s trio.

“In 2012, thousands of people enjoyed the Marc Chagall exhibition at Yakub Kolas Square; now they’ll hear first-class jazz at Svobody Square, for our second street art project,” notes the Director of the Idea Fund, Dmitry Gmyza.

C oncer ts are to b e held on three consecutive Saturdays (June 8th, 15th and 29th), with musicians performing in front of the Upper Town Concert Hall.

It is estimated that almost 3,000 spectators will attend each show.

2013 беларусь.belarus

41

REST

Pleasant

New infrastructure countrywide while monuments of ancient architecture are restored

T

he IIHF World C hampionship is being hosted in Minsk within t he next ye ar, inspiring a boom in construction; prestigious hotels are being built while entrepreneurs are launching hostels. Meanwhile, ancient buildings are being restored in the provinces and ecological routes are opening up wilderness areas. Summer is a time for holidays and Belarus has much to offer, hoping to attract visitors from near and far.

To suit all pockets Dozens of hotels are being constructed in Minsk; 37 contracts are underway to build new hotels, with half under construction and the remainder under design. All should be ready by 2016, doubling Minsk’s accommodation. By the end of 2013, 11 new hotels will be launched, including the second building of the Victoria Hotel, a hotel on Zamkovaya and Kirill streets and another on Mefodiy Street. Four budget-priced hotels will provide the city with inexpensive accommodation: on Narochanskaya,

42

беларусь.belarus 2013

Koshevoy, Korzhenevsky and Kuprevich streets. Meanwhile, the Hotel Belarus is now being revamped. Minsk has eight hostels, able to sleep 400; all are the result of private initiative and their number could double over the next year or two.

The ‘Minsk City Tour’ double-decker tour bus is already taking sightseers around the historical centre. Passengers can ‘hop on and off ’ as they like through the day, with buses appearing at regular intervals.

Other routes will soon join the scheme, with the appearance of a second bus.

Brest prepares for its 1,000th anniversary The city authorities are now preparing for the jubilee, planning an historical-cultural site at the HeroFortress and in the adjacent historical district, creating a connection between the memorial and the city. Experts from the UN, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania have been invited to consult, calculating that the fortress should be able to attract up to two million tourists annually (up from today’s 200,000).

Architects agree that the fortress requires little change or interference, although preserving bullet holes and 1941 inscriptions on the walls is important, to keep the atmosphere of the past. Its courageous soldiers fought

REST

surprises German invaders during World War II. In fact, ancient Berestie is ready for a second birth, with residents being asked for their opinions on how to shape the city. Other aspects could come under focus besides its tragic WWII history.

Some archaeological, design and construction works have been conducted, while Pogranichny Island opened in February 2013 — the most important achievement so far. In the second half of the 20th century, it was a closed border zone, enabling the unique fortifications to be preserved almost in their original state: the remains of barracks and aircraft shelters from the early 20th century stand alongside powder depots, a brick sluice and a customs official’s booth from the late 19th century. In total, there are 38 sites of historical-cultural and tourist interest. The restoration of the Terespol Gates is next in line, alongside that of the bridges of Terespol and Brigit.

Families of Sapegi and Radziwill would have surely been pleased

District), the settlement of Ruzhany is first mentioned in 1490 documents and passed into the hands of the noble Sapegi family in 1598. They began building the castle in Ruzhany in the 16th century but it was destroyed several times over the centuries, necessitating rebuilding. In the second half of the 18th century, it was restored as a baroque-style palace, boasting its own theatre, gallery, picturesque park and greenhouse. Sadly, the two world wars of the 20th century sent the magnificent complex into ruin. However, it is now being gradually brought to life, thanks to Brestrestavratsiya specialists.

Meanwhile, infrastructure is being improved at Nesvizh Castle, which opened fully to tourists last year. The Director of the Nesvizh National Historical and Cultural Mu s e u m Reserve, S e r g e y K l i m o v,

tells us that they welcomed 440,000 visitors last year, as well as hosting several grand events: Nights of the Bolshoi Theatre at Radziwill Castle, an exhibition from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Ursula Radziwill’s Theatre Forum, the Muses of Nesvizh Republican Festival of Chamber Music and a charity ball which gathered celebrities from all over Europe. Live music is performed every Sunday.

The palace and park estate is certainly recouping the restoration costs via ticket sales, showing that our historical-cultural heritage can be made to ‘pay for itself ’ with page

44

Ruzhany Castle’s entrance gate in the form of a triumphal arc is now restored, with a two-storey annex on either side. Once the home of t he inf luent i a l Sap eg i family (in the Pruzhany

2013 беларусь.belarus

43

REST

43

sensible management.

The castle now boasts a hotel, which can sleep 50, alongside a restaurant and a café. This year sees its famous underground tunnels open, with visitors able to rent an audio-guide rather than relying on a traditional tour guide. Mr. Klimov notes, “We want to turn Nesvizh into a cultural satellite of Minsk, welcoming at least 500,000 tourists annually from 2013.”

page

Green road

Alexander Ruzhechka

Ecological and green routes are a relatively new phenomenon for Belarus, with several regions organising routes through sites of natural beauty and historical significance, appealing to a wide variety of interests.

The village of Semezhevo (Kopyl District) now b oasts a weaving museum, including master classes in embroidery for guests. The site is also known for its ‘Kolyady Tsars’ custom: registered on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Mikhail Vysotsky, a Hero of Belarus and Chief Designer of Minsk’s Automobile Works, was born in the village, with the oldest

44

беларусь.belarus 2013

residents still recalling his running through the streets in childhood.

The first inter-regional green route appeared to the north of Minsk — stretching from the River Isloch to the River Viliya, starting in ancient Rakov, with its 18th century Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour and its early 20th century Church of St. Dominic and the Holy Mother.

It also boasts Felix Yanushkevich’s Rakovskaya Tsivilisatsiya Art Gallery and the Malpaland amusement park.

After seeing how honey is collected, and tasting some samples, World of Bees museum visitors can cycle to Molodechno through Rakutevshchina, w h i c h s t i l l r e m e m b e r s Ma x i m Bogdanovich. In Vileika, you can tour the neo-Gothic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, from the early 20th century, as well as Vilyanin Khutor’s estate, where a traditional Belarusian wedding is played out.

Two g re e n route s are b e i ng developed in the Baranovichi District — along the Servech and Svorotva rivers, set against the Novogrudok hills and including ancient parks, as well as the triangular church in Velikaya Svorotva.

Six agro-estates offer beds for a night — or several days. Adam Mickiewicz’s homeland of Novogrudok is located nearby. The ruins of the ancient castle towers still remember Mindovg — the founder of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A former water tower will soon house a museum of water, like the tower-museums of Polotsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Hamburg, Lisbon and many Polish cities. The Director of Novogrudok’s History Museum, Tamara Vershitskaya, suggests placing a café in the tower, since eating well is part of the pleasure of any holiday.

Belarus now offers comfortable accommodation and its infrastructure is constantly being improved. State and private businesses are working hard to create new routes, attracting new visitors.

By Viktar Korbut

Researchers of traditions

Author of golden rules Invisible treasure of Belarus is its people.

There are really unique persons among them, for example, Ivan Kruk, Rector of the Institute of Culture of Belarus.

U

nder his leadership, the institute provides educational, as well as scientific an d re s e arc h , informationanalytical, organisational and methodological work on the study, development and forecasting of development of culture and the priorities of the state cultural policy. Ivan Ivanovich is a tireless researcher of culture of his native land.

He travelled to the most remote corners of our land, gathering the crumbs of the life history of the ancestors.

Books have been created from this vast mosaic. In books, he generously shares the accumulated knowledge with anyone, who seeks to understand the mysteries of folk wisdom.

In addition, he also treats people.

Ivan Kruk, Rector of the Institute of Culture

Ideologist

Ivan Ivanovich, from where do you have such a craving for the traditions and rituals?

I think I was born with it. As they say, these are the genes. I was born in the village, so I want to wake up people’s memory of their ancestors and family tree. The role of ‘restoring’ memory plays a ritual practice. For example, let’s take ‘Dziady’ (Forefathers) custom in autumn.

Everyone gathers at the memorial table.

What for? To raise a glass? This can be done on any other day. We don’t know how to remember in the right way those who went to another world. Just imagine, on this day of remembrance, everyone should sit at the table in the order, as our grandparents and great-grandparents did. A boy and a girl, for example, should sit down oppositely, so as not to violate the principle of ‘Don't rush head over heels’, which means do not rush to

escape to another world. After all, this is the logic of life, when the old go to heaven first, not the young. The ceremonies conceal the deepest philosophy. So, I see my mission as to return respect for the family. Everyone admires Radziwill family. We have the bread, called Radzivilovsky and the castle complex has been revived, where tourists come from everywhere... All this is wonderful, but each of us has their own family and roots. Maybe, it was not so rich, but villagers respected it.

You should agree that not everyone wants to know the times, in which we can’t return.

You are right. Everyone has their own goal in life. Someone prefers to buy bread and other food in a supermarket while others enjoy baking it using the greatgrandmother’s old recipe. It’s wonderful if family members share a recipe from generation page

46

2013 беларусь.belarus

45

Researchers of traditions

45

to generation, and it is even ‘seasoned’ with some history. For example, in one of the areas of Belarus in the old days, when the dough was made for Easter to bake a loaf, people stroked it. What for? It turns out for a husband not to beat his wife.

Remarkably, life died down in the house during cooking: it was quiet, no one could slam the door, as if the dough falls down and a year will be unsuccessful.

And then it was checked. You should see these powerful links.

Probably, it’s better to keep up with the times than to stay in the past?

I’m not against modern rhythm.

However, how do we fit into this rhythm?

Of course, one can reject everything and accept all new. Will we be interesting for the world then? The world will ask where is something initially Belarusian, your heart and soul?

This is why Belarusian culture should be open for the world and the world applauds it. When our folk groups perform overseas, they impress with their uniqueness and archaic character. I’m sure that we won’t dance lambada as they dance it Brazil. We have different mentality and different expression. We are an organic part of our nature, so we have smooth round dances, and you should notice that movements are soft, flowing...

Yes, we have borrowed from Europe Halloween, St. Valentine's Day and young people have fun these days.

But what have we given Europe instead?

Everything is good in its season...

It is absurd, but the Belarusian flax is processed in France. We also know how to do this, but no matter how good our products are, it is inferior in quality to those countries that have more experience in this area.

So, again, we have to be unique to the world in what we are really original. These are our traditions and rituals...

page

46

беларусь.belarus 2013

Culturologist

It turns out that our mentality shouldn’t be changed and the Belarusians shouldn’t be criticised for being slow?

We shouldn’t criticise anyone. This is a priori. Belarusian mentality is from the God and from the land, where we were born and live. As for the slowness, we can recall the saying: haste makes waste.

What is the peculiarity of the Belarusian mentality?

For example, a guest from a nearby village comes to you. We invite the guest to the table, freeing the place of honour.

We give this place not to the grandfather — the head of the family — but

the guest. Of course, it's a good tradition, but it’s also important not to forget about yourself, or everything will happen like in the Belarusian fairy tale about a fox and a hare. The hare has made a carriage and drives off. The fox asks to put a paw, to give a lift. “Are you crazy! It will be hard!” the hare outrages. The fox asks again, “Just one!” Then she put her second paw and then she jumped on the carriage! The hare — out! And she drives, like a general.

Do you want to say that this tolerance may be harmful?

The sense of measure should be in everything.

What about church traditions?

Researchers of traditions People adapt them for themselves. It was as follows: a grandmother went to the church on Christmas, although she did not know, who Jesus Christ is. And then came home and celebrated Kolyady as her parents celebrated. This may refer to everything.

Probably, you’ve faced several times that something eastern is hanging on the wall near the Orthodox icon in a house.

What’s your attitude towards this?

I have not only seen the eastern attributes next to the icons, but even asked the owners what for they need such a mixture of ‘genres’.

The reply was that in this way the owners tout happiness in the house.

Probably, Belarusians also know how to tout happiness in their house. Is your book The Golden Rules of Folk Culture dedicated to this topic?

There are a lot of Belarusian variants of touting happiness. Few people write and tell about this. A few years ago, I entered the central bookstore and saw a lot of literature on Feng Shui, Yoga... So, I decided to write the book, entitled ‘The Golden Rules of Folk Culture’. I described in details each day of the year: what to do and what not to do. For three years, the book was reprinted eight times, and the circulation stood at 25,000 copies, so I am very pleased with this.

Man of letters Is it now in demand?

Oh, yes. Everyone uses it, as it tells us that Belarusians are not worse than the Japanese, Indians...

Belarusians, like any other people, are ‘mounted’ in the nature and in social relations, while boasting their ancient culture. For example, I am proud that there’re modern young people nowadays who want to get married in a national style. Young people are attracted to the knowledge while they are searching for a hint in book; yet there’re currently few of these.

Yo u a l s o h a v e o t h e r books, which are actively sold nowadays?

Alas, not all. For example, the book ‘The Symbolism of the Belarusian Culture’ can’t be found anywhere else, it's all sold out. For three years it had three reissues. For Belarus it was an ‘explosion’ — the first book with a theme. I also published four volumes dedicated to the Belarusian national calendar. I re-released for the fourth time the book, entitled ‘The Wheel of Time: Traditions and Modernity’. There is also a monograph entitled ‘Eastern Slavonic Fairy Tales about Animals: Images and Composition’. I also worked with pleasure on the book ‘Belarusian Wedding in the Space of Traditional Wedding Culture’.

Healer

What brought you to traditional medicine?

In 1992, my life took a big drama.

Due to unsuccessful training I injured my spine. For six months I couldn’t walk, but refused from the operation.

One day, my friends took me to the village to an old woman... For forty minutes she did what professors could not do in six months, and then this granny gave me the ‘secrets’ of traditional healing.

So you trust the sorceress, do you?

I can’t say that you can address everyone, but there are real nuggets of healing. I personally have travelled all over Belarus and met with hundreds of old women. Now I know who is who.

How an ignorant man may know whom they should trust and whom not?

In such cases intuition helps. If you turn to me, I’ll tell you what to do.

What is the reason of such a growing interest in alternative medicine?

I think people are tired of differentiation according to the principle: a dentist, an ophthalmologist, a hepatologist... Yes, I’m now here responsible for your eyes, but the fact that you currently have a pain in your heel is of no my concern! What we fall ill we usually say that we’re upset, as if a musical instrument. Meanwhile, the soul, body, and spirit have crumbled. What should we become in order to return to a harmonious state?

One-piece!

That’s right. This is my favourite word. Healers exist for this purpose.

So, for me the question what to cure is of minor importance. No matter what hurts a person: an eye or a head.

The reason is vital why all of a sudden they are ‘out of order’, as is the human aura. Everything is considered in the complex.

D o y ou apply know l e dg e of Belarusian folk traditions in medical practice?

I’m more telling about them.

Interviewed by Alisa Krasovskaya

2013 беларусь.belarus

47

MUSEUM

V

e r a Iv a n o v n a Zakharova calls to me, “C ome in… please!”

Then warns, “We only speak our way. Rural — as is traditional.”

I am not very good at speaking with the Polesie dialect, though I try. Vera switches to Russian for me though and we speculate that the language of Polesie is very similar to Ukrainian. It’s not trasyanka (a mixture of Russian and Belarusian) — as some think.

sat at the small table with drawers, working with a small hammer under a gas lamp, joining in with the chatter. He only repaired shoes in his free time, as the household was large.”

After receiving a diploma from the Belarusian Institute of Railway Engineers, in Gomel, Vera worked in Kuibyshev’s railroad department, where she met and married her husband, Valery. She then moved to Prypyat, not far from Chernobyl, for Valery’s job.

After the nuclear power plant tragedy in 1984, the family was offered a new home in Kiev, where they lived until recently, working in communications.

House of memories Small village of Mikhalki in Bereza District of Brest Region opens remarkable museum: House of Grandpa Khvedor Three countries — one destiny

Vera is connected to Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, having been born in the village of Mikhalki, in Belarus, yet marrying a Russian and later living happily in Ukraine, which gave her citizenship. The saying seems to hold true that the home of your childhood has the tallest trees, widest rivers, longest paths and cosiest homes. Vera remembers the smell of her granny’s pies baking, milk and leather shoes. Her grandfather Fiodor (Khvedor, in the local dialect) Zyalenka was adept at mending shoes.

She recalls, “I remember well people bringing their shoes to grandpa. They sat here and talked. Nobody was in a rush, especially in winter. Meanwhile grandpa

48

беларусь.belarus 2013

Every year, Vera and Valery came to Mikhalki to stay at the cottage, along with her sisters and their families. They’d plant potatoes in the old vegetable beds next to grandpa’s house, admire the tulips and tidy things up. Now, they also run special tours of their own museum.

Abandoned or preserved?

Wealthy farmer Khvedor Zakharovich Zyalenka and his wife Yevdokia (or Ovdoska, as they say in Mikhalki) has always welcomed guests: for business or pleasure. God generously endowed Vera’s ancestors with large numbers of children and the house is the hub of this grand family. Khvedor had two daughters — Anna and Nadya, who were raised in the village. Anna married a man from

the neighbouring village of Peshki while Nadya married Ivan Yudchits, also from Mikhalki. Nadya and Ivan initially lived with Khvedor until moving to their own home, and had four daughters: Tamara, Natalia, Maria and Vera.

The museum appeared unexpectedly after long discussions on whether to preserve the cottage or pull it down.

The village council of Borki urged the family to make a decision, quoting the old saying that ‘an abandoned house is worse than an orphan’. The four sisters gathered to survey the house from their childhood and recalled: — How grandpa Khvedor loved his grandchildren: eight girls and two boys; — How he carried them astride his shoulders;

MUSEUM — The home-made tobacco, which their granny planted and he dried, cut and smoked in a pipe; — How he hid money from granny in a chest which they were forbidden to open; — How granny Ovdoska served him hot dishes from the oven: bean soup, borscht (beetroot soup) with sour cabbage, and zatirka (hot milk stew with dumplings).

Vera had the idea for the museum and was eagerly helped by village friends who donated linen, rushniks (embroidered napkins), khodniki (clocks), jugs and baskets, searching cupboards and attics for old items.

A rare village purse made from birch bark was found and donated, although it’s unknown for whom it was made.

To touch and to remember

Their grandfather’s little weakness was playing cards for money, which he did every Saturday evening after work.

He bathed, shaved, put on his grey suit and went to the village to play cards. The house has seen so much life and love: for children, for people, for the household and for work — for life itself.

This museum is, to my mind, one of a kind, being unlike a museum of rural life or a folk museum, being privately owned by the family yet displaying exhibits donated by the whole village.

This Poleshuk home (belonging to a Polesie resident) sheltered a great household and holds not only their memories but those of many local residents. Khvedor Zyalenka had his own four acres of fields, two acres of forest and also some marshland with a pond and hay meadow. He also had a horse named Orlik, four cows, a bull, 20 sheep and five or six pigs…

He also had four grateful granddaughters. Vera tells us, “Some bean punches (bobovyne) were found in the upper level of the barn, where grandpa stored his tools and, even, his chest. No one was allowed to look but, now, visitors can touch everything. When the owners are absent other Mikhalki villagers open up, to welcome guests. Maria joins Vera and Valera in giving me a tour. “All our family is grateful to Borki agricultural

production co-operation and to Borki village council for their help in taking care of the house and the garden. We’re also grateful to the teachers of Borki school for encouraging a love of our past and our history.”

Visitors from near and far I ask who tends to visit the museum and Vera takes out a guestbook in which people write: besides messages in Belarusian, there are comments in Russian, English, and Polish. Visitors have included residents of the villages of the Bereza District: Levashki, Malechi, Peshki, Mikhalki, Borki, Lyaskovichi, Shlyakh-Pushcha and Signevichi. People have also travelled f rom B e re z a , Ko br i n , Ma l or it a and Brest, as well as from Kiev, St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk and, even the USA. Two of Khvedor’s granddaughters live there now. Of course, school children also tend to visit.

The museum comprises not only the house but the barn and features tools and household items known to every villager. Vera recalls that, while tidying the barn, they found horse-cart wheels and a harness under the old straw.

Grandpa was a penny-pincher and was very upset when Orlik, the horse, was taken to the collective farm.

Unfortunately, not all of us can say that we know our family history from three generations back to the same extent as this Mikhalki dynasty, or the history of our family’s native village.

Sitting at a table under an apple tree in Vera’s garden, we look over at Khvedor’s house. He and Ivan have passed away but the century old traditions and stories remain. Vera and I chat about life in villages today and our sense of identity. We conclude that happiness comes from sharing.

It’s good to travel and see the world but, in honesty, there’s no place like home. Returning to our roots can be one of the most satisfying choices we make: at least in the summertime and in our dreams…

By Valentina Kozlovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

49

THEATRE PERSONALITY

Alexey Dudarev:

Ivan Zhdanovich

‘I’m not ashamed of what I’ve written’ Author of famous and enduringly popular comedy White Dew and the play The Privates writes sequel to famous Inspector General by Nikolai Gogol — The Executor — with premiere at National Academic Drama Theatre named after Maxim Gorky

50

беларусь.belarus 2013

PERSONALITY

A

lexey Dudarev believes himself to be in a ‘great creative form’. From his summer home near Logoisk, not far from Minsk, he tells us about his new play and shares his thoughts on the meaning of life and his creative path.

Gogol’s works are known for showing us the nature of the world, although modern language has changed a great deal. The universal messages of his plays retain their relevance, exploring our identity and making us ponder our role in life. In reinterpreting the old plot, you’ve given us another theatrical masterpiece.

In one interview, you called it ‘a play about the good in people’. Why? Had anyone told me a year or two ago that I’d be writing the sequel to Gogol’s play, I’d have laughed, as I’m actually laughing now. I’d have thought them joking but, unexpectedly, here we are! I usually don't plan; I just see how things happen. If something ‘hatches’ then it’s great. The Executor is a sequel to Inspector General, which we staged at the Belarusian Army Theatre when I was the artistic director. I always find it painful for me to part with my heroes: from classic plays such as those by Gogol and from my own works. The play is about humanity, since we all have traits

THEATRE

I accept all that Fate brings: joys and sorrows.

What else can we do? It's fruitless to ponder how you could have behaved differently in the past good and bad: not only Tryapichkin but the city inspector and Maria Andreevna and all the officials. They are just people, like you and me. In my school days, we were taught to laugh at them and judge them and to avoid behaving as they do.

However, people remain essentially the same through the centuries: neither good nor bad, nor kind, nor evil. As Bulgakov’s Yeshua says: ‘There are no evil people’.

Af ter the opening night, my husband and colleague commented that Gogol would surely have shaken your hand had he seen your play.

Another colleague asserted that even Gogol could hardly have done better.

Your Executor gives us insight into the lives of educated and successful people, while building on the artistic heritage of the classic. Do you feel contented with it?

Not at all. When a close friend of mine learnt that I was continuing Inspector General, he told me that he was surprised at my arrogance to dare to match Gogol’s writing. I’m really not arrogant and have never aimed to ‘outdo’ anyone. I love Chekhov as much as Gogol, viewing them as the best writers — of international renown. I venerate them. I am different. While respecting

and preserving Gogol’s characters and style, I’ve used my own voice as seemed possible and necessary. I don’t know if Gogol would have shaken my hand — this wasn’t my goal. Maybe he would have said: ‘What have you done, my friend?’

No one can say. Is it allowed to continue the story? Why not? If you’ve merged details from the original classic and you have something to contribute, then why not? It’s not an uncommon practice in drama or in other arts. I haven’t written ‘like Gogol’; it’s a sequel.

Gogol could also have continued his Inspector General?

Of course. Indeed, he wrote a second volume of ‘Dead Souls’, which I’ve read. It cannot be compared to the first volume, which is why he wanted to burn it.

Sometimes, even the author himself can fail in his attempt to continue his works.

Are you happy with your work?

I’m not ashamed of what I written.

I’m very fond of Gogol but, trust me, I wasn’t interested in stealing the laurels of this brilliant writer. I’m interested in the man himself. I was curious to compare events of two hundred years ago with today and with what may come in the future. After the premiere, director S e r g e y Kov a l c hu k’s father, Mikhail, asked me page

52

2013 беларусь.belarus

51

THEATRE PERSONALITY

51

to encourage his son to end the staging with another final caller, but Sergey is against the plan, thinking it will be excessive. I can’t help thinking it’s possible though.

Many people may want to reread Gogol after watching the play…

I often do this myself, as well as returning to Chekhov, Bulgakov and Ilf-Petrov. Their books are always on my desk, within reach. For those who haven’t seen Inspector General, I’ll tell you that Marina Dudareva, the director, kept the staging strictly to the original text — as did Sergey Kovalchuk,

page

52

беларусь.belarus 2013

although he denies it. I think admirers of Gorky like my play, for which I’m grateful. The play is not as simple as it seems at first sight. I believe it shows that people cannot be viewed in black and white: each is different — strong and weak…

How did the play reach the Russian Theatre?

There is a Russian Theatre site where plays can be submitted and I sent mine under a pen-name: Denis Shvabsky. Kovalchuk read the play and decided to add it to the repertoire. As always happens, he asked to meet the

writer… and, of course, was surprised to hear my voice. He asked why I’d hidden behind the name of Shvabsky but I explained that I simply wanted him to read it with an open, unbiased mind, without comparison to my White Dew or The Privates. Denis Shvabsky is, quite simply, myself, 30-35 years ago.

Would you have staged the play any differently or have used modern costumes?

I would have based it purely on Gogol, forgetting about Alexey Dudarev.

Nothing in man has changed, regardless of 2000 years passing. We cry and

PERSONALITY

A scene from The Executor

smile in the same way, we slander, we envy and we experience pain. We still don’t love enough and are afraid to die.

Modern costumes are irrelevant, since the human soul is naked.

The play has many layers and is filled with the eternal themes of human problems. We could call it a ‘social play’ on man’s weaknesses, which seems to be the path that the Theatre has taken. It’s like a fantasy in which the protagonists are tested through games. They lose their temper, forgetting their intention of flattering Tryapichkin, making us view them as children. We see them as

they really are, behind their provincial masks. The Russian Theatre actors play their parts well I think.

As one master playwright wrote: ‘All the world is a stage’. We are simply players, taking our roles in life. In fact, I’d say that we prefer to play roles rather than be true to ourselves. What difference is there between a lady-in-waiting and a lady? None. Yesterday, you were a baron and today you become a count; yesterday, you were a lieutenant and today you are a colonel. You haven’t changed in essence. Fools remain so, as do those with wits.

I’d advise everyone to re-read Inspector General carefully. You’ll see that the city inspector and his officials arouse sympathy, as does the hapless poet Khlestakov. His dream is for the ministers to respect him, just as he wants a servant to treat him as an important person. It is an impossible fantasy. I love these characters; all are kind in their way.

As a famous playwright, you don’t need to prove yourself anymore. In creating each play are you hoping to reveal something new in your search for the meaning of life?

I always start from scratch and, like Socrates, try to act as if I know nothing.

That which needs to be written will be written. I’m not writing anything at present but I will when the time comes.

It’s how The Executor arrived. I had no grand intentions. I simply felt that Gogol’s play must be continued and wanted to explore the character arriving at the end of the play. Khlestakov leaves and the deception is revealed. The policeman announces that an official from St. Petersburg is summoning everyone to his hotel…. and that is where my play begins. There are some revelations and my own feelings have flavoured the work of course.

In The Executor, you speak of repentance, inferring that we are all destined to do wrong, performing actions almost beyond our control.

Does this mean your protagonists have no shame or conscience?

THEATRE

Of course, we all feel these things.

Even the most inveterate feel shame, and desire to be ‘better’. I take less of a moral stand these days, believing that what will be, will be. We cannot release ourselves of all evil but nor can we drive out the good, however hard we try.

Society’s moral illness — dishonesty, ambition, corruption and cynicism — has existed forever. People’s motives are invariably selfish and, today, image and status seem more important than ever. Only a rare few cultivate spiritual values and are often perceived as being weak. Have you ever thought that God was at fault in the way he designed us?

It is a very hard question: why are people as they are, repeatedly behaving badly? In The Executor, I do condemn this, but a priest once told me that God knew whom He was creating. There was no failure. We need to tread this Earthly path to gain self-knowledge and, in repenting, we find our true essence. God doesn’t need slaves but independent beings. Are we made in his image? Perhaps, eventually, we’ll become so.

Undoubtedly, we will evolve — or we’ll die out. Can we learn to love unconditionally, as God does? All our love seems to have selfish motives, being demanding and with conditions, which inspires misunderstanding between us — especially those closest to us …

Alas, it’s true. It’s a wonderful idea to think that someone loves us unconditionally — man or God. You view the imperfections in others and in yourself as opportunities for turning into good I think.

I think it was Eldar Ryazanov who said that there is no bad weather…

Do you ever regret retiring from your own acting career?

People shouldn’t speculate or interfere. I am a playwright, as The Executor has proven, once more. I’m at an age where I don’t care about approval any more: only my own! I am my own greatest editor, critic and analyst. My ‘well-wishers’ should remain calm. In our page

54

2013 беларусь.belarus

53

THEATRE PERSONALITY I'm very fond of Gogol but, trust me, I wasn't interested in stealing the laurels of this brilliant writer. I'm interested in the man himself. I was curious to compare events of two hundred years ago with today and with what may come in the future

page

53

village, people used to say: ‘May you eat whatever you’re dreaming of!’ I eat things you can’t imagine! If people are hoping to make me feel discontented, they’ll be disappointed.

People do say: ‘once an actor always an actor’. If you did act in your latest play, which part would you choose?

I’d play the city inspector — as he’s a reasonable man. In every script I write, I always feel as if I could play one of the parts: Dugin in The Privates and Mikhasev in Don’t Leave Me. I did play the colonel, Multik, in Evening, Andrey Buslov in Threshold and Krynkin in Choice. I wrote that play when I was at university, for our acting department, and chose my part.

Your granddaughter, Yana, has a role in a film based on Don’t Leave Me — your play. Are you happy about that?

The role wasn’t written for her. It just turned out that way. I wouldn’t want her or anyone from my family to be connected with the theatre; its enough that I am!

As a playwright, you have your own style, taste and preferences. What tends to move you?

Everything — just like anyone else.

While the sun is shining and the birds are singing, I think only of summer, not winter or autumn, although I know the seasons are inevitable. I live in the present.

54

беларусь.belarus 2013

Would you like to write a book or a play about an artistic person who, tired of his life, finds a new recipe for living?

I think not; I prefer dialogue between characters, which seems to take on a life of its own.

What is your own recipe for life?

There is none. I’ve always worked hard — probably too much.

Do you think our illnesses are brought on by our state of mind or behaviour?

Of course; it’s hardly a surprise that smokers become unwell more often than those who don’t smoke. I do think it’s best to put aside anger and treat others as you’d like to be treated. You won’t have regrets if you behave in a manner of which you aren’t ashamed.

I wish we all understood this…

Does this aspect of human nature intrigue you?

I accept all that Fate brings: joys and sorrows. What else can we do?

It’s fruitless to ponder how you could have behaved differently in the past. Of course, deep inside, I’d like to understand why people treat each other as they do. As Pasternak said: ‘I want to come to the essence’. In honesty, it’s too difficult a task.

By Valentina Zhdanovich

T

oday’s theatres are leaning ever more towards ‘commercially popular’ performances, often featuring music, since these are most in public demand.

Young actors are encouraged to be able to sing and dance, as well as appearing in TV commercials or working as TV hosts, making their faces more wellknown. Some even host clubs or create pop or rock bands.

The long-term argument is that commercial popularity may not sit well with the serious nature of true acting. Of course, we are all free to make independent choices but actors are also dependent on the desires of others, since they must receive approval. Moreover, their entire vocation is centred on ‘becoming another’ through an acting role. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the younger generation is keen to supplement income through advertising contracts and ‘e asy’ T V work.

However, in a desire to please the public in a less formal environment, such as a nightclub, actors may find themselves with less independence than ever. You may have played Macbeth, Hamlet or Uncle Vanya but it won’t stop a tipsy patron from shouting out unseemly requests.

The ultimate act may involve biting your tongue and smiling through the pain!

THEATRE

Belta

TRENDS

Embracing commercialism Fortunately, the Yanka Kupala Theatre has only benefitted from its recent tour and its embracing of the comedic musical genre, as evident in its latest premiere: Local Cabaret.

It’s a prime example of how theatre can be ‘crowd pleasing’ (and thus profitable) while also showcasing true talent. Its concert format is perfect for touring, adapting for any stage. It would even suit a corporate party, since its 16 numbers are easily reduced. Poetic Victor Shalkevich, fantastic soloist Pavel Kharlanchuk

and Je w ish c ome dy du o Vi c tor Manaev and Sergey Zhuravl could produce a show on their own.

The word ‘cabaret’ comes from the French word ‘pub’, featuring poets and virtuoso musicians to entertain in drinking venues; over time, ‘cabaret’ became linked to restaurants, which gave variety shows and even organised concert contests. The Kupala Theatre’s version oozes bittersweet irony, making no claims to grandeur. Its talented actors are free to improvise and the audience is welcome to sing

Yanka Kupala Theatre believes profits are possible along to Polka, Meetings in a Cafe or Gypsy Romance.

The professionalism of the Kupala Theatre’s actors enables them to present vaudeville, operetta, rock opera or light-hearted musicals.

They can compete with any domestic musical theatre, accompanied by their excellent orchestra. They can sing with a microphone or without. Some people may not like their latest offering but you can’t argue with ticket sales. Local Cabaret is already sold out.

By Tatiana Orlovskaya

2013 беларусь.belarus

55

celebration

Made with love and soul Guests to Belarus will no longer need to look independently for the fern flower on Kupalle night, thanks to the village of Alexandriya in the Shklov District, which is to host Kupalle festivities on the night of 6th-7th July, on the bank of the River Dnieper

L

Alexander Ruzhechka

ocal masters are making a limited run of fern flower souvenirs to help visitors long remember their unique night.

The flowers, made from clay, leather and birch bark, will cost upwards of Br10,000.

Meanwhile, Mogilev’s Inna Savchuk has a souvenir priced at just over $100 (Br978,000), having won the Republican contest to design the best souvenir for the Kupalle festival: Alexandriya Gathers Friends. The contest organisers — the Ministry of Culture and the Belarusian Chamber for Commerce and Industry — set the price, also awarding Inna with a Grand Prix.

Anna Bryleva, who specialises in Chamber publications, is delighted by the results of the expert commission (headed by the First Deputy Minister of Culture, Vladimir Karachevsky). She explains, “The flower is unique, having been made with love and care. We’re now debating how many to produce, as it’s hard to make a hundred flowers by hand. We’ll probably buy the rights from Ms. Savchuk, launching industrial production.”

Kupalle wreaths made by Tatiana Smolina, from Khoiniki, came second in the ‘Straw. Wood. Birch Bark’ nomination, while a ‘Kupalle-2013’ ceramic panel was acknowledged the best article made from clay, plaster and ceramics.

56

беларусь.belarus 2013