BELARUS #03/2012

No.3 (942), 2012

BELARUS Беларусь. Belarus

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March Thaw

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Contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 3 (942), 2012 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

Country open to investors

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Landmarks have been clearly outlined President of Belarus welcomes Russian

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Security Council Secretary

6 14

Tempting prospect Belarus invites investors to vast Eurasian market

Formula for rich harvest

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Scanner sees everything

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From heart to heart Gomel’s Central City

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Polyclinic’s Early Intervention Department awarded with Presidential ‘For Spiritual Revival’ award — recognised for many years of supporting disabled children

Archaeologists rewriting Polotsk biography 1150 years ago, Polotsk was

first mentioned in chronicles, close behind Kiev — the ‘mother of all Russian cities’

Editor: Viktor Kharkov Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

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

Distributed in 50 countries of the world.

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

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Beautiful road to Golshany Increasing

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Chronicle writer of the age

44

Vitebsk’s Pokrovskaya Street

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Publisher: “SB” editorial office

Secret corners of Fate Republican Thea-

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

Farewell to arms!

16

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

numbers of tourists — from Belarus and elsewhere — are visiting the Grodno Region’s Oshmyany District, tempted to areas neighbouring Lithuania

tre of Belarusian Drama hosts Yanka Kupala: Paradise Circles, staged by director Svetlana Naumenko

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Litesound to perform in Baku

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Doctor’s gifted hands

Roots and crown

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

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Unknown Nalibokskaya Pushcha

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To lake-district for holiday-making Tourist complex offering health centre,

E-mail: info@periodicals.ru

medieval castle and lake cruising opening in the centre of Europe — between Polotsk and Glubokoe

Telephone in Minsk: +375 (17) 227-09-10.

© “Беларусь. Belarus”, 2012

2012 беларусь.belarus

editor’s note

Inspiring images

I

interviewed Leonid Dudarenko in his studio. Already over 80 years old, he told me interesting stories about art and the process of creativity. I listened while looking at the walls, which were covered in pictures. His Belarusian landscapes each seem to tell a story, luring us into their composition. The female form is also a recurring theme: individually or portrayed within a scene with some unusual meaning to him.

Of course, women have provided inspiration to most artists, becoming a muse which brings forth creativity.

Womankind represents beauty, kindness and tenderness, high morality and rich spirituality. Mr. Dudarenko’s My Longsuffering Belarus focuses on womankind.

Meanwhile, women embody hope and optimism in his symbolic On the Threshold of the 21st Century. Like many other painters, writers and poets, he glorifies women for their social importance and reveres their contribution to daily life. His colourful works tend to receive attention in March, when Women’s Day is traditionally celebrated.

This year, the National Statistical Committee compiled a portrait of the typical Belarusian woman (as was done last year). Little has changed in fact. She is 42 years old, with children, and tends to reside in a city. Twenty percent boast higher education and half of

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the female population have secondary special education.

Few would argue that Belarusian women are both beautiful and intelligent, usually studying economic, humanitarian and social specialities. They tend to work in education, health care and the hotel industry, as well as at sewing and textile enterprises, in trade and in financial spheres. Women tend to name Belarusian as their native language, yet primarily use Russian for communication at home and work.

Statistics tell us that there are 800,000 more women in our country than men: 1,165 women per thousand men. Some might say that this arouses greater competition in women to find a spouse, inspiring them to take care of their health. They certainly have a longer life expectancy than men (about 12 years longer).

Statistics cannot tell us everything though. Most contemporary Belarusian women would say that they feel more independent than ever before, solving their own problems, where they may previously have turned to men. Many are involved in business and science; the role of hostess is no longer a female monopoly, just as intellectual activity is no longer the sphere only of men.

In this issue of our magazine, we speak to Valentina Luzina — a deputy of the National A s s e m b l y ’s H o u s e o f Representatives. She tells us of the increasing numbers of tourists — domestic and foreign — arriving in Grodno Region’s Oshmyany District. Neighbouring Lithuania, the lands boast a rich historical past and many dedicated people — like Ms. Luzina, who has a love of local history. Find out more in Beautiful Road to Golshany.

We also speak to Honoured Figure of Arts of Belarus Leonid Dudarenko, who is inspired by the female form: Chronicle Writer of the Age. His artworks are unique, arousing our fascination.

BY Viktor Kharkov, magazine editor Беларусь. Belarus

Panorama  Innovations applied at post office Belarus among top ten e-postal service providers Alexander Ruzhechka

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Improving awareness Minsk’s House of Press hosts presentation of special issues of Belarus and China magazines, dedicated to 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic Belarus and the People’s Republic of China

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s the first such project implemented in the history of our bilateral relations, it has already attracted great attention in both states.

In February, the special edition was presented in Beijing while the Minsk presentation was attended by representatives of almost two dozen Belarusian

 Urbanisation in its widest manifestation

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ccording to the UNFPA’s Resource Centre in Belarus, around the same percentage of people live in cities in the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Over all, the country’s inner migration reflects a global

Alexander Ruzhechka

Around 74 percent of Belarusian citizens live in cities: the highest figure within post-Soviet space

media, alongside Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Tozik and the Chinese Ambassador to Belarus, H.E. Mr. Gong Jianwei.

China is becoming ever closer to Belarus — as was the keynote of the presentation. Much was spoken of friendship and mutual understanding, as is usual at such events. However, the forum also dealt with statistics showing rising turnover. The project aims to change stereotypes among Belarusians regarding China while allowing the Chinese to learn more about Belarus.

The joint project by Belarus and China magazines aims to promote mutual understanding, highlighting the whole range of our bilateral relationships — from politics and economics to the growing Belarusian diaspora in China.

new study by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) states that, in recent times, rapid growth in postal e-services has been registered. In terms of overall e-services development, the UPU places the following countries in the top ten: Switzerland, Belarus, Italy, Germany, Qatar, Tunisia, France, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Canada.

E-services — such as tracking of parcels, finding a post office, money transfers and e-payments — are enjoying an increasing share in the field of postal services.

UPU Director General Edouard Dayan stresses that physical mail volumes have declined but post offices are making innovative and strategic use of new technologies to diversify their products and services. tendency for urbanisation. In recent decades, Minsk has been enjoying especial popularity among Belarusians, becoming home to 20 percent of the Republic’s residents. Even if we take into account the number of students from rural areas entering universities in regional centres, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel are certainly ‘losing’ their population aged 15-19 (compared to Minsk).

Residents from other districts of the country are also arriving to Minsk Region.

2012 беларусь.belarus

Issue of interest

Landmarks have been clearly outlined President of Belarus welcomes Russian Security Council Secretary

E

arly in the meeting, Alexander Lukashenko noted, “We’ve created a Single Economic Space.

Already, positive and negative issues are clear in our military-political union — the CSTO — as never before.

However, these allow us to say that all CSTO member states agree that it is developing in the right direction. In recent times, it has become more dynamic.

We’re beginning to take definite, useful steps, which are vital for SES members.”

The Belarusian President also added, “All problems have been settled.”

The approval of all the necessary documents regarding the establishment of a single regional air defence system has become the keynote. Our degree of defence integration is extremely high including in the sphere of common security. Only those who are strong and self-sufficient are respected in our turbulent world. “We’ve adopted all decisions. In this respect — I already feel this — we should take further steps.

I won’t say that everything will be easy but, naturally, Belarus and Russia should commence in this direction. Of course,

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we should determine our starting position before we advance. We need to discuss those spheres in which we can significantly progress.”

campaign. The President has expressed his confidence that it’ll be a success, “Probably, we’ll be able to discuss these issues without losing time: in March,

“We’ve created a Single Economic Space.

Already, positive and negative issues are clear in our military-political union — the CTSO — as never before. However, these allow us to say that all CSTO member states agree that it is developing in the right direction. In recent times, it has become more dynamic. We’re beginning to take definite, useful steps, which are vital for SES memebers.”

Alexander Lukashenko According to the Belarusian leader, Kazakhstan (also a SES partner) won’t be left out of discussions. He notes, “We have close economic collaboration so, naturally, military-political matters mustn’t lag behind.” Discussion is open to remaining CSTO member states, while substantive dialogue with Russia will continue soon after the electoral

April or May. The power succession in Russia is very rapid.”

Mr. Patrushev agrees with this forecast, calling negotiations with Belarusian partners ‘interesting and content-rich’. He has also told journalists some details regarding international and regional security, which aim to ensure the security of the Union State. The world is

Belta

Issue of interest

Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, and Nikolai Patrushev, the Russian Security Council Secretary

changing quickly, so joint analysis and adjustment of strategy remain vital.

According to Mr. Patrushev, information security is of special importance and will be high on the agenda at a forthcoming meeting of the heads of both states’ Security Councils in Moscow.

In turn, the State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus, Leonid Maltsev, noted the efficiency of joint work regarding the national security of Belarus and Russia, which is a priority.

“Risks, challenges and threats are ever changing, so some issues, which haven’t previously posed a risk, have begun to come to the fore. These meetings bring definite results. We’ve already agreed a great deal,” noted Mr. Maltsev.

Mr. Patrushev has spoken of the EU’s policy towards Belarus, echoing the joint statement of the presidents of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, and that of Vladimir Putin.

“Recently, we’ve become used to the fact that living standards in the EU are quite high. I think the leaders, including those of the European Union, have also become used to this; against this background, they consider it possible to teach other states and nations how to live... Are there principles which should universally guide a particular country on how to live? No! Each state has its own constitution, which should be fulfilled.”

Mr. Patrushev has spoken much on the situation, noting that not

everything is changing for the better in the EU — including economically.

He stresses that various regimes exist in European countries: presidential, parliamentarian and monarchies. No one says that they are non-democratic.

“Why do they doubt the democracy of a country which has its own constitution? Why do they think it right to introduce sanctions and restrictions in any particular case? Does this lead to positive results? Does this help nations to communicate better?” asks Mr. Patrushev. “Not at all! Positive developments result from negotiations and compromises via diplomatic channels.

Everything should be solved this way.”

By Denis Krymov

2012 беларусь.belarus

Expert opinions

Tempting prospect Belarus invites investors to vast Eurasian market

T

he world face d t he beginning of the new millennium with an alarming premonition of the clash of civilisations and of the remaking of our world order — recalling one of the most famous political texts, written by Samuel Huntington. Today, we can say that the well-known futurist was wrong on some issues. The transformation of the global order continues, but not only in the destructive vein of conflict and riots — such as have been seen in the Arab world. Fortunately, our post-Soviet space received good news at the end of 2011, as the establishment of the Eurasian Union, and its Eurasian Economic Commission, began. Practical measures are now being implemented to ensure the success of our new union.

Of course, much work lies ahead, with discussions inspired by articles written by Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev: the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan recently presented their visions regarding integration to ‘Izvestia’ newspaper. Each title

беларусь.belarus 2012

differed yet all formed a single geopolitical puzzle. Russia's prime minister was the first to outline the geopolitical contours in his ‘New Integration Project for Eurasia’, speaking of it as a bridge between the European Union and the Asian-Pacific region. Mr. Lukashenko continued the conversation ‘On the Fate of Our Integration’ by also looking at the social and economic context.

He highlighted the need for spiritual and economic bonds between nations.

Finally, President Nazarbayev outlined the future of the Eurasian Union as a voluntary union based on innovation and technological breakthrough.

Interestingly, the new project has been formed against presidential elections in Russia, where the pre-election program of Vladimir Putin showed deep analytical examination.

Recently, Moscow and Minsk hosted public discussions to explain the prospects and opportunities of the new ‘Eurasian project’. At the ‘Novosti’ Russian Information Agency, wellknown political experts considered Russian foreign policy, and a response

was formulated by the ‘SB - Belarus Today’ newspaper; our Belarusian political scientists analysed the real prospects for Belarus from the Eurasian project.

The issues have been discussed by a host of experts: Belarus’ Deputy Economy Minister, Anton Kudasov; Doctor of Economics, Professor Alexander Luchenok; a Professor of the Russian History Chair of the Belarusian State University, Vyacheslav Menkovsky; the Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vladimir Ulakhovich; and the Director of the Centre for European Integration Issues, Yuri Shevtsov - a political scientist.

The bottom line is that, despite Moscow and Minsk having their own national interests regarding integration, they share similar outlooks. The economy of the Eurasian Union, like that of the European Union, has four pillars: the free movement of capital, labour, goods and services. These are the foundations of the viability of the Eurasian Union.

Alexander Ruzhechka

Expert opinions

Pragmatism and mutual benefits

Mr. Putin noted in his article that ‘we are not talking about recreating the Soviet Union in any form’ while Mr. Nazarbayev warned against the ‘restoration’ or ‘reincarnation’ of the USSR. Mr. Lukashenko, meanwhile, stressed that moves to form the Union State of Belarus and Russia in the 1990s have been a catalyst and ‘trial run’ for deeper integration. The huge economic space of the Eurasian Union is now the ‘test site’.

The General Director of the Russian Political Centre, Sergei Mikheyev, tells us that Euro-Asian integration allows Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to take advantage of their geopolitical situation.

He explains, “The world continues to face a global struggle for survival.

There are three choices: export raw materials to developed nations, become a developed nation, or be marginalised.

Of course, Russia aims to become a leading developed nation but cannot do so without support.”

Mr. Ulakhovich agrees that a rational and pragmatic approach is essential,

explaining, “Many experts compare the current situation with that of the European Union during its early years.

If we look at the history of the EU, we can see that they also used a sectorial approach, with economics leading the way, ahead of politics.”

At the same time, we must recognise the impact of the global economic crisis, which has greatly changed the world’s economic environment.

Mr. Vladimir Putin wrote in his article that the global crisis, which began in 2008, was structural in nature.

Developing a post-crisis model of global development is a true challenge, with even the world's most successful organisations having no ready-made recipes. However, it is quite clear that the strongest nations post-crisis will be those with access to the greatest markets.

In uniting natural resources, capital and human potential, the Eurasian Union will be a true competitor in the industrial and technological race, attracting investors, creating new jobs and developing innovative industries. Along with other key players and regional structures,

such as the EU, the USA and China, it aims to ensure the sustainability of global development. Mr. Luchenok (also on the Board of the Belarusian Union of Taxpayers) notes, “Last year, trade turnover between countries participating in the Single Customs Space experienced growth. In fact, the most rapid growth was seen between the European Union and Belarus, with petrochemical products worth US$11 billion being sold

by Belarus to the EU. This was possible due to new conditions of oil supply from Russia within the Customs Union.”

Mr. Kudasov stresses that the Eurasian Union remains in its infancy, “We have a package of 17 agreements with the force of international treaties but these remain ‘frameworks’ guiding the direction of cooperation. Much is to be done at an international level, with the EU serving as our model for integration in the modern world. We have no desire to establish a second European Union, but it is certainly the best model to date. I would like to point out that, from an economic perspective, we are not a periphery of the European Union. The combined GDP of

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Expert opinions our Eurasian Union countries ranks us fifth worldwide, behind the USA, China, Japan and India.”

Since 1st February, the Eurasian Economic Commission, based in Moscow, has been acting as an independent body, planning mechanisms of interaction.

Naturally, trade and investment issues should take precedence over politics.

Mr. Ulakhovich admits, “The squaring of interests takes time. We must each represent our own interests while being ready to compromise for the end result.”

Equality

Experts agree with Mr. Putin that the Eurasian Union and the European Union should become partners. Mr. Lukashenko calls this the ‘integration of integrations’.

Of course, the European Union is polycentric, with no nation dictating terms to another. Mr. Lukashenko’s article noted that the viability of our union requires ‘equality of economic conditions and equal access to a single energy and transport system’. Mr. Nazarbayev also wishes to see ‘equality, respect for sovereignty and the inviolability of borders’. It remains to be seen whether Moscow is ready to offer such equal terms.

for Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, the ability to sacrifice some economic interests today to achieve longer term strategic economic and political goals is considered to be the strength of the current Russian approach to post-Soviet integration.”

Mr. Ulakhovich believes fears regarding dominance are greatly exaggerated, “It's been more than twenty years since former Soviet Union states gained sovereignty. This has been more than long enough, allowing us to be ready to delegate some powers to supranational authorities. Belarus is located at the point of contact of two great civilisations: two major industrial and economic mechanisms. The European Union boasts new technologies and financial resources, as well as a huge market. We have quite a simple path before us: preserve and develop the nation-state, while harmonising relations with countries in both East and West. In the East, the potential can strengthen our statehood while achieving positive economic results.”

Mr. Shevtsov adds, “We can only discuss optimal models of economic and political interaction between other states and Belarus as an independent state.”

The economy of the Eurasian Union, like that of the European Union, has four pillars: the free movement of capital, labour, goods and services. These are the foundations of the viability of the Eurasian Union.

The Director of the Centre for Postindustrial Studies, Vladislav Inozemtsev, is sceptical as to how the raw-material economies of Russia and Kazakhstan can synergise. He explains, “The experience of other integration unions shows that, in such alliances, more developed nations are the driving force, while receiving fewer benefits than less developed members. From an economic point of view, the Customs Union and Single Economic Space (SES) are less favourable for Russia than

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Voluntary integration

One of the most debated issues is that of who will prevail in the union of our three states. The issue is particularly sensitive for Belarus and it’s clear that citizens are waiting to receive definite economic benefits from the new union.

From a social and political point of view, as well as in simple terms of mentality, many questions remain. Belarus is a purely European country - part of Europe. Do the competitive advantages outweigh potential risks regarding an

alliance with Euro-Asian Russia and Central Asian Kazakhstan?

Professor Menkovsky tells us, “The issue of self-determination is crucial, and has been particularly so for Russia over the past two decades. This country has been debating with whom it should best co-operate: East or West. The Euro-Asian direction has recently been chosen. The second aspect that I’d like to mention is that the word ‘empire’ has begun losing its negative connotations in the speeches of Russian politicians over the past decade. On the contrary, it even has some positive connotations.

B elar usians have a dif ferent viewpoint, being situated on the border between East and West. For many years, we thought only of the choice between Western European civilisation and that of the Eastern Slavs. However, ‘the East’ stretches far beyond this scope. Within the framework of Eurasian integration, we are positioning ourselves as the boundary between Western Europe and Eastern civilisation. The word ‘Slav’ is no longer important, being replaced by another notion of ‘East’. Dr. Menkovsky underlines, “This is our right and our choice, using every opportunity to emerge from the crisis and improve our citizens’ standard of living.”

With the advent of globalization, it is inevitable that our relations with other nations will grow closer, dictated primarily by trade. The Director of the Institute of the Parliamentary People's Democratic Party ‘Nur Otan’, Bolat Baikadamov, from Kazakhstan, explains, “Major Kazakhstani businesses have a practical approach, voting for the most extensive integration, under clear terms. They seek new markets and the new opportunities integration offers. It’s important that politicians understand that union inevitably brings the loss of some part of sovereignty. We must be prepared for this.

Moreover, integration does not always follow predictable laws.”

Importantly, we must identify our own needs within the process, so that we use our competitive advantages. Mr. Kudasov has a surprising viewpoint,

Expert opinions which may seem more appropriate to a philosopher than to an economist. He notes, "It seems to me that Belarus should identify what it can offer that other states cannot. The logic of the discussion itself would lead us to an idea of our advantages. I would note our incredible adaptability. Belarusians have a remarkable

saying, “Our adaptability relies upon a unique combination of collectivism and individualism. We have a conviction that you cannot survive alone, although you must firstly take care of yourself. You are personally responsible for your own wellbeing, so must take risks. It’s a good business quality.”

The Single Economic Space provides not only a huge market but powerful impetus to competition.

The most competitive sectors of the Belarusian economy for investment are agribusiness, the production of vehicle components, and information technologies, nanotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutical spheres. These are the main points of growth in Belarus. We already have a common market, and the arrival of foreign investors in these industries is fully justified. ability to survive against the odds whatever disaster occurs and no matter which conquerors arrive. This tells us that many people live ‘for the moment’.

To some extent, people only have faith in themselves and their abilities, here and now. They tend not to be swayed by ideological slogans or schemes and don’t follow dogma unconfirmed by experience. This assures me that, within the Single Economic Space, we won’t become lost.”

Mr. Ulakovich adds, “It has been noted that survival is the main imperative of the Belarusian nation. One classic of Belarusian literature is the novel ‘People of the Marshes’, by Melezh. We survive under any circumstances. This trait of our character, rare in many other countries, will help us to overcome the most difficult stages. When we discuss our possibilities within the CES, we must understand that we face a serious challenge economically and regarding our sovereign state. However, we do have advantages.”

Mr. Kudasov sums up the issue of voluntary choice and responsibility,

The Global Market

The fact remains that we must decide how to compete in this fierce global marketplace. Additionally, how can we climb towards a leading place economically? Belarus is endeavouring to rise in the World Bank rankings relating to business conditions (already moving from 91st place to 69th). Competition is healthy, since it inspires improvement.

However, we are still in the early days of our independent development. One way of measuring development is to compare the income of the richest 10 percent of the population and the poorest 10 percent. In fact, Belarus boasts an average European comparison, while the difference in Russia is far greater.

Mr. Shevtsov sees this as an achievement of our social policy, noting, “I think the most important competitive advantage of Belarus is its strong state presence. For 20 years, we’ve focused on supporting large-scale industry. In Russia, not a single region can say the same even though 10 million people in an industrial region could focus on active foreign expansion. Our strong

state support has allowed our companies to remain relatively protected from the pressure of Russian oligarchic groups.”

Mr. Ku d a s ov c ont i nu e s , “In economic terms, this means an almost complete lack of political risk. In Russia, which has relatively little debt (about 10 percent of GDP) they lack sufficient investment — perhaps due to their level of political risk being higher than ours. We have a large external debt but are receiving investments, mostly thanks to the low level of political risk.

How can we take advantage of this? For me, this question is probably the most important. Absence of political risk does not provide any economic benefit.

It must be capitalised upon.”

A more appropriate business climate is being created in Belarus, not only to attract foreign investors, but to enable enterprising local people to do well. The industrial, managerial elite are aware that the Single Economic Space provides not only a huge market but powerful impetus to competition. An IFC study shows that the most competitive sectors of the Belarusian economy for investment are agribusiness, the production of vehicle components, and information technologies. Others emphasise our nanotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutical spheres. These are the main points of growth in Belarus. We already have a common market, and the arrival of foreign investors in these industries is fully justified.

Mr. Kudasov indicates a supplement to the ‘Financial Times’ newspaper: entitled ‘Belarus is calling’. Its front page states: ‘The last barrier to investment in Europe is now open’. Investors have a unique opportunity to enter not only the market of Belarus, but that of the Eurasian Union. The prospects are exciting! The combined GDP of our three countries is nearly US$2 trillion while our industrial potential is estimated at US$600 billion. Our agricultural output is worth about US$112 billion, and the overall consumer market comprises over 165 million people.

By Nina Romanova

2012 беларусь.belarus

Strategic approaches

Country open to investors Belarusian economy began 2012 without any macroeconomic misbalance: inflation is under control, foreign currency rates are stabilised and imports are holding steady. The Belarusian Government can now shift from tactical tasks to the strategic issue of investments and privatisation: a topic common since early 2012

L

ast year, Belarus failed to attract its target volume of foreign investments — for several reasons. The global financial market had changed.

Similarly, targets for privatising state enterprises failed to be met. Of course, if the situation continues, there could be serious consequences for the economy.

Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich noted at a February meeting at the House of Government, “The most important direction of our work is the attraction of direct foreign investments: vital to the development of the domestic economy. Money is required to modernise and introduce much needed innovations. Our banks have low liquidity (curtailing access to loans) while companies lack enough funds of their own.”

This year, the Government plans to attract $3.7bn of direct foreign investments, in addition to $2.5bn from the sale of state property. Minsk views the attraction of foreign funds as a strategic goal — as confirmed by its recently presented strategy for attracting foreign investments for coming years. The hightech sector is an investment priority.

Meanwhile, a firm action plan is required to improve the investment climate coun-

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trywide. Efforts should result in a higher Doing Business global rating.

Clearly, a variety of mechanisms are needed to bring in a significant amount of foreign capital: a single successful law won’t suffice. The National Agency for Investment and Privatisation is to play an important role in the process. Set up

in 2011 as a state company, its young and ambitious team is working hard to meet its strategic tasks.

The Agency’s Director, Dmitry Klevzhits, tells us how Belarus can be made more attractive to investors.

What inspired the birth of the Agency?

It became evident that the Belarusian economy needed additional impetus in the form of foreign investments, to allow new technologies and modernisation. You need a systematic approach to attracting investments — including via privatisation. We want to bring in the latest global experience.

Last April, the National Agency for Investment and Privatisation became a state body, following Presidential Decree #173. It was previously subordinate to the Government but is now governed by the Economic Ministry. Of course, similar organisations are found worldwide; the International WAIPA unites dozens of such agencies. We can use the latest global experience, learning from others’ mistakes. With help from the World Bank, we’re trying to take on the best global experience, privatising state property as transparently as possible.

Why is it profitable to invest in Belarus at the moment? How do you tempt potential investors when you travel abroad?

I give a special presentation showing our investment opportunities. There’s a long list of advantages: the low costs of doing business (as we boast a relatively cheap labour force, resources and rent); quick registration and licensing

Strategic approaches Dmitry Klevzhits, the Director General of the National Agency for Investment and Privatisation:

“Our Agency is a ‘one-stop-shop’ mechanism for investors. We can follow a project through every stage, to ultimate realisation. If an inverstor is unsure of where to inject money, we have a database of available investment projects, so it’s easy to make recommendations. To help us do this, we’ve established close partnerships with regional governing bodies.” of commercial activity; well-developed infrastructure (we are the closest CIS country to the EU); and our perfect logistics. Moreover, we boast well qualified staff, a strong scientific school and a high level of European education.

In recent times, Belarus’ joining of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space of Russia and Kazakhstan has aroused attention. We now have a serious competitive advantage, able to offer investors a market of 170m people (rather than just 10m). Within these unions, there are no limits to trade and we enjoy unified conditions.

How will Belarus further improve its investment climate?

Of course, much work lies ahead.

The Government has prepared a package of stimuli for investment and innovative activity. In 2012, profit tax is being reduced from 24 to 18 percent: the lowest in the Customs Union and among the lowest in Eastern Europe.

The Tax Code is also to undergo simplification. A draft law on investments has been developed and submitted to the President for approval, uniting the best international and domestic practice.

These activities demonstrate that the attraction of direct foreign investments is an important state task.

When do you expect to see results?

It’s impossible to create a favourable investment climate overnight. It takes several years to realise major investment projects, as the market has to be studied. At present, the climate is influenced by steps taken by Belarus 2-3 years ago. We’ve analysed interest from foreign investors and learnt that, in the second half of 2011, $9bn of direct foreign investments could have been attracted if the right conditions had been met; confidence must be inspired.

I am concerned that some sectors lack investments; most are flowing into the food industry and those spheres related to primary processing of resources. We need to defend our interests, so the National Agency for Investment and Privatisation is overseeing this task. Not long ago, Minsk was visited by a multi-billionaire from the UK (at our invitation); he’s considering how he might invest in Belarus’ alternative energy sphere, alongside some others. PM Mikhail Myasnikovich met this important guest.

Does the Agency lobby for investment into certain branches?

The quality of investments is our priority. We are focusing on investors with innovative and financial experience,

as we want our companies to produce high added value goods. The pharmaceutical and bio-technology spheres are important, as they boast the highest added value and well qualified staff. You need to offer the latest technologies and top salaries to attract the best personnel.

Much capital is available in the world, so Belarus needs to liaise with major global companies to ensure it gains its share.

The development of new materials and alternative energy is another priority: solar and wind power generators require the production of stronger and more flexible materials. The National Academy of Sciences has achieved much in this sphere and, attracting foreign experts, is building a well-developed branch.

Our third avenue is informationcommunication technologies. Recently, EPAM Systems — the largest software producer — placed our stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. It was an historic moment for our country. Although it is an American company (with shares and management concentrated in the USA), 40-50 percent of its technical personnel work in Belarus. Employees earn a higher salary than most Belarusians: over $1,000 a month. In the long run, investments raise living standards.

2012 беларусь.belarus

11

Strategic approaches

At Shklov’s Spartak Paper Mill modernization is in full swing

Let’s imagine that a foreign businessman read this article and was interested in Belarus. What would your Agency propose to him?

Our Agency is a ‘one-stop-shop’ mechanism for investors. We can follow a project through every stage, to ultimate realisation. If an investor is unsure of where to inject money, we have a database of available investment projects, so it’s easy to make recommendations. To help us do this, we’ve established close partnerships with regional governing bodies.

Privatisation is in the spotlight, with some even predicting major sales of state property. Which Belarusian enterprises are being offered?

Our potential foreign investors are keen to join our market via privatisation.

The Belarusian state sector owns most companies, so the major consulting, investment and global banks view us as an opportunity to strengthen their position abroad. We must stress that, as stated at the highest level, we won’t be selling all state enterprises. Only wellconsidered, transparent and predicted privatisation is planned.

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What do you mean?

IPO (Initial Public Offering) is a profitable and clear method of privatisation but it does take time: usually three years. We cannot wait this long, so the National Agency for Investment and Privatisation is conducting ‘pilot privatisation’, with help from the World Bank. This uses the best principles of efficient privatisation to attract strategic investors who can develop our enterprises to a new level.

Ho w i s t h e S t a t e P r o p e r t y Committee — Belarus’ major organisation -dealing with this privatisation?

Our ‘pilot privatisation’ (via the World Bank) is new for Belarus. At present, eight stock companies are being prepared for sale: Belgazstroy, Minsk Margarine Plant, Avtomagistral, Construction and Mounting Trust #8, Baranovichi Reinforced Concrete Products Plant, Medplast, Konfa and Belsantekhmontazh-2.

What method is being used?

We’ll apply advanced international practice to attract financial consultants into the privatisation process; they can ensure full preparation of a company

for privatisation, as well as analysing the market, registering legal documents and organising the sale of shares. We’ve invited leading global banks and financial consulting companies to apply for the tender and have received 30 applications so far, which testifies to the huge interest shown by major players. In April, the winners will be announced, with agreements concluded.

When will these eight open joint stock companies be offered for sale?

The World Bank’s procedure — which we’re using — is rather complicated, as it demands transparency. The WB opened financing for our project on December 1st, 2011 but (as we need support from all Belarusian state bodies) we may see their privatisation by late 2012.

What will foreign consulting companies bring to the table?

We’ll choose the most experienced financial advisors, who have the largest databases of investors. This will give us new experience in learning from an international financial consultant and co-operation with leading foreign firms should enhance investors’ trust in the Belarusian programme of privatisation.

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Strategic approaches

A major investment project envisaging construction of a milk plant is now being implemented in Turov

This will positively influence our investment image and credit ratings, making us more attractive.

A positive investment image means a great deal; how will you create this?

Successful examples are vital: newly established enterprises and existing privatised plants. We have much yet to do but are working hard, currently preparing a Belarusian Investment Forum. I love the idea of holding mini business forums, as huge interest is shown in Belarus. We can easily gather a hundred or more foreign participants. We’ve already conducted similar meetings with potential investors in Holland and the UK. The London event, which took place in late January, coincided with the release of a special supplement to fDi Magazine: ‘Belarus Beckons. Europe’s Final fDI Frontier Opens Up’. It was an extremely positive signal to investors; the specialised fDi Magazine (part of The Financial Times Publishing Group) has raised Belarus’ investment profile.

The magazine was distributed at the International Economic Forum — held at the same time in Davos. No doubt,

no better advertising for the Belarusian economy can be imagined!

What impressed the British journalists?

The 16-page supplement to the recent fDi Magazine is fully dedicated to Belarus’ investment opportunities.

In previous issues, British journalists have researched the situation in Poland, Morocco, Georgia and India.

They recently discovered Belarus’ yetto-be-realised potential, which needs presentation.

Coming to Belarus for the first time, the journalists had several meetings with the Economic Ministry and the National Agency for Investment and Privatisation. We explained our plan of action and they were impressed at our long-term goals regarding the attraction of investment into high-tech spheres.

They endeavoured to make a deeper study of Belarus’ opportunities and, I believe, formed an objective view.

Such publications are positive, demonstrating Belarus as a new and promising venue for direct foreign investments.

The supplement and its London presentation were organised against a background of talks on sanctions against Belarus. Does this hamper your efforts to attract investments?

Business is business. After looking through this magazine, a foreign businessman can draw the conclusion that Belarus is open to foreign capital, creating good conditions for investments. They can see that timing is important, so that they make the most of opportunities before others do. The Financial Times Group is probably the most authoritative edition in the business world. Everybody knows of its editorial policy and foreign businessmen have no grounds to mistrust its conclusions.

I want to confirm again: Belarus is open to foreign investments. We have always been a friendly country and are now becoming more active in the business sphere. Of course, we need to more intensively liaise with global finances. However, we do represent an increasing interest for international capital. Huge prospects are opening up.

by Igor Slavinsky

2012 беларусь.belarus

13

Innovations

Farewell to arms!

Centre for Utilising Aviation Weaponry disarms old munitions and reuses detonators, via National Academy of Sciences’ Powder Metallurgy Institute State Scientific Production Association

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rmies need the latest weaponry and technologies to ensure they are ever ready to protect t h e i r c o u n t r y.

This means that old equipment becomes obsolete and needs to be disposed of safely; storing old mines and bombs is no easy task. Various countries tackle the problem differently. For example,

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Russia detonates old munitions under controlled conditions, at empty firing ranges. Others remove the explosive compound (by melting, washing away, mechanical beating out, magnetodynamic influence or the influence of ultra-low temperatures). Casing is then sent for recycling or scrap.

The contemporary American army uses a water jet to wash away detonators. Meanwhile, Belarus’ Centre for Utilising Aviation Weaponr y, located in Vitebsk Region’s Gorodok

District, reuses old charges in the production of super-powerful industrial explosives.

Competently and cautiously

The Centre for Utilising Aviation Weaponry is situated at an operational militar y base, overseen by the National Academy of Sciences’ Powder Metallurgy Institute State Scientific Production Association.

Its maximum security includes a deep moat along the perimeter, gates

Innovations topped with several rows of barbed wire, a guard with a machine gun and video cameras. The factor y’s technolog y and equipment were developed in Moscow Region, at Krasnoarmeisk’s Scientific Research Institute of Me chanis at ion — a leading Russian defence industry enterprise. Its security measures were developed there, and the staff are trained at the Institute. In case of emergency, staff can shelter behind walls over 1m thick. Meanwhile, an earth mound separates the administrative building from the major workshop and the fire extinguishing system can fill a room with 0.5 metres of water within a few seconds.

stream of liquefied paraffin is sent to the back of the mine at a pressure of 4 atmospheres — to wash away the detonator.” The mixture is sent to the separator, where the heavier explosive substance pulls away from the paraffin; the latter returns to the pump unit. The staff occupy a semiunderground room, monitoring the process via video camera. Once all danger is over, they return to the workshop.

Pure ecology and economic benefits

The munitions processed by the factory have been stored for around 30-40 years, across Belarus. The wooden boxes holding the bombs are cracked with age. However, according to Valery Derban, the director of the factory, the real danger lies inside, as the chemicals contained in each weapon become dangerous with time and exploding them would pollute the environment. He adds, “From an economic point of view, it’s not beneficial to explode them anyway; we have the technology to reuse the ‘filling’ of old bombs and blasting mines, so we can manufacture industrial explosives.”

Detonating mixture

The pro cess b eg ins w it h t he ammunition case being taken apart, and the detonator removed; this especially dangerous stage is conducted by a robot. Afterwards, staff place the dangerous cargo on a cart, taking it to the major workshop — to the washing unit. Blast-type mines are given the same treatment.

O n v is it i ng t he work shop, I watch Ivan Kostyukevich, who has worked there for the past decade, deal with a mine. He tells me, “A

In fact, not all detonators are alike, as Mr. Kostyukevich explains.

“Melted trotyl can be moulded in its liquid state. When frozen, it can be packed. However, it’s far more difficult to work with explosives when a mixture is being used.”

I’m shown a blasting mine filled with aluminium powder, hexogen and trotyl. It’s a highly explosive cocktail, so its sensitivity is reduced by adding extra trotyl (recycled from other munitions). This creates algetol — a powerful industrial explosive.

Useful for career

Old bomb and mine cases are used as scrap while super-powerful algetol is sent to the warehouse. Unless it’s officially registered, it can’t be used in

industry. However, the batch in hand has been tested at Dolomit enterprise — an open joint stock company, located 15km from Vitebsk and involved in extracting dolomite.

“To extract dolomite, you need to drill 30m down into the rock (into a cliff or lake shore),” notes Anatoly Bolotov, Deputy Director of Dolomit’s Pin Production. “We dr i l l wells and place explosives inside; algetol is the most powerful, allowing us to extract more from a smaller area, which is more cost effective. Even our consumption of electricity is reduced, as is the wear on our machiner y.” The use of this super-powerful industrial explosive, made domestically, saves Dolomit from importing explosives, saving foreign currency. At present, it spends around $1m annually on explosives from Russia and Ukraine.

The saving can be spent on the repair and acquisition of new machinery; discounting B elAZ vehicles and loaders, Dolomit’s machiner y is manufactured abroad — primarily, in the post-Soviet republics.

Sadly, the Centre for Utilising Av i at i on We ap on r y d o e s n’t ye t produce enough volumes of explosives to warrant export; B elarus uses all its manufacture domestically. However, the process tackles two birds with one stone: it neutralises dangerous munitions, while manufacturing import-substitution explosives. This benefits the whole Belarusian economy.

By Sergey Gomonov

 Dolomit JSC is one of Belarus’

largest mining enterprises, manufacturing 4m tonnes of dolomite annually. Powdered dolomite is used in agriculture, road construction and the manufacture of asphalt, with 20 percent exported to Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania.

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Agrarian vector

Formula for rich harvest Belarus — a long time food export leader within the post-Soviet region — sets even more ambitious goals

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s Belarus’ Prime M i n i s t e r, M i k h a i l Myasnikovich, recently an n ou n c e d, i n t h e c oming f ive ye ars, the Republic aims to become the world’s second largest

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butter exporter, the fourth largest for cheese sales, and fifth for meat exports.

He notes, “Our average sized European country is to seriously position itself on the food market.” By 2015, the target is for exports of Belarusian food products to generate $7.2bn.

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Investing and receiving

Over the past decade, agricultural development has been a priority for the Belarusian economy, with almost $40bn injected into the agro-industrial complex. This has bought new machinery and equipment, innovative technologies and reconstruction of animal breeding complexes and farms. The 15 year old dreams of villagers have become reality via a state programme for rural revival and development. Besides modernising the production sphere, the programme has built about 1,500 agro-towns, with housing and facilities rivalling those of major cities.

Of course, such expenditure yields a good return. Belarus is ensuring its food security while exporting abroad (up from $500-700m annually around ten years ago to around $4bn last year). A new five year programme was launched in 2011 (by Presidential decree), focusing on sustainable development for rural areas. Almost Br30tr is being spent on the further development of village production and social services, funded by the budget.

About 15 targeted programmes are to receive priority — all connected with the agro-industrial complex: land melioration, poultry farming, the milk branch, and vegetable and fruit growing, among others.

Naturally, efficiency and competitiveness are vital — especially now that Belarus has joined the Single Economic Space, with Russia and Kazakhstan.

On January 1st, 2012, an agreement came into force regarding a unified system of state support for agriculture, envisaging a gradual reduction in state subsidies (from 16 percent in 2011 to 10 percent in 2016). Farmers must improve their efficiency — by reducing costs and improving technology to enhance cattle breeding and crop harvests. “We all need to learn to use resources efficiently, via new approaches and modern technologies,” stressed the Prime Minister at a recent meeting with agrarians.

Agrarian vector Future reality of former dream

Belarusian villagers are already planning their next harvest, with 8.8m tonnes of cereal crops forecast, alongside 7.39m tonnes of potatoes, 4.3m tonnes of sugar beet and about 2m tonnes of vegetables. As in previous years, the state is to give loans for the purchase of mineral fertilisers and seeds. It also plans to fund loans for the renewal of the tractor fleet (around Br2.5tr): 358 crop harvesting machines, 240 fodder harvesters and over 700 tractors are to be supplied.

In fact, crop yield directly influences cattle breeding — which actually generates the most profit.

According to the Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Food Ministry’s Foreign Economic D epar tment, Tamara Usacheva, almost half of all Belarusian exports are dairy based.

Milk production is clearly among the major sources of revenue and, taking into consideration the Customs Union’s new possibilities, income may rise further. Conditions of mutual trade have been much simplified, while the markets of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan now embrace 170m people. With this in mind, the efficiency of the milk sphere is to be prioritised over the coming five years.

Many new dairy farms have been built in Belarus recently, with the state funding their growth; in 2011 alone, 87 new farms came into operation, yielding over half a million tonnes of milk annually.

However, there is always room for improvement. In line with a state programme for the modernisation of dairy farms, each rural settlement needs to modernise at least one farm in 2012. As the President has ordered, modern conditions should be created for meat herds and dairy cattle.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Valery Ivanov, tells us that 1,218 farms

are to undergo such change. Their reconstruction envisages mechanisation of labour and increased workloads to raise efficiency. In 2015, Belarus should produce 10m tonnes of milk, with each cow yielding about 6 tonnes a year.

A united milk company is now being planned, explains the Agriculture and Fo o d Minister, Mikhail Rusy. “We’ve prepared two variants, uniting logistics, warehouses, a commodity distribution network and brands. This will allow us to process 10m tonnes of milk annually, while attracting major partners.”

Between five and seven milk factories are to join forces, with the managing company defining a range of products for each. For example, one plant might focus on butter, while another could specialise in cheese making.

“This flexible system would be very profitable for Belarus,” the Minister believes. “At present, everyone wants to produce ‘Rossiysky’ cheese but this branch is already well developed.

We’ll encourage our manufacturers to diversify into blue cheese or mozzarella; where small factories might fail, a holding will succeed.”

Another promising avenue is the establishment of vertically integrated fo o d companies, uniting c o m b i n e d f e e d p l a nt s a n d p i g breeding complexes, for example.

A single company could produce combined feed, while raising pigs for meat processing, turning a good profit. Similar structures successfully operate already in poultry breeding.

At present, Belarus has 46 major food holdings which produce 18 percent of all our agricultural products.

“Each hectare is now operating three times more efficiently. They share logistics and technology systems, combining the interests of producers, processors and sellers, generating good profit,” stresses Mr. Rusy.

Belarusian farming seems to be entering a new phase, which will undoubtedly raise exports up to the target of $7.2bn a year. A positive foreign trade balance in agricultural products of $4bn is sought. “We need to produce food at a lower cost while selling at a higher price,” explains the Director of the Institute of AgroIndustrial Studies (at Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences), Valery Belsky.

“On achieving this, we’ll ensure a positive foreign trade balance — even taking into account critical imports.”

By Liliya Ogorodnikova

2012 беларусь.belarus

17

CustomsTechnologies

Scanner sees everything Kozlovichi customs clearance point (part of Brest Customs Service) tackles up to 80 percent of the cargo transported between the Customs Union and the European Union. Accordingly, it recently launched a stationary inspection device to x-ray cargo. This allows vehicles to be processed quickly, without the need for individual close-hand inspection

“B

rest customs has a two-sided task: to process cargo as quickly as possible; and to identify prohibited goods,” explains the head of Brest Customs Service, Leonid Dosov.

Russia and the EU are keen to see Belarusian customs form a reliable shield, protecting against smuggling across the EU and the

“Previously, we had to unload a vehicle if we were in any doubt, calculating the cargo and comparing it against the documents submitted by a driver. This is no longer necessary, as operators can view high-quality x-ray images to decide whether additional inspection is needed.

The first stationary scanning system for cargo inspection has been installed at Brest Customs

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Customs Union: across West and East.

China has allocated around $4m of free assistance to install and service the first stationary scanning system for largehaul vehicles on the western border of the Customs Union (the first of its kind). The new device allows for more thorough inspection and can process up to 15 trucks hourly, working day and night.

беларусь.belarus 2012

Context It takes us just 3-4 minutes to adopt a thoroughly thought-out decision,” notes Mr. Dosov.

During the scanning process, any ‘suspicious’ vehicles are sent to the xray box, where 6 megaelectronvolts scan the cargo; it’s even easier when the vehicle has steel sides (up to 30cm) rather than tarpaulin. Importantly, safety rules are adhered to, with crash gates and an infrared barrier. If anyone steps in, the x-rays automatically stop, so there’s no real cause for concern. Meanwhile, food, cosmetics and medicine’s quality are unaffected.

He explains, “Our x-rays do not even influence electric appliances or transport vehicles.”

The device was trialled for several weeks, during which time customs officers detected illegal cargoes on their way to Russia: alcohol, food and flowers.

“A similar device is to be installed on the railway, to scan cargo transported in containers,” Mr. Dosov tells us.

Installation along the western border of the Customs Union is the next huge task being undertaken by Belarus’ State Customs Committee. A complex programme for the development of road checkpoints is running from 2011 to 2015, with much achieved last year alone. The State Customs Committee’s Press Service tells us that Domachevo checkp oint, built on the Polish border, is now operational. Peschatka checkpoint is still being built while Privalka (at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border) and Grigorovshchina (at the Belarusian-Latvian border) are being modernised, with similar plans for Verkhny Terebezhov (at the BelarusianUkrainian border) and Urbany (at the Belarusian-Latvian border).

The results are evident: after Domachevo and Kozlovichi cargo ter minals came into op eration, processing capacity rose to 28,000 vehicles daily (against 24,000 in 2010).

This enables Belarusian customs officers to work quickly and thoroughly, while reducing the time spent in queues.

Mobile medical consultation New technologies implemented at polyclinics

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here are three ways to make appointment with a doctor. You can go to a polyclinic or phone ahead, as most elderly people tend to do. Those who are Internet savvy can book online but Minsk’s 19th central district polyclinic has taken the idea even further, offering appointments via the mobile version of the Internet.

“Of course, it’s been possible to make an appointment using a mobile phone for a while,” says the Deputy Chief Doctor of the polyclinic, Gennady Misyachenko.

“However, the large volume of information made downloading slow; old mobile phones found this particularly difficult.”

Now, the mobile version of the webpage is synchronised with the registration desk’s database, making the process much easier. Around 10-15 patients in the district use the option daily, choosing appointments with particular doctors at their own time of convenience.

H o w e v e r, o n l y twenty percent of all time slots are available online, so that elderly people are not disadvantaged. “The system shows how many places are available for a certain doctor,” adds Mr. Misyachenko. “You then make an appointment personally or by phone and are told if any appointment is cancelled.”

Testifying to high authority Belarusian transplantologists help conduct first liver transplant surgery in Kazakhstan

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pecialists from A. N. Syzganov National Scientific Centre of Surgery in Almaty have conducted their first liver transplant, aided by Belarusian transplantologists.

Before attempting the operation, the surgeons from Kazakhstan passed long internships in Minsk.

According to Oleg Rummo, the Head of the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Organ and Tissue Transplantation, co-operation in the sphere of transplantology is to continue; an agreement has been signed to conduct joint surgeries, while the most complex patients will be sent to the Republican Centre in Belarus.

The fact that Belarusian surgeons have been able to help with the first liver transplant operation in Kazak hstan shows how highly Belarusian medical expertise is valued abroad. “Kazakh colleagues could have invited specialists from any other country where transplantology has achieved a high level of development. However, they invited us, which says a great deal.”

By Valentina Koverina

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Regionmedicine

From heart to heart Gomel’s Central City Polyclinic’s Early Intervention Department awarded with Presidential ‘For Spiritual Revival’ award — recognised for many years of supporting disabled children

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he low level building is almost silent, feeling rather like a children’s sanatorium. Soft furniture, comfy chairs, toys and flowers make it quite inviting to the children who come to visit the doctors here. Specialists in a range of illnesses, they are rarely found at other children’s polyclinics: neurologists, psychologists, cardiologists, speech therapists, audiologists and ultrasound diagnosticians.

Galina Shevko, who heads the Early Intervention Department, is a neurologist herself. She’s examining three children as I enter her office and, afterwards, tells me, “Vanechka and Vitalik need to see a speech therapist, while Olenka needs some physiotherapy.” At first, I don’t realise that all three belong to young Nadezhda Tarasenko, being triplets; with her husband and mother, she often visits the polyclinic. “The children have been seen by the department since they were four months old and are soon to celebrate their first birthday. We’re offered consultations and help here, which is yielding wonderful results,” Nadezhda smiles. Dr. Shevko adds,

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“They’re super children. They’ve had some health problems but are gradually recovering.”

While the mother and grandmother take the boys to the speech therapist, the father accompanies Olya to the pool: a large rubber tank filled with a hundred multi-coloured balls which she tries to bite. Her parents work hardest with her at the special clinic gym, where physiotherapist Irina Polyakova guides Olya’s exercise plan.

Physiotherapy can work ‘miracles’.

Inna and her eight month old daughter Dana, from Mozyr District, have also benefitted. Soon after Dana’s birth, she was taken to Gomel for consultation and the results are evident.

“We were taught how to help our child develop correctly: how to hold, feed and play with her, which exercises to do and, even, which music to listen to,” Inna explains.

The Early Intervention Department was set up a decade ago, initiated by Belarus’ Health Ministry; similar departments are planned countrywide for low birth-weight babies, those born

by Caesarean and those suffering from nervous system failures. Naturally, the earlier a problem is discovered and

treatment begun, the greater chance of full recovery is.

Creating an action plan was the first step and the department now annually treats 30,000 children from Gomel and the region. Among them are 4,500 early intervention patients, who are brought in from the age of two months, as this ensures better results. All are born one to two months early. Other babies are supervised by local paediatricians — low-risk children seen occasionally and high-risk more regularly. There are over 300 of the latter.

Dr. Shevko admits that problems exist, “Success has taken time, as traditional methods failed to yield expected results. We began searching for new approaches and, three years ago, discovered what we’d been looking for.

We now try to diagnose at an early stage, co-ordinating the work of a range of specialists: neurologists, speech therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists. Importantly, we involve parents, as such children require attention day and night; the results aren’t as effective otherwise.”

However, the results are evident and are really inspiring. Over the past two years, these ‘premature’ children

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Regionmedicine

Galina Shevko, the polyclinic’s head doctor, examining children

have managed to avoid ICP (infantile cerebral paralysis) and other serious diseases where were common in the past. Of course, doctors well remember their successes. One small girl suffering from mental problems was brought in and Dr. Shevko recollects, “We’d have failed if we’d sent her for traditional massage and physiotherapy. Rather, we sent her to a

It is common knowledge  In 2011, five ‘Spiritual Revival’

awards were granted by the President of Belarus. These included the Archbishop of Novogrudok and Lida, Gury: recognised for his considerable personal contribution to Belarus’ spiritual revival and for his publishing, enlightening and charitable activities.

neurologist, psychologist and speech therapist. Her mother followed all our recommendations and the result is inspiring, as her level of development currently rivals her peers. Of course, only time will tell how effective our work has been.”

Time and effort are vital, working closely with leading foreign specialists.

Dr. Shevko already liaises regularly with scientists from the USA, the UK

and Germany on early intervention matters and ways of correcting children’s development.

Now the prestigious award has been granted, local authorities are keen to introduce two shifts for doctors, so that even more children can receive the help they so greatly need. Nobody doubts that the parents of these young patients will be delighted.

 Igor and Galina Bushmakiny,

Ar tists, who created unique mosaics to immortalise the First World War victims (at Our Lady of the Sign Chapel on the site of Minsk’s Fraternal Cemetery). A team from the Second National TV Channel was also awarded, for shooting the Hero-Cities mini-series.

w h o r u n N e s v i z h’s f a m i l y s t y l e o r p h a n a g e, we re a l s o awarded. Over the past twenty years, the couple have raised 11 children and are currently caring for five.  Also recognised was a team from the Belarusian Union of

By Violetta Daniliuk

2012 беларусь.belarus

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National wealth

Unknown Nalibokskaya Pushcha Ancient forest preserves historical and natural relics

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uge forests stretch along the road from Minsk to Grodno and Vilnius. The towers of Orthodox and Catholic churches flash occasionally in between, as do various road signs to settlements. Archaic villages and ancient towns are almost ‘hidden’ in the Nalibokskaya Pushcha.

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James Bond was here

Historians assert that pagan and Lithuanian villages were once located in the pushcha, near Zaslavl: the ancient town of Christian White Rus. The Baltic names remain today.

Between 1941 and 1944, partisans lived in the great forest during their fight against the Nazis. Their bravery is marked in the many memorials along the road. Interestingly, several years ago, actor Daniel Craig ( t h e current James B ond) shot Defiance in the Nalibokskaya Pushcha. The film tells the dramatic history of a partisan brigade led by the Belskie brothers, who saved the lives of 1,200 Jews.

In a d d i t i o n , Fe l i x Dzerzhinsky — the founder of the Soviet special services State Security Committee (a forerunner of the KGB) — was born in Ivenets. Apollinary Pupko — another local legend — also lived there.

In 1917, the founder of the Belarusian militia, Mikhail Frunze, stayed at his house. Pupko’s descendants have since turned the building into a museum and agro-eco-estate.

“Mr. Pupko is known for his famous art works; the walls, doors and ceiling of the house were covered with unique drawings,” notes his younger daughter, Sophia, speaking of her father with great reverence. “He knew so much but tended not to share his knowledge; like most of those residing in the Nalibokskaya Pushcha, he kept himself to himself.

Anyone who likes our unique Belarusian culture would surely enjoy our housemuseum.”

Crystal from Anna Radziwill

Ivenets also boasts a local history museum, alongside two beautiful Catholic churches: one red (early 20th century) and one white (17th century).

You can view folk artefacts at Ivenets museum but they don’t give a complete picture of local life. In fact, Belarusian industry originates there.

The Nalibokskaya Pushcha is comparable with the Russian Urals. The preservation of such a huge forest near densely populated areas can be explained by the fact that it has extremely unfertile soil.

This has always made farming economically unprofitable; any attempt to farm has failed. Instead, the region began extracting and processing mineral resources: bog iron ore, clay and quartz sand. Gradually, small-scale craftsmen were replaced by large industrial enterprises — many supported by enlightened Anna Radziwill. Naliboksky Glass Factory (‘guta’) became famous back in

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National wealth

Winter charm of the Nalibokskaya Pushcha

the 18th century; its crystal appears in the world’s largest museums -alongside Faberge eggs.

Swan’s opera

In 1840, Minsk resident Wincenty Dunin-Marcinkiewicz sold his city property and moved to the Pushcha’s Lyutsinka estate, located near the road. Its steps still remain today, leading from an asphalt road to Dunin-Marcinkiewicz’s monument. He was the first to become professionally involved in composing works in the Belarusian language. Belarus’ first opera was staged in the building which currently houses the Europe Hotel -based on his story Sielanka.

He resided in Lyutsinka for 40 years, writing most of his works there. He was visited by writer Vladislav Syrokomlya, composer Stanislaw Moniuszko, violinist Konstantin Kryzhanovsky, historian Alexander Yelsky, artist Yan Damel and local historian Konstantin Tyszkiewicz. Their names are familiar to every educated person in Belarus, Poland and Lithuania. Belarusian writer Anton Levitsky — more familiar to us under the penname of Yadvigin Sh.

— once studied at a school opened by Dunin-Marcinkiewicz.

One archive document describes his home as ‘a shingle-roofed house made from pinewood, with a porticoed porch and shuttered windows’. Historian and entrepreneur Alexander Bely has built his own house close to that of the classical writer and has plans for developing a new tourist route.

Open air museum

Famous points are soon to join the Pushcha’s tourist route; the ‘Brama v Naliboki’ (Gates to Naliboki) ecomuseum group is to unite various interesting sites around the region.

“The term ‘eco-museum’ first appeared in France last century,” explains Mr. Bely. “The idea is to unite nature, historical sites and infrastructure. Nothing new is created; we simply adjust old facilities to meet the needs of tourists. Sweden has the greatest number of eco-museums to date. Naliboksky ecomuseum will unite Catholic churches, estates, chapels and rural buildings, with special paths through the forest; these will lead to the habitats of rare animals

and meadows where flowers and grasses registered in the Red Book, grow.”

One of the most unusual sites is situated in Vyaloe: the ruins of the Tyshkevich estate. Nearby, 200-400 year old oaks remain. The palace once housed the photographic laboratory of Duke Benedykt Tyszkiewicz — a pioneer in Lithuania and Belarus.

Several tourist routes already operate in the Nalibokskaya Pushcha; it takes a week (rather a day or two) to see them all. Vishnevo, where the current Israeli President, Shimon Peres, was born, is a wonderful place to visit; you can even drink water from the well. The neighbouring Catholic church is also worth seeing; according to legend, Symon Budny, who wrote the first book published in the Belarusian language in Belarus, is buried there. The church is filled with baroque-style sculptures from the 17th century. Near the village of Bogdanovo is the estate of painter Ferdynand Ruszczyc. The Nalibokskaya Pushcha is perhaps not as wild as it first seems, as it has so many cultural sites worth seeing.

By Viktar Korbut

2012 беларусь.belarus

23

Tourisminfrastructure

To lake-district for holiday-making Tourist complex offering health centre, medieval castle and lake cruising opening in the centre of Europe — between Polotsk and GlubokoYe

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ud baths, spa treatments, diving and yacht cruises, a castle and agro-ecoestates are soon to be gathered on the banks of Lake Plissa, between Polotsk and Glubokoye — at the very centre of Europe. The new facilities will be unrivalled countrywide, with construction having begun some years ago.

The first guesthouses are to open on the eve of the Day of Belarusian Written Language, which is celebrated not far away, in Glubokoye, this year. The full resort complex will become operational from 2014-2015, including a replica medieval castle.

Valery Mazovka, the General Director of Trest Promstroy, JSC — the author of the idea, tells us more.

It seems strange that Mr. Mazovka is a builder, rather than a professional guide or mature businessman. However, he is also a philosopher and came up with his idea after long consideration of tourism opportunities in the region. He explains, “We need to ensure Belarus becomes a leader in world tourism but, to attract people from across the globe, we must offer something unique and original. I travelled all Belarus before commencing my plan to build

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Artur Prupas

Philosophy of leisure

the Plissa tourist complex. I looked at a host of sites, noting the disadvantages, as well as advantages. I want to be in the top ten, so I need to find a way to attract guests. I chose health and spa services, as these are always popular. A special mud clinic is opening on the bank of Lake Plissa, as its natural mud is filled with minerals.”

What attractions does Lake Plissa offer? It’s a unique nature reserve, without even one village along its banks; the countryside and shoreline are untouched. You can take day trips to Polotsk and Glubokoe and the ‘belt of blue lakes’ begins there, finishing near Braslav. Lake Dolgoye — a long time Mecca for divers — is close by, as is Lake Sho (a possible geographical centre of Europe).

You can even canoe on these wonderful waterways.

The whole country in your palm

The Plissa complex is to be selfcontained, with enough entertainment to allow you to spend your whole holiday there if you wish to. Mr. Mazovka even plans to build a model of Belarus, showing its castles, churches and palaces. Meanwhile, Professor Armen Sardarov, a famous historian of ancient architecture, is helping Mr. Mazovka plan a replica castle, to be ready by 2015. As found in the days of Ancient Rus, it will have wooden Valery Mazovka, the author of the complex’s concept

Tourisminfrastructure

Future Plissa tourist and health spa complex

defence walls surrounding a stone fortress (resembling the citadels of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania). It will be filled with original and reproduction artefacts; the best craftsmen from abroad will be employed where needed.

Tourists will be able to book rooms within the ‘ancient’ walls — staying in a hotel, which will have its own restaurant. Mr. Mazovka hopes that guests will really feel themselves transported back in time, seeing and feeling how our ancestors existed. Meanwhile, modern comforts will be available at the spa.

Amsterdam on Svisloch quay

Will similar resorts appear elsewhere in Belarus?

Minskproekt is planning a complex called ‘The International Globus Region,’ showing architecture from around the world in the heart of Minsk, along the bank of the River Svisloch, near Orlovskaya Street.

Galina Perlina, who is heading the project, tells us that a ‘Northern-European Quarter’ is planned for the Orlovskaya Street side, with an ‘Oriental Quarter’ (including Turkish saunas) for the opposite side. Piers are being constructed for mooring boats and gondolas, and an ‘Italian Quarter’ is also planned, while a canal will imitate those found in Amsterdam.

An investor for this ambitious idea is now being sought.

Tourists go to regions

Pridneprovsky agricultural plant is opening an ostrich farm in Mogilev Region, near Mogilev-Chausy highway, this year. Its director, Oleg Kashtanov, tells us, “It will be an agro-eco-tourist complex, with roadside services such as parking, a café and a mini-hotel. An ostrich farm with 300 birds will be nearby,

allowing tourists to go and visit, finding out about the biggest bird in the world.

Meanwhile, Vitebsk’s Pokrovskaya Street, near Marc Chagall House-Museum, is to gain a ‘Chagall Quarter’, with buildings reconstructed. Architect Leonid Levin, who designed the world famous Khatyn Memorial Complex, is involved.

Vitebsk’s wine-producing factory occupies most of the area around Pokrovskaya Street and the buildings surrounding it are Chagall’s ‘peers’. Accordingly, the enterprise has decided to support the project. Investors from Israel, Poland and Russia are negotiating at present.

The director of the wine-producing factory, Vyacheslav Sapronov, admits that tourists tend to flock to Pokrovskaya Street. He notes, “We need to use the potential of this street. The factory will be modernised, with a small guesthouse, a gallery, a café and a sampling hall encouraging visitors (as designed by architect Levin).”

Naturally, there is much potential for Belarusian entrepreneurs to share our historical and cultural treasures with tourists, alongside our traditional cuisine. In fact, the regions are ahead of Minsk in this matter, which allows us to reorient the attention of travellers away from the capital alone. Of course, additional investments are needed, and new jobs will be forthcoming. Mr. Mazovka hopes to see standards of living raised for local residents, with infrastructure developing in line with needs.

Soon, Belarus’ tourist services will rival those of Europe, bringing a host of foreign guests and an influx of revenue.

Investments, expanded facilities, more employment and economic buoyancy will surely result.

By Alena Nekrashevich

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Ancient city

Archaeologists rewriting Polotsk biography 1150 years ago, Polotsk was first mentioned in chronicles, close behind Kiev — the ‘mother of all Russian cities’

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ccording to the development programme for 2008-2012, archaeologists from the History Institute at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus are joining colleagues from Polotsk State University in conducting comprehensive research on the eve of Polotsk’s jubilee. As a result, the city biography has been rewritten: from the first days of its existence in the age of Ancient Rus until the 14th century, when it joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Research to continue

St.Sophia’s Cathedral is Polotsk’s landmark of beauty and pride

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In 2009, during digs at Polotsk’s ancient citadel, Marat Klimov, an archaeologist with the History Institute, unearthed Arab Dirhams, minted no later than 818. The discovery enables specialists to date the appearance of the city on this site even before its first mentioning in the chronicle — in 862.

The second sensation is from a dig led

by Denis Duk, who heads the National and World History Department at Polotsk State University. He has refuted the common assumption that the citadel (Polotsk’s centre) near the current Red Bridge shifted to the Upper Castle in the 11th century, where St. Sophia’s Cathedral now stands — rather believing it to have taken place in the 14th century. Famous

Infokiosk scientist Georgy Shtykhov believed the move to have happened after the invasion of Duke Vladimir (who promoted Christianity in the region).

Lithuanian dukes reigned in Polotsk after the local Rurik dynasty and, by the 14th century, the bishop’s residence had been built on the Upper Castle, near St. Sophia’s Cathedral. Secular authorities once occupied the citadel. Moreover, digs have shown that ancient Polotsk covered a far wider area than previously thought. Olga Levko, who heads the Pre-Industrial Society History Centre at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus’ History Institute, notes, “We’ve learnt that, in the 11th century, the square of Polotsk’s ‘posads’ (now known as micro-districts) was 150 percent larger than believed. In the 18th century, the city square covered double the land previously thought. Moreover, we now know that there was an area of the town, situated near the citadel, where the elite merchants, craftsmen and jewellers lived.

It is a complete surprise, as this area of Minsk is yet to be discovered.”

Investigations of Polotsk will continue until 2015. Residents of the historical districts of Gorodishche and Zapolotie, which are densely built with private houses, must request permission from the NAS’ History Institute, calling on archaeologists and paying for digs, before organising work on their farmlands.

Rich history remembered

The Republican Organising Committee approves plan of celebrations for Polotsk’s 1,150th anniversary. The plan of events includes international conferences, including Orthodox conferences involving representatives from the three ‘cities of St. Sophia’ (Novgorod, Kiev and Polotsk), a Archaeology is a creative occupation

festival of Orthodox creativity and bell ring and an international opera art festival near the walls of ancient Sophia, as well as exhibitions of photography and fairs of decorative-and-applied arts and crafts. Additionally, a Town of Craftsmen will be set up.

The Education Ministry, jointly with the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, has prepared a cycle of educational youth events dedicated to the history of Polotsk and its culture, which are to be held in schools and other educational establishments. The Union of Writers of Belarus has elaborated a separate festive programme.

UNESCO has registered Polotsk’s 1,150th birthday on the 2012-2012 Memorable Date List and, in October 2012, an exhibition will be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Preparations have already begun, including photos of the city’s past and present. Moreover, an international conference on the History and Archaeology of Polotsk and Polotsk Land is to be held in the city, with financial assistance from UNESCO. Polotsk, which is known as the ‘mother of all Belarusian cities’, was Belarus’ first capital, built along the great ‘from the Varangians to the Greeks’ route, where the Polota River meets the Zapadnaya Dvina.

Belarus’ nationhood and culture originated in Polotsk and the city gave birth to world enlighteners Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, Frantsisk Skorina and S i m e o n Po l o t s k y. It i s mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 862, and became the centre of Polotsk Principality, which was ruled by an independent dynasty. It was one of the most ancient Eastern Slavonic principalities, existing for over three centuries.

Best student studies in Vitebsk Vitebsk State Technological University fifth year student Marina Sinitsa wins 1st Republican Student of the Year Contest

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fter much competition for the title of the most successful student in science, studies, sport and artistry, the jury chose fifth year student Marina Sinitsa, from the Vitebsk State Technological University’s Economic Department. She wins the contest’s major prize: an 8 inch Prestigio Tablet.

Marina is actively taking part in scientific-research work and often speaks about youth issues at sci-tech conferences. One of her scientific papers was entitled Leadership in an Informal Youth Group and she believes that the winner of the Student of the Year should possess serious leadership qualities. Of course, she also thinks they should have an open soul and pure heart. Marina loves to take part in university concerts and festivals.

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Co-ordinates of existence

Beautiful road to Golshany Increasing numbers of tourists — from Belarus and elsewhere — are visiting Grodno Region’s Oshmyany District, tempted to areas neighbouring Lithuania.

The region is linked to many interesting personalities

V

Ivan Zhdanovich

alentina Luzina, a deputy of the National Assembly and a member of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee for International Affairs and Links with the CIS, is a qualified teacher and sometimes acts as an excursion guide for foreign delegations, showing them the sights of Oshmyany District. She also occasionally escorts B elar usian gover nment officials, writers and figures of science, culture and arts.

Before setting off on a tour, let’s find out more about her.

Born in the spring month of March, in Grodno Region’s Dyatlovo, her zodiac sign is Aries. Happy Birthday! She is Russian by nationality but her father settled here after the war (an officer, he helped liberate Belarus from the Nazi Fascists). Ms. Luzina graduated from secondary school #2 and received her first higher education at Grodno’s State Pedagogical Institute. While working, she graduated from Minsk

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Higher Party School and Grodno State University, then began her career as a teacher of Russian language and literature at Oshmyany’s secondary school #3. She worked in Oshmyany and Ivye Districts for a few years before being elected to Parliament in 2009, and becoming the Deputy Chair of Oshmyany District Executive Committee.

Selecting language

Ms. Luzina knows the Belarusian language perfectly, which is worthy of respect. Accordingly, we used this language for our interview. She recently graduated from the Foreign Language Department for Leading Officials at Minsk’s State Linguistic University, receiving an excellent mark in her final exam in English. Now, she can lead excursions in three languages: Russian, Belarusian and English.

According to the latest population census, representatives of over 140 nationalities reside in Belarus, while Russian is the most common Valentina Luzina can talk endlessly about her native Oshmyany District

Co-ordinates of existence

A trip to a remote age: at Gippika Equestrian Centre in Grintsy

language of communication. “As my parents arrived from Russia, we never spoke Belarusian at home,” explains Ms. Luzina. “I learnt Belarusian at school. During Soviet times, it wasn’t obligatory for children of military personnel, so I learnt purely in respect for those among whom I was living. I’m grateful to my school friends, with whom I could perfectly practise, and to my strict teacher, who didn’t like mixing Belarusian and Russian. He spoke Belarusian beautifully and demanded the same from his pupils. My studies launched my acquaintance with Belarusian culture and its language, alongside Belarus as a land and its people; all have become dear to me.”

Working as Deputy Chair of the District Executive Committee, Ms. Luzina supervised social issues. Penetrating the history of her district, she met local enthusiasts and historians, making many interesting discoveries. She found that various nationalities had lived there since ancient times. For example, Oshmyany was considered to be a Jewish settlement; its 19th century stone synagogue remains, inspiring American donors with family roots there to finance a museum. There is also a gypsy community, which Ms. Luzina is keen to help integrate. She took part in a Vienna conference dedicated to this topic, at the invitation of the OSCE. Oshmyany residents are known for their tolerance and ability to find a common language with all nationalities.

The town received Magdeburg Rights in the 16th century.

“On the eve of the last Presidential elections, I was speaking English with EU OSCE observers,” recollects Ms. Luzina.

“They arrived several days beforehand and even attended the early vote, visiting various electoral districts. They were much interested in the history of Oshmyany District and told me they’d heard that Belarusians had no regard for their history or language. Of course, they saw the opposite. In rural areas, people speak Belarusian and know a great deal about the history of their land; they look after architectural buildings and honour their outstanding fellow countrymen.

Our foreign guests enjoyed seeing Zhuprany — known for its monument to poet Frantishek Bogushevich (a founder of Belarusian literature). Created by famous sculptor Zair Azgur, the work stands in a public park, not far from St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church. The ‘winged words’ of the classical poet are well-known: ‘Don’t leave our Belarusian language to die’. A literary museum dedicated to his works operates at a local school and there is even a sculpture dedicated to the 150th anniversary of his birth. It was installed in 2010 in the cemetery where Frantishek Bogushevich and his relatives are buried, surrounded by fencing. “The memorial, annually visited by thousands of tourists, looks as it should,” notes Ms. Luzina with pride.

“We recently celebrated the anniversary of Bogushevich’s birth, with Zhuprany hosting a solemn flower laying ceremony and evening party at the library. A host of prominent amateur groups attended, including a folk theatre from Oshmyany, which is over 50 years old. The theatre enjoys a good reputation, and its performances are well known to local people and visitors alike. All greatly admire our artistes.”

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Co-ordinates of existence Ancient traditions — young horses

Ms. Luzina believes that the regions need to promote themselves more actively in the capital. In 2009, a major presentation was given by Oshmyany District at the National Library, at her initiative, with local craftspeople demonstrating their skills and others giving presentations on the historical and cultural heritage of the district, including several photo exhibitions.

Meanwhile, the Gippika or Book on Horses was presented in Minsk: the first edition in the former Rzech Pospolita to detail horse breeding and horse riding. It was first released in 1603 but has only now been translated from Polish into Belarusian,

by Minsk’s Valery Dubovsky Publishing Centre. The book was written by Krzysztof Monwid Dorohostajski (1562-1615) — a great Marshall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who was a doctor of medicine, a traveller, a patron of arts and an enlightener. He undertook the work while living in his palace in Oshmyany District’s Murovanaya Oshmyanka village; the ruins of his home remain even today.

His memory and his endeavour live on, marked by Gippika Sports and Equestrian Centre, in Oshmyany District’s village of Grintsy, where the book also received a formal launch. “Work is being organised in an interesting fashion there, with a range of events conducted; local amateur bands often perform,” notes Ms. Luzina.

“Various editions provide information on the development of Belarusian agro-ecotourism, with photos taken in Grintsy going on display — such as of weddings at our Gippika.

Wonderful Zhitnitsa band appear in one photo; I can almost hear the magnificent songs being played for the newly-weds.

The group is headed by Roza Yatsukovich, Director of the Krakovka House of Culture, who boasts a brilliant voice. She has often been invited to sing with professional bands but likes to stay in Oshmyany District. We once welcomed a large delegation of around 20 people from Ukraine, with Zhitnitsa entertaining our guests in the evening at Gippika’s coffee inn; the young girls sang for them in Belarusian, Ukrainian and Polish and the audience simply ‘melted’. The concert lasted until 2 a.m., with constant ovations,” smiles Ms. Luzina.

Ms. Luzina recollects visiting Grintsy in 1997, where famous sportsman and Olympic champion Victor Ugryumov was training at the time. Sadly, there were few horses and much was to be desired regarding organisation but, over the course of time, the owners changed. Ms. Luzina suggested using the name Gippika, with the accent placed on eco-tourism.

She explained that Dorohostajski, who had studied horse breeding in Italy, had written a unique book and lived nearby, and she invited TV reporters to the village to promote the idea.

A family then appeared whose children loved horses, especially their daughter Nastya. They Monument to Sofia Golshanskaya — the mother of the Jagiellon royal dynasty — installed in her home of Golshany

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decided to invest in the project, turning Gippika into a place where the mind and body can truly feel refreshed. They opened the cafe and built several two-storey cottages in Ugryumov Street for guests, while advertising via brochures and calendars.

Hostess Natalia Zolina has decorated in contemporary style, while keeping original features and being inspired by Belarusian folk traditions.

The local authorities have also supported the endeavour, with the district sports school having its own equestrian section on the premises; the trainer’s salary is paid from trade union funds, allowing youngsters to take lessons free of charge. Ms. Luzina adds that Gippika is earning a good reputation via its riders, as several girls are regular prize winners at competitions; their coach is becoming a master of sports.

Moreover, Gippika regularly hosts weddings, incorporating beautiful customs from the past — for locals and foreigners alike. The first marriage ceremony was conducted for foreign guests, using flower thrones for the newly-weds, a horse procession, the sprinkling of guests with grain and other ancient and modern customs. The bride was born in Ivye District but was living in Poland, studying to become a dentist. Her relatives took her to Gippika for a holiday and she fell in love with the place, asking them to organise a unique wedding.

The Days of Dorohostajski festival is celebrated in Grintsy over the last weekend of August. The cultural and sports holiday has an interesting programme, gathering riding amateurs, and those keen to relax in the countryside. Most come from Ostrovets, Oshmyany, Smorgon, Grodno and Minsk, so it’s no surprise that Grintsy and Gippika recently occupied several bright pages in the Tourist Oshmyany District tourist brochure — translated into Belarusian, English and Polish. Its cover depicted the portraits of Krzysztof Monwid Dorohostajski and Duchess Sophia Golshanskaya — the foundress of the European royal dynasty of Jagiellons.

‘We raised kings rather than making lapti’

Some say that Oshmyany District’s popularity stems from its proximity to Lithuania, which influences its culture, manufacturing, farming and crafts. “We once welcomed a top foreign delegation, including a minister, and everyone was impressed at the warm welcome they received so far in the countryside,” recollects Ms. Luzina.

“This is a farming region despite lacking particularly fertile soil. We showed our guests the magnificent Catholic church in Ostrovets District’s Gervyaty, including a meeting with the priest, followed by a river bank picnic of shashlyk and sausages — all produced at our Oshmyany Meat Factory, which is headed by talented Tamara

Co-ordinates of existence Golshany-Jagiellon family tree

Wonderful churches of various confessions abound in Oshmyany District

Filippovich (also a writer and photographer). Belarusian, Ukrainian and Polish songs were performed for our guests and our superb Dzhana Roma Gypsy band from Oshmyany gave a twenty minute show. They’re an amazing group, having won various contests. In the evening, Gippika’s cafe prepared delicious local dishes, offering a top class service. The head of the delegation asked whether the food had come from over the Lithuanian border but I emphasised that the recipes dated back centuries. I also explained that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania used to cover lands in northern Belarus. Some of the recipes were written down by Dorohostajski’s wife, Sophia.

One such is Gippika salad. We can cook and offer service at the highest level, as should be no surprise. After all, princely palaces once stood in Oshmyany District, bringing forth the royal elite of Europe. It is not a region known only for making lapti [bast shoes].”

Tamara Filippovich, who comes from an ancient and noble family, has published two books: A Trip Through Oshmyany District and a photo album dedicated to Oshmyany’s 670th anniversary. “As a member of the Parliamentary Committee for International Affairs, I often bring foreign guests to Oshmyany but am sometimes wary of showing them our meat factory,” notes Ms. Luzina. “When they see how wellordered it is and how natural, tasty and high quality our produce is, while having a wide range, they try to lure away Ms. Filippovich. I realise that Gippika and the meat factory are good examples of how businesses can be run by women, with everything done beautifully.”

Ms. Luzina wishes to see the memory of outstanding Sophia Golshanskaya properly honoured in Golshany.

Historians believe that the settlement is one of the most ancient in Belarus, with its title reminding us of the ancient Slavonic country of Nalsen, or Nalshany — as mentioned in the 13th century German chronicles. The Golsha dukes settled here in 1280 but the title may come from the alder tree, which grows easily in the region.

Over time, more will be discovered; archaeological digs are ongoing at Golshany citadel, headed by Pavel Kenka (of the National Academy of Sciences’ History Institute). Volunteer schoolchildren take part, digging with spades. Tourists to Golshany are most interested in the ruined Sapegi family castle, completed in 1610. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and the Franciscan Catholic Monastery also draw large numbers of visitors. The castle may be ruined but it is immortalised in Vladimir Korotkevich’s Black Castle of Olshany, who based his book’s castle on the real Golshany ruins. Golshany was the birthplace of the Jagiellon royal dynasty.

Since 2006, international conferences have been organised, with reports presented by historians and archaeologists, as well as pupils from local schools — dedicated to discoveries and archive records from around the world referring to the settlement and its people. In 2006, a monument to Sophia Golshanskaya was also unveiled in Golshany.

Ms. Luzina recollects how everything began, telling us, “An idea was put forward regarding the first forum while I was the Deputy Chair of the District Executive Committee. I supported the notion, as did the former Director of the National Academy of Sciences’ History Institute, Prof. Alexander Kovalenya. We decided that there should be an international conference and, as 2006 was the Year of Mothers in Belarus, I suggested that we unveil a stone monument to honour Belarusian Duchess Sophia. Our Oshmyany boulder was polished by sculptor Alexander Krokhalev and he carved a bas-relief and inscription upon it: ‘To Sophia Golshanskaya, a daughter of our Belarusian land and foundress of the Jagiellon dynasty’.”

According to historians, in 1422, King Jagailo, aged 70, married the daughter of Duke Andrey Golshansky, with the blessing of Great Duke Vitovt. It was his fourth marriage, as he was yet to receive an heir. Sophia was 16 at the time and gave birth to his two sons: the future kings Władysław III and Kazimierz IV. She was responsible for the Jagiellon dynasty, which is most well-known in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Her aristocratic descendants ruled various European states and greatly influenced civil life.

A major avenue in Varna is named in honour of Władysław III, who was killed at the historic Battle of Varna against the Turkish, in 1444. Ms. Luzina notes that Bulgarian historians are currently keen to learn about Sophia as the mother of their kings, who continue the Jagiellon (Belarusian Golshany) family tree.

By Iosif Oreshko

2012 беларусь.belarus

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Culture

O

ur culture relies on our education system and language, alongside our music and songs and folk creativity. Our ability to work with other nations shapes the future of our culture. Even our speech and clothes show our cultural identity, as do our attitudes towards friends, family, the elderly, children and our Fatherland. All are manifestations of the culture which flows from one sphere to another, from the past to the future.

Culture is like the blood running through our veins, keeping us alive.

Accordingly, the state guards and protects our culture in all its facets. A well-thought-out cultural policy is a clear priority. Culture defines our place in the civilised world, while promoting our spiritual elevation, bringing out the best in every one of us.

Results are essential

Every aspect of human existence is infused with the spirit of culture, though we may not realise it. We are surrounded by a rich cultural heritage, whose origins we little ponder. The contemporary culture of Belarus encompasses festivals, buildings under construction and castles being restored, palaces and theatres, museums, clubs and libraries. Of course, to ensure that we preserve our cultural treasures, legislation is vital. This issue, alongside with many others, was discussed at a session of the final panel of Belarus’ Culture Ministry

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Yuriy Ivanov

Roots and crown

At a recent session of the final panel of the Belarusian Culture Ministry, hosted by Minsk’s Upper City Concert Hall, a report was given on last year’s cultural development, with priorities outlined for 2012. Appropriately, the venue is home to the Children’s Philharmonic — recently opened in Minsk’s historical centre. Employees of all ‘ranks’ from across the country attended the solemn yet festive forum at the restored hall which once housed the 16th century Holy Spirit Church.

Many faces familiar to me gathered in the spacious and light lobby: an impressive line-up of cultural figures and TV personalities. The hall, with its high ceilings and lancet stained-glass windows, was filled with a soft hum — as is usual before the start of such events. Pleasant music accompanied a photo montage of the architectural and natural beauties of Belarus. Later, the business section of the meeting kicked off with a film on the country’s major cultural events of 2011 (a grand start to the 2011-2015 Culture of Belarus state programme). Feelings of pride were

Culture

Belta

evident in all those gathered, their faces radiating pleasure and admiration.

Belarus’ Culture Minister, Pavel Latushko, spoke about major problems, as well as trends in national cultural policy.

Early on, he noted, “A priority task is the efficient application of state funds in the cultural sphere. Budgetary policy has been purposefully re-oriented from allocation management to control over results.

Moreover, a new system for the funding of state and private cultural institutions is currently being established, working on a competitive principle.” According to Mr. Latushko, the improvement of legislation relating to culture remains an important focus for the Ministry, which aims to update laws relating to the management of state funds.

Hav i n g an a l y s e d l e g i s l at i on governing the sphere of culture, Mr.

Latushko reported on the latest cultural projects taking place, alongside those planned by the 2011-2015 Culture of Belarus state programme. This strategy will affect the employment of thousands of people and the development of young talent. The opening of the Children’s Philharmonic in 2011 is a wonderful example, for which the Minister thanked Minsk’s leadership.

Recent decrees by the Belarusian President and regulations by the Council of Ministers have created a whole series of contemporary legal acts governing the sphere of culture, ready to meet the challenges of today. Presidential Decree #77 (of February 28th, 2011) has been actively supported by sponsors, whose additional funds are a vital addition to state budgetary funding, however considerable it may be. A range of

theatre festivals have been particularly well supported.

Lawyers are now working on a Cultural Code — to launch in 2015; this will be comprehensively new, uniting existing legislation. It will reduce the current number of documents while promoting innovative methods of organising cultural events. Vitally, public input is being sought for the Code, to make use of wider expertise.

It is a wonderful endeavour!

At the forum, I did notice a few people chatting when they should have been listening quietly (as happens at public events). I felt compelled to turn my head in disapproval and immediately received an apology. I felt such pleasure at seeing culture ‘in action’… which made me recall a previous experience.

Gennadiy Titov National Academic Folk Choir is an outstanding Belarusian cultural phenomenon

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Culture essence of life

contemporary theatre — as in real life’. I During a journalists’ trip to Brussels, suddenly realised that I may have misunI noticed one shy girl from a televi- derstood my Brussels ‘conflict’. The girl sion channel speaking superb English may have thought my compliment inap— a rare talent. I expressed my admira- propriate; I had misjudged her mood, tion but was immediately rebuffed. She thinking only of my own desire to praise. replied defensively, asking me abruptly Certainly, every day brings a new to leave her alone. Of course, I didn’t lesson. We can forget the importance of dare to speak to her again. Perhaps she tact and the nuances of expression and had her own reasons for her response tone which colour how others view us. to my interest yet I couldn’t help but I now understand how interconnected feel offended. I mentioned the episode we are and the effects of a single remark. to my roommate in the hotel and came Surely, how much more influential are to the conclusion that the human soul works of art and culture. These promote is delicate. Of course, those involved in the best in us and encourage us to carry culture must find a common language their ‘magic’ with us into our everyday with their audience. lives: into our relationships with friends, I forgot about the incident and, family and strangers. on returning to Minsk, went to the Psychologists tells us that some premiere of If I Had Gold Mountains… instincts control us regardless of socioat the State Youth Theatre. I seldom cry cultural ‘programming’ but there’s no or laugh at performances, partly due to denying the importance of cultural my character and partly because I attend identity in everyday life. Russian so many for work purposes. However, I publicist, public figure and academician allowed myself the luxury of being merely Dmitry Likhachev (whose a spectator and found myself moved to words are a few tears and chuckles, to my surprise. w r itt e n i n I felt that rare feeling of delight when my personal a play transports you beyond quotation yourself to a place at once beautiful and diar y) once magical. Sadly, the s aid: ‘What feeling didn’t last long, is culture? I fading on leaving the can’t define it theatre. Nevertheless, the sensation in a way which of contentment remained, as if will satisfy my ordinary life had been brighteveryone but ened with rainbow colours. I had I ’d l i k e t o a heart-warming desire to undernote some of stand my fellow man, smiling at it s s a l i e nt passers-by. It’s a feeling that comes features. occasionally on seeing a wonderful film, exhibition, play or concert, filling our heart with joy.

That evening, I was pondering that such moments make life worth living and, meeting the stage director, Abramov, asked ‘Carmen Evening’ him his secret to success. His staged at the National answer was simple: ‘nuances Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre and half-tones are necessary in

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Primarily, culture is a shared experience. It’s not true to say that one culture satisfies us in some regards and another in other ways. Culture doesn’t change with mood; it is integral to our personality. We are fused and imbued with it’.

Will the Code on Culture be able to reflect the subtle nuances of our lives?

It seems hardly possible. Of course, life introduces its own changes. However, we certainly do need to improve the mechanisms of how the cultural sphere is managed.

Latest implemented projects

From the report: “In 2011, we took part in the Cannes Film Festival for the first time and the Listapad Film Festival was accredited with the International Federation of Producers. The Republican Public Council for Culture and Arts launched its work and the winners of the National Theatre Award were chosen.

The 2nd Minsk International Christmas Forum was held, as was the Big New Year Ball at the Bolshoi Theatre, organised for the third time.

Two new musical projects were implemented: the National Music Award and the Golden Collection of Belarusian Songs cycle.

B elar u sian-Ru ssian p ro j e c t s w e re a l s o realised: the traditional Yuri Bashmet International Festival and a concert by the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra — headed by Valery Gergiev, alongside Andris Liepa’s Russian Seasons.

Meanwhile, Belarus took a pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale and at the 4th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art. Belarusian museums took first prize at the International Intermuseum Festival (Moscow): won by the Museum of Great Patriotic War History and Vitebsk’s Regional Local History Museum. In 2012, the Museums of Belarus forum, hosted by Grodno, will be the major cultural event.

Last year, Gomel was the Cultural Capital of the CIS, with Nesvizh chosen this year as the Cultural Capital of Belarus. In 2013, Mogilev will be the Cultural Capital of the CIS and Belarus.”

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Culture

The traditional Yuri Bashmet International Festival is a cultural event of major significance in Belarus

Priorities for the future

It’s well known that adversity is the mother of invention; progress only occurs when we are motivated to overcome challenges. Culture develops similarly, responding to the needs of the age. New projects and achievements were discussed during the session, alongside problems relating to professional art, folk creativity, museum and library services and education.

Ideas were shared on how to promote further development and popularise the Belarusian language.

Characterising each direction and noting our successes, the Minister underlined areas still requiring action.

One such is the need for our professional theatres (27 countrywide) to tour abroad, building on Belarus’ reputation. Naturally, promotion is vital. Film production is another area in which we can gain wider global recognition. This year, Br90bn has been allocated for this

purpose, allowing Belarusfilm Studio to enhance the quality of its films. It’s hoped that its films will recoup their expenses at the box office, attracting private investors in the future.

Of course, it’s great to hear that, last year, Belarusian cinematographers won around 40 prizes — across over 50 international film festivals: in Italy, Canada, France, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Greece and elsewhere. Pleasingly, the geography of Belarusfilm’s business partners has also expanded and Belarusian cinematographers have liaised with colleagues from Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia and Finland, while co-operating with Europe’s Eurimages Fund.

Museums are an important part of contemporary Belarusian culture, with 154 state museums currently operating.

At the President’s instruction, a Museum of Contemporary Belarusian Nationhood is being created, while the

National History Museum is organising new displays. How are our museums developing? They are more widely using marketing to attract visitors, while learning how to develop interactive technologies. Souvenir shops are opening and advertising is taking on a greater role. Moreover, new museums are being set up in the regions.

Another bright detail in the country’s cultural mosaic is the adoption of the 2012-2018 Castles of Belarus programme, which aims to preserve and renovate 38 Belarusian castles. The Culture Ministry recently proposed that a CIS Centre for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage be established.

Mr. Latushko announced, “The preservation of historical-cultural heritage is a determining factor in the state’s development.” Many believe that the nation’s historical memory is the foundation on which our national culture grows.

The Minister stresses that an improved

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Culture system of protection is required, as the country’s historical and cultural legacy is an absolute priority.

The socio-economic development of culture and its material and technical base is to be the focus of our cultural policy, alongside international collaboration.

Cultural education is to be promoted, with cultural development in the regions expanding and the use of Belarusian language encouraged. Great hopes are pinned on the Institute of Belarusian Culture, which has been given educational, sci-tech, information-analytical and organisational tasks. It is to study, develop and forecast the development of culture, guiding state cultural policy.

Chaos and culture are incompatible

To produce wonderful cultural experiences, management, subordination and co-ordination are essential.

For example, actors need to obey t h e i r s t a g e d i r e c t o r. In Federico Fellini’s Orchestra Rehearsal, the musicians decide to disobey their c o n d u c t o r, feeling that he

directors of museums, libraries and crafts centres, and arts teachers. Each spoke of the achievements and problems in their section of work, alongside new projects and priorities. Moreover, a range of constructive proposals were offered. Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister, Anatoly Tozik, promised that these precious ideas will be taken on board.

He emphasised that feedback will be used to guide policy, being brought to life as soon as possible, and requested that more ideas be freely shared.

The completed restoration of the Palace and Park Estate in Nesvizh is further evidence of the state’s considerable contribution to preserving the cultural heritage of our Fatherland. Its opening will be the most significant cultural event of the year. Belarusian culture, boasting centuries-old traditions, is receiving the attention it deserves countrywide. Even the most humble craft clubs nourish our tree of culture. Around 3,500 state clubs exist across the nation, with the number of amateur groups even greater. Belarus has, of course, always been rich in talent. Our tree of culture, ever associated with beauty, is still flourishing, nurtured by its powerful roots.

By Valentina Zhdanovich

Opening of Nesvizh Castle scheduled for 2012 is to become a great festive event

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restricts their creative freedom. Of course, their revolt brings a cacophony of sound. The great master of cinema showed exactly why various ranks and spheres must work together to produce a worthwhile result.

Another interesting take on the importance of culture in bringing social strength comes from Victor Alshevsky’s Impression of Balance or a Ladder Upwards. The teacher at the Belarusian Theatre and Art Academy was made head of the newly established Centre of Contemporary Arts last summer and received the title of honorary professor.

In his diary, he details a trip with friends to Italy in 1999, to organise an exhibition: ‘The border. Everything is already with customs. Our things have passed without inspection and weren’t unpacked. On our side, all was in order, as we prepared for the trip very professionally. An artist is an independent person, so breaking the law contradicts their nature. An artist has principles, so will never damage, destroy or bring disharmony to life, let alone cheat, shuffle or break the law.’

The Culture Ministry’s session was held harmoniously, featuring heads of cultural departments from regional, city and dist r ic t executive committees, as well as

беларусь.belarus 2012

News

Full houses at home and on tour Belarus’ National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre gives over 50 performances in Austria and Germany Alexander Dmitriyev

T

The ‘Abduction of Europe, or Ursula Radziwill’s Theatre’ performance (by the Yanka Kupala Theatre) is also to become part of the festive forum. A scene from the performance

Second life

he ballet troupe launched an unprecedentedly long tour on December 15th, in Austrian Vienna, with Swan Lake. Over 45 days of touring abroad, the Belarusian artistes have performed Swan Lake and The Nutcracker 51 times.

Ursula Radziwill Theatre Forum to take place in Belarus’ cultural capital for 2012 — Nesvizh — for the first time

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h e Fo r u m s h a l l p re s e nt performances connected with the history of the famous magnate family Radziwill. In the mid-18th century, the country’s first court theatre appeared at Nesvizh Castle, existing for 70 years. Now, its glorious traditions are being resurrected by the Ursula Radziwill Theatre (of the Nesvizh District Centre of Culture and Leisure).

This year, cycles of concerts of Belarusian ancient music will be no less bright events in Nesvizh’s cultural life, alongside performances by entrants of the Vladimir Spivakov and Yuri Bashmet international festivals. The Nights of the Bolshoi Theatre at Radziwill Castle Festival of Opera and Ballet Art is being held, in addition to the 17th Muses of Nesvizh holiday of arts. There will be a night of museums at the Radziwill Palace and a concert from the Golden Collection of Belarusian Song cycle.

A UNESCO international seminar is planned for the first time, involving leading experts in protecting global historical and cultural heritage. Many

more events are planned for Nesvizh, with the official opening of the 16th18th century palace and park estate to visitors being the major focus.

During an official ceremony which launched Nesvizh as this year’s cultural capital, the city was presented with a certificate and a symbol marking its cultural status. The ceremony at the Town Hall was attended by the Belarusian Khoroshki State Dance Company, Pastoral ancient Belarusian music ensemble (from the Dzerzhinsk Children’s School of Arts) and the Ursula Radziwill Theatre.

On the same day, the theatre hall of the Radziwill Palace hosted a concert of opera art, entitled Musical Treasures of Nesvizh. Moreover, the district central library hosted a presentation of books, entitled ‘Nesvizh — Echo of Times,’ while a concert of leading artistic bands and performers of Belarus took place at Nesvizh District Centre of Culture and Leisure. Amateur bands from Minsk Region and Nesvizh District also performed.

In Vienna, Bayreuth, Cologne, Stuttgart,Frankfurt,Hanover,Munich, Hamburg, Mannheim, B erlin, Bremen, Kassel and other German cities, audiences highly praised the Belarusian ballet stars: People’s Artiste of Belarus Igor Artamonov, honoured artistes of Belarus Olga Gaiko, Lyudmila Kudryavtseva and Konstantin Kuznetsov, as well as international competition winner Yekaterina Oleinik, and leading ballet dancers Olga Yeromkina, Irina Yeromkina, Denis Klimuk, and Igor Onoshko - among others.

The Bolshoi Theatre troupe’s tour through Austria and Germany has been a triumph. Meanwhile, Belarusian audiences have been enjoying ballet performances in Minsk. For the first time in the theatre’s history, ballet shows have been performed on its stage at full scale.

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Art person

Artur Prupas

Chronicle writer of the age

At the studio

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person Art Belarusian painter Leonid Dudarenko is known far and wide for being a master of conceptual drawing, painting landscapes and still-life works.

He belongs to that generation of Belarusian painters whose achievements date from the early 1960s

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r. Dudarenko trainedatMinsk Art College and, later, at the Belarusian State T he at re and Ar tInstitute.

This enabled him to start his independent career as an original artist, boasting a unique view on life and his own understanding of art. The colourful and deeply national artist learnt the best practices from his teachers and colleagues, taking on the traditional approach of the national artistic school while experimenting with a colourful palette. He created many pieces on various themes but each is notable for its unique pictorial language, alongside its perfect technique and composition.

He focuses on spirituality and artistic truth, enabling him to preserve his artistic individuality and ignore the passing trends of modern art.

Mr. Dudarenko works not just in his studio but in the open air, inspired by Belarusian landscapes and taking part in international open air sessions.

He has long since gained recognitionin Belarus and abroad, with his

Wood Floating (1975)

Leonid Dudarenko is a colourful and deeply national artist who learnt the best practices from his teachers and colleagues, taking on the traditional approach of the national artistic school while experimenting with a colourful palette numerous works kept by Belarusian museums, as well as by domestic and foreign private collectors and galleries. All his pictures reflect the unique world of a true master — with its own philosophy of the age.

How did you become inspired to be an artist?

I was born in Molodechno — then a small city near Minsk — and grew up during the war. In 1941, when the war broke out, I was just nine. My father was killed at the frontline and our house burnt down.I had the difficult task of helping my mother survive.

Despite everything, after the war ended

in 1945, my mother sent me to the Art College. Of course, it was difficult to study but I was lucky: an artistic studio had been set up in Molodechno after the war by a very talented painter. He taught me the basics of art, giving me the fundamentals for my further development. He was a true master — as a painter and teacher.

I only earned a ‘two’ in mathematics but gained my place at the College anyway, as I received the highest mark in pictorial painting.

Artists seek recognition, always wanting to produce something ‘new’.

However, abstract art is not neces-

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Art person sarily the answer to creating a new outlook.Malevich’s ‘Black Square’ is the ultimate expression in this field, yet artists continue to try and make history by painting squares and stripes. I view realism as a more natural genre, especially for Belarusian painters. I had a period of wanting to create abstract works but my mother asked me: ‘For whom are you painting?’ I answered that I was working for the public but she told me: ‘They don’t understand this. Why bother?’ I reconsidered and, eventually turned to realism again.

I understand that realistic paintings should touch people’s souls, as they do mine as an artist.

We should not feel indifferent to our surroundings. I created my ‘Nuclear War’ series — devoted to Nikita K hr ushche v’s readiness to star t WWIII (which almost occurred). I have many pictures on this theme, as well as those devoted to our attitude to life and nature.

There is a saying: ‘pictures should speak for their painter’. If an artist speaks a great deal about a picture, then it’s not ready. It should speak for itself, allowing the artist to step aside.

Actually, people ‘feel’ a good work of art and will pass by a more ‘ordinary’ painting; it fails to make them stop.

The artworks which decorate homes have no relation to true art. They may be beautiful but art should inspire us to ponder the meaning of our lives: our purpose for being here. This is the major task of art. Without it, artists are working in vain.

You’ve travelled much and seen a great deal. Do you depict people or places from your trips? Or do you prefer to draw from your imagination?

I travelled widely through the former Soviet Union, where hundreds of nationalities lived. Interestingly, each nation had its own identity, language and appearance, and particular attitude to life and nature. It was very interesting. I painted a series

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ofportraits of various nationalities. I was intrigued to paint someone who had never watched television and then suddenly experienced communication. It was a fairy-tale when I travelled above the Arctic Circle, where nobody ever came. It was fascinating. When asked whether I wished to goto Paris or to the tundra, I’d always choose the tundra. Paris is a civilised place which has lost everything created by

My inner fire ignites and I find that I can’t work for more than four hours at a time, as I become exhausted. My best works occur when my physical and mental capabilities are balanced.

Now that I’m over 80, I have a clear head but less physical strength. I may desire to work but feel too tired.

Modern youngsters are lucky, as they start studying at an early age and can be mature artists by 25, able

Begoml Lands (1975)

God and nature. I’ve been lucky to travel and see so much but I believe that my trips are worthless if I fail to draw from that experience.

When did your artistic peak occur and what form did it take?

An artist’s path depends on more than this; it relies upon life, circumstances and, even, the state. You need to be strong, physically as well as mentally. I sometimes find that my back is damp with exertion from painting — although it might seem that I’m simply working with a brush.

to really paint. I’d say the age of 25-35 is the best time — as it’s when we are strongest. Some artists have painted until they were very old. However, they tended to have pupils who helped them with the physical labour of the task. Old masters drew pictures in their autumn years, with a school of pupils to help them, as much physical effort is needed to paint a single picture.

I remember People’s Artist Vitaly Tsvirko thinning down paints so that his pupils could paint the sky or ground, preparing the basics of the canvas. It

person Art takes time: sometimes, a whole day.

It is not just a case of placing simple strokes on a canvas. The strongest painters are those who do not waste time playing games. You soon realise that time wasted cannot be regained.

Is there a Belar u sian school of pictorial art and what are its features?

The Belarusian school of painting was established in Soviet times. In

during WWII — when the Fascists occupied our territory. The location of those works remains a mystery. On opening a museum after the war, we had to import works.

Today, we have our own Academy and our school but the West also influences us, diverting us from realism. Of course, everything depends on the individual and their views. Few artists would choose to glorify their nation via abstract art.

White Clouds above Radashkovichy (1971)

1918, Belarus became a Republic — though as part of the USSR.At that time, Vitebsk Art College existed, where Marc Chagall studied. We can even assert that the Belarusian school originated in Vitebsk. Many of our artists who graduated from the College later entered St. Petersburg Academy.

In the late 19th-early 20th century, the Belarusian school of painting was forming, using a realistic approach.

We boasted the large Radziwill collection but, sadly, the National Art Museum’s collection was removed

Do you value your works? Do you leave them in your workshop or are you pleased to see them in others’ collections? How do you treat your pictures?

I treat my pictures very seriously and part with them as if they were children. I draw a great many pictures and would certainly choose to keep many if I could afford not to sell them. I try not to part with a painting I love but life tends to persuade me other wise. Most of our national museums have my paintings as I need

to sell them to earn money. I chose collectors carefully of course, and I do admit that art should be publicly admired. If nobody sees your works, you remain little known.

D o y o u p aint p r imar i ly fo r yourself or for an audience?

I draw that which touches and concerns me, so my paintings don’t always chime with others. I rarely paint to order, as it’s so alien to me and proves truly difficult.

Does nature inspire you?

Belarus has wonderful countryside. When some Ukrainian artists visited me in autumn, I took them to Logoisk, near Minsk, and they cried: ‘It’s a true Switzerland!’ We have many beautiful places. I dislike flat landscapes. We have many hills but forests and lakes are our major beauty. I used to paint autumn, spring and winter — when the snow was sparkling. Belarusian landscapes are very beautiful. In summer, I usually moved to the north of the USSR, so I rarely drew the ‘summer’ landscapes of Belarus — preferring autumn or spring. However, I often paint in the open air in summer these days.

Many works by Belarusian artists — including yours — are kept by European collectors. Do you feel regret that they’re kept abroad?

I don’t know of any country where my works cannot be found; they’re even in Mongolia and China. I had an exhibition in Japan and in Moscow; the Japanese wanted to buy all my exhibited pictures… but I refused.

It’s fine to see our works on display in the USA, UK or Italy as this promotes Belarusian art. Collectors indicate that a work is painted by a Belarusian artist, not simply putting the name; it’s important for people to know from where a painting originates. When such collectors come to Belarus, they don’t just blindly admire pictures; they know the direction we’re following and how we’re doing so, because they’ve seen our works before. The Culture Ministr y often organises

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Art person

exhibitions abroad, including of my works. Collectors buy them but I cannot bring myself to trade. My wife sometimes admonishes me for not realising the value of art. In Germany, I once donated a picture and the man was so enthusiastic -as if I’d given him a million dollars. Those in the West value art very much, while we are slightly different. Here, we might place a photo on the wall and be pleased — not needing true art. High culture needs promotion.

You speak easily of past times but what is the situation in modern art?

Are you pleased with the approach

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Portait of a Female Collective Farmer (1968)

of young painters? Do you have any advice for them?

It’s useless to give advice to young people as they consider themselves cleverer than their elders; this has always been the tragedy of youth, as I can say from experience. You feel that you know everything. The task of our teachers is not to teach young people how to paint but how to love life. This is vital. Russian writer Maxim Gorky said that he could call himself a painter from time to time. An artist is a creator, so needs a purpose. Today’s young people want to be a ‘sell out’ success.

However, art works must be created

before they can be sold. Accordingly, young artists are becoming more commercial, only painting what they can sell. They can show their talent in their works of course. I’ve visited several successful workshops where there were few works remaining, as they’d all been sold. It’s rather a shame.

When Western artists have visited me in the past, they’ve asked about my life and I’ve told them that art is my life. They’ve noted that, in capitalistic states, it’s impossible to make a living from art unless you’re working on a commercial scale with a great deal of funding behind you. With this in mind, our youngsters want to make money… which is quite a tragedy.

Is it important for an artist to be talented? Or can they realise their goals through hard work and experience?

We have many talented young artists, so what is really needed?

Famous artist Ilya Repin only married late in life, as he devoted himself to art, never thinking of commercial success. If an artist is independent of daily routine, devoting themselves to pure art, I believe their talent will help them succeed… with money later following. You need to lay a lot of groundwork before you become famous and earn a decent living. Early in his career, Picasso was starving.

Meanwhile, our modern painters sometimes want to receive everything at once. It’s impossible, as you do need to work for a while to gain a reputation. Even a talented painter may work hard without recognition, as they need promotion.

Of course, the state is interested in talented people but it’s difficult to know how early promise may develop. Talent may only be obvious after an artist has completed several works. Very few painters make a name for themselves in the first years of working. Many become famous only at the age of 30 or 40.

Have you ever regretted becoming a painter, wanting to try an alternate path?

person Art To create a positive mood, I turn on music and thumb through books, channelling my thoughts into something useful. Balzac even asked to be tied to his chair to ensure he worked. It can be difficult to push yourself but you must approach each day fresh and remember only the pictures you’ve drawn...Of course, I had a time in my life when I had nothing to eat but,on painting a good picture, I’d feel relaxed.

Is in spiration v ital for your profession?

It’s impossible to work without inspirat ion. Pic tures c annot b e painted automatically. Emotions are essential.

Can you define an artist?

We are losing the notion of a true ‘artist’. There are many creative people in the world.

They may be working in graphic design or advertising — but they are not artists in the true sense. You may have an artistic personality and be a writer, a composer or a musician — but an artist is something different.

In fact, many people can draw. It used to be fashionable for children to learn a musical instrument, to draw and to study literature. Many easily created works of art or literature or composed something but they are not automatically artists.

By Victor Mikhailov

Artur Prupas

No, I don’t believe I’ve lived my life in vain. However, I must admit that I could have achieved more. At the age of 33, I began drawing but there were many distractions: public work, chairing artistic councils and exhibition committees. People’s Artist of Belarus Mikhail Savitsky would arrive at his workshop at 7a.m., leaving at 6p.m. This is what’s necessary to truly succeed.I’ve done much but could have done even more.

Have you ever experienced artistic failure?

I do wonder why the creation pro c e s s i s s om e t i m e s e a s y an d sometimes not. I once shared my workshop with a talented artist called Nikolay Seleshchuk, who I saw throw away a canvas stretcher. He had no real reason for doing so but had become frustrated, having failed to stretch his canvases twice. He decided that the canvas stretcher was bad.

Sometimes, things simply go against you and it affects your mood. Even witnessing an unpleasant scene can r u i n t h e d a y.

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Project

Vitebsk’s Pokrovskaya Street

Marc Chagall House Museum

In the near future, fans of Marc Chagall will be able to promenade through the city quarter which inspired the artist in his younger years

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eeting journalists in Vitebsk, Honoured Architect of B elar us L e onid Levin noted that he had always felt torn by Chagall’s exhibitions in New York and Nice. Foreigners would queue all night to see his artworks, which inspired pride in his heart but also sadness. He wondered why no such queues are observed in Belarusian Vitebsk, where the great artist was born and where Marc Chagall House Museum operates.

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This was true some time ago but changes are now evident, although no queues are yet seen. To promote Chagall-related sites to tourists, Chagall Quarter is being restored in Vitebsk. Work began three years ago, headed by Mr. Levin. It was initially supposed that factories would be removed from Pokrovskaya Street (where the museum is situated) but our architects and historians have changed their minds; the neighbouring Vitebsk Wine Making Plant dates from 1897, making it a peer of the great artist, so Mr. Levin wishes

to see it preserved. “If we leave it untouched, it will help us recreate the colour of the age, contributing to the development of the tourist industry,” he emphasises.

We invite you — dear readers — to take a short journey back to Pokrovskaya Street’s past, as well as its present and future.

In the late 19th-early 20th century, the street (in Zadvinye District) was in the city’s Jewish Quarter. In the early 1900s, Marc Chagall’s father built a house there for his family. The small shop where he traded salted fish

Project was situated nearby. Earlier, in 1898, Russian merchant Leiba Mnukhin and his Vitebsk business partner Abram Sverdlin set up a creamery 150m from the site, producing flax oil. By 1920, after the October Revolution, a distillery had opened, making apple jam and apple and fruit wine (in wooden barrels).

By that time, Marc Chagall had moved out of the city,heading for St. Petersburg in 1907 to study. His pictures often depict the street where he lived for 20 years, including the Wine Making Plant (as he remembered it from his childhood).

Restoring Chagall Quarter envisages the reconstr uction of Pokrovskaya Street (covering 50 hectares). It will be costly but is surely worth the outlay. A Palace of Arts is to be built, housing pictures by Chagall and other artists who were inspired

by Vitebsk and Belarus: Malevich, Kandinsky and Soutine. Workshops will welcome artists from all over the globe, while a shopping centre, cinema and parking is to appear.

The Wine Making Plant is to open to tourists, who’ll be able to take tours of the premises. Mr. Levin has no doubt of the benefits. “We’ll renew

our façade, while constructing two more buildings — to accommodate a museum of wine making, a restaurant, a small hotel and an art gallery. We’ll also open a tasting room and a wine cellar offering Belarusian wine for sampling and sale,” explains the plant’s Director, Vyacheslav Sapronov.

The plant also plans to produce natural premium wines, with its mo d e r n is e d e qu ipme nt ma k i ng authentic B elar usian b everages: apple wine, mead and apple jack. A tea ceremony room is being built, as Mr. Sapronov tells us. Since Soviet times, the factory has been mixing Indian and Ceylon teas with mint, John’s wood, lime and currants — all grown on its own farm near the city.

Tea ceremonies should attract tourists wishing to sample delicious beverages and to learn more about the tea history of Belarus.

At present, few have probably heard of ‘Russian tea’ but it was very popular with Europeans until the 18th century.

The British loved to drink Russian tea blended with French willow, as made in the village of Koporye, near St. Petersburg (the tea was named ‘Koporsky’). It’s

now becoming fashionable again in Russia, so the Vitebsk plant plans to produce it, as French willow grows plentifully in the region.

The transformation of Vitebsk Wine Making Plant into a tourist site is being promoted as an investment project. In late 2011, interested delegations from China and Israel visited the factor y. Interestingly, a wine making plant is situated in the centre of Israel’s Rishon LeZion (Vitebsk’s twin city). In Vitebsk, Pokrovskaya Street also has a convenient location: close to the railway and bus stations. Even transit passengers, who have little time, will be able to take a tour, experiencing the Vitebsk of Chagall’s youth.

“Owing to Chagall, many foreigners are showing interest in Vitebsk,” notes Mr. Levin, adding with pride, “In my view, Chagall and Vitebsk are inseparable. Vitebsk’s Chagall Quarter will help people worldwide learn more about our country. Being an artistic person, I’ll do all I can to make this happen.”

By Sergey Gomonov

This is how the project for reconstruction of the wine making plant in Pokrovskaya Street looks

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Traditions

F

olklore researcher Yelena Dovnar-Zapolskaya tells us about the most interesting customs associated with this month.

March Thaw March has taken the icy baton from February and is making its way towards the sun’s warmth and light. Early on, the baton may remain frost covered but April should receive a quivering willow branch. March’s thaw is making brooks run freely again, like small, frightened snakes suddenly released

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Belta

March 9th

This was considered to be a day of significance, of which winter was afraid, as the Sun began to appear more confidently. Bee keepers would look into their beehives to check on their bees, to make sure that honey would later be forthcoming.

Symbol: the Bear. During the spring solstice, mother-earth awakes, as do some creatures — such as the bear (a symbol of power, strength, health and wealth). Belarusians, like all Slavonic nations, have always respected bears, while having a healthy fear of them: being careful not to anger bears and never speaking ill of them. Bears are known for their excellent sense of smell, as the saying goes: an eagle sees, a deer hears and a bear scents. Meanwhile, bears are often called Mikhal Ivanovich, Mikhailo Potapovich or the host. They are even thought to understand human speech.

One ancient custom in Polesie was designed to awaken bears in spring: ‘Kamaeditsa’. People would turn from one side to the other, and would eat something with honey, or dishes cooked with legumes: beloved of bears. In some regions, sweet pastries were taken to the forest as gifts for bears. Meanwhile, ‘komy’ were made from buckwheat flour for bears. Ms. Dovnar-Zapolskaya regrets that such customs are largely forgotten. She tells us that bears feature in various folk customs, with newly-weds sitting on inverted bear skins.

One legend tells of a young boy who transformed into a bear after being cursed by his father for wrongdoing.

He yearned to rejoin the human world and, under certain conditions, could briefly return to his human form.

Another story tells of a bear stealing a girl called Mashenka to be his bride.

Traditions March 13th

This day is called ‘Vasil-Kapelnik’, meaning that ice should melt from roofs in the sparkling sun.

thinking about planting their vegetable gardens, mending their greenhouses if the weather was nice and sowing cabbage and tomato seeds.

March 14th

March 19th

This was St. Yevdokiya’s Day. Often, the snow has turned to dirty slush by this date. Thaw holes appear, called ‘naked sides’. Once, March marked the beginning of the new year; a song written in late 19th century tells us: St. Yevdokiy is a spring holiday, The spring holiday launches the new year And all the other holidays follow in its footsteps.

It was said that ‘St. Yevdokiya holds summer in her hand’. The first four days after St. Yevdokiya’s Day determined the weather for the whole year: March 14th — spring, March 15th — summer, March 16th — autumn and March 17th — winter. The weather on those days forecast that of each season. If the sun shone, it meant that spring and summer would be warm and it would stay dry for haymaking. Rain foretold a good wheat harvest, for bread. Frosts signalled cold weather during buckwheat blossoming, while fog promised a good harvest for much loved peas, legumes and kidney beans. Snowstorms indicated a less favourable forecast. Meanwhile, trees awaken, flowing with sap and inspiring the phrase: ‘St. Yevdokiya gathers blood’.

March 17th

People used to call this the day of Gerasim-Grachevnik — as rooks returned by this time. Birds were often associated with superstitions and rooks’ behaviour was thought to foretell spring weather. If they sat in their nests, spring would be pleasant but, if they were seen still searching for a nesting site, or were absent, it indicated a cool and rainy spring.

March 18th

This is the day of martyr Konon — known as ‘Ogorodnik’. People began

At last, winter was thought to step aside in favour of spring: ‘When Yazep nods with his beard, winter runs away with its head low’. The wedding season was soon to end, due to Lent, so those wishing to wed had to act quickly: ‘St. Yazep provides scoundrels with a way out’. Meanwhile, sunny weather on this date foretold a rich crop.

March 22nd

Orthodox believers honour the memor y of the forty Martyrs of Sebasta. Known in Belarus as ‘saraki’ (similar to the word ‘forty’ in Russian), the day has equal hours of darkness and light. The sun’s special position is thought to influence nature and people on this day.

Event: The Call of Spring.

Belarusians mark the spring solstice with the ‘Call of Spring’ to encourage winter to leave, with its severe frosts. In villages, girls roamed the newly thawed h i l l s i n s m a l l g roup s singing ‘calling’ songs to summon spring. One group would begin the

song, joined by another; their voices would interlace and re-echo, ending with ‘Gu-u-u!’

Forty flocks of birds were expected to arrive from the ‘vyrai-rai’ (the warm paradise where they had been overwintering). Birds were thought to host the souls of ancestors, causing them to return to their ‘home’ villages when the sun’s warmth arrived. The birds were intermediaries between our two worlds. To encourage the birds and destroy any obstacles, children would destroy 40 small boards and 40 small ropes — symbolising the power of winter to ‘bind’ the earth. This eliminated all barriers to spring’s warmth.

Also, young girls were allowed to dance a reel, regardless of Lent’s seriousness.

Magpies began nesting, so 40 branches were laid out for them and nesting boxes were made. The tradition of making nesting boxes is being revived today, with people placing them on city balconies, with a perching branch attached. Starlings are common in Belarus, enchanting us with their pleasant twittering and attractive dark blue and black feathers, which glint in the sun. Fathers traditionally make these boxes with their sons, teaching their children a lesson of labour and kindness.

More weather superstitions were upheld, with dry days from ‘gramnitsy’ to ‘saraki’ spelling a hot summer — even to the point of drought. However, if snow was still found on house roofs, it was thought that thick snow would fall on Annunciation D a y, r e m a i n i n g u n t i l St. Yuri’s Day. A thaw p r o m i s e d a p l e a s a nt spring.

Symbol: the Skylark.

Skylarks are known for having a cheerful song and are thought to be goodhearted. Accordingly, they are kept safe — and certainly

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Traditions

never killed. It is said that God created the modest skylark from a handful of moist earth after winter, thrown high into the sky. They tend to return to Belarus around the spring solstice, after ‘saraki’, braving spring frosts. Legend says that God gave the skylark a small piece of coal which it throws down to thaw the snow; its habit of diving suddenly seems to prove the legend true, while its song is reminiscent of chiming crystal bells in the sky.

People in Minsk Region say that ‘the skylark praises God’. In spring, Belarusians would bake special ritual buns in the form of skylarks for children to throw into the air, crying: ‘Skylarks, fly home and bring us back red spring!’

Careful mothers and grandmothers would bake at least 40 buns, with one always burnt on the stove in sacrifice.

The tradition was still evident in the early 1970s, with raisins used for eyes; the tasty treats were sold in bakeries for all. The skylark’s singing signalled that work should again begin in the fields.

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UNESCO marks Earth Day. Symbol: the Earth. As the Earth takes its first breaths of invigorative spring air, we watch in anticipation; human life depends so greatly on her whims, that it’s hardly surprising we have always done what we can to encourage Mother Nature to gain strength quickly. It was forbidden to begin preparing the soil until Annunciation Day (April 7th this year): to hoe, dig or even stamp on the ground in anger was taboo, as it might offend the Earth, causing crops to fail.

Meanwhile, Slavonic people would kiss the soil to become connected with its power. Belarusian young boys setting off to become soldiers would tread on the ground near their home porch with their bare right foot, so that their mothers could collect the soil, wrap it in flax fabric and keep it safely until their sons returned.

To accelerate nature’s awakening, some villagers would clear an area in the forest so that children would be able to gather berries

and mushrooms more easily in the summer. Meanwhile, young girls would take heather and cranberry branches from under the snow to made bouquets, throwing them up into the trees as an offering, encouraging them to blossom in full force.

March 25th

This day (known as ‘Rygor’) marks the beginning of flooding: ‘On Rygor, rivers aim for the seas’.

Symbol: Birch Juice. In March, people gathered birch juice (‘byarozavik’) to make beverages. Oaks, birch trees, maples and ash berry trees would commonly grow near people’s homes — as it was a tradition to plant an oak or a maple when a son was born and a birch for a girl. A good birch tree could generate around 200300 litres of sap, collected from March to April. Cool weather encouraged the juice to flow. It could be drunk fresh or bottled with dried fruit or honey to flavour it. Those with cellars stored

Traditions the beverage layered between ice. In western areas of Belarus, maple juice was also collected, being sweeter than birch juice but with a smaller yield.

To make a tasty birch j u i c e

drink, pour the sap into a simple plastic bottle, with one tablespoon of sugar added, alongside 5-6 raisins. Close the bottle with a cap and store in a cool place for 5-7 days in a horizontal position.

March 30th

Their kindred spirit leads them to nest close to villages.

It’s considered to be good luck to see a flying stork, since this brings vitality to the watcher; your legs will never become tired or ache. Storks are ‘sacred’ and offer protective powers, so villagers tend to leave out old wheels and pieces of iron to encourage them to nest nearby. Having a stork’s nest near your home is thought to protect from fires and other mishaps — such as lightning strikes; sheltering under a tree with a stork’s nest is said to be safe during a storm.

Storks are said to bring health, prosperity and happiness and even have the power to negotiate with the wind and rain. However, they can also punish ‘inhospitable’ hosts and bring down fire on a house (or throw a frog or snake into a well). No one should offend storks and it’s a great sin to kill one.

Spring is certainly on its way, as the seasons naturally follow one another for all eternity.

By Galina Ulanskaya

Belta

The day of ‘spring and warm Alexey’, people used to say: ‘winter swears on Alexey’s Day’. It was a landmark, with ice thinning on rivers, allowing fish to break it with their tails. In late March, flooding begins: ‘Fish break against the ice while sleighs break against fences’. People shifted to using summer transport and the arrival of storks was awaited in south-western territories. Even today, people say: ‘the stork will surely appear on Alexey’s Day, whatever happens’.

Villagers would begin planning their sowing, with barley already sown in warmer southern regions. Alexey was also concerned with the production of honey, so bee-keepers would examine their hives, and was a patron of fishing. Belarusian rivers were once full of fish — especially migratory sturgeon, which were hunted with three pronged spears; these can now be seen in our museums. Fishing nets were also sewn on this day and all tackle repaired. Moreover, new fishing tackle was made on this day too, being thought to then be imbued with extra fish-catching abilities.

Symbol: the Stork. The stork is one of the most loved, beautiful and magnificent birds but is surrounded by a curious legend. It’s said that a man was once punished by God for excessive curiosity and disobedience. He was charged to throw a ‘bag’ of unpleasant creatures (snakes, frogs and so on) into a chasm, but untied the bag, which allowed the creatures to escape over the Earth. Some versions of the story blame his wife for tempting him. In punishment, God turned the family into storks, tasking them with gathering those vile creatures.

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Theatrepremieres Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama hosts Yanka Kupala: Paradise Circles, staged by director Svetlana Naumenko

Secret corners of Fate

Denis Parshin performing as Yanka Kupala

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Alexander Dmitriyev

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he performance is d e d i c at e d t o t h e 130th anniversar y of Kupala’s birth but should run well into the future. It is the first attempt of many years to show the Belarusian poet’s life story ‘from scratch’, based on facts. It endeavours to make clear some mysteries and come closer to the emotional (if not historical) truth.

It may not be perfect but the concept is clear, bringing to life the early spirit of works by Yuri Lyubimov at the Taganka Theatre in Moscow.

“For me, it was most important to give young actors the opportunity to show their talent,” asserts Valery Anisenko, Artistic Leader of the Belarusian Drama Theatre. “How do they relate to Kupala?

What does he mean to them? Is there room for personal observations or is the pull of national cultural traditions too strong? It is a test of maturity and artistic independence; we cannot live somewhere between the sky and the ground. We must have the soil under our feet and Kupala is the soil of our national culture and of the Belarusian character. I’m confident that we needed to stage this performance. The audience can judge but, in my opinion, the theatrical company has done well, with great inspiration; each of us has made our own contribution to the final result.”

Valery Anisenko’s Theatre has addressed the lives of historical characters previously: Poet’s Diary — dedicated to Maxim Bogdanovich — was their first such attempt, staged by Vitaly Barkovsky. It received mixed reviews, with some disliking the combination of two time layers in the narration and a lack of commitment to discussing the

Theatrepremieres soul, despite acclaim. We hear his quotations, which describe his assessment of the situation. Historical documents tell us that he died ‘in unclear circumstances’, so the play really offers us nothing new there. Clearly, the major issue of Paradise Circles is its search for spiritual freedom, which allows us to live a full life.

The performance is truly expressive, with a score by professional composer Vitaly Sudin. Besides his orchestral works, he has written six more songs based on Kupala’s poems, which are performed live in the performance.

The play tries to describe the life of Yanka Kupala in a new way, interlacing fact with fantasy. Is it worthy? I think we can say yes, since it allows us to go beyond dry facts. It gives us the opportunity to guess at Kupala’s Fate…

D mitriyev

By Valentin Svetlov

A le x ander

intimate details of the poet’s personal life. from the Moscow Academy of Culture However, the play visited several interna- and Art as a drama director. She then tional festivals, showing that the theatre is passed an internship with the Russian passionate about promoting truly national Academic Youth Theatre, and made material and culture — justifying its title her debut as a playwright and director of Belarusian Drama theatre. at the Belarusian Republican Young The new performance is dedicated Spectators’ Theatre, with Golden Heart to Yanka Kupala — being called a and Cinderella. She now stages perform‘documental allegory’. In fact, the poet ances both in Belarus and Russia. has already appeared on the stage of Jointly with stage director Denis the Yanka Kupala National Academic Parshin, who plays the leading man, also Theatre in Vladimir Savitsky’s Dreams. ponders the poet’s life from the point of view Alexander Podobed presented the title of psychological breakdown. He stands at a role as a spiritually broken personality, crossroads, in a spiritual vacuum. anticipating his death. The play was filled “I think that, at some moment, he with a relentless sense of doom, destiny felt that his previous ideals no longer and Fate. The poet’s death in the Moskva had meaning and new ones had yet to Hotel (in Savitsky’s interpretation) appear,” believes Mr. Parshin. “Kupala seemed logical for someone trapped suddenly realised that he was mostly spiritually. The score and staging all mistaken and that all wasn’t as it had served the theme of destiny. seemed to him initially.”

Ms. Naumenko’s performance Ms. Naumenko is based on two mutually exclusive presents the poet elements: fact and fiction. Even the char- from his youth acters create an allegorical mood: the to his last day, Poet, the Representative of Power, the as he is tortured Red Commander, Mikita Znosak, and by a crisis Female Creatures… Reality and fiction, of the biography and creativity are interlaced tightly in her fantasy.

Ms. Naumenko, as author and stage director, explains that she researched historical materials for 18 months to inform her play. She tells us, “We are trying to understand in our performance what happened to the people’s poet, while seeking to experience his works anew in an allegorical form. I used his verses from 19081920 and his Bondarovna poem.”

From childhood, we all learn Kupala’s lyrical verses and bright poems but, at the time of his writing, he was less understood and accepted. For what did his soul ache? The director asks these questions, then leaves them to hang in the air; the performance doesn’t respond unambiguously, rather pushing us to ponder independently.

Svetlana Naumenko is already well known to theatre lovers. She first graduated from the Belarusian State Theatre and Art A scene from the performance Institute in stage and film acting and, in 2005,

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Contests

Litesound to perform in Baku

L

istening to the EuroFest participants at Minsk’s Sports Palace, I was determined to remain impartial.

Gunesh, Victoria Aleshko and Uzari are all worthy singers, so I decided that I’d vote for the one whose song would ‘touch’ me.

Litesound band’s catchy melody and dynamic performance certainly got my attention, although I also enjoyed Alena Lanskaya’s All My Life.

However, the audience’s feelings were more than clear; they burst into applause when brothers Dmitry and Vladimir Karyakiny of Litesound came on stage. It was obvious that they’d represent Belarus in Baku, for this year’s Eurovision.

The winner was chosen by a professional jury and the TV audience, with Litesound gaining the most votes.

Professionals start working

Dmitry Koldun has been the most successful Belarusian representative at Eurovision so far. He reached the sixth place in 2007 with Work Your Magic, claiming the maximum 12 points from Israel, Ukraine and Russia. He tells us, “I personally liked Litesound very much, for their image and energy. I like their music and am looking forward to their performance in Baku.”

Already, the Belarusian people look up to Litesound, with great hopes for them in Baku. Of course, Eurovision

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is not just a concert but a contest; each country shows its level of musical culture by sending their best artist. EuroFest head Alexander Tikhanovich has no doubt that Litesound is a worthy entry, which will represent Belarus superbly at Eurovision.

The Karyakiny brothers are delighted to have won EuroFest and are enjoying their new level of popularity, ‘We Are the Heroes’ has become symbolic

but we understand that a good result at Eurovision depends on many factors.

Besides a good performance, singing and music play a huge role, as does media coverage and support. We have fan clubs in Latvia, Ukraine, Russia and Italy and hope that new groups will appear.

We’ve begun planning our PR campaign in Europe, which will be the key to Eurovision. Of course, we hope that we’ll win but we must prepare in advance.”

Now, the band needs to shoot a highquality video clip for the song, while reworking their EuroFest performance for Eurovision-2012 in Baku. The brothers admit, “We’d love to liaise with the Greek company which staged the performance of Ani Lorak at Eurovision.”

Ladder to success

Litesound has taken part in the national selection rounds for Eurovision many times, and has been in the top five each time. The brothers began their career in 2002, as an acoustic duet, and began performing as Litesound in 2005. In 2007, their Solo Per Te song, recorded with Italian star Jacopo Massa, was broadcast on the radio in Belarus and Italy, topping hit parades in Italy for twenty weeks. Their Solo Per Te video was among the top ten in the CIS and Baltic States — according to the Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company. Meanwhile, in 2011, their See You in Vegas video won the National Music Award for ‘Clip of the Year in Belarus’.

The Karyakiny brothers tell us about their creative origins and plans for Eurovision. Dmitry is a vocalist and composes the songs, while Vladimir plays guitar.

When did you begin learning music?

Dmitry : From the age of 5, I composed songs and was always humming something. We used to make a small stage in our flat and entertain guests during family holidays. I would sing and Volodya danced. Sometimes, I used to forget the words of the songs and Volodya had to sing.

Where was your first big stage?

Vladimir: It was during a tour of Chinese universities. Not many people

Artur Prupas

Contests

The band look confident when performing at the stage

knew about us at the time but we had around two thousand students gather in a large lecture hall. About 100 people ran to our hotel after the performance to ask for autographs. We can say that our musical career began in China. We used to live 30 kilometres from Shaolin and studied military arts and Buddhism there.

What is the secret of your creativity?

Dmitry: Volodya writes lyrics and we compose the melody together, inspired by our real life experiences.

Do you ever argue?

Dmitry: We have a few disagreements, as we sometimes have differing ideas for a song. However, we always choose the best variant. The truth is born from argument.

Vladimir: We listen to each other and find a compromise. My brother and I are a single entity.

How did you meet Jacopo Massa?

Dmitry: At a song competition in Italy in 2006, we came first and Jacopo

took second place. He invited us to his home and, later, came to Minsk to visit us. We recorded a joint song, then shot a video, and we now play together.

Were you sure that you’d win EuroFest this year?

Vladimir: We’ve always been serious about this project and have chosen songs which could worthily represent Belarus.

On the eve of the EuroFest finals, we received plenty of positive feedback from western colleagues, including the winner of Eurovision — Alexander Rybak. This gave us absolute confidence in success at Eurovision (if we won EuroFest). This year, EuroFest was advertised as being absolutely honest and transparent, so we felt sure in our victory.

D m i t r y : We’r e g r a t e f u l t o A l e x a n d e r Lu k a s h e n k o f o r h i s handling of the situation regarding voting at EuroFest. We’d like to thank all our fans and those journalists who supported our victory. We believed that Faith would win. It wasn’t only

our victory but that of all Belarusians.

We’ll prove this in Baku.

Litesound performs successfully live in concert already, so why do you need Eurovision?

Dmitry: EuroFest has made Litesound popular in Belarus, and the same mechanism works in Europe. Eurovision could make us famous and desirable in Europe. Also, we can promote the image of Belarus worldwide.

What will happen then?

Vladimir: We love our Motherland so all our plans are connected with our country. However, as we’ve spent a large part of our life in an English speaking environment (there were times when it was even easier for us to think in English), we’ve been writing songs oriented primarily towards English-speaking audiences. Now, with an army of fans who love our English language songs, we’ve begun extending our repertoire to include Russian and Belarusian lyrics.

By Viktar Andrejeu

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Master

Doctor’s gifted hands His name is Li Jui (the equivalent of Zhenya Ivanov in Russian) but track and field athletes just call him Doctor Li. They marvel at his gifted hands. Of course, the Chinese are known for their ‘alternative’ medicine but Li is the first to bring these ancient treatments to our professional sports sphere

H

Artur Prupas

e has lived in Belarus for 17 years andspeaksRussian quite well, only referring to his dictionary (a large red book which resembles the Constitution) for especially difficult words. Li only opened it once, at the end of our meeting, seeking the word ‘absorb’ when explaining that it’s important for the stomach to be able to digest food well. He loves to cook and, at the weekend, when he is free, goes to the market to buy his ingredients for cooking at home. He tends to make only Chinese dishes, often inviting guests. “I can’t say whether Belarusian cuisine is tasty or not, as I don’t eat potatoes — even in China (although Chinese people do love them). The meat is fine though!” he admits.

His table is covered in medical books, resembling ancient manuscripts.

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Their open pages are filled with Chinese characters: true guardians of ancient mysteries. “This is an old book, published 700 or even 800 years ago,” Li tells me proudly, in his unusual accent.

Anastasia Mironchik and her husband, Sergey, are Belarus’ top long jumpers and actually introduced me to Dr. Li. After many years, they’re used to his accent, which I find so hard to follow. Despite 17 years outside his homeland, he retains the peculiarities of his national language and mixes his words when trying to speak hurriedly. Meanwhile, his incorrect grammar c an not help but amuse.

He picks up his mannequin, which he uses to explain his

Artur Prupas

Master

acupuncture treatments (it is marked with the points which govern each part of the body, and which can be pressed to relieve illness). His speech is halting yet serious; I can see him choosing his words carefully, speaking of centres and meridians. Chinese acupuncture requires much skill. Li uses his spectacles to indicate the ‘organs’ on his ‘doll’ and explains where to press to relieve a headache, and which symptoms indicate gall bladder or intestinal problems. His breadth of knowledge is impressive; he is a true professor.

Born in Xian, in central China, he tells us, “It’s a very old city.” Searching on Wikipedia, I discover: ‘Xian is one of the most significant historical and cultural centres of China. It was the capital for 13 dynasties and has existed for over 1300 years. For some time, it was the largest city in the world: in territory and population’. Today, it’s home to 7,160,000 people.

His father, a professor of foreign languages, specialised in English but Li never learnt. He laughs loudly at this,

explaining that only his younger brother knows a little English. Li has two older brothers and one younger: Li Ka, Li Ke and Li Chu. In China, the family name precedes. In Belarus, we incorrectly call famous tennis player Li Na by the name of Na Li. The same is true of Bruce Lee (who should be called Lee Bruce).

However, in China, he is mostly known as Li Xiao Long (‘small dragon’).

Dr. Li uses public transport to travel the capital, usually preferring buses. “I don’t have a driver’s license,” he explains, adding that he has no real intention of gaining one, as he believes it better to be a passenger than a driver. We chat on various themes, including Buddhism, Christianity and Mao Tsu Dung’s theory of communism (whereby God does not exist), Confucius’ philosophy, Kung Fu, Wushu and Shaolin. It’s a pleasure to chat and I regret that I don’t know Chinese.

He is a true source of knowledge from which I could learn.

Speaking about Belarusians, Li praises their goodness and kindness but notes that they differ from the Chinese in

character, being more open in discussing their dislikes. The Chinese prefer to keep silent. Also, he thinks that the Chinese are more ready to listen to advice and learn from others, while Belarusians are more likely to neglect others’ opinion, believing themselves right in any situation.

Wise Li knows that laziness hampers development — in people and nations — but describes our track and field sportsmen in glowing terms. “Your coaches love their work,” he asserts. He also practised athletics in his youth, specialising in the long jump, which may be why our Nastya Mironchik-Ivanova is his favourite patient. Li believes in her, doing everything possible to help her attend the London Olympics in good health. “She has a strong character,” he emphasises, adding that Nastya also needs luck to succeed at the Games.

As our chat ends, we bid farewell: I in Chinese and Dr. Li in Russian. Now, you also ‘know’ him, this doctor with gifted hands and a kind soul.

By Sergey Konkin

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Festivals

Cembalo to sound at classical Eurovision Cembalo player Alexandra Denisenya to represent Belarus at Eurovision Young Musicians contest, held in Vienna in May

Elegant defile for Yegor Markhotko Lecturer at Academy of Management, Yegor Markhotko, to represent Belarus at Mr. Model of the World contest — held in Venezuela in April

T

he 28 year old teacher is a serious man, having a diploma in law.

He lectures at the Academy of Management’s Department of Constitutional and International Law and is writing his thesis on Ways of Improving Local Self-Government.

However, these days, he’s been practising his catwalk skills and keeping fit by swimming, alongside learning English — ready to represent our country at a prestigious international contest.

1.83m tall and weighing 69kg, Yegor boasts perfect physique and a handsome appearance, which led to his ‘discovery’ by famous fashion photographer Nikita Bezrukov. Yegor was at a photo session for a glossy magazine, but only views this as a hobby. However, he is delighted to represent Belarus abroad.

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Vitaly Zhilinsky, the well-known National Director of the World League of Beauty and Fashion, is preparing the Minsker for the contest.

The great man has been long selecting and training those who represent the country at the League-organised contests, to ensure that all contest requirements are met. Yevgenia Kuntsevich, from Grodno, was last year named ‘Miss Photo Model of the World’ after receiving Vitaly’s help. His ‘pupils’ often win prestigious contests and, with Yegor, he is now designing a national Belarusian costume for wear at the event.

This is the first time that Belarus will be taking part in a contest of this kind but there is every chance that Yegor could win; he is certainly worthy.

B

elarus’ representative has been announced after five finalists performed at the Belarusian State Academy of Music, judged by a professional jury.

Alexandra Denis enya was born 1994 in Minsk and has been attending the Republican Musical Gymnasium-College since her first year at school. She has been twice awarded with scholarships and has been given three grand awards from the Special Fund of the President of Belarus to Support Talented Youth.

The forum of young ‘classical’ musicians is held every two years.

As is traditional, its final concert shall launch the globally famous Vienna Festival.