Belarus (magazine #7 2018)

Magazine for you

No. 7 (1018), 2018 Беларусь. Belarus

belarus Politics. Economy. Culture

ISSN 2415-394X

under the sIGN of kupala NIGHT

Newspaper from Belarus

Голас Радзімы edition of the “Голас Радзімы” can be found on the Internet

The newspaper for fellow countrymen: well-known and well-read Газета з БелаРусі

Голас Радзімы Голас Радзімы чацвер, 19 ліпеня, 2018

Выдаецца з 1955 года l

l NO. 25 (3577) l

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l четВерг, 19 ліпеня, 2018

Выданне “Голас Радзімы” можна знайсці ў інтэРнэце

Папарацькветка над Іркутом

Родны каларыт на латышскім фестывалі

Стар. 5

Стар. 6

Сяброў вітае Гервачай Стар. 7

Светапогляд

веСтКі з рЭдаКцыі

Купалле ў эпоху ІТ

Спроба паглядзець на спрадвечнае беларускае народнае свята скрозь прызму сённяшняга дня і нашай камп’ютарызаванай самасвядомасці Ку­пал­ле­—­гэ­та,­як­ка­жуць,­ свя­та­ свя­таў­ у­ на­шым­ на­род­ ным­ ка­лен­да­ры.­ Ча­сам,­ ад­нак,­ у­ ма­ла­дых­ лю­дзей­ з­ ­ га­джэ­та­ мі­ ў­ ру­ках­ уз­ні­ка­юць­ пы­тан­ні­ на­кшалт:­ а­ ці­ су­час­на­ гэ­та­ —­ зві­ваць­вян­кі,­па­ліць­вог­ні­шчы­ ў­ Ку­паль­скую­ ноч­ ды­ ска­каць­ це­раз­іх?­Ці­ж­гэта­не­архаіка?­ Дзе­ля­ ча­го?­ Якая­ нам­ ад­ та­го­ ка­рысць?­ Мо­жа,­ ма­ю­чы­ апош­ нія­ вер­сіі­ ай­фо­наў­ ды­ ай­па­даў,­ мы­ даў­но­ ўжо­ вый­шлі­ з­ эпо­хі­ “дры­му­ча­га­языч­ніц­тва”­ў­эпо­ ху­ІТ?­Ці­не­лепш,­разважаюць,­ па­ту­сіць­у­якой­небудзь­фан­зо­ не,­ сма­ку­ю­чы­ піва­ й­ чар­го­выя­ галы­на­чэм­пі­я­на­це­све­ту?... Мае­на­тат­кі­—­не­спрэч­ка­і,­ крый­ Бо­жа,­ не­ мен­тар­ства,­ не­ аспрэчванне­ жаданняў­ моладзі­ бавіць­ час­ у­ адпаведнасці­ са­ сваімі­ жаданнямі.­ Гэ­та­ спро­ба­ пе­ра­клас­ці­ на­ су­час­ную­ мо­ву­ тое,­ што­ прод­кі­ на­шыя,­ на­ват­ не­ ве­да­ю­чы­ гра­ма­ты,­ ра­зу­ме­лі­ без­слоў. ...“Не­ ўда­ец­ца­ пад­клю­чыц­ ца­да­ўсіх­сет­ка­вых­дыс­каў,”­—­ з’яў­ля­ец­ца­ў­Ку­паль­скую­па­ру­ на­ эк­ра­не­ ма­ні­то­ра­ тэкст,­ ка­лі­ ўклю­чаю­ рэ­дак­цый­ны­ комп.­ Да­рэ­чы,­ на­ ІТ­слэн­гу­ фор­ма­ та­ко­га­ па­слан­ня­ ад­ ма­шы­ны­ на­зы­ва­ец­ца:­ ікон­ка.­ Але­ ж­ як­ з­ та­кім­ аб­раз­ком­ ад­ла­дзіш­ ду­ шэў­ны­кан­такт?...­І­кам­пу,­што­

анатоль к ляшчук

Іван Ждановіч

Такое этнасэлфі ў Купальскую пару – гэта вельмі сучасна

пе­ра­ехаў­ на­ па­чат­ку­ лі­пе­ня­ з­ ме­ды­я­хо­дын­гу­ “СБ.­ Бе­ла­русь­ се­год­ня”­ ў­ но­вую­ ін­фап­рас­то­ ру­ пад­ наз­вай­ Вы­да­вец­кі­ дом­ “Звяз­да”,­ так­са­ма­ не­ ўда­ец­ца­ па­куль­ па­тра­піць­ у­ зо­ну­ свай­ го­ звыч­на­га­ іс­на­ван­ня.­ Зрэш­ ты,­ра­ней­шай­“сет­кі”­ў­яго­ўжо­ й­ не­ бу­дзе!­ Бо­ двой­чы­ ў­ ад­ну­ й­ тую­ ж­ рэч­ку,­ як­ вя­до­ма,­ не­ ўвой­дзеш­ на­ват­ на­ Ку­пал­ле.­ Хоць­ кам­п’ю­тар­шчык­ Вік­тар­ над­ ад­лад­кай­ знеш­ніх­ су­вя­зяў­

пра­цуе:­ за­ку­піў­ аб­ста­ля­ван­не,­ дзю­бае­ сце­ны,­ цяг­не­ оп­та­ва­ лак­но.­І,­зда­ва­ла­ся­б,­тае­бя­ды:­ ну­ пе­ра­мяс­ці­ла­ся­ ўсё­ тое,­ што­ за­ста­ло­ся­ ў­ на­шым­ ІТ­ча­се­ ад­ бы­лой­ рэ­дак­цыі­ га­зе­ты­ “Го­лас­ Ра­дзі­мы”,­ з­ 7­га­ па­вер­ха­ До­ма­ прэ­сы­на­9­ы.­А­ўжо­ін­шая­рэ­ аль­насць,­но­выя­ўмо­вы...­Та­му­ й­ спра­бу­ем,­ з­ кам­пом­ на­ па­ру,­ адап­та­вац­ца,­ упі­сац­ца­ ў­ но­вы,­ 8­ста­рон­ка­вы­фар­мат.­Без­умоў­ на,­ вы­ка­рыс­тоў­ва­ю­чы­ ра­ней­

шы­ до­свед,­ а­ так­са­ма­ шчы­рае­ спры­ян­не­ но­ва­га,­ звяз­доў­ска­га­ ка­лек­ты­ву­на­ча­ле­з­Паў­лам­Су­ ха­ру­ка­вым,­ яго­ дырэктарам­ –­ галоўным­ рэдактарам,­ ка­ле­гі­ май­го­Ге­ор­гія­Шаблюка­з­яшчэ­ ня­даў­на­ бліз­ка­га­ нам­ вы­дан­ня­ “The­Mіnsk­Tіmes”­ды­ня­даў­ня­ га­ж­рэ­дак­та­ра­яго­й­“Го­ла­су­Ра­ дзі­мы”­Вік­та­ра­Харкова.­Але­ж­ бе­раг­пад­наз­вай­“СБ”­ды­“МТ”­ з­ яго­ насельнікамі­ сплы­вае­ ў­ мора­часу.­­➔ Стар. 4

наша пуцяводная “звязда” цяпер газета “голас радзімы” выходзіць пры дзейснай падтрымцы выдавецкага дома “звязда” Вы­ заўважылі:­ у­ нас­ 8­ ста­ ронак!­І­газета­будзе­выходзіць­ два­ разы­ на­ месяц.­ Мяркуем,­ новы­ фармат­ выдання­ прый­ дзецца­ даспадобы­ чытачам.­ З­ пачатку­ месяца­ рэдакцыя­ газе­ ты­ “Голас­ Радзімы”­ ўвайшла­ ў­ склад­ Рэдакцыйна­выдавец­ кай­ установы­ «Выдавецкі­ дом­ “Звязда”».­ Ёй­ кіруе­ дырэк­ тар­ –­ галоўны­ рэдактар­ Павел­ Якаўлевіч­ Сухарукаў.­ Ад­ яго­ з­ калегамі­цяпер­мы­атрымліваем­ усебаковую­ падтрымку­ нашай­ дзейнасці.­ Рэдакцыя­ застаец­ ца­ ў­ Доме­ прэсы,­ па­ адрасе:­ 220013,­ Мінск,­ вуліца­ Багдана­ Хмяльніцкага,­10­а.­Пакой­907.­ Зрэты,­ выходныя­ звесткі­ дру­ куюцца­ на­ апошняй­ старонцы­ ў­ кожным­ нумары­ газеты.­ У­ нашых­ планах:­ пашыраць­ кола­ няштатных­аўтараў,­адладжваць­ супрацоўніцтва­ з­ калегамі­ са­ “звяздоўскіх”­выданняў. Да­ нас­ цяпер­ прыходзяць­ электронныя­ пісьмы,­ тэле­фа­ наванні:­ дзе­ ж­ газета­ ў­ інтэр­ нэце?­ Калі­ ласка,­ сябры,­ не­ хвалюйцеся:­ гэтым­ ужо­ зай­ ма­юцца­ прафесіяналы.­ Нам­ абяцаюць,­ што­ сайт­ выдання­ з­ усімі­ архівамі­ плаўна­ і­ без­ страт­ перамесціцца­ пад­ дах­ нашай­пуцяводнай­“Звязды”. Іван Ждановіч, галоўны­рэдактар­ газеты­“Голас­Радзімы”­

КарыСны доСвед

Крылы мацнеюць у палёце Шэраг цікавых культурных, асветніцкіх праектаў беларусы Эстоніі рэалізуюць з актыўным удзелам дзяцей і моладзі дзяўчаты з нашай гімназіі Чытачы­газеты,­пэўна­ж,­ве­ даюць­з­папярэдніх­публікацый­ пра­ дзейнасць­ нашага­ Белару­ скага­цэнтра­вучобы­й­развіцця­­ EVA­Studiorum.­ Гэта­ пры­ ім­ у­ 2007­ годзе­ –­ і­ як­ жа­ хутка­ ляціць­ час...­ –­ быў­ створаны­ танцавальна­песенны­ансамбль­ “Дзяўчаты”.­Я­й­па­гэты­дзень­ ягоная­ кіраўніца.­ У­ адметным­ творчым­ калектыве­ спяваюць­ эстонскія­ школьніцы,­ ён­ часта­ выступае­ на­ розных­ імпрэзах.­

Апошні­ склад­ гурта­ нязмен­ ны­тры­гады,­у­ім­выступаюць­ шэсць­ вучаніц­ Табасалускай­ гімназіі­–­гэта­пад­Талінам,­дзе­й­ я­сама­працую.­А­ўнікальнасць­ ансамбля­ў­тым,­што­дзяўчаты­ мае­спяваюць­ песні­ на­ белару­ скай­мове. Склад­ансамбля­“Дзяўчаты”­ з­гадамі­зменьваецца:­такая­ўжо­ спецыфіка­нашай­працы.­У­рэ­ пертуары­ з’яўляюцца­ новыя­ песні.­Час­ад­часу­некаторыя­з­ маіх­таленавітых­малодшых­ся­ бровак­ заканчваюць­ гімназію,­ рухаюцца­ далей­ па­ жыцці.­ На­ змену­ ім­ прыходзяць­ іншыя.­ Вядома­ ж,­ ёсць­ у­ гурт­ адбор,­ ёсць­ нават­ канкурэнцыя.­ У­ прыватнасці,­ для­ нас­ важна,­

каб­ у­ гімназістак,­ што­ прэтэн­ дуюць­на­месца­ў­гурце,­было­й­ жаданне­ спяваць­ па­беларуску,­ і­ ўдзельнічаць­ у­ нашых­ бела­ рус­кіх­мерапрыемствах. На­ здымку,­ які­ дасылаю­ ў­ рэдакцыю,­ зафіксавана­ радас­ ная­падзея­з­чэрвеня­2018­года:­ гімназісткі­ мае­ з­ гурта­ “Дзяў­ чаты”­ закончылі­ дзявяты­ клас.­ Цу­доў­ная­пара!­Цудоўныя­дзяў­ чаты! “Буслікi” з эстонскай прапіскай Той,­ хто­ мае­ дачынне­ да­ школы,­ заўсёды­ трохі­ хвалю­ ецца­ ўвесну.­ Бо­ гэта­ напру­ жаная­ пара­ –­ і­ для­ вучняў,­ і­ для­ настаўнікаў.­ Падводзім­

Ніна Пээрна са сваімі цудоўнымі “Дзяўчатамі”

вынікі.­ Будуем­ новыя­ планы.­ Штогод­ назі­ра­ючы,­ як­ падра­ стаюць­ мае­ вы­ха­ванцы,­ лаўлю­ сябе­на­думцы:­ім­будзе­хацец­ ца­ ўсё­ вышэй­ падняцца­ над­ роднымі­мясцінамі,­ паглядзець­ іншыя­ краіны,­ гарады.­ Гэта­ жа­ й­ малыя­ буслікi,­ дарэчы,­ падраста­юць­ у­ бацькоўскіх­ буслянках,­набіраюцца­сіл,­каб,­

расправіўшы­ крылы,­ паляцець­ да­ новых,­ нязведаных­ месцiн,­ на­ новыя­ лугі­сенажаці,­ бало­ ты.­ Магчыма,­ з­ такіх­ асацы­ яцый­ і­ ўзнікла­ ў­ нас­ у­ Таліне­ назва­ Беларускай­ нядзельнай­ школы:­ “Буслікi”.­ Вучні­ якой­ нядаўна­ закончылі­ афіцыйна­ свой­ першы­ навучальны­ год.­➔ Стар. 8

contents

Беларусь. Belarus Social and political magazine № 7 (1018), July, 2018 Published since 1930 Founders: Zviazda Publishing House editorialand-publishing establishment Editor-in-Chief: Viktor Kharkov

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Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Come and see

Chinese experience of Belarusian IT sphere Ambassador Extraordinary and

European Union as neighbour and partner Commissioner for European

Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, takes part in 10th Eastern Partnership Informal Ministerial Dialogue between foreign ministers and ministers for digital technology affairs

18 Seven days that feed a year

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www.zviazda.by E-mail: belarus.mag@mail.ru Subscription index — 74977

Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China, Kirill Rudy, tells us about the development of information technologies in China, and where Belarus should be heading

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Editorial office address: 220013 Minsk, Belarus, 10a Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street Tel.: +375 (17) 287-19-19, +375 (17) 292-66-92 Тel./fax: +375 (17) 287-15-26.

Megamall stores headed to the regions

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Gaining distinction To promote cycling

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Holiday of friendship and national unity Festival of National Cultures

more widely, a concept of its development has been launched, with special focus on safety issues

hosted by Grodno

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‘A translator must feel the spirit of the work’ Yaroslava Shekera, a Ukrainian Chinese-language translator, poet, literary critic, artist and vytinanka master, discusses art, the East, the Chinese world and its relation to Slavonic literature, including Belarusian

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Visiting Oginski

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Philosophical subtext of reality Belarusian landscape painter Valery Shkarubo’s guide to creativity

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Last year brought a breakthrough for Minsk retail, as three large shopping centres appeared, with another three planned. It’s clear that there’s still potential for retail growth.

Holidays for all What does first major inclusive route offer?

Registration Certificate No. 8 issued on 16.07.2018, by the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus Design and Layout by Tatiana Storozhenko Беларусь. Belarus is published in Belarusian, English and Chinese.

The magazine is distributed to 50 countries worldwide.

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

The editorial office does not bear responsibility for contents of advertisements.

Signed for printing on 26.07.2018 Offset printing. Coated paper.

Format 60х84 1⁄8.

Conventional printed sheets 6,51 Accounting published sheets 6,98

Total circulation — 1,633 copies (772 — in English) Order

Divimax JSC Licence No. 02330/53, as of 14.02.2014 220007 Minsk, Belarus, 125 Aerodromnaya Street

© Zviazda Publishing House editorial- and-publishing establishment, 2018

World is smaller than it seems

On the front page of the cover photo by Anatoly Kleshchuk

беларусь. belarus 2018

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ndependence Day

Dear fellow countrymen!

I congratulate you on the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. This holiday, uniting the fates of various generations, reminds us of the long and difficult path of the development of our state. We know the value of freedom. We understand the power of the unity of people, patriotism and faith in the future. We understand that sovereignty is our most valuable asset.

By liberating our Motherland from the Nazis, restoring the country in the post-war years, developing a young nation at the turn of epochs and the millennia, we have been writing the history of independent Belarus together.

Our sacred duty is to keep the memory of the Great Victory, passing it on to future generations, while preserving and strengthening peace within our land, enriching our country and making it more beautiful.

May this remarkable day, that has become a symbol of courage and heroism of the Belarusian people, continue to inspire our citizens to new achievements.

I sincerely wish you happiness, well-being and success, in every endeavour.

Happy Republic Day! Alexander Lukashenko

belta

Sovereignty as major asset

`` The parade to Minsk’s Hero-City Memorial involved more

than 4,000 servicemen and 250 military vehicles, presenting nineteen pedestrian and twenty-three mechanised parade units.

For the first time, female soldiers from formations and military units of the Belarusian Army marched in the parade, alongside a combined formation of cadet schools, specialised lyceums and

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cadet corps, and a formation of soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army of China. As is traditional, servicemen from Russia also took part in the parade.

A huge theatrical performance, entitled ‘My Native Land’, took place afterwards, with children on the square dressed in clothes bearing the names of all Belarusian cities and towns. A thousand balloons

were released in the shape of a heart and in the colours of the state flag, while an air balloon in the shape of a heart was raised, inscribed ‘My Homeland’. The festive programme of July 3rd concluded with a gala-concert near Minsk’s Hero-City Memorial, culminating in the ‘Let’s Sing the Anthem Together’ action and a festive salute.

By Veronika Pustovit

беларусь. belarus 2018

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emories endure

BELTA

M

Come and see

o

Some pain is eternal, passed from generation to generation, burning itself on our heart in the scale of its inhumanity. Belarus still feels the echo of war, though other countries may forget, despite their current tensions.

One place where the horrors of the Second World War continue to ‘chime’ is the former death camp of Trostenets, near Minsk: the fourth largest in Europe in terms of the number who died there. On June 29th, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, joined the federal presidents of Germany and Austria, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Alexander Van der Bellen, in visiting this memorial site. There, they took part in a requiem service dedicated to the memory of Nazi victims.

On their way to Blagovshchina memorial cemetery, the presidents passed buildings symbolising the carriages in which people were brought to the concentration camp, with lamps and flowers placed in the carriage windows.

Anna Aksenova, the project’s chief architect, tells us that, before start-

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ing work, they conducted extensive research, to understand where graves were situated. “We had to redesign the project several times, to most precisely determine the location of graves. Previously, everything was grassed-over so it was difficult to find the pits. For the two major burial sites, we decided not to install granite boundaries but steel plates, which reflect the sky, bridging the past and present. Of course, those who were killed saw the same skies.”

The Belarusian Head of State started the requiem service by saying, “The pain of the terrible events of the Second World War brings us together today.

In this improvised hall, we’re like one family: this is the major symbol of our meeting. We represent different nations and different faiths, and we live in different countries, but we, politicians

and public figures, stand here because we remember the tragic lessons of our shared history. We know how human lives were devalued by the ideology of Nazism, which turned the world upside down with crimes unparalleled in their cruelty.”

According to the Belarusian President, the most inconceivable phenomenon of the Second World War was the death camps. Trostenets was the fourth largest in Europe in terms of the number who died there, with many members of the Jewish community being sent from Berlin, Bremen, Vienna, Dortmund, Prague and other European cities. Among the ash of their bodies lies that of Belarusian civilians, undergrounders and Soviet prisoners-of-war.

“Our architects have tried to show the fine line between life and death,”

M had learned lessons from the Second World War but, as the President noted, “Today, we see that the past has a firm grip on us. Many do not recognise state borders. The world community has come to face ‘demons of intolerance’ that foment hatred and provoke violence.”

He is convinced of the necessity of launching major international dialogue, aimed at overcoming all contradictions. Only via trust, respect and open and sincere conversation can we strengthen international security, jointly counteracting hostility, hatred and fanaticism, and ensuring a happy future for tomorrow’s generations.

“It doesn’t matter where this dialogue takes place. It doesn’t even matter as part of which organisation: one already existing or one newly created.

This dialogue will take place because we need it, as we all understand,” stressed Mr. Lukashenko. “We no longer feel the chill of the Cold War and the fact that we’re speaking about this today is a guarantee that we’ve learnt to draw lessons from history. The tragedy that endangered the existence of humanity shouldn’t ever be repeated in the world.”

During the speech at the requiem service, the President of Belarus offered up a minute’s silence. The presidents of Germany and Austria spoke about the importance of drawing lessons

Yuriy Mozolevskiy

Mr. Lukashenko stated. “It’s impossible to ignore what happened on Belarusian land. It wasn’t at our instigation and it wasn’t the creation of Belarusians, so it’s even more tragic for our country and for the Belarusian nation.”

Having the unique opportunity to know the truth of that war from the stories of eyewitnesses, we must preserve it and prevent a revival of the dreadful past, as the President of Belarus emphasises. History has shown us that evil can’t be ignored, even in thought, since transformation into a real threat is only a matter of time.

The Belarusian Head of State expressed sincere words of gratitude to those presidents, politicians and public figures gathered, as well as to representatives of religious organisations, and the leadership and residents of European cities, whose presence demonstrated the shared desire to mark the memory of Trostenets victims. He called on everyone to support the initiative of Belarus to create an electronic book of memories for Trostenets. Mr. Lukashenko addressed relatives of those who were killed, as well as historians and all those interested, saying, “Let’s write together the history of the people killed and buried here.”

Post-war order reinstated security and peace on the continent for many decades and it seemed that humankind

emories endure

from history and a message from the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, was read out. The German President recollected a film about the Second World War which he finds particularly moving: Come and See — (shot at Belarusfilm Studio by Elem Klimov, from Ales Adamovich’s script). He asked for us to view the mistakes of those times by bearing witness, being careful never to forget them, or to repeat their tragedy.

The German delegation was large, featuring Igor Shklyar, a member of the presentation of the synodal community of Cologne. Born in Belarus, he was keen to visit his Homeland, saying, “My task is to tell Cologne about Belarus, where people are preserving the memory of the war and history. What’s being done here is essential; without history, we have only instinct, as the animals do.”

Representatives of various confessions took part, including the Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. He believes that war brings tragedy regardless of faith, nationality or political views. The fact that a memorial complex is being opened testifies to our desire to remember the mistakes of the past. “Rather than twisting the knife into healing wounds we should remember our history,” he stated. “We should warn humanity that those events should never be repeated.”

Those who survived the horrors of war and went on to live full lives are inspiring. One such is Valentin Tolkachev, who survived the concentration camp and German captivity as a child. Now aged 79, he continues to swim in winter, though he has retired from teaching and his business. He has also written books and jokes that he plans to live to 150.

“It’s better for our grandchildren not to know every detail of the horrors we endured in the concentration camps, together with our mother. We’ve no wish to frighten them but they’ll learn as they mature that terrible mistakes, resulting in such loss of life, should never be repeated.”

By Veronika Pustovit

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ialogue

Shared legacy After the requiem service held at the site of the former death camp of Trostenets, the Palace of Independence hosts bilateral meetings, attended by President Alexander Lukashenko and the heads of Austria and Germany

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peaking with the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, the Belarusian leader stressed that Austria has always supported Belarus, playing a significant role in improving relations with the EU. Mr. Lukashenko said that, soon, he’ll be meeting the Austrian leadership in Vienna. He added, “We’re always glad to see you, the leadership of Austria, in Belarus.”

Our countries boast much in common, especially economically. “Due to your visit to Belarus and our inter-departmental contacts, we’re able to expand collaboration between Austria and Belarus,” noted the Belarusian leader. “Your country plays an important role in strengthening security in Europe. I’d really like to see Austrian high-level representatives attend the Minsk conference on security in our region this autumn.” The President also invited Austrian athletes and the President of Austria to take part in the 2nd European Games, being hosted by Minsk in 2019.

Mr. Van der Bellen thanked Mr. Lukashenko for his friendly reception and noted his surprise that Trostenets is not better known across Europe, as a memorial site. He stressed the importance of the site for Austria, as a place which should not be forgotten. uring his meeting with Mr. Steinmeier, the President of Germany, Mr. Lukashenko noted that his visit would resonate positively with Belarusians.

“Moreover, this isn’t your first time in Minsk; nor in this palace. You’re one of the famous ‘Normandy Four’. It would be unjust not to thank you for the significant contribution you’ve made to helping normalise relations between Belarus and the EU. We’re very grateful to you for this. We won’t forget. We’ve realised everything we spoke of with Angela Merkel,” noted the Belarusian leader. He asked that Belarus’ best wishes and regards be conveyed to the German Chancellor.

Mr. Steinmeier promised to fulfil this request and underlined his good memories of our country, having spent many hours in Belarus, when the European continent was experiencing a major crisis (referring to the conflict in Ukraine, for which the ‘Normandy Four’ gathered in Minsk, in 2015). He noted that the document developed after long negotiations is directly connected with the Belarusian capital. He hopes that the situation in the east of Ukraine will stabilise and that both sides will follow the Minsk agreements in future.

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Memory without limitation Trostenets Memorial is monument of European importance

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or a long time, few beyond Belarus were aware of this place where massacre occurred. In Germany, Maly Trostenets was mentioned only by historians. Now, the death camp that operated near the village of Maly Trostenets (now, a suburb of Minsk) and generated the fourth largest number of victims during the Second World War, is becoming a monument of European importance.

It had no special infrastructure and no barracks. People were simply taken to the forest and shot, then tipped into a ditch dug in advance. Some were suffocated in mobile gas chambers. In 1944, the Extraordinary Commission discovered thirty-four mass graves in Blagovshchina, filled with human remains and ash…

Victims of Trostenets include all the children from the Jewish gymnasium in Cologne, with its director, Erich Klibansky, and his wife and three sons. Their story is part of a touring exhibition spending six months at the National Library, organised by the Dortmund International Education Centre and Johannes Rau International Centre for Education and Exchange, in co-operation with the Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe Foundation.

The idea for the exhibition appeared when works launched in Minsk to create the memorial complex. His-

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emories endure

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thing is indisputable: the death camp was the largest within the Soviet Union, taking the lives of the civil population of Belarus and Soviet prisoners-of-war, as well as Belarusian, Austrian, German and Czech Jews, partisans and undergrounders. Around 24,000 Western European Jews were brought to Minsk from 1941 to 1943 and killed either in the Minsk ghetto or in Trostenets death camp.

The camp comprised forced labour, places of mass execution (in Blagovsh­ china) and crematorium furnaces (in Shashkovka). The memorial complex in Trostenets explains each in detail. In 2015, to honour the memory of those killed, the Gates of Memory Memorial was unveiled. Recently, the second stage of the complex, Blagovshchina Memorial Cemetery, opened to visitors.

The exhibition at the National Library comprises eighteen sections, showing Maly Trostenets as a place of crime and memorial. During the opening of the exhibition, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany, Peter Dettmar, noted, “Much could have been buried in oblivion because eyewitnesses from those years are no longer living. There are so few who can personally relate details of the tragedies. History fades quickly if it’s not part of our own life so it’s important to do all we can not to forget the past. Horrors should be remembered as orienting points for future generations, so that they may learn; therefore, we need such places as Trostenets, for remembrance. For Europe, it is a place of shared memories.”

By Yelena Dedyulya

Yelena Dedyulya

torians and museum employees from Belarus, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria have since been collecting information on the events which affected so many nations. Touring various cities across Europe, it opened in November 2016, in Hamburg, from where the first Jews arrived in Minsk, to be killed. Other cities from which deportations were made have received the exhibition and, next year, it will go to Vienna.

Survivors of those war years have been able to take part in seminars connected with the exhibition, while schoolchildren and students have been encouraged to take part in various competitions.

From spring 1942 until summer 1944, Trostenets was a place not only of mass murder but where all traces of crime were hidden. In late 1943, a special Sonderkommando (special command units) forced Minsk detainees to unearth graves, removing corpses with hooks, to enable them to be burnt. Afterwards, to avoid them bearing witness, the forced labour workers were shot.

The Nazi’s plan was meticulous, with lists kept confidential and no register of victims ever made in Eastern Europe. However, evidence remained and, just over a decade ago, relatives of those killed began to arrive in Belarus from various corners of Europe.

Immediately after Minsk’s liberation, in July 1944, the Extraordinary State Commission for the Investigation of the Crimes of the German-Fascist Invaders began its work in Trostenets.

It estimated the number of victims at 206,500, although historians cannot agree the exact scale of the tragedy. One

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lobal context

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new impulse Belarus’ status as an observer within the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation offers the opportunity to declare our position in the organisation and meet with friends in private

Belarus and China agree on visa-free regime

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n the sidelines of the recent SCO Summit, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, met the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, for a bilateral meeting establishing a mutual visa-free regime.

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A corresponding inter-governmental agreement on a mutual visa-free regime for holders of usual passports was signed on June 10th, in Qingdao, after negotiations by our heads of state. On the Belarusian side, the agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei.

Various documents have also been signed to govern co-operation across several spheres, including an inter-

governmental agreement on technical and economic aid. There is a framework agreement giving Belarus a concessional loan, for the final stage of an investment project to build a high-tech full-cycle agricultural enterprise. Moreover, there is a memorandum between the Economy Ministry of Belarus and China’s International Development Co-operation Agency, on interaction in the sphere of human potential development.

G President Lukashenko told his colleague, “We’re delighted to lend unconditional support in any situation. We aren’t looking for the good opinion of others when it comes to independence and state sovereignty. I’m confident that, if China is strong, Belarus will also be strong; our country is your reliable partner.”

Xi Jinping noted Belarus’ active participation in the summits of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and underlined China’s readiness to remain a reliable friend and partner for Belarus. “We’re ready to combine our development with the development of Belarus,” said the Chinese President.

Mr. Jinping also remembered his first meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, saying, “We felt like we’d known each other a long time. We try to synchronise our efforts to promote our relations and try to be on the same page in areas of mutual interest. We’ll keep working to bring new impetus to bilateral co-operation. I’m ready to keep it up.”

Our position within the SCO

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he Belarusian Head of State spoke during the session of the Council of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation Heads of State, emphasising that Belarus wishes the SCO to make a considerable contribution to ensuring sensible interstate relations.

“Hostility and confrontation lead to the escalation of tension. Serious conflicts may emerge, with unpredictable consequences. Against this backdrop, Belarus sees the SCO as an organisation that should make a considerable contribution to maintaining multilateral security, protecting international rules and regulations, and ensuring the supremacy of common sense in interstate relations,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.

The President noted that new waves of protectionism in global trade di-

rectly or indirectly affect most countries participating in the SCO Summit, threatening trade wars. “It’s absolutely vital that we adopt joint measures to strengthen the global trade system, taking advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,” the Belarusian leader asserted.

The Head of State also suggested developing an IT ecosystem within the SCO. “I suggest a common electronic platform, let us say, with the SCO’s IT ecosystem incorporating the electronic mass media, social networks, e-trade and so on.” He believes this will boost co-operation and increase competitiveness of national economies against the backdrop of globalisation. “This will also help us maintain national security,” he added.

He noted Belarus’ capacity to strengthen SCO food security, saying, “Belarus has a traditionally strong and efficient agricultural sector, as well as high-technology manufacturing, and a well-developed agricultural machinery industry. We suggest tapping into the opportunities offered by these sectors, to boost the food security of SCO member states.”

Mr. Lukashenko noted that, after India and Pakistan joined the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, in 2017, its

lobal context

area expanded to cover nearly a quarter of the world, and nearly half of the global population. The President of Belarus underlined that, under these conditions, adequate food supplies are crucial for the SCO’s development and for maintaining security across this huge region.

Mr. Lukashenko also suggested arranging a specialised exposition, AgroSCO, at the Belagro international agricultural forum, held in Minsk every year. He invited all SCO friends and partners to take part in this expo in 2019. n the sidelines of the summit, the Belarusian Head of State met the President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, asserting that Belarus is ready to establish high-productivity enterprises and production of Belarusian machinery in Mongolia.

The sides discussed possible co-operation in setting up dairy production, as well as in the sphere of automobile and agricultural technologies and agricultural produce. Alexander Lukashenko invited Khaltmaagiin Battulga to visit Belarus, and also met the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, to discuss problematic issues of collaboration between our states.

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According to BelTA materials

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xpert opinion

We’ll win, through integration Olga Kulai, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies, tells us why we’re seeing Belarusian-Chinese contacts activate, to the benefit of both sides How does Belarus’ observer status within the SCO influence BelarusianChinese relations?

It enables us to take part in SCO meetings at the highest levels. For Belarus, the SCO is a multi-lateral venue where we can continue dialogue with our partners — Russia, China and others — alongside taking part in SCO agenda events.

At present, the PRC is promoting the 'Belt and Road' initiative, via the SCO. It’s an opportunity for us to suggest variants of participation in the initiative.

Following Wang Qishan’s recent visit to our country, the heads of China and Belarus have used the SCO as a platform to discuss Belarusian-Chinese collaboration.

Contracts have been signed with China for the supply of Belarusian meat and dairy goods and are soon to be realised. However, the volumes could be more impressive…

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We’re making overtures for ways to expand export supplies. It’s important to understand that Russia is our traditional partner, rather than China. The idea of exporting agricultural produce to the People’s Republic of China has been developing for a long time. The delay in the appearance of contracts can be explained by the fact that we’ve spent much time learning how the market works, solving difficulties of entry, and seeking out partners.

A more efficient step may be the establishment of joint companies with Chinese partners: the main model used by western countries to enter the Chinese market. China imports a great deal, so why shouldn’t Belarus become among those states importing? Our goods certainly meet quality requirements and boast a good image abroad.

In April, a joint venture was set up in Shanghai, to supply Belarusian produce to China. Meanwhile, other Chinese

companies have expressed interest in similar collaboration; negotiations are currently underway.

Since Belarusian supplies have activated, should we expect an inflow of Chinese goods to Belarus?

The entrance of Belarusian produce to the Chinese market doesn’t indicate the same from the PRC. Over recent years, China and Belarus have established traditional export markets. For us, it’s Russia, while the USA is China’s largest trade partner. It’s unlikely that these positions will change significantly.

Chinese supplies may increase if demand grows among Belarusians, if we don’t create something similar in quality or cost (as, for example, with goods made by Xiaomi company). Probably, in the context of world distribution of production, Belarus doesn’t need this.

I don’t think that we’ll be limited solely to the supply of food products.

What about goods with high value

E added and high-tech produce? From time to time, we hear of talks on the establishment of joint production but are yet to see results.

There are some difficulties. To establish enterprises, including high-tech, the Great Stone Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park is currently the major bilateral venue. In this respect, one of the major questions is financing. Belarus doesn’t have the opportunity to invest considerable sums into the construction of infrastructure. A joint investment fund has been established to seek out funding, negotiating with international financial organisations, aiming to overcome the lack of investment.

The revival of contacts, supplies and high level meetings shows that Belarusian-Chinese relations have intensified. Why do we need such established contacts?

It’s the logical result of the bilateral meeting of our departments, including embassies. We may see common features in our foreign policies and economies. China and Belarus both aim for diversification. Belarus is a small country with restricted financial resources, but we manage what we have efficiently, to function properly at state level. For this, we need integration with the maximum number of structures and countries: Russia, the European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, Asia, the Middle East and other partners.

China is doing almost the same. It takes part in international organisations created by the West and simultaneously establishes its own institutes, for example, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. At present, the PRC has resources for this, b ecau s e C hina has emerged from a phase of accumu­

Chinese and Belarusian leaders meet at session of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation to discuss plans of mutual collaboration for the coming future lating capital, launched in 1978, when its policy of reform and openness was declared.

By establishing ties with other countries, China, like Belarus, aims to diversify its risk.

Politics can’t exist without trade; political co-operation needs a n

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economic foundation, which we’re gradually creating. However, it’s vital to remember that Chinese investors can’t be persuaded solely by good political relations. Investors do come to our market and proposals appear, meaning that we’re interesting. We need to remember the context of Belarus’ integration into economic associations and organisations (the EAEU, EU, and World Trade Organisation), as well as Belarus’ influence on them.

At this stage, the Foreign Ministry of Belarus is conducting work to normalise relations with the EU, hoping to sign an agreement. Despite sanctions, such an agreement, for example, exists between the EU and Russia. For China, its signing will be very important since it will open up new sales markets. This is the second issue under scrutiny (after infrastructure) for the development of the Great Stone Park. Meanwhile, we’ll continue giving attention to our traditional partner, Russia, as part of the EAEU.

By Veronika Pustovit

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seful experience

Chinese experience of Belarusian IT sphere Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China, Kirill Rudy, tells us about the development of information technologies in China, and where Belarus should be heading

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In the late 20th century, structural economic reforms created the ‘Chinese wonder’. Following a long period of sustained GDP growth, China gained a modern industry, improved infrastructure and new production facilities. Now, the Chinese economy is second only to the USA in terms of GDP. The People’s Republic of China has also made a breakthrough in developing IT. According to the Ambassador Extraor-

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dinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China, H. E. Mr. Kirill Rudy, Belarusian developers know where they should be heading. With eight years of experience living in China, he spoke, recently, at the TIBO‑2018 international forum, held in Minsk, on the direction in which China is moving regarding information transformation and how we can study Chinese experience in shifting towards a digital economy.

Bіg dаtа for big country According to the Ambassador, the Chinese model of IT development is unique and contradictory. While websites and social networks are strictly controlled in China, we also hear enthusiastic reviews on how efficiently everything is run, with various IT services and products.

Mr. Rudy underlines that China’s IT sphere is developing rapidly, with

U 773 million Internet users, and growing monthly by the total number of Internet users in Belarus. The major issue is processing huge volumes of data: for trade, artificial intelligence research, public security and control systems and, even, bike and car sharing.

Data analysis of trade enables companies to promptly react to change, reducing the gap between design and production to just a few days. This eliminates such notions as, for example, spring and winter clothes collections.

“This knowledge accelerates trade turnover and economic growth. It’s believed that data technology ensures a 2 percent growth of China’s GDP, annually,” notes Mr. Rudy.

nesses, which daily ‘die’ and ‘regenerate’.

“If you’ve been to China and liked a small shop, a restaurant, or a hairdresser you won’t find them next time you arrive. The norm is to constantly begin anew, with IT start-ups comprising 10 percent of all new enterprises. China has the infrastructure, incubators and venture funds,” Mr. Rudy explains.

While 90 percent of start-ups in China disappear within the first year, those who survive turn into large international corporations.

seful experience

territory has 4G Internet coverage; just 58 percent of the population have access, compared to 71 percent in Belarus and 96 percent in the USA.

Chinese firewall The Ambassador also noted that China remains a centralised IT country, while the sphere of information and communication technology is monopolised. For example, such companies as Alibaba and Tencent govern 90 percent of all online trade, 85 percent of online payments and 85 per-

“What’s the role of the state in this process? To determine goals, create infrastructure, support Cashless world small businesses and attract China is a cashless IT country. Almost half of highly-qualified personnel.

Chinese people leave the The remaining financial house with less than $15 of cash in their pockets since stimuli are performed under shops and street kiosks allow market conditions.” payment by scanning a QRcode via a mobile phone. “ T h e m aj or probl e m i n shops is receiving change if you hand over a note!” comments Mr. Rudy.

Each month, 500 million Chinese people order goods via mobile apps, with the online shopping sphere growing at double the pace of that in the USA. “ The de velopment of the IT branch is changing the Chinese economy, directing Chinese savings into consumption and increasing investments into services, design and brand rather than production. As a result, services already account for more than half of China’s economy,” underlines the Ambassador.

Start-up state China is a start-up country. More than 60 percent of China’s GDP is formed by small and private busi-

Seeing one’s own future China has a clear vision for its IT future. At present, three major strategies exist: ‘Made in China — 2025’ (which supports the development of Chinese technologies); the spread of Internet in government, production, trade, agriculture and other branches; and a ten-year informatisation strategy.

Mr. Rudy adds, “What’s the role of the state in this process? To determine goals, create infrastructure, support small businesses and attract highlyqualified personnel. The remaining financial stimuli are performed under market conditions.”

No special tax privileges or budgetary subsidies exist in China. At the same time, less than 50 percent of its

cent of social networks. China’s IT market is practically closed to external competition. It has its own analogues of social networks, and messenger systems, replacing Facebook and WhatsApp. “The PRC has also created its own psychology of consumption, which explains the ban on crypto-currencies; it’s developing a controllable blockchain,” adds Mr. Rudy.

As incomes grow, people are looking for better quality goods, which is changing the business model, and biased attitude towards Chinese products. Mr. Rudy adds that decentralisation of the IT sphere is bringing more start-ups, which are competing with corporate monopolies. It can only be a good thing.

By Ilya Kryzhevich

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usiness focus

New window into Europe Railway transportation with China rising steadily

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he first train, with 38 containers, has arrived at Kolyadichi terminal, near Minsk, having travelled from Shijiazhuang, in the Chinese Hebei Province. The freight train simply left its cargo in Belarus, but the new logistics chain will soon enable us to accelerate an exchange of industrial goods between China and European countries.

According to the First Deputy Head of Belarusian Railways, Igor Shilov, railway transportation with China is developing rapidly. “This year, we plan to transport more than 4,000 container trains from China to Europe, via the Belarusian railway system, into our country and back.”

Speaking at the new route opening ceremony, he underlined that it should

stimulate Belarusian businessmen to expand their export potential. “Belarusian Railways, together with China Merchants Group, logistics operators, partners and carriers, is creating all necessary conditions for unhampered cargo movement. There are no problems in moving Belarusian goods to the twelve Chinese provinces, and none in bringing Chinese goods into Belarus.

We’re waiting for the reaction of Belarusian and Chinese business, as all conditions have been established,” asserts Mr. Shilov.

The Director General of Belintertrans–Transport-Logistics Centre, Yevgeny Usenkov, notes that, after the arrival of the first train, there will be an advertising campaign to attract business. Three or four trains are expected to depart from Hebei Province.

“The new route will primarily transport industrial goods, with plans for delivery of Chinese cargo to Europe, the Baltic and CIS states,” Mr. Usenkov adds. He believes that railway transport is ten times cheaper than aviation and can be achieved within fourteen days. Meanwhile, shipping via Klaipeda Port is three or four times slower.

By Ilya Kryzhevich

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usiness focus

Projects of tomorrow Vietnam may soon see joint enterprise manufacturing passenger transportation and processing dried milk

`` Indian business

offered good conditions to work efficiently

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Trucks manufactured at the factory are to be supplied to the Vietnamese market, as well as to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries across the region.

The Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Department of Foreign Economic Activity, Alexey Bogdanov, stresses that Belarus is currently working on setting up a joint enterprise in Vietnam to process dried milk and whey, using Belarusian technologies. Eight types of dairy produce are planned, including cottage cheese, yoghurts and cheeses.

“This year also sees positive dynamics; from January to April, we traded $1.6 million (up 2.6-fold on the same period of the previous year). Supplies included dried milk, dried whey and meat products.”

After the event, Mr. Semashko joined the Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, Tran Tuan Anh, in signing a protocol of the session of the Belarusian-Vietnamese Intergovernmental Commission.

he delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry recently met the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Mikhail Myasnikovich.

The Speaker noted that our countries boast a high level of friendly political relations and mentioned the President’s visit to New Delhi last September. This led to serious agreements being signed, regulating trade-economic and investment co-operation.

“As a curator of the Indian-Belarusian co-operation, I believe that political and parliamentary contacts slightly outstrip the efforts of business circles. I think that your visit will facilitate business communities to work more actively,” Mr. Myasnikovich commented.

According to the Chairman of the Council of the Republic, business has great conditions to work efficiently: political will, a solid legislative environment and concrete projects. The meeting also tackled issues on collaboration in the machine building sphere, the pharmaceutical industry, the textile branch, and the militarytechnical area. “We’re ready to solve funding issues and to reinforce trade co-operation with corresponding financial schemes,” added Mr. Myasnikovich.

By Ilya Kryzhevich

By Nadezhda Anisovich

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rade-economic relations between Belarus and Vietnam are entering a new phase, according to Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko. Speaking at the 14th session of the Belarusian-Vietnamese Inter-governmental Commission on Trade-Economic and SciTech Co-operation, held in Minsk, he noted that previously signed agreements are inspiring positive dynamics in our bilateral relationship. One agreement governs a free trade zone between Vietnam and the EAEU, while a protocol between the governments of Belarus and Vietnam covers production of motor transport vehicles within Vietnam. Mr. Semashko believes that these agreements will open up unique opportunities, significantly enhancing mutual trade turnover.

He told members of the Belarusian delegation that a positive decision has been adopted by the Vietnamese Government, launching the first joint Belarusian-Vietnamese enterprise (assembling MAZ vehicles), with an 18-month adaptation period.

New legislation is being adopted in Vietnam and the enterprise is receiving technical re-equipment.

“Our enterprise will be working in line with all norms and I think it will be successful,” summed up the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus.

Minsk Automobile Works’ (MAZ) Deputy Director, Dmitry Katerinich, notes that the first stage of the joint MAZ-Asia enterprise to produce trucks will launch in September.

Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam Tran Tuan Anh

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uropean partnership

European Union as neighbour and partner Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, takes part in 10th Eastern Partnership Informal Ministerial Dialogue between foreign ministers and ministers for digital technology affairs

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r. Hahn arrived to take part in the 10th session of informal dialogue of foreign ministers and ministers for digital technology affairs in Eastern Partnership countries. It was his second visit to Minsk this year, and his second meeting with the Belarusian Head of State, having previously arrived in January 2018.

In recent years, relations between Belarus and the European Union have improved, with top level contacts restored; heads of European structures and EU member states have been making trips to visit Belarus.

During the meeting in Minsk, Mr. Lukashenko praised the role of the European Commissioner in normalising relations between Belarus and the European Union. He thanked Mr. Hahn ‘for participation in the political and economic development of Belarus’.

Mr. Lukashenko emphasised that the EU is Belarus’ neighbour. “Neighbours are given by God; therefore, we should be on friendly terms and promote partner relations. We took our time; we did not promise you anything we couldn’t deliver. Meanwhile, you watched us closely, as we did with the European Union. Taking into account ongoing transformations in Belarus and in the EU, we’ve come to the conclusion that we should stop looking askance at each other, watching across the fence. We’ve decided to make advances and restore friendly, partner relations.”

Speaking about Belarus-EU partnership agreements in the pipeline, Mr. Lukashenko noted that they should be underpinned by trade-economic relations. “Topics like democracy, freedom of speech, political prisoners, and abolition of capital punishment are still on the agenda. We aren’t taking them off the table and we make no bones about it. However, the focus should be on trade, and economic and financial relations,” the Head of State is convinced.

“If we see trade in our relations with the EU, this will encourage us to embark on transformations and to reform our political system. Otherwise, we risk following the path of the Soviet Union, in its disregard of economic issues. It ignored public opinion while breaking the political system, destroying the country and leaving it bankrupt. We’re learning lessons from this,” he added.

During negotiations, the Head of State touched upon the topic of Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership.

He believes that the Eastern Partnership is a good example of Belarus’ commitment to economic co-operation with the European Union. “We strictly adhere to Eastern Partnership agreements,” noted Mr. Lukashenko. “We offer specific regional economic projects which benefit both the European Union, Belarus and our eastern neighbours, ours and yours.

This is the basis from which we are proceeding.”

Mr. Hahn noted that Belarus and the European Union have managed to build a relationship of trust in recent years.

“First of all, I must agree that, in recent years, we’ve managed to develop a relationship of trust,” underlined Mr. Hahn.

“This is the only way to achieve anything specific for the benefit of people. My vision rests on creating a belt of prosperity within the framework of the European Union and the European partnership. This will serve as the best guarantee for our security and stability.”

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uropean partnership

Development of infrastructure Head of State Alexander Lukashenko joins Vice President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Alain Pilloux, in discussing projects and co-operation

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r. Lukashenko is convinced of a positive trend, saying, “I’m grateful for the projects, especially infrastructural, that we’re implementing together. Two billion Euros is a good volume that you’ve invested into Belarus, with last year seeing around $200 million. As far as I understand, we’re an acceptable partner for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.”

The President noted that the Bank is interested in the state sector and is liaising accordingly. “Your bank is an active supporter of privatisation processes,” noted the Head of State. “You’re aware of our path towards privatisation of state property and state facilities. I don’t think that my views on privatisation differ significantly from the approach used by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

We’re not absolutely against privatisation; it’s a natural progression.”

The President explained that, if the state is unable to manage certain assets, it’s necessary to pass them to those who can run them efficiently. “We’re against shock privatisation. State property has been created by the nation, through the decades, and we have some good sites. To sell them for a song, without distinction, would be unjust.”

Mr. Lukashenko also noted that privatisation shouldn’t be a cause of social tension. It should generate prospects for reasonable salaries, new jobs, revenue for the budget and development.

After the meeting, Mr. Pilloux told journalists about the major projects being realised with the EBRD, which has been co-operating with the National Bank and the Government for some time, to improve Belinvestbank’s transactions. The EBRD is considering buying some of Belinvestbank’s capital stock, perhaps by the end of this year. However, there is much to be done. “Together with the Government and the National

Bank, we’ll be trying every possible way to enable Belinvestbank to grow, to increase its package of transactions and to enhance to a level where it can attract a strategic investor.

We’ll be discussing this with the Belarusian Government,” noted the Vice President.

Mr. Pilloux asserts that the Belarusian economy is demonstrating positive dynamics across a range of spheres, with economic growth and inflation under control. “Two years ago, we decided against restricting activity in Belarus, enabling us to properly activate infrastructural projects in the country.” In particular, the second Minsk ring road was built and the M-10 project (between Gomel and Brest) was undertaken. The system of water supply and water discharge is being improved and new buildings in Minsk are to gain modern, eco-heating systems. Mr. Pilloux underlines that the EBRD is keen to participate in the reconstruction of twentytwo bridges dating from Soviet times.

By Nadezhda Anisovich

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ositive dynamics

Seven days that feed a year Modern technologies in agriculture presented at Belarusian Agro-Industrial Week Belarusian Agro-Industrial Week is like a report for the year, for industrialists, scientists and agrarians, bringing news of innovations, ensuring successful contracts and helping participants' network. The trade and logistics complex in the agro-town of Shchomyslitsa, near Minsk, hosts the largescale international event, gathering experts from as far afield as China and the UK. Twenty-eight countries took part this year, and more than 500 companies working in the agro-industrial sector.

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market of Russia is now ready to accept your technologies. As part of a large Russian delegation, we’ve signed several agreements, opening up a new window of opportunity for integration and cooperative ties between our two states.”

The forum has long been a platform for scientific and business interaction.

This year, it was visited by representatives of more than thirty foreign delegations.

Belarusian Agro-Industrial Week is a holiday for everyone connected with agriculture. The programme includes seminars, contests, tasting sessions, a congress of the Belarusian Peasant

ositive dynamics

Marina Begunkova

“Belarus can now completely feed its population. Food products were a major export last year: $6.5 billion of dairy, meat and other produce, thanks to modern equipment and contemporary technologies,” underlined Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko, speaking at the opening of the forum.

The forum unites several expositions: Belagro-2018, Belferma, Belprodukt and Prodmash. Holod. Upak.

Everything developed over the last year by engineers and machine builders was presented at the international specialised Belagro-2018 exposition.

Meanwhile, the Belferma expo hosted achievements in animal breeding, including incubators, automated herd control systems, modified milking machines, forage and veterinary medicines.

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Leonid Zayats, the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Belarus has been demonstrating positive dynamics over the first five months of this year. He added that the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has added restrictions on several types of dairy produce sold in containers of over 2.5 litres.

“Of course, it was unexpected for us but we’re ready for anything. In recent times, we’ve seen illogical decisions from Rosselkhoznadzor regarding Belarusian enterprises. The recent ‘attack’ (leading to the closure of some enterprises) is another manifestation of protectionism, ‘knocking out’ Belarusian enterprises from the market,” Mr. Zayats said.

Despite the latest disagreements regarding dairy milk from Belarus, partners from Russia are interested in establishing strong economic ties. The Governor of the Vologda Region, Oleg Kuvshinnikov, tells us, “Thanks to the support of the Industry Ministry of Belarus and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, we plan to double production of tractor machinery in the Vologda Region. This huge

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Council public association and, even, an auction of breeding animals.

By Maria Dadalka

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Megamall stores headed to the regions Last year brought a breakthrough for Minsk retail, as three large shopping centres appeared, with another three planned. It’s clear that there’s still potential for retail growth.

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e anw hi le, p otent ia l in the regions is significant. Artem Davidovich, who heads the Tvoya Stolitsa project management trade sector, tells us about prospects for trade development, noting the importance of ‘going to the regions’.

while shopping centres began filling up with retailers.”

The Minsk market, where businesses are concentrated and where most money flows, has seen new sites launched in the past year: Galleria Minsk, Dana Mall and Green City. This is a new level of retail for Belarus, not just for Minsk.

New level of retail

Customers want to be surprised

“The country’s commercial property market is developing in waves,” stresses Mr. Davidovich. “The first serious disturbance happened during the global economic crisis of 2007-2008. Now, the market is on the rise, overcoming recent shocks. Prices for shopping sites have stabilised and even fallen slightly.

Last year, prices saw positive dynamics

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Despite positive market dynamics, prices for construction materials have increased, and there’s high competition, as well as difficulties in gaining loans. After today’s large projects launch, including the Palazzo shopping and entertainment centre, Minsk City Mall and DiaMond City, we’ll start seeing megamalls.

The whole world is currently moving away from traditional shopping centres, with online shopping growing in influence. Impulse purchasing is ‘vital’ so the major goal is to ‘keep’ consumers on the site for as long as possible. Shopping centres can do this by offering a food court, entertainment and unique proposals. In America, dozens of shopping centres are closing annually because they haven’t moved with the times. People want to go somewhere lively, looking for new emotions and a comfortable place to be entertained.

In order to ‘keep’ clients, you need to surprise them. Palazzo shopping and entertainment centre, for example, in Minsk, is positioning itself as the premier entertainment complex in Belarus, with an IMAX cinema, a vertical wind tunnel, curling tracks, and other facilities.

First robins in regions

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In the regions, serious changes are also underway. Minsk may be oversaturated with shopping possibilities but the regions have less competition. TRINITY in Grodno and ARMADA PLAZA in Mogilev have already opened their doors. Several retail chains are moving into the Belarusian regions, with plans for the coming year or two. They know that, if you don’t develop, you’ll be eaten by your rivals.

The regions have major potential, with various Minsk experts offering themselves as a bridge between investors and operators. Their experience, and knowledge of market players and trends, help them forecast long-term, planning for success.

Patterns don’t work An individual approach is needed for each facility, taking into account the potential of the venue, site characteristics and the strengths and weaknesses of the project. Sometimes, it’s necessary to change building architecture, including the width of internal spaces.

It’s best to make these decisions early in the planning stage, naturally.

Developers often face a lack of ‘tenant shops’ in shopping centres, so it’s important to work with experts who are connected to the chain stores, who know the development plans of companies for the coming year, and who can form the most efficient ties.

Last year, specialists in Minsk worked well on the Europark shopping centre, in Slutsk. The owner had ‘filled’ the ground floor with local individual entrepreneurs but had problems with the upper floor. By correcting the design and layout concepts, he managed to completely fill the second floor in time for the opening.

Experts are now helping to launch the ARMADA PLAZA (in Mogilev) and another megamall, so far without name, in Soligorsk.

By Sergey Kurkach

First hypermarket opens in Gomel

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Festival taking place in Alexandria for the eighth time

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Bread and circuses…

The major festive Native Land gala-concert in the Shklov District’s agro-town of Alexandria had to be postponed by almost an hour, due to heavy rain and a thunderstorm. With so many gathered under the open sky, they were obliged to seek shelter until the weather improved.

When the event began, at last, President Lukashenko, who traditionally opens the Kupala Night Festival, admitted that it’s a special holiday for him. He commented, “On this day and this night, we feel sacred bonds with our native land, with our ancestors and with each other. We feel the urge to break away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and come closer to nature, its beauty and invigorating power. We desire to fill ourselves with the energy of the sun and rain, to breathe the fragrance of grasses and forests, and to enjoy the cool of rivers and lakes.”

Famous performers and bands performed on the main festival stage, for the Kupala show. Its plot follows a pop star who finds himself again in his small Belarusian village, meeting those who were dear to him in childhood. Simultaneously broadcast on several LED screens, it featured the President’s son, Nikolay, playing Homecoming on the piano, composed by Belarusian Valery Ivanov. The concert finished with festive fireworks.

The Kupala Night Festival in Alexandria brought together over 130 trade and public catering outlets, with shopping stalls stretching one kilometre, selling shashlyk, kvass, and other refreshing drinks, as well as confectionery. Even Lithuanian and Ukrainian dishes were available.

Alexey and Galina Yermakovy, from Rzhavka village in the Slavgorod District, presented their estate, which specialises in honey. Since 2017, their Bee Kingdom museum has been welcoming visitors, including showing them the medicinal properties of honey.

“Many don’t know anything about this miraculous substance,” Galina comments. “Bees don’t like draughts, so we cover frames with cloths while the insects fill every hole with honeycomb. If you have a cold, it’s good to inhale steam and cover your chest with the impregnated cloth, like a mustard plaster.”

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Dedication to rural workers As is traditional, the second day of the Kupala Night Festival was dedicated to rural workers. Greeting words from the Governor of the Mogilev Region, Vladimir Domanevsky,

Anatoly Kleshchuk

Under the sign of friendship

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were addressed to rural workers, with honorary certificates and flowers presented to those most deserving.

The holiday in Alexandria is a traditional celebration of rural work, as noted by Gennady Lavrenkov, the aide to the President of Belarus and inspector for the Mogilev Region. He commented, “We began holding the Kupala Night event in Shklov in 1996. This is the fifth time we’ve honoured the best agricultural workers. It’s necessary to do so and it delights me that most are young people.”

The Days of Ukraine in the Republic of Belarus was part of the holiday, with more than thirty masters arriving for the Kupala Night Festival. A whole delegation arrived from Gutsulshchina while craftswoman Anna Kapilchuk, from the Ivano-Frankovsk Region, brought a special machine tool and wonderful items made from wool. In front of everyone, she demonstrated combing wool and making threads.

A couple from Kiev brought modern ceramic items from white clay (extracted from Donbass), as is used to make crockery and cups, and in industrial scales. It’s even used to make ‘kumanets’ cups, which are used ceremonially when a child is born.

Another craftswoman from Ukraine offered a master class in making rag dolls, which have a cross instead of a face, symbolising the four corners of the earth. “Dolls, like our great grandmothers, have many skirts and wear a belt and apron. It’s necessary that important feminine places were always reliably covered!” she explained.

The Kievan Rus horse theatre drew a great crowd. One of the riders presented his white-maned horse, saying, “The theatre was established five years ago and now has twenty historical breeds but we brought only five for this event. This one is a Percheron, called Ratibor. He’s very sturdy, as was used by knights who fought on armed horseback.”

Ukrainian ‘knights’ demonstrated acrobatic riding, as well as combat weapons training and knightly entertainments from the 8th and 9th centuries. They also invited all those interested in the Medieval Ages to take part in the Call of Heroes Festival, held near Kiev.

The festival in Alexandria played host to various entertainments, including amusement rides and a mobile banya.

Several events took place on the youth ground while Mogilev pilots, despite the gloomy sky, low clouds and periodic rain, gave a perfect air show, performing unusual tricks. One flew so low over the meadow that you could see the pilot.

Paratroopers also gave a performance, with one dropping a Belarusian flag of more than 500 square metres over Kupala Square.

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Sorochinsky Fair, horse and air show

By Nelli Zigulya

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Our traditions — our treasure

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he Kupala Night Festival was also organised in other towns and settlements across Belarus. An interesting Kupala ritual took place on the hills of Khroly village, in the Glubokoe District, on the night from July 6th to July 7th. Folk group Vargan, from Polotsk, headed

by Olga Yemelyanchik, led the music. Young girls and boys in folk costumes, wearing garlands of meadow flowers, gathered under the symbolic Kupala Night wheel, then danced in a circle, accompanied by the sounds of harmonica and violin, as well as playing games. “We chose this place for the holiday because local residents used to burn Kupala Night fires here and sing ritual songs and perform circular dances,” explains Olga. “Elderly rural women remember those times, still singing the same songs. Therefore, we’ve decided to restore the ancient tradition, continuing it from year to year, helping young people connect with their spiritual roots. Our traditions are our treasure!’

Of course, there was the traditional hunt for the fern flower: the symbol of happiness. At dawn, everyone went to meet the sun, even though it hid behind the clouds. No matter, the sun remains, even when we can’t see it!

By Anatoly Kleshchuk Photo by the author

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eritage

Folk-embroidered woven linens and table cloths Traditional white-quilted weaving from the Nieman area recognised as historical and cultural treasure

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r a d it i on a l w h it e quilted weaving was widespread among peasants in the Nieman area through the 19th and most of the 20th century. This is conf ir me d by t he presence of a large number of whitequilted towels and tablecloths in Belarusian museums’ folk collections. In the late 20th century, white ornamental cloths were widely used by villagers in the Grodno Region. Although the practice of weaving almost ceased, the Nieman area continued to develop techniques of white-quilted weaving; it became a distinctive regional phenomenon.

White-quilted weaving unites various techniques of hand weaving, creating a beautiful white fabric with a complex, finely-speckled surface, and a delicate texture (formed by interweaving warp and weft threads in a particular way). Such cloth is used primarily for making towels, tablecloths and napkins, but fabric can vary in delicacy, since skill is required at all stages, from choosing yarn and preparing looms, to weaving and decorating. Whitequilted fabrics are usually made from white linen and cotton yarns, although silken threads and grey palettes may be used.

Towels are especially popular, being of high quality, using shading on a fine-quilted white surface, with a coloured pattern — woven or embroidered — sometimes decorating the edges. Crocheted lace is also common.

Yevgeny Markevich, from Lida, has woven all his life, having been taught by his grandmother. Despite being busy in his occupation as a doctor, he continues the tradition, sharing knowledge and skills with others, at Lida District Centre of Culture and Folk Arts’ Department of Crafts and Traditional Culture.

By Olga Korneeva

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The Volozhin Without Barriers project invites people with disabilities to undertake a journey full of experiences. In fact, it comprises seven routes, with accommodation at five specially equipped farmsteads, which are completely accessible to those with limited mobility.

Previously, wheelchair users had limited access to water since their wheels could hardly cope with mud. Now, they can go fishing and take a cruise with sailors from Za Mostochkom farmstead. In addition, guests can take a horse carriage ride, go bird watching, and discover the secret world of bees.

Ganka farmstead offers the chance to make flour and bread, and has an elevator for the upper floors, which can sleep up to about fifty tourists.

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Holidays for all What does first major inclusive route offer?

The new routes will allow families to take holidays where they may have been reluctant before, since they ensure full accessibility — not only for those with disabilities but all guests with mobility issues: pregnant women, young parents with prams, the elderly and people with temporary health problems or injuries.

Although Belarus has only been focusing on inclusive tourism for a few years, it’s well-proven that ‘full access’ holidays are much in demand and can prove lucrative for the travel industry.

Over the past decade or so, the USA has calculated that travellers with disabilities contribute about $13billion to the travel industry annually. Pensioners are among those who have the time to travel and are eager to do so. According

to the World Health Organisation, by 2030, the number of people aged over 65 years will reach one billion worldwide; by 2050, twenty percent of the entire global population will be of advanced age.

It’s hardly surprising that accessible holidaying is popular worldwide.

An increasing number of disabled people are joining tourist groups and, accordingly, hotels, restaurants and cultural institutions need to ensure an accessible environment, in order not to lose customers. Recently, a Belarusian hotel lost a booking for a large group of foreign tourists, as one among them was a wheelchair-user, and the hotel was ill-equipped to meet that guest’s needs.

An inspection of the Volozhin District two years ago showed that the area lacked public facilities completely accessible to people with disabilities.

As a result, organisers of the Volozhin Without Barriers ambitious project (the Belarusian Association of the Disabled, the Country Escape Public Association and the Interaction Foundation) developed an action plan to create an accessible environment by late 2022, which was approved by local authorities.

One of the most important goals of the project was the refurbishment of buildings. Curbs have been lowered at nineteen sites, and tactile tiles laid, with handrails installed. This year sees the launch of the Tourist Information Centre for People with Disabilities, including a large conference room adapted for peo-

Alexander Kushner

ple with hearing and vision problems. A hostel for twenty will also launch, and a special car has been bought.

The Nalibokskaya Pushcha is also receiving new tourist routes, using environmentally-friendly materials, and with full access for travellers with dis-

abilities. Information panels are to feature tactile maps and Braille, while the 1.5km route will have several spots with benches and covered pergolas, as well as camping sites.

The Volozhin District is the first in Belarus to embrace full-access tourism

for all, and is now sharing its expertise, creating guides on how to organise events and festivals. Soon, other Belarusian districts will follow suit, inviting travellers to visit, no matter their life situation.

By Yelena Dedyulya

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ravel notes

World is smaller than it seems Sages of India state that this huge country can only be loved and accepted on your third attempt. However, I must say that our love for this majestic country was instantaneous, when we experienced in 2016, to the southern region of Kerala. Our second trip, this summer, took us to the same sacred sites and I couldn’t help but reflect that, in visiting, we leave a small piece of Belarus behind us.

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n issue 12 of Belarus magazine, in 2016, I wrote how India had enchanted me as a child, with its exotic tales, including those by Kipling, as well as its music and films.

As an adult, its Ayurveda holistic treatments appealed to me. I didn’t need to fly thousands of kilometres to experience Ayurveda. I could have read a book on the subject or visited a medical centre in Moscow or the Baltic States but I wanted to experience this five-thousand-year-old system in its original form.

He who seeks shall find… and I certainly did. I’m still feeling the beneficial effects of my time of rest and treatment. Vladimir Klyuikov, the director of one of Minsk’s travel agencies specialising in Ayurvedic tours, told us about Kerala’s ancient traditions of Ayurveda years ago, leading us to book into the Nattika medical centre.

In 1985, the World Health Organisation recognised Ayurveda as the most effective system of alternative medicine. Many go to India to learn about Ayurveda and homeopathy. On the eve of the visit of the President of Belarus to India, in 2017, my colleagues from BelTA asked Saxena Pankaj, the former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of India to Belarus, about the humanitarian situation. He noted that students come from Belarus to learn Indian dancing and Hindi, while tourist flow occurs in both directions. Through personal contacts with Indians and foreign guests of hotels, we create an impression of our country, and chat about Belarus, leading to interest in visiting. It’s a pleasure to extoll the beauty of our nation and, the more we ‘reach out’, the more obvious it is that our world is, really, quite small.

Prodip is a top-notch driver

the Arabian Sea. Mr. Klyuikov and his wife Natalia travelled there the week before. As I’ve written on a previous occasion, he’s a happy man, delighting in travelling through Asia since 2007. The former expert in aero-electronics, who worked at Minsk National Airport for a decade, is now a tourism professional, working with India since 2011.

He specialises in Ayurvedic tours, knowing well the state of Kerala and other places in India where it’s practiced. Over the years, he’s travelled a great deal, even visiting the former Palace of Indian Maharajas: Kalari Kovilakom. There,

Vladimir and Natalia Following Vladimir's advice, we chose Meiveda this summer: a small hotel on the Indian Ocean coast, by

Hotel manager Ramesh meets guests with garlands of jasmine

ravel notes

health programmes are more expensive than in Nattik or Meiveda, with a strict vegetarian diet and no mobile phones or tablets allowed. Visitors aren’t even permitted books. An individual approach is applied, with each guest’s constitution assessed, to govern their exercise and diet during their stay. Everyone is dressed in white clothes and slippers, being given particular herbal and pills, and directed to yoga twice daily. Walks are possible only in the company of the therapist, so that guests aren’t tempted sit down!

Vladimir has also visited the Himalayas, staying at the elegant and very expensive spa resort of Ananda, as is chosen by Hollywood stars. He’s met quite a few celebrities there. During

his trip to India this summer, Vladimir moved from Meiveda to the neighbouring Raja Beach Hotel for his three final days in Kerala, wanting to study certain treatments. However, with Natalia, he walked three kilometres back to Meiveda in the evening, along the ocean shore, to take supper cooked by chef Ainup.

He wanted to chat with us about some Ayurvedic drugs that balance the metabolism and strengthen joints and we were keen to try them, беларусь. belarus 2018

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ravel notes as Vladimir had done. My husband and psychologist Victoria, from Moscow, were pleasantly surprised by the Klyuikovs’ gift to us. Natalia, a landscape designer, is also a keen follower of a healthy lifestyle, with deep knowledge in this field. It’s always good to share our experience and Natalia is certainly as enthusiastic as her husband. In Minsk, she promotes environmentally-friendly products and health food, as sold at the Bio Planet store (in Komarovka market). She could easily run her own blog.

In India, we used to chat every evening, discussing all manner of topics, including a healthy diet. Natalia loves coconut oil, saying that it’s good for the thyroid gland. I bought it accidentally during my last trip. In fact, it’s great for dressing salads, making them truly tasty.

Prodip and Ramesh

In Meiveda, even the nature and smiles of the Ayurverda specialists are healing

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If you listen to the music of the name of this hotel, you’re sure to hear something related to Belarusian or Russian language. When asked what the word means in Sanskrit, hotel owner Pavi told us, ‘my knowledge’ (‘mae vedy’ — in Belarusian). Here is the confirmation that Belarusian has common roots with Sanskrit. We know that our language belongs to the Slavic group, the East Slavic subgroup of the Indo-European language family, jointly with Russian and Polish. Indo-European languages differ greatly but researchers believe that there was a period of closeness, when there was a single Indo-European language divided into dialects. All Indo-European languages share vocabulary, as used by ancient IndoEuropeans thousands of years ago, by which means they consolidated their knowledge of the surrounding world and themselves (https://studbooks. net).

Our small team of three (we travelled with our hydrogeologist friend, Vladimir Shimanovich, as we often

T do) flew via Abu Dhabi, arriving at the international airport of Kerala, then onwards to Cochin. It was warm and humid, despite being ‘winter’.

The rainy season is the coolest, despite it being over 28 degrees Celsius.

I spotted a sign with my name and our white-toothed smiling driver: Prodip. He was pleased to see us arrive on time, at 4am. It took almost three hours to drive to the village of Meiveda, where the hotel is situated among huge palms, three hundred metres from the sea. The road to Thrissur was easy to see, although it was still dark. At dawn, we noticed rice fields, palm trees and other exotic trees, including papaya.

Thrissur is a large city in central Kerala, the fourth most populated and the capital of the principality of Cochin. In translation from ‘Malayalam’, Thrissur is the City of Saint Shiva, the cultural capital of Kerala.

We’d already stayed in Thrissur’s city of Guruvayur, near the beautiful temple of Krishna, enjoying Indian dancing. We watched artists painting the walls on the approach to the temple, which is the centre of dramatic theatrical dance, Krishnanattham.

Prodip is a Hindu, worshipping Shiva, and his accented English takes some time to understand. He’s married, with two children and likes working in the hotel. He not only meets and escorts guests but brings ingredients for the Meiveda kitchen. The three of us, alongside Vladimir and Natalia, are the first Belarusians to visit this remote place.

On the way, we stopped at a flower stall, open at dawn, so that Prodip could buy garlands of fresh jasmine.

He threw some on the dashboard, to fill the car with its scent, making us rather drowsy. However, our excitement kept us awake, as did our desire to give a good impression on arrival.

When Prodip says: ‘yes, ma'am’ or ‘no, ma'am’, I feel like a lady who simply has to be attentive, to act with dignity and not look sleepy.

ravel notes

During the consultation

Finally, we reached the gates of the hotel, where registration at reception was swiftly done. Junior manager Ramesh, in Indian tradition, smeared our foreheads with oil and placed garlands of jasmine around our necks, inviting us to sit and drink fresh coconut water, straight from the nut. It was wonderful to quench our thirst after our long journey. Ivan is a big fan of coconut water but knows I prefer the pulp. Ramesh accompanied us to our villas, giving us the keys and inviting us to breakfast any time after 7.30am. Our meeting with the chief doctor was scheduled for 10.00am, followed by our first massage. Only eleven people were staying at Meiveda alongside us.

We left our bags, took a shower and went to the restaurant, where we were spoilt for choice with fruit: pineapple, papaya, mango, watermelon, pomegranate, freshly squeezed juice and porridge (resembling our own) — with cinnamon and honey, as well as small pancakes and herbal teas. Only our scientist was disappointed, wondering how he’d do without tea or coffee for two weeks. Give yourself time to get used to it, I said. Ivan — without knowing English — tried to find out whether coconuts would be served at breakfast.

Close by, three ladies were speaking loudly in German. Vladimir Klyuikov approached, asking whether we’d like breakfast and, being aware that we’d spent almost 24 hours without sleep, offered his services as an interpreter at our coming meeting with the chief doctor. He speaks great English while mine is good so I knew it would work!

The vegetarian breakfast was also great. My husband and I have been vegans for four years, and easily gave up meat and fish. Meanwhile, our friend had to get used to the new regime, grumbling a little, as he missed his sausage. However, he soon calmed down, enjoying his food with pleasure, and realising that vegetarian food would cleanse the body.

Maldi, Nisha and others…

After a short rest, we met Maldi, a young woman who has graduated in Ayurveda, and is assistant to chief doctor Nishi, who had the day off. Nisha is a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, having graduated from the Faculty of Ayurveda at the University of Calicut in Kerala, in 2015. The http://www.ayurveda.media site provides useful information беларусь. belarus 2018

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on how to become an Ayurvedic doctor. In India, several traditional health systems have been used for centuries: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, and Naturopathy. Jointly with homeopathy, they are integrated into the National Health System, and have their own network of research institutes, licensed pharmacies and registered doctors.

In 1995, the Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM & H) was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India — later renamed as the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddhi and Homeopathy (AYUSH). In November 2014, the Department of AYUSH was transformed into an independent organisation: the Ministry of AYUSH. Currently, there are more than 200 public and private Ayurvedic colleges in India. As we learnt later, all our masseurs had graduated from such colleges.

Maldi asked each of us in detail about our state of health and identified our doshas by measuring our blood pressure and performing pulse diagnostics. Your dosha is your vital force: the energy that drives the physical and psychological functions of a person. An imbalance in this energy leads to illness at a physical and psychological level. Dosha comprises five

basic elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. With the help of Google translator and Mr. Klyuikov, we describe our health problems. Everyone has gastritis, tired eyes from computers, and sore backs…

We already know that yoga will stretch our spines, while special herbal remedies in the form of pills and potions will cleanse us from the inside. Meanwhile, two-hour daily massages on the body (by two or four hands) will work miracles, using oil or warm fruit powder, sprinkled and then rubbed. There are tapping massages, using hot canvas bags filled with medicinal herbs, as I’ve described before in one of our publications. There are foot massages, steam baths and shirodara head massages with oil (from Sanskrit, ‘shiro’ stands for head and ‘dhara’ means flow). According to Ayurveda, shirodara harmonises and clears the mind, calming our thoughts.

One Japanese doctor studied patients undergoing shirodara every day for a week, finding that they exhibited reduced anxiety, with raised serotonin levels and lymphocytes (white blood cells which attack illness). We experienced the beneficial influence of shirodara. There’s no doubt in my mind that Shija, Shine, Ragunat and Murdoch are high-class professionals, and we’re extremely grateful to them.

As they say in Turkey, ‘health to your hands’ (meaning that we wish a person well). We wish the same to chef Ainup, whose spice-seasoned dishes were always fresh and tasty. We even tried vegetarian shashlik, on the eve of our departure.

Santosh, Sandra and Gisela…

Santosh is a yoga teacher, having studied with the well-known yogi Sadkhguru; he’s still in regular contact with him. I’m always seeing these points of intersection, which blur the borders between countries and peoples! Santosh is pleasantly surprised that we know Sadkhguru. I tell him that, on the eve of my trip to India, I bought a book, listening to short lectures on the topics of happiness, health, love and finances.

Yoga — like food — is an important component of Ayurvedic treatment in Meiveda. Having seen the significant impact on the fields of health, medicine, education and art within Indian society, in 2016, UNESCO included yoga among the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

Thanks to yoga, our bodies become lighter, more flexible and more mobile. The psyche becomes balanced, attuned to the breath of nature and to the surrounding world. You begin

Everyone has their own occupation on the Indian Ocean shore

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ravel notes

Tatiana Storozhenko

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Warm recollections

to feel like a drop in the vast ocean of life and you understand more sharply how, in this vast world, everything is interwoven. As a result, the world seems large and small at the same time. "Feel how the tree breathes and you’ll feel happiness," Santosh told us. For a moment, after my asanas (which lasted 2–3 seconds during the relaxation technique), I was fortunate enough to feel my mind empty, leaving me floating, as if I were a bird on the wind. After classes, I told Santosh about what I’d experienced and he shared my joy. It was International Yoga Day, that day, as we celebrated in Belarus as well, where about sixty yoga centres operate.

On one of the days of our stay, Sandra led a class with her adult daughter, Sofia, who’d flown to Meiveda from London. Both are also teachers of yoga. Sandra is Argentine, originally from Bue-

nos Aires, but lives in the UK. We gradually came to know the other guests. I enjoyed practicing my English, chatting with Swede Pia from Stockholm, she runs a cosmetic business. Austrian Gisela teaches classical literature at a Vienna university and told us that her son is fluent in Russian, at which we were pleasantly surprised. I exchanged glances with my husband and Vladimir, seeing again the points of intersection that bring us together. Her father, an Austrian who was taken into the German army and sent to the front, being captured near Stalingrad, was helped by Russians to survive.

They fed him and gave him warm clothes. He gratefully remembered them until his last days. It may have been that which inspired Gisela’s son to learn Russian and become a teacher.

The India we know can never be forgotten, although we saw only a tiny part of it. If we compare this country with an elephant, then we’ve seen just the tip of its tusk or ear. However, what’s more important is that, being in the tropics, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we realised that our large world is, actually, small. My father — a veteran of the Great Patriotic War — also fought at Stalingrad. Here is the lesson learned from Ayurveda: the short path to our happiness lies through the acceptance of each other, through the ability to find mutual understanding even without knowledge of language. It’s enough to put a hand on our heart, smile and shake our head, to feel that life is beautiful. It’s truly simple.

Valentina Zhdanovich Ivan Zhdanovich (photo)

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ocial environment

Studying by day and child-minding through the evening

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hat part-time jobs can students find?

Serving as a cashier in a fast food restaurant, passing out advertising leaflets, or working as an operator in a call centre. Perhaps some child-minding. To do so, they need only answer a questionnaire

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via babysіtter.by and parents needing help will find them. We talked with students who look after others’ children.

Earn for a trip Anna Ostrovskaya, aged 20, studies at the Belarusian State University’s

International Relations Department.

As a first-year student, she decided to work at a summer camp. Importantly, she had experience of caring for children, having helped raise her younger sister, from birth. Anna graduated from the School of Leaders and went to Anapa as a camp leader, where she enjoyed herself so much she decided to

S look for more regular child-minding work.

The children she cares for vary in age from four months to four years.

Anna admits she was initially afraid of the responsibility of looking after a newborn baby but she watched YouTube videos and asked her cousin for advice. Before coming to a family, Anna asks about a child’s interests and prepares carefully. “I always bring games with me. We might build a strip of obstacles from pillows or play with toys. I print colouring pages with characters I know they like. The parents of one four-year-old girl asked me to add English language to the game, so I came up with the idea of flying her doll to America, where we learnt a few new words,” she explains.

Speaking of how to make friends with a child, Anna notes that it’s good to present them with something. "So that the child doesn’t worry about their mother going away, it’s necessary to distract their attention and immediately entertain them. I always plan the day and inform the parents,” she adds.

Anna is studying for a serious profession, so she tries not to miss classes.

Accordingly, she only accepts four child-minding jobs weekly. “I once worked as a saleswoman. That was a hard job. Meanwhile, I don’t feel tired by babysitting. I like it.” Anna smiles.

The usual nanny rate is Br5 per hour but Anna receives Br7, since she has many good reviews and a good questionnaire. Her earnings enable her to pay for accommodation and her phone, to buy food and sometimes treat herself to a trip to a cafe. She’s even saved money for a holiday in six months’ time, planning to go to the Odessa coast.

Gaining experience "I've always enjoyed spending time with small children and feel their mutual interest. Young children spend all their time smiling; sincere

and curious, it’s impossible to remain indifferent to them. During my visits, I discover something new about myself,” explains Maria Tsibukova, a fourth-year student at Minsk State Linguistic University. She admits to having been nervous before her first child-minding job. “We were told that if parents didn’t like something, they’d have the right to refuse our services.

I needed to look after two children, aged 6 and 12 years. We played games, drew and chatted. The time passed very quickly and, as a result, all were satisfied. Now, I go to work with joy and enthusiasm."

Babysitters are in demand, with about 200 parents registered on the site and seventy using the platform regularly. So far, the project operates only in Minsk but is due to be launched across all regional centres.

Maria looks after boys and girls of various ages but, more often, they’re only 2 or 3 years old and she cares for them for two to four hours, allowing parents to go to the cinema or a concert, or simply to work from home in another room. Maria plays with children, draws, makes toys, and reads fairy tales to them. Mothers always inform her in advance what to feed them and what time they should go to sleep.

“As a rule, everything goes well. Of course, every child has their own character and habits. However, if any problems arise which I can’t solve, I call parents and they tell me what to do in a particular situation,” Maria adds. She

ocial environment

spends money on clothes, or on something delicious to eat. She’s convinced that babysitting provides valuable experience, which will be useful to her as a future mother.

Permission from psychologist The babysitter.by platform has been operating since last October, headed

by Elvira Grakhovskaya. She explains that all wishing to work as a nanny are checked, and registered through social networks and site administrators, before being invited to attend the School of Babysitters for a one-day course.

Young people fill in a questionnaire, pass an individual interview with a psychologist and undergo testing.

Further training includes techniques on how to prevent tantrums and how to come up with new games with toys, as well as how children of various ages tend to behave.

“We’ve had a couple of babysitters whom we refused,” Elvira recalls. “One girl’s parents were in the process of divorce, while another was in a bad relationship with a boyfriend. Both were under stress, which isn’t a desirable state when you’re looking after children. We suggested that they return later, when their personal problems had resolved.”

Those wishing to be nannies need to show their passport and student card. If the candidate is not yet 18 years old, they must also have written permission from their parents to work.

Project administrators help babysitters compose a route, and answer questions that arise after visits to children. If a student is late in leaving a job, then they call to find out if everything is all right.

Babysitters are in demand, with about 200 parents registered on the site and seventy using the platform regularly. So far, the project operates only in Minsk but is due to be launched across all regional centres.

By Natalia Lubnevskaya

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ycling in Belarus

Gaining distinction To promote cycling more widely, a concept of its development has been launched, with special focus on safety issues

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The summer season inspires us to make trips into the countryside, seeking out the beauty of nature and fresh air. Active Belarusians are increasingly choosing bicycles, which are both an efficient means of transport and a great way to keep fit. In January, Belarus adopted a plan of cycling development, with special emphasis on safety.

Minsk has the greatest number of cyclists: according to the Minsk Cycling Society, around 800,000. Of these, about 8 percent of adults use their bicycle almost every day in summer, while 40 percent take out their bike several times a month. Sadly, only 1 percent of Minskers use it as their main means of transportation, against

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8 percent in Europe. One reason for this is our lack of cycle paths, but we’re doing what we can to remedy the situation.

Bicycles can solve so many issues in cities, from reducing traffic on the roads and the demand for parking to tackling air pollution and raising citizens’ fitness. Clearly, it makes sense to encourage cycling, but it’s also vital to protect cyclists’ safety, especially among children. Improved legislation to regulate traffic is planned, which should ensure that towns of 50,000 or more see 8-10 percent of residents cycling regularly by 2030. In smaller towns, the figure may be 15-20 percent and could reach over 40 percent

in more rural areas. Local authorities need to develop plans to suit their particular regional needs.

Traffic police officers urge that car drivers must take care of cyclists on the road, following the highway code, to ensure their safety, and that cyclists must similarly follow the code. Dismounting at pedestrian crossings is vital, as is the use of reflective elements in the dark, to ensure visibility.

The Acting Head of the Traffic Management and Road Inspection Department of the Traffic Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Alexander Khromchenko, comments that, over the past ten years,

ycling in Belarus

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there has been a steady reduction in the number of road accidents involving cyclists, including the number of fatalities. A decade ago, about 150-160 cyclists died, against just forty-two last year. High speed roads are the most dangerous. Meanwhile, twenty out of twenty-one fatalities after dark occurred where there was no street lighting. This highlights the necessity of lamps and reflective elements, such as a retro-reflective waistcoat.

On urban roads, despite a significant increase in cyclists, there has been no increase in the number of accidents registered. From 2016-2017, twentyfive people were injured in accidents involving a bicycle and a car. The Deputy Head of Minsk City Executive Committee’s Traffic Police Depart-

ment, Andrey Zyryanov, tells us that the traffic police are keen to see more cycle paths created, especially leading up to traffic lights (marked with green paint). Railings installed around the city should also prevent cyclists from moving between pavements and the road. "We’re doing our best,” asserts Mr. Zyryanov.

An experimental project is underway, creating cycle paths along busy Khoruzhey Street. Already, there are 27km of cycle paths and two hiking and cycle paths in Loshitsky Park and the Park of Minsk’s 900th Anniversary. Meanwhile, there are 188km of combined pedestrian and bike paths accessible to cyclists around the capital.

Improved legislation to regulate traffic is planned, which should ensure that towns of 50,000 or more see 8-10 percent of residents cycling regularly by 2030. In smaller towns, the figure may be 15-20 percent and could reach over 40 percent in more rural areas.

By Darya Kosko

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estival

Holiday of friendship and national unity Festival of National Cultures hosted

by Grodno 38

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In June, the city over the Nieman River was filled with bright colours and diverse sounds. Representatives of thirty-five nationalities gathered for the twelfth time to demonstrate their traditional dress, songs and dances, as well as dishes and beverages — occupying nineteen venues: each a gastronomic paradise and a cultural mini-centre.

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The official events of the holiday gathered Belarus’ deputy prime ministers Vasily Zharko and Anatoly Kalinin, as well as the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus — Vladimir Zhevnyak, the Chairman of Grodno Regional Executive Committee — Vladimir Kravtsov, the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities’ Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus — Leonid Gulyako, Culture Minister Yuri Bondar, deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly and other distinguished guests.

“The Republican Festival of National Cultures welcomes those who value their cultural traditions, respect human values, and live with others of various nationalities in peace and harmony,” stressed Mr. Kravtsov, during the opening ceremony. “The aim of our festival is to show that, in Belarus, people of various nationalities live in harmony. This should be appreciated and cherished.”

According to the organisers, the festival is special in encouraging all visitors to participate. Over 250,000 guests attended this year, enjoying delicacies and, most importantly, celebrating inter-ethnic friendship. In his speech, Culture Minister Yuri Bondar noted that the festival in Grodno is a real holiday of friendship and national unity.

Go to topic

Ганна ЗАНКАВІЧ

All are participants

2,500 tourists arrived under this regime, from nineteen countries — including the USA and Japan.

Tasty Georgian mountains

Many visa-free tourists were making their first trip to festive Grodno and the spectacular event. More than

As part of the multinational holiday in Grodno, the Lutheran Church hosted a concert of jazz organ music. Meanwhile, writers of various nationalities met for a roundtable seminar at the Yanka Kupala State University, in Grodno, comparing the sound of texts in the original and in translation.

In an act of enduring friendship, representatives of the Chinese, Latin American, Latvian and Arab diasporas planted new trees on Friendship Avenue, in Kolozha Park: saplings of cedar, mahogany, linden and acacias.

‘Hosts’ of the Georgian stand were sharing traditional khachapuri and churchkhela, serving 300 litres of grape juice, and a 17kg snow-white glazed cake decorated with images of vineyards and mountain ranges. It looked almost too good to eat! The musical programme reflected the breadth of the Georgian soul, traditional songs alternating with Valery Meladze’s hits (also a national treasure!)

Those who visited the sunny Ukrainian stand had the chance to sample salty sala, pampushka (doughnuts), the Chervona Ruta song and cover versions of Okean Elzy hits.

Meanwhile, the Moldovans were wearing outfits presented by the First Lady of the Republic of Moldova, Galina Dodon, offering guests cabbage rolls in vine leaves. The Azerbaijani stand had plums and sweet dishes, which could be enjoyed while listening to national musical instruments being page

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estival ground floor houses the Grodno Architecture Museum, featuring a model of the central part of the city, demonstrating the symbiosis of epochs: from antiquity to modern times. Interactive technologies make it possible to imagine what the city was like at various times in history and see its main attractions. Its first floor is equipped with modern equipment, enabling guests to feel the atmosphere of the holiday and see national stands.

Celebration of diversity

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played. Visitors could even have a go themselves, with the Israeli stand offering the same, inviting guests to blow into a curved shofar pipe, made from natural horn. A lot of ‘puff ’ was needed, making it difficult for even adult men. At the Kazakh stand, guests were entranced by the performance of the Altybakan: a tradition of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. A young man and woman rock on a swing made from six poles, a strong crossbar and three ropes, evoking all the fun of youth, spring and first love.

There was so much to see, and such a warm atmosphere that, no matter which stand visitors attended, they were sure of a friendly reception.

Cultural centre and festival diorama Also entertaining visitors was a mechanical diorama puppet performance, lasting twelve minutes. Each day, twelve puppets in national costume performed a dance, evoking their own holiday spirit. Another popular site was the beautiful observation deck,

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looking across the Nieman bank, and the monument to David Gorodensky, erected near the castles.

The Festivalny Cultural Centre, with two museums, an arts cafe, a souvenir shop and a showroom for exhibitions, also opened its doors. As part of the festival, representatives of various nationalities living in Belarus presented their cultural traditions there. Its

This year, for the first time, the festival also appeared along the Avgustovsky Canal (part of the visa-free zone) delighting guests with various competitions: from high-speed sausage eating to drinking beer. In addition, there were master classes in dancing.

Over the past two decades, the Festival of National Cultures in Grodno has become a calling card for the ancient city, known far beyond its borders.

In its scale, sincerity and atmosphere of spiritual unity, the festival celebrates each participating nation and their centuries-old traditions, bringing together the diverse peoples who live in harmony in Belarus, respecting each other.

By Olga Anufrieva and Yelena Karpenko

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rt without borders

‘A translator must feel the spirit of the work’

Yaroslava Shekera, a Ukrainian Chinese-language translator, poet, literary critic, artist and vytinanka master, discusses art, the East, the Chinese world and its relation to Slavonic literature, including Belarusian page 42 беларусь. belarus 2018

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Yaroslava, you’re a pioneer of modern Ukrainian Sinology, having entered the Kiev Taras Shevchenko National University’s Philology Institute in 1998 to study Chinese language and literature. What guided your choice?

I’m not among the pioneers: the Chinese language was added to the Shevchenko University’s curriculum in 1992.

Actually, a true pioneer of Ukrainian Sinology is Ivan Chirko, who has translated many Chinese prose pieces into Ukrainian.

I can explain my choice. Long before my school graduation, I realised that the humanitarian sphere (language and literature) was special to me, although both my parents are mathematicians. During my 11th (last) year at school, I discussed with them what to choose. I considered Western philology but wasn’t attracted by English (though I’d studied the language since fifth grade). I wanted to look East. In the late 1990s, there was little information in Ukraine about the mysterious, uncharted East. That year, students were enrolling to study Chinese, Korean and Turkish. Looking to the future, my parents understood that China was progressing, demonstrating economic growth, and that it had a rich and ancient culture.

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We decided to focus on Chinese, although everyone warned me that learning Chinese characters was extremely difficult. I wasn’t put off though. Since childhood, I’ve been fond of vytinanka (folk art) and I felt that the characters were like small drawings. In my childish imagination, I loved to draw. I’ve never regretted my choice, which has become a central part of my life!

Your first internship in China took place from September 2000 to June 2001, when you studied at the Changchun Pedagogical University. How early on did you choose your research topic (and the idea for your thesis) on the Genesis and Function of Artistic Images in 7th‑10th Century Chinese Tang Poetry?

I’d been studying Chinese for two years by then, with a wonderful teacher. Oksana Trizub was the first to introduce us to Tang Dynasty poetry. I remember how I was given a poem (four lines of twenty hieroglyphs) to learn by heart. I made a word for word translation and went to bed, where I kept musing on a more literary translation. I had to make sure I didn’t forget it by morning! It was the first of my translations from Chinese.

After returning home from China, where I spent two years, and some time after graduating from the University, I revised them, to make translations closer to the original.

While staying in China, I was primarily studying the language, as all our students do. I wasn’t concentrating on literature at that time, although I was very keen. I used to translate Tang poetry in my spare time, for fun. I was a diligent student, making all notes in hieroglyphs during lectures.

Since 2000, you’ve been translating Chinese classical poetry, as well as modern. How has Chinese poetry survived through the centuries?

I’ve never thought too deeply about it. Poetry, generally speaking, is always tenacious, since it is the voice of our soul, as individuals and as a nation. A nation’s soul lives forever, despite hardship.

Who is closer to your soul among the classical poets?

In Belarus, the Bright Signs: Poets of China series already features eleven books, counting Du Fu, Li Bai, Meng Haoran, and Li Qingzhao among its featured authors.

Which poets from the Middle Ages would you advise Belarusian translators to focus on?

Han Shan — an 18th century Buddhist monk — is notable. However, to understand his work, you need to appreciate medieval Zen Buddhism. I feel a mysterious connection with Han Shan, having translated many of his works and studied his inspirations and creativity. I’ll be cautious in my advice since I don’t know for sure which Chinese authors Belarusians have already translated.

Since the sixth or seventh book in the Bright Signs series, a Belarusian artist of Azerbaijani origin has been illustrating the volumes: Kamil Kamal (the pen name of Kamal Gajiyev). I know you’re fond of illustrations,

A and vytinanka folk art. If a Belarusian publisher asked you to illustrate a book from this series, would you agree?

Which Chinese poet would you like to illustrate? Belarusian publishers plan a book dedicated to Su Shi, while Mikola Metlitsky is translating Ai Qing (in 2015, there was a collection of Belarusian translations by various authors).

I’d love to illustrate a book of Chinese poetry in Belarusian, and share my vytinanki, which are full of Chinese motifs. Several years ago, I worked on the three-volume 'Readings of Chinese Literature'.

Your research and scientific experience has resulted in several articles devoted to Li Bai. Which of his poems do you like most?

I’ve long admired Chinese poetry as a reader but I also analyse verse in a scientific way, looking into its essence.

Therefore, even when speaking of the great Li Bai, I can’t declare a favourite.

Ukrainian poetry, both classical and contemporary, is rich in female talent, such as Lesya Ukrainka and Lina Kostenko. Having studied the creative genius of Chinese poet Li Qingzhao, is there a similarity in women’s poetic thinking, regardless of nationality? What unites Lesya Ukrainka and Li Qingzhao?

Obviously, they’re both women. Irrespective of whether you live in China, Ukraine or Belarus, women are women.

The idea of ‘veiled-subtle’ is used to describe women’s verse from the 10th‑13th century, during the time of Li Qingzhao.

Lesya Ukrainka and Li Qingzhao explore similar themes in their work, both having suffered and endured courageously, overcoming more than many men have done. I haven’t made a comparative analysis myself and don’t have plans to do so.

What would you advise novice translators of Chinese literature?

They need to ‘penetrate’ each piece, feeling its aura and spirit. Delve into why it was written, understanding the author’s pain and joy. Without such understanding and feeling, a literary translation is unlikely to express the original, or affect readers. Take time to investigate; don’t be lazy. You need to look deeply at all interpretations! Translators should be able to act as poets or novelists, with their own artistic feeling.

You’re well known for your original poetic works.

How far does knowledge of Chinese poetry influence your work?

The most serious influence has already occurred. Like most poets, my creativity has developed through particular periods.

I began writing at the age of 12 — starting with nature; love and philosophy. Patriotic themes appear from time to time.

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However, there were years when I didn’t write even a single line. I was resting. I also wrote some prose; initially, those were short stories but, in recent years, I’ve been attracted by travel notes (there are already over twenty of these). Everywhere I go, I write these travel notes, sometimes including verse (‘born’

Without such understanding and feeling, a literary translation is unlikely to express the original, or affect readers. of the same travel). Five years ago, I began writing something meditative.

These are my thought ripples. As far as I remember, a collection of one of Kiev’s poetesses is entitled 'The Ripple of Thought'.

This is sweet awareness of the moment: being in the present. I don’t currently have the desire to write, feeling that I’ve already put all my experience onto paper. I don’t know if it will develop further. Probably I’ll take another year off.

Even if Chinese poetry doesn’t influence my work, it’s true to say that the Chinese spirit and philosophy has done. My outlook is definitely half Eastern…

Interviewed by Alexander Karlyukevich

Kiev-Minsk

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ultural treasures

Steps to Chagall

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Museum like no other in the world opens to tourists

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K

azimir Malevich’s Suprematist Composition (1916) recently sold for the record sum of $85.8 million, at Christie’s.

In Vitebsk, where the artist worked and lectured, Belarusian cinematographers have been filming a documentary about the art school founded by Marc Chagall. It now hosts a new museum, with interactive exhibits sure to be interesting to children.

Coming from far abroad The Vitebsk museum is used to hearing compliments. I once witnessed a tourist from St. Petersburg proclaiming: ‘The Russian Museum isn’t as good!’ Interestingly, an increasing number of foreigners are coming to the History Museum of Vitebsk Folk Art School. They often say that the museum is a wonderful surprise, better even than the Louvre.

The building on Marc Chagall Street has, at last, opened its doors, after much anticipation, having been a place of work for such masters as Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, El Lissitzky, Yehuda (Yudel) Pen, Vera Yermolaeva, Nikolay Suetin and Ilya Chashnik. Some time ago, the street was named Gazety Pravda and, in Chagall’s years, was known as Bukharinskaya.

Upon Chagall’s initiative, Belarus’ first art school opened there in 1918, inside the building which was erected in 1912–1913, and belonged to the banker Israel Vishnyak. Before the revolution, he was a local oligarch, owning shares in a tram company and insurance companies.

Thanks to Mr. Vishnyak, provincial Vitebsk gained streetcars in 1898: one year earlier than Moscow and nine years earlier than St. Petersburg. His house was truly modern — with running water, a bath and a special sewage system. Miraculously the building survived the war. Andrey Dukhovnikov,

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the Director of the Vitebsk Museum Centre for Contemporary Art, is convinced that Vitebsk and Chagall were connected at a ‘sacral’ level. He notes that people from far abroad have been arriving to visit, and that former Minister of Culture of Belarus, Pavel Latushko, joined ex-governor Alexander Kosinets in helping the museum launch.

Creativity under your feet The museum is surprising from the outset, with a welcome plaque typical for a pre-revolutionary Russian state. There’s even a mosaic replica of El Lissitzky’s famous poster, Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge, in polished, coloured granite, on the entrance hall floor. The room where Malevich worked features his manuscripts and drawings on the white walls, seen under ultraviolet light, as created by Vitebsk artist Alexander Vyshka. Meanwhile, modern interactive screens featuring Vitebsk from the last two centuries allow us to travel back in time. There are plenty of touch screen monitors allowing visitors to learn about our world-famous artists.

There are portraits of Chagall, and of his first wife Bella, and you can read Chagall’s poems. Mr. Dukhovnikov points out a mirror used in a film shot

by Alexander Mitta: Chagall — Malevich. He’s convinced that they’ll be considered founders of new trends in art. “It’s here that legendary UNOVIS (Affirmatives of New Art) was founded — an avant-garde artistic association created by Kazimir Malevich and his followers,” he explains, adding that visitors are pleasantly surprised to find a wi-fi connection in the building. This enables them to immediately upload photos and comments to social networks. For example, many post a photo of themselves trying to make a human figure from wooden bars, as inspired by the works by David Yakerson.

Original works?..

“Our system of regulating temperature and humidity enables us to show pieces to rival those of the best museums worldwide!” Mr. Dukhovnikov underlines.

Negotiations are underway to acquire some original works by Chagall, Malevich and their colleagues. Sadly, the Chagall Museum only has sketches, rather than paintings.

Interestingly, parts of the authentic flooring remain, while the wallpaper has been restored, from fragments discovered during repairs. The museum is becoming a popular venue for seminars and presentations, while newly-weds visit after their official ceremony. “Here, you can gain an understanding of our pioneers in the field of design, sculpture and architecture.

Their achievements are popular today.

With good reason, the Vitebsk Art School is known all over the world,” Andrey asserts.

In 2019, the world will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the birth of Kazimir Malevich. Of course, this event will be celebrated in Vitebsk, with the History Museum of the Vitebsk Folk Art School as the major venue.

By Alexander Pukshansky

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rovincial star

Vera Yaroshik:

'Music should reflect your state of mind' Until recently, the agro-town of Divin, in the Kobrin District, was little known but, owing to talented 10th grade Vera Yaroshik, it has gained recognition far beyond Belarus

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he young singer has taken second place in the You Are Super! TV contest, hosted by Russian NTV Channel. The international vocal contest for children without parental care saw Vera, aged 16, conquer the hearts of the professional jury and audiences. Here, she shares her views on music, those she loves, and her plans for the future.

Vera, how did you come to appear on the You Are Super! contest?

I was trying to participate everywhere I could. Everything began with the I Sing Republican Competition, hosted by ONT Channel in 2012. I was later invited to perform at concerts.

Probably, the organisers of the NTV project noticed me. As a result, last December, their partner — Radio Sputnik — invited me to audition for casting. In January, I was told I was through.

Who was responsible for your stand-out contest repertoire?

My project teacher. I loved Okean Elzy’s ‘Embrace’ song most of all, as it’s so sincere. I could feel it conveying a certain mood. In those moments, I thought about my grandmother: she helped me, putting all her energy into raising a good child.

I dedicated the song to her: I wished to touch my grandmother.

Vera also sang You Remain Who You Always Were and Fire to the Rain (from the repertoire of British Adele), in addition to My Land and Enchanted (performed jointly with Ruslan Alekhno). The singer presented Vera with a teddy bear for good luck: a mascot she keeps close.

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ew meetings ahead

How do you feel when you perform on stage?

I try to open my soul to the audience as much as I can — for them to understand the sense of the song. I have no special ritual before going on stage. I simply listen to my teacher and remember all his advice. I try to relax and not tremble. Sometimes, of course, I can’t, but I’m working on it.

How long have you been studying music? Which sorts of music do you love most?

I’ve been studying music since I was six. A music teacher from Divin Orphanage paid attention to me. I performed at children’s matinees and various holidays and, at the age of 16, I realised that music is my passion. It’s the most important thing in my life. Music should reflect your mental state; for me, pop compositions are relaxing. My favourite singer is Ariana Grande. I like her work and the way she approaches her creativity. She inspires me.

I’ve read that you also play cymbals. Why did you choose this instrument?

It was quite by chance. My friend went to music school to study the cembalo and I joined her, for company. She eventually gave up classes but I continued. I couldn’t leave because I wanted to develop. I played cymbals for five years and am now mastering the piano for the third year.

Did your parents see your TV performances?

Of course. They watched every programme and cheered for me. My relatives are proud of me.

Who is the person closest to you?

I love my whole family: my mother, father, brother and grandmother. I visit them for the holidays. They are closest to me and will remain so forever, despite my difficult childhood. I also love the former director of Divin Orphanage, Vera Pikula. I’ve known her for a decade and, throughout all these years, she’s tried to give me the best. She’s a very good person. I’m ‘tied’ to her.

Of what do you dream?

I want all my relatives and friends to be happy and healthy. I also plan to graduate well from school, successfully passing centralised testing. I want to enter a prestigious college or university. I’ll develop and improve my vocal skills. I don’t know yet what establishment to choose but — after deciding — I’ll keep this secret: I think it's not always good to talk about all your plans.

At school, Vera studies Belarusian and English at an advanced level and her average grade is 8.5.

What has been your happiest day?

There have been so many. Of course, the moment I became a finalist was one of the most emotional and important. I’m still in shock that I took second place. I’d like to thank all who voted for me, supported me and wrote to me. I read everything and I’m very touched.

We’ll leave the theatre’s company to rest quietly over the summer, so that they might return with new vigour in the autumn, bringing us new spectacles of opera and choreography. Last season, we supported our actors as best as we could, with our articles, reviews and interviews, fulfilling our role as journalists, informing the public.

We’re always welcome guests at the Bolshoi Theatre and, for this, we thank the Director General, Vladimir Gridyushko, who has ensured seats for the media at every premiere and special event, such as the Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum and the International Contest of Young Performers. The theatre also organises interesting press conferences. In May, for Doors Open Day, we found ourselves on the roof of the Bolshoi Theatre, chatting with Ilya Selchukov, a laureate of international contests. He even sang for us, following a two-hour tour backstage, in which we met stagehands and artistes, including those from abroad. Among them was Andris Liepa, who staged the last premiere of the season: the ballet Petrushka, by Igor Stravinsky.

A new season awaits, which is sure to bring new delights.

Yelena Balabanovich, a senior editor for marketing, information and advertising, tells us that the autumn season will launch with a world premiere of Richard Strauss’ opera of The Bat. This will be followed by a choreographic prologue of Salomé, staged by the Chief Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, Mikhail Pandzhavidze. Later, he will also present Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale opera. Meanwhile, People’s Artist of Belarus Yuri Troyan, together with composer Vyacheslav Kuznetsov, is preparing a premiere of the ballet Anastasia.

Certainly, we’ll be looking forward to seeing these exciting performances.

By Natalia Lubnevskaya

By Valentina Zhdanovich

``

We’ll be waiting!

Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus concludes 85th season

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ife and fate

Jimmy Nelson:

'Everything is familiar to me in Belarus' In the 1990s, the song Belarusian Girls was heard on every radio station, performed by the guy with the exotic appearance and unfamiliar accent. Times have moved on, but Jimmy Nelson is still around.

As if it was yesterday Do you remember Belarusian Girls?

In 1995, jointly with group member Sergey Lavrentiev, I established the ‘Inter’ musical band. We were once asked to perform at a concert held at the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. Vladimir Stankevich — who then worked with Belarusian television and hosted the ‘Telebom’ programme — noticed us and came to see me after the concert, suggesting co-operating. A whirl of concerts, records and tours followed. During a concert in Borisov, I was noticed by Anatoly Yarmolenko, who invited me to join his 'Syabry' youth studio.

The economic crisis led to many Belarusian artistes departing for neighbouring Russia. Some settled, while others returned. However, Nelson never considered leaving Minsk.

“I was invited many times and almost all my friends live there now. Vladimir

Stankevich often reproached me, saying, ‘What will you do here? Come to us. We’ll launch a project. There are so many prospects here!’ However, I didn’t go, because I didn’t know Russia, while Belarus was familiar to me. I love living here,” Jimmy says.

Do you keep in touch with anyone from that studio?

I communicate via Facebook with almost all, congratulating on personal holidays. Anatoly [Yarmolenko] ‘likes’ my posts and we often chat on the phone.

After the youth studio, Jimmy’s fan base changed. Some remember the smiling DJ as a host of the children’s disco, Limpopo, while others heard his songs on the radio or on the dance floor at Minsk’s Reactor club. Jimmy recalls these times fondly, adding that he’s given up singing.

Even now some people love to repeat lines from Belarusian Girls, and wonder what has happened to Jimmy Nelson…

Biographical facts Jimmy Nelson was born in Liberia. In 1989, he came to study in the Soviet Union and failed to return home, due to the civil war. He graduated from the BSU’s Department of Journalism and Minsk State Linguistic University. He is married and has a daughter.

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I’ve not disappeared. I’m here, look!

I’m still composing my own music. I don’t work in one particular place but perform as an invited DJ. I also write English lyrics for my Moscow friends.

Jimmy and girls The former musical hit was truly prophetic for Jimmy, who is married to one ‘beautiful Belarusian girl’ — his wife Svetlana, and has another, in his daughter Tsiana.

He met his wife at the BSU’s Department of Journalism, although it took time for him to view her as his soul-mate. “We worked together at a disco, getting to know each other before falling in love,” he says.

Svetlana still remembers their first meeting, telling us, “My mother came with me to the hostel, to receive a room. Suddenly, we saw Michael Jackson! At that time Jimmy was fond of Michael Jackson and dressed in his manner: short pants with suspenders, white socks and a stylish hat. I told my mother, “Look! What a hottie!”

She replied, “Sveta, you should think of your studies!” It turned out that we were living on the same floor and became acquainted. From then on, we were unable to think only about our studies!”

L Has Jimmy any of our Belarusian features? Calmness or patience?

No! He has hot blood — in all respects. He’s not only impulsive but unafraid of cold; this surprises me even now.

We have coats and warm jackets but Jimmy never puts them on. He loves to open all the windows, too!

“When I was a child, I often fell ill, especially suffering from headaches, but those ended on coming to Belarus. Your climate suits me well,” adds Jimmy.

You’ve lived in Belarus for almost thirty years…

True; it’s been 28 years but I still don’t feel like a native of the city. I miss my homeland.

In recent years, Liberia has suffered two civil wars and has experienced several presidents. Not long ago, the first African woman president was replaced by legendary former footballer George Weah. Jimmy hasn’t managed to return. In fact, he has no relatives there now, but he does have a friend who regularly sends pictures and news. He even brings seeds of Jimmy’s favourite hot pepper, without which he finds food bland.

Nevertheless, Belarus is the home of his beloved family. With this in mind, they decided that their daughter should speak Belarusian. Tsiana attends the Belarusian language gymnasium in Minsk and also studies English and Chinese.

Mushrooms and basketball You work in a creative field. How do you relax?

I love the countryside. I join friends to go mushroom picking, and wander through the woods, to rid myself of negativity and relax.

I’m not a good fisherman, however.

Svetlana’s father Nikolay once invited me to go fishing. He caught lots but I didn’t. The fishing rod remains somewhere in the corner.

His love of nature is well manifested at the cottage, where Jimmy plants

ife and fate

His ‘Belarusian Girls’ single has an interesting history.

Its lyrics were written in 1955 by Belarusian poet Mikhail Kovyl (the pen name of Iosif Leshchenko).

It was only in the 1990s, when composer Dmitry Yevtukhovich wrote music for ‘Syabry’ band that it became a hit, but its popularity truly soared following Jimmy’s performance.

Liberian hot peppers and other seedlings. They might have died if others had planted them but Jimmy’s efforts result in a good harvest.

It’s been rumoured you’ve been invited to act in films…

I’ve acted in Hollywood films shot at local venues several times but only in minor roles. I’ve also appeared in a short TV film prepared by a well-known director. Actually, I’ve never dreamt of a cinema career; it’s not for me, I think.

Your passion for music became your profession. Your Linguistic University degree allowed you to write English language lyrics but what about journalism? Are you still interested?

I used to write about music and hosted a programme for Channel 8.

However, I’m a bit out of touch with modern Belarusian music, although I

follow the group ‘Syabry’. I can’t tell most of the others apart. I can name 'Lyapis Trubetskoy', ‘Leprikonsy’ and Max Korzh, whose songs were popular at discos. Watching 'Eurovision' jointly with Svetlana, I’m always surprised at Belarusian artistes singing in bad English instead of good Belarusian. If ‘Syabry' or ‘Byaseda’ were arranged with modern sounds, they’d surely be great hits! I often recommend folk music.

You don't need to go walking in the forest to stay fit…

Definitely, not. I also love sports: especially basketball (since my days of studying journalism). I regularly attend a sports ground near my home but I last played football probably with 'Syabry'.

These days, I only watch on TV and refuse to participate in diverse artistic teams.

By Victoria Teleshuk

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elving the past

Visiting His polonaise accompanied us throughout the day and we continued to hear it long afterwards, in our heads. When we came home, we played the disc we’d bought and turned it off only at midnight…

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Travel leaves its mark, whether for good or bad, imprinting us with memories and feelings. This particular trip is one I shall always remember fondly. We were probably the only visitors to the estate located far from the main road.

Few visit the mansion out of the main season, but perhaps that’s what made it special. We sat in a ‘prince’s’ chair and listened to music switched on especially for us. It would have been marvellous to listen to a real piano but we could imagine someone sat behind the instrument.

It felt almost as if we were guests of the Oginski family, arriving at Zalesie by chance, from Benitsa, where we’d been staying for a while. Our hosts were absent, but we were greeted by the butler, who told us much of the estate and its residents.

At the age of 23, Michal Kleofas Oginski became a Commander of the Order of the White Eagle (the highest Polish award). He composed polonaises, mazurkas, square dances, ballads, minuets, marches, waltzes and,

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even, an opera (about Bonaparte in Cairo).

Michal inherited his uncle František Xaver’s wooden house in Zalesie. It no longer exists but is well depicted by Leonard Chodźko in his picture. Arriving in 1802 after his divorce of Izabela Lasocka, Michal Oginski, aged 37, began construction works. It seems that the split was amicable, the couple having grown apart, due to Michal being obliged to spend so much time abroad.

Having taken part in the Kosciuszko uprising, he was pursued and had to live under an assumed name.

His friend, Adam Czartoryski, had influence with Emperor Alexander, and managed to arrange an amnesty for his return. Following his divorce from Izabela, she was in no hurry to remarry, instead launching her own business, near Warsaw. However, Michal quickly remarried, Maria Nagurska Neri becoming his wife. Also known as Maria de Neri, she was probably a singer (some say the daughter of an Italian

innkeeper who sang only in her father’s tavern).

Mounting the house’s spiral staircase, that once led to Maria’s bedroom, it’s hard not to think of her footsteps, as if her perfume still lingers. Of course, it could be the fragrance of orange blossom, from the greenhouse nearby...

Within a year of her former husband’s

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elving the past

Oginski death, she became wife to Michal Kleofas and gave birth to their daughter, Amelia, whose portrait hangs alongside those of Emma and Ida (her younger daughters). The portrait of her son, Ireneusz, is placed on the wall where an amazing mirror hangs.

There are many descendants, some of whom have visited the restored manor house in Zalesie. Although none of the original furniture remains, the items chosen to adorn the house are true antiques: cabinets, sofas, a table, a secretary desk, a card table, and a pool table, candles in sconces and a violin.

Among the books and papers are the host’s memoirs (Nicolas I was dissatisfied with them, though there was nothing particularly ‘rebellious’ about them). Written in French and translated into German, to be published abroad,

they are soon to be translated into Belarusian.

The book Dialogue between Franklin and Gout sits on the table. In 1815, Oginski spent time in Florence, not only serving the state but treating his arthritis and gout. It was there that he read the book. It’s perhaps no surprise that he suffered with gout, as morel and truffles were commonly used in cooking. In the manor’s hayday, when Michal was a boy, dishes were intended to impress guests, who came to enjoy literary nights and musical salons, discussing politics and society matters. Schnellllops, speck-kuchen, strudel and marzipan were on the menu, although young Oginski’s tutor advised him to eat less meat and more fruit and vegetables.

It seems Monsieur Joan Rolay sensed that the boy was genetically disposed to

illness. In fact, Rolay influenced Oginski greatly, leading to Michal erecting a monument to him in Zalesie: the Rolay Stone, inscribed ‘Institutori Suo Joan Rolay Gratus Discipulus M.O.’. We think M.O. stands for Michal’s initials.

Today, a corner of the house-museum is devoted to Joan Rolay.

The house is fascinating, so that you can’t help wishing it were larger. You can sit at the table near the bedroom of Maria de Neri to leave your comment in the guest book. Afterwards, walk down to the greenhouse, filled with exotic olive, fig and coffee trees, violets and dieffenbachia, hibiscus, abutilon, pineapple and, of course, orange blossom. How wonderful it would be to be able to buy saplings from the gift shop, alongside a disc of polonaise music.

By Svetlana Votsinova

`` For those wishing to stay, or dance

`` For romantics

The dining room and kitchen have been transformed into a solemn hall, with a stage and piano, allowing dances to be organised, preceded by master classes. This is where we listened to the polonaise and pledged to come every spring, when the flowers bloom in surrounding gardens, and to attend a local ball, one day. You can stay at the house for a moderate price, though you need to plan your own meals.

Michal Oginski used to teach his son, Ireneusz, to eat sparingly, having two days of fasting every week (on Monday and Tuesday). Fortunately, a café operates from the summer greenhouse.

Sadly, Michal’s marriage to Maria de Neri also ended. In his Italian notes, addressed to his children, he stressed: ‘Don’t for a moment forget anything of what your virtuous mother gave you. Remember not to say anything without asking yourself ‘Would she approve?’ If your conscience replies positively then proceed boldly; your intuition won’t deceive you.’

In his letter to Ireneusz, he wrote: ‘A day should end as it begins: with a prayer, recalling your good mother and her worries for you’. This ‘noble fatherhood’ offers insight into another side of this legend, showing that every detail is interesting, and of value.

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Philosophical subtext of reality Belarusian landscape painter Valery Shkarubo’s guide to creativity

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r. Shkarubo takes nothing for granted, always asking ‘why?’ — even when requested for an interview. Another person might jump at the chance, but he wishes to know the ‘reason’ for everything.

He clearly doesn’t court fame, so we can believe his answers are sincere.

Here, he tells us what inspires him, and his motivation for creativity, as a contemporary artist.

Artists like to be original, don’t you think?

Actually, I don’t think an artist should ‘try’ to be original: either you are or you’re not. It’s not even worth thinking about. To ‘try’ is to lose any hope of originality. Originality, as an end in itself, is counterproductive.

As a young artist, were you ever tempted to copy wellknown artists?

Every new artist encounters this. In my youth, I liked all the pictorial arts and wanted to try everything. I admired well-known Belarusian artist

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Byalynitski-Birulya but later realised that it was unwise to copy: looking at the world through the eyes of others. I decided that I needed to clear that away and forget the existence of other art. There would be only me and the environment, nothing more. Of course, such abstraction can only be theoretical but the idyll is achieved.

The main theme of Valery’s work is our natural landscape, to which he devotes much time, taking part in open air creative sessions. However, his best landscapes are painted in solitude, in the silence of his studio, following long, leisurely reflection. They do not depict people, creating an additional mystery and surreal atmosphere.

When did you discover your own unique style?

Probably, a quarter of a century ago but no earlier than ten years after graduating from the Art Institute. During my studies, my teachers influenced me greatly; it’s no wonder that students’ works often resemble their teachers’.

After graduating from the Institute, I began developing my own style and

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approaches, for around five years. I first drew abstract pictures, since we were taught that this was fashionable and modern.

I engaged in formal composition, being curious about that.

About six or seven years after graduating, I began to paint more seriously.

You work entirely in the genre of landscapes. What draws you to this?

In no other genre — except that of landscapes — do I feel depth: neither in still life works, nor in portraits. I cannot paint a ‘deep’ still life, as I can a landscape composition. It’s not the images but the essence behind them. A work must be felt.

An artist’s experience and attempts should be clearly evident in

Valery Shkarubo’s biographical facts Born on December 10th, 1957, in the town of Borisov, in the Minsk Region, the artist graduated from the Belarusian Theatre and Art Institute (now known as the Belarusian Academy of Arts). In 1989, he joined the Belarusian Union of Artists and, in 2002, was awarded the State Award in the field of literature, art and architecture for his Eternal cycle of paintings.

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the canvas. Experiences and thoughts must be drawn upon.

Through landscapes, it seems to me, this can be best expressed.

The landscape, for me, is a mystery: the secret of nature. I believe this is what’s most important in art.

It’s evident that Valery Shkarubo’s individuality has been formed not in the pursuit for originality and outrageous fame but in a gradual and sensible search of his ‘self ’. His hard work, analysing his thoughts to find the means of expression, has nurtured his own style, distinct from other artists.

Why have landscapes superseded other possible genres in which you could have worked?

Landscapes are a philosophical genre for me: simultaneously the simplest and most difficult. They are painted by almost every artist, through all periods. Many believe that the landscape is a simple genre and I’m convinced that its depth is rooted in simplicity. I’m only now starting to comprehend this.

In the landscape, as in no other genre, I see mystery and depth.

Is this why it attracts you?

Yes. Mr. Shkarubo’s landscapes are not only a means of expression but of self-realisation, conveying not only images but feelings. беларусь. belarus 2018

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rtistry correct path in following your original vision. We all have the potential but very few people are aware of it in themselves, sadly. Most often, they ignore those thoughts, not realising their unique self. You are aware of yourself, which is a rare privilege.

Believe me and conserve this valuable quality. The world of feelings is natural to you and its simple and guileless openness enable you to look at the surrounding natural world with a clear and open vision. This is incredibly worthy.'

What are your unifying motifs? Do you simply paint what you see, from experience? Are you a realist or a dreamer?

I’m probably more of a realist. Realistic art is so broad…

The longer we live, the better we realise that there are no boundaries to realistic art. In this respect, Boris Zaborov’s pictures are also realistic. His realism is unique, having nothing in common with others’.

In 2003, while staying in France, he met an artist of Belarusian origin, Boris Zaborov, who’d lived there for a long time.

Reference: Boris Zaborov was born in Minsk and studied art in Moscow and St. Petersburg before emigrating to France. One of his paintings was purchased by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and became the first modern work to go on show there. Sometime later, Valery Shkarubo received an unexpected call from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, saying that a letter from France had arrived for him. It turned out to be from Boris Zaborov.

An extract from Boris Zaborov's letter to Valery Shkarubo: 'Valery, after looking carefully through the catalogues you donated, I wanted to write to you… Perhaps, my words will strengthen you in knowing you’ve chosen the

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How do your images appear?

When surrounded by nature, I always form an image in my thoughts of what I wish to see. Everything I see has its own ‘story’ but, more importantly, it has a particular mood, which I wish to convey. I search for something that I need in nature, having already seen an image in my head.

I search for elements in nature to depict this image: a fragment of sky or a forest landscape… None of my landscapes exist in nature since I invent them. I’ll carry on working for as long as I’m achieving what I want. I spend a lot of time on a picture, bringing my experience and thinking a great deal.

Do you want to educate people with your creativity?

Not really. Art, perhaps, has other purposes. I just want people to feel what I was feeling when I drew the picture: all my thoughts and feelings. As regards influence or education, this is a difficult matter.

You don’t think your works affect others?

No. An artist does not set such a task. They aren’t against this approach but to set such a goal in advance would be hypocrisy.

Belarusian nature prevails in your works…

True.

Meanwhile, you travel and see other places. How do they compare with your native land? Does our nature affect you most deeply? Or is there somewhere else that stirs you with its beauty?

I’ve visited many places, including exotic locations. I’ve seen much and drawn pictures from nature abroad. Some resemble Belarus. Sometimes, nature is so beautiful that an

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artist has nothing to do but reproduce it, for others to enjoy.

Our nature tends to be thoughtful and restrained, which I prefer. It boasts more complicated colours and I see something of myself in it.

How do you feel in nature?

Nature fascinates me. I feel as if I’m captured by it. The landscape strongly influences us. I feel relaxed only in my studio when I’m there alone and with the radio off.

You’re philosophical in your work?

I always reason and ponder, like a philosopher. After all, I paint 99 percent pure nature. This means I depict what existed before our birth: what we have now and what will endure in the future. I don’t enjoy drawing temporary aspects, which come and go. They aren’t interesting to me. There is a wise saying: ‘Life is short but art is eternal’. I want people — while looking at my paintings — to touch something eternal.

What are your plans for exhibitions and creative projects?

I have very few exhibition projects at the moment, which is good. Previously, I had many, abroad and in Belarus. It was distracting. The fewer such projects I have, the more time is available for work. At the moment, I’m working quietly and feel comfortable. You know the phrase ‘the music ministry doesn’t tolerate noise’? Every day, I work in the studio, making my landscapes deeper and more thoughtful. I don’t plan to enlarge scales — painting mountains, for example. I try to penetrate deeper into our Belarusian landscape — just as writers delve the psychology of the human soul.

Do you supplement real landscapes with your imagination?

Yes, I invent some elements. I never try to fully replicate, which would be to compete with photography. It would be pointless. Rather, I present my own vision. Only individuality is valued in art; personality either exists or it doesn’t.

You often depict roads.

Our road is a path of travelling. Movement is life. Hundreds and thousands of people have passed, walked or driven along the road, all with their own experiences. They’ve seen a certain landscape. I paint what people have seen. This attracts me, in its depth and infinity.

The road is a life symbol?

Yes… and roads can be painted throughout life; I’ll always draw them.

Valery Shkarubo’s landscapes convey ideas, images and feelings. Every object assumes importance under his brush and acquires special meaning. We might have seen a particular scene hundreds of times but he’ll show us something magical, arousing a wave of emotions and associations.

Deep lyrical experience, often with a touch of sadness and grief, permeates his works. They may appear subtle, but they command our attention. Hundreds of people attend his personal exhibitions, standing rapt before his canvases, as if called from inside, drawn by some secret magnetism.

Mr. Shkarubo’s Autumn Light is part of the National Art Museum’s permanent exhibition. At first glance, you may only see a forest thicket and a variously-coloured carpet of

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fallen leaves but there is a sense of being immersed in silence, in the wilderness. We know it’s autumn, in November, but there is also something surreal and fascinating.

What’s the secret behind this painting? Is it the honed lines or the colour?

What makes it more than just an autumn landscape? The answer is both complex and simple. The artist places us within the confined space of the forest, so that we feel surrounded by nature, beneath the canopy. Tall trunks are on every side, and the leaves are deep beneath our feet, in every colour of ochre and brown. We view the forest from inside: a kingdom of harmony, peace and silence.

Those who look at his work mention feeling calm, saying they want to stay a while, and that they enter a state almost of meditation. His works are wistful and melancholy, evoking passing moments that cannot live again, yet which are eternal, away from the bustle of urban life. He offers what the Japanese term ‘the sad charm of things’, relating to the transience of life. Of course, it is this very theme of

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transience and the fleeting fragility of life that gives these works their power.

Philosophical and symbolic in character, they do not aspire to modern trends, rather focusing on truth.

In their harmony and clarity of composition, they express his vision, lifting a veil, to disclose a new aspect of nature’s beauty.

Space is an important element of his landscapes, having as much importance as the images within the scene, conveying what lies in his pictorial imagination: not ‘views’ but the landscape's ‘true’ portrait.

Most often, he shows a state of transition: late autumn, early spring, twilight, evening, fog, or the last beam of the sun. He renders soft autumn light, the indistinct colours of withered, prickly grass, cold twilight in early winter. Each painting is penetrated by a sensation of mild sadness, wistfulness and some foreboding. The motif of the road occupies an important place in his work, inspiring a sensation of something imperceptible and unknown, mysterious, unexpected and slightly alarming.

In our world of discord, we need beauty and harmony. Valery Shkarubo aspires to fulfil this need. Travel the paths of his paintings and feel the whisper of silence.

P. S. Valery Shkarubo celebrated his 60th birthday with a successful personal exhibition at the National Art Museum of Belarus. Having attended all his previous shows I can say that this last was notable in scale and diversity, despite featuring the single genre of landscapes. He has not rested on his laurels, continuing to develop within his own ‘Shkarubo-like’ style.

Valery visited the museum almost daily, chatting with guests, being keen to hear their impressions and opinions.

Speaking of this, he admits that plenty of people are unafraid to tell him that they don’t like his work (he said this as if it were the highest honour).

Nevertheless, the guest book is full of enthusiastic comments. Valery is selfcritical and modest, for which I commend him.

By Veniamin Mikheev

Valery Shkarubo. Autumn Light, 2002

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