:: Belarus State Television ::

Belarus Could Recognize Abkhazia, S.Ossetia Next Year

MINSK, December 14 - Belarus's parliament will consider Abkhazia and South Ossetia's requests for official recognition in the first half of 2011, a Belarusian lawmaker said on Sunday.

Rumors have spread about the widespread support for the independence of S.Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgian control. Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been de facto independent republics since they broke away from Georgia after the bloody post-Soviet conflicts in the early 1990s.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whose country has been trying to establish a union with Russia and is dependent on Russian energy supplies, said earlier he would back parliament if it chose to recognize the breakaway regions.

:: Belarus State Television ::


United Arab Emirates, Belarus To Set Up Joint Economic Ties


MINSK - UAE Trade Minister Lubna Al Qasimi and Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy agreed to a meeting on sunday, in Minsk, to establish a joint economic commission in order to expand relations and to facilitate economic growth in Belarus.

Al Qasimi and his political-economic delegation arrived in the Belarusian capital late sunday evening.

"UAE-Belarus relations have always been progressing, based on mutual respect and common interests," Sidorskiy said, adding that the two states' political bodies were determined to "expand and deepen relations."

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus Lifts Ban On Two Regime-Critical Newspapers


MINSK - The leadership of Belarus lifted a ban on two regime-critical newspapers after almost three years, the adviser to President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday in Minsk.

The decision was taken out of domestic interests, but the country hopes for better relations with the West after the step, a source said.

The two papers affected - the Nasha Niva and the Narodnaya Volya - were banned in early 2006 due to "serious breaches." However, those wanting to purchase the papers will have to register by name and have the papers delivered.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Soviet-Style Belarus Takes First Free-Market Steps

MINSK- The Minsk Automobile Factory, a former World War II tank assembly plant that employs 28,000 people in one of Europe's most closed economies, might seem an unlikely venue for free-market reform.

But even in these cavernous unheated workshops in the Belarusian capital, change is afoot.

"It's a gradual process," said factory director Nikolai Kosten, as he showed a reporter production lines with hundreds of workers churning out trucks and buses ahead of the plant's partial privatization in 2011.

"It hasn't happened yet. It's being talked about in the workers' collectives but it's too early to worry about anything," said Kosten, a ruddy former car factory worker used to obtaining his orders from the government.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has outlined plans to privatize hundreds of companies like The Minsk Automobile Factory and attract foreign investors to his authoritarian former Soviet republic on the European Union's eastern frontier.

But Lukashenko has also emphasized there will be no overnight shift from the country's Soviet-style economy to private ownership as happened in Russia, saying his country will follow the Chinese model instead.

"If you come with money, if you're interested in a company, if you agree to our conditions, then we'll privatize...If we talk it over, and don't like how you do business, we won't do business with you," Lukashenko said in an interview.

"We will never have a massive, immediate privatization like in Russia...We are not going to lose control over anything. If we lose control, you know what that will lead to. The financial crisis has shown what happens," he added.

Referring to the current economic crisis, Lukashenko said: "We didn't have any major foreign loans...But our country is export-oriented so we're not getting as much revenue from exports now. That's the biggest danger for us."

Many foreign investors are worried about the government's desire for control in the economy and independent economists are skeptical about Lukashenko's promises. The state controls some 75% of the economy in Belarus.

"We have a lot of words, talk about the favorable conditions for foreign investors. Unfortunately, the reality is far from being that rosy," Yaroslav Romanchuk, an economist from the Mises Research Center in Minsk, said.

"In a situation where the government controls everything...it's very difficult to talk about improving the business climate," Romanchuk said.

"In reality, we have a stifling business climate," Romanchuk said.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus open to dialogue with EU


Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday his country is open to a dialogue with the European Union and seeks to normalize relations.

"Our course is absolutely honest and pragmatic and we do not play any game, we are rather open to the European Union and would like to finally normalise our relations," he said after reading a telegram from the French President, who commented on the lifting of a media ban in the country.

However, he stressed that Minsk "is categorically against this process to be surrounded by any undue, and unrealistic preconditions," Lukashenko said.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Christmas Comes Early For Belarus - Free Elections


BELARUS - Across the nation, people are waking up to the notice that an early election is to be held in one month, and it is being reported as a free and open election. UN investigators have been invited into the nation at the President's discretion to oversee the election, and to ensure that the system remains fair and democratic.

Many people, though shocked and pleased by the news, are still cautious as the history of violent suppression of critics to the Lukashenko regime have long been silenced over similar calls for the very same thing as now.

Major parties involed in the election are listed below. The candidates for PRESIDENT are as follows:

Belaya Rus Alexandr Lukashenko
Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus Sergei Gaidukevich
Belarusian Party "The Greens" Aleh Novikaŭ
Belarusian Labour Party Alexander Buchvostau


Elections are beginning at the end of the week, and polls begin opening at mid-January 2011.

:: Belarus State Television ::



Belaya Rus Leading In Gallup Polls


MINSK - Renewed faith in President Lukashenko's vision for Belarus has lead many people to give him, essentially, a "second chance". There are many vast stores of public support for the opposition party, the Belarusian Labour Party. However most of the money in the campaign still resides in Lukashenko's party.

It is still a close race leading up to elections next month, with 53% of the support going to Lukashenko, while 47% going to Alexander Buchvostau.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarusian Army To Modernize Land Forces


MINSK - The Ministry of Defence today announced plans to cut the forces of the Army down to a number of around 60,000 active personnel. This move was in conjunction with plans to increase over the next 2 years the military expenditure of the GDP from 1.4% to 2.3%, and to reduce numbers in manpower but boost efficiency and quality of the overall armed services.

This move was widely accepted by the General Staff whom have long been denied the correct materials by the government due to budget constraints.

:: Belarus State Television ::

Belarus Opposition Party Wins Official Recognition

MINSK - One of the opposition parties of Belarus, lead by Alexander Cherdenko ( Agrarian Worker's Party ) has finally been registered by the authorities and granted legal recognition, it said.

"I consider this a logical decision as there has never been a reason not to register us," Cherdenko's deputy Yuras Gubarevich said in a statement late Wednesday.

His movement Agrarian Worker's Party, had over the last two years made four requests to be registered with the Belarussian authorities but without any success, the statement said.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic of 10 million people in an authoritarian fashion since 1994, keeping in place a Soviet-style command economy.

However, he has recently made attempts at greater openess. That included the hiring of a top Western public-relations firm and the country is also cautiously encouraging greater foreign investment, as well as lifting the ban on media and encouraging UN elections officials due next month, to oversee Belarus' first free elections.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus to adopt new economy liberalization documents by end of 2008


By the end of the year Belarus is expected to adopt new enactments simplifying administrative procedures and liberalizing economy, Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said at the ceremony of presenting governmental awards for quality achievements in 2008, BelTA informs.

According to the Belarusian Premier, today it is necessary to use any levers to sell products and avoid excessive warehousing given the downturn in the world demand. Hence, close attention will be turned to the activity of the Belarusian companies, production and sales. "Our companies need to produce high-quality, science-intensive products," Sergei Sidorsky said.

Several steps to support the exporters will be undertaken in order to minimize the outcomes of the global financial crisis.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarusian Communists Grumble Ahead of Vote



MINSK - Belrusian Communist Party members have begun staging protests of the varied attempts at westernization by the President this month. They cite the recent closing or modifications of old Soviet factories as a move away from Socialism, and call it a 'betrayal of socialist solidarity' with the Belarusian people.

The Communist Party of Belarus, which had lost much of it's power after the early 1990's, have begun a marginal comeback in popularity after the recent moves by President Lukashenko. While many want democracy, they are seeing the sudden shift as a bid for credibility to stay in power.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Many Wary of Palin Administration in Belarus


MINSK - Many citizens in Belarus are wary of the new Palin administration in light of the recent collapse of US president John McCain. President Lukashenko delivered a statement on the issue earlier this morning, in which he stated that "the old bugger was bound to suffer some manner of attack. He's as old as the dirt we walk on."

While many foreign observers will likely notice a climactic shift to the right, even further than McCain's administration, many more see this as Palin's long awaited chance to shine. The big question Belarusians are asking themselves, is how will this affect Belarus, and her plans for a democratic outlook in Eastern Europe.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Election Week Hits Belarus


MINSK - With President Lukashenko's party neck and neck with a few other opposition parties, the elections set for January are just a week away as final campaign blitz and rallies take place across the country. The president made several appearances in Minsk today, and made further committments to ensuring a peaceful, but slow transition from Soviet Style Economics, to a more market socialism oriented economy similar to what the Chinese have already implemented in their country.

:: Belarus State Television ::

Lukashenko loses narrow election vote

MINSK - In a close victory, President Victor Lukashenko has been replaced as president by the opposition party member, Sergei Gaidukevich. The new president is expected to take office sometime this week. In a closing speech, Mr. Lukashenko has declined to initiate any sort of program to impede the transfer of power, and has stated that he "recognizes his time has passed and the will of the Belorusian people has chosen a new leader. ".

Many people in Belarus had expected the usual elections to be filled with the symptomatic troubles of state repression, voter fraud and general mishap. However this years elections have been marked by an openess, and democratic theme not seen since the collapse of the USSR. There was surprisingly little fraudulence and the president's party maintained a congressional majority despite losing it's presidential bid.

:: Belarus State Television ::

Opposition Keeps Lukashenko PM


MINSK - In a conciliatory gesture, incoming president Sergei Gaidukevich has opted to retain Lukashenko's former Prime Minister as a member of his cabinet. The PM will retain his current position and will help the new President acclimate to the new democratic situation of Belarus.

Widespread support of the regime has been seen since the election of Gaidukevich, and Pro-government rallies were held in Minsk today as the President Elect took the oath of office and formally took charge of the nation earlier this afternoon.

:: Belarus State Television ::


In 2012 Belarus to produce 10 mln tonnes of grains

MINSK - In 2012 Belarus plans to harvest nearly 9.5-10 mln tonnes of grains, declared Semen Shapiro the Minister of Agriculture and Food.

According to him, the agro industrial complex of Belarus completed all assigned tasks in 2011. The production increase in plant growing totaled 20.2% compared to 2010 index. Grain crop totaled 9.5 mln tonnes, rapeseed harvest - 630.000 tonnes. The general yield of grains and legumes totaled 39 c/ha.

Also Belarus provides reconstruction and technical reequipment of processing enterprises. In 2011 the country plans to build 88 new grain cleaning and drying complexes.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus plans to build nuclear power station, Lithuania opposes project

The Lithuanian authorities expressed their concerns on the recently unveiled plans for Minsk to build a nuclear power station, suggesting that previous meetings of the representatives from Lithuania and Belarus should take place before the project is approved.

"The Lithuanian political class and civil society wish to express their concern on certain issues related to energetic security and the impact upon the environment of the nuclear power station Belarus intends to build," the Foreign Affairs Minister of Vilnius declared during his discussions with his Belarussian counterparts.

Therefore, the Minister, one Vigaudas Ushatskas, suggested that special counseling meetings should be organized, including representatives of the European Commission, and those of Belarus, approaching the subject of respecting the rules regarding energetic security, included in the International Conventions in this field, and performing independent studies in order to estimate the impact of the Belarussian nuclear power stations upon the environment.

"The main alternative for reducing Lithuania's energetic dependency is to realize, as soon as possible, unification projects in the electric systems of the Baltic countries and those of Poland and Sweden, especially considering the closing of the nuclear power station in Ignalin (Lithuania), in 2013."

Belarus intends to build a nuclear power station in Mogiliovsk, with the help of Chinese Uranium, and is planned to come on line in the year 2017 with a generation power of 2,000 MW.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus raises Russian oil transit tariff


MINSK - Belarus has raised transit tariffs on Russian oil flowing to Europe through its pipelines by up to 22.5 percent, Belarus's economy ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

"The average increase in tariffs in euros per tonne depends on the direction of transportation and is between 21.6 percent and 22.5 percent," the ministry said in the statement.

The economy ministry said it needed to raise the transit price because it had modernised its facilities.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Tensions with Lithuania over Nuke Plant sees Belarussian ambassador expelled


VILNIUS - After a recent row over plans in Belarus to construct a Nuclear Powerplant, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belarus has seen fit to expel the Belarussian diplomat from the country, after talks had broken down over an agreement to allow the construction of the powerplant. Sources tell us that the Lithuanian government was in "no way in support of the project and would not allow the construction of a Nuclear Power plant. "

Belarussian government officials declined to comment on the matter, but were shocked at the lack of communication between Minsk and Vilnius.

:: Belarus State Television ::


Belarus Lifts Tariffs on Russian Oil


MINSK - Belaussian authorities have been in negotiations with Russian Gazprom authorities and have agreed to a repeal of the tariffs on Russian Oil this evening, in a late night meeting between the two.

:: Belarus State Television ::

Minselkhozprod Didn't License 5 Russian Meat Processing Plants

Belarusian Veterinary Service has finished the inspection of some Russian meat processing plants which supply products to Belarus, as Semen Shapiro, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Supply (Minselkhozprod) reported. The Minister also pointed out a better quality of Belarusian products in comparison with Russian ones.

Belarusian officials have inspected Russian meat processing plants of Moscow and Moscow region: "Mirital", "Shelf-2000", Mikoyanovsky Meat Processing Plant, "KampoMos" and "Mortadel". Apart from that, the officials inspected the observance of veterinary and sanitary requirements of Belarusian legislation in order to hold further licensing of the enterprises for supply of their products to Belarus.

The list of remarks related to work of Russian enterprises-suppliers was sent to Federal Agency of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor). Russian party promised to take into account all the remarks and eliminate all the violations in the nearest future.

Thus, the following meat processing plant will be inspected in January 2012: "Wimm-Bill-Dann", "Danone Industrie", Preobrazhensky Dairy Plant, "Campina" and Dmitrovsky Dairy Factory.

At present, 250 Russian enterprises supply products of animal origin to Belarus. All the inspections are to be held till January 2012.