Events

Decisions on Russian gas for Belarus taken, to be approved at political level
In order to create the common electricity market by 1 July 2019 and the common gas market by 1 January 2025 we should level gas prices as much as we can, and this is what we are doing today. All the arrangements that we reached were announced by Belarus’ Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko and Russia’s Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich,” said Vladimir Potupchik...

BIE Secretary General expected to visit Belarus in spring 2017
Belarus’ First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Yevdochenko met with Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Vicente Loscertales on the sidelines of the 3rd meeting of EXPO 2017 participants...

Belarus government reviews Second European Games action plan
Andrei Kobyakov noted that all the subcommittees had been set up. “The plans of activities for the subcommittees should be confirmed within one month. All the issues should be addressed operationally,” the Premier stressed...

Belarusian diplomat elected chairman of Special Committee on UN Charter
The election took place during the annual session of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization which opened at the UN headquarters in New York on 21 February. Ruslan Varankov, Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the UN, was elected Chair of the Special Committee for 2017...

Belarus, Moldova to expand cooperation in agriculture
During the meeting the parties discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in agriculture. Moldova showed interest in Belarusian resource conservation technology in plant science and fodder production and would like to implement joint projects in design and construction of hi-tech dairy farms, and setting up animal reproduction laboratories...

Geneva to host event to mark 20 years since withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus
“Valentin Rybakov is expected to attend the event to mark 20 years of the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus. The event was initiated by the Belarusian side,” Dmitry Mironchik said...

Belarus to hold ministerial consultations with Germany, Poland, Estonia
During the visit to Berlin on 23-25 February, Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko is expected to attend the Belarusian-German ministerial consultations. The German delegation will be led by State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Markus Ederer...

Belarus, Kazakhstan gearing up for next meeting of intergovernmental commission
Andrei Yevdochenko, Belarusian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Askar Mamin, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan co-chairing the Belarus-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation...

Lukashenko sends birthday greetings to Ivan Misko
“Your productive work has made a big contribution to the preservation and development of the Belarusian fine art, promotion of its best traditions and achievements,” the felicitation message reads...

Makei meets with Belarusian representatives in integration organizations
Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei met with Belarusian representatives in the integration bodies of the EEU, CSTO and the Union State as part of his working trip to Russia. The meeting highlighted international cooperation on economic and other matters, outlined approaches to solving the current issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda...

Union State MPs to discuss foreign policy action plan 28 February
The meeting will discuss the issues related to the development of inter-parliamentary contacts, international election observation in the CIS countries and the information support of the activity of the Parliamentary Assembly. Besides, the participants of the meeting will take stock of the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Union State budget performance in 2016...

Vietnam to host Days of Belarusian Culture in May
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Vietnam Vladimir Goshin met with the Deputy Head of the International Division of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on 21 February...

Belarus Foreign Ministry, Swiss Red Cross talk over joint humanitarian projects
Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko met with Head of the SRC International Cooperation Department for Europe/Asia Jurg Frei. The parties discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral relations, including the joint implementation of humanitarian projects of the Swiss Red Cross in Belarus, support to the Belarusian Red Cross Society...

Advancement of Belarus-UK relations discussed
Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Oleg Kravchenko met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Belarus Fionna Gibb...

Belarus to be introduced as host of 26th OSCE PA session in Vienna on 23-24 February
The meeting in Vienna will consider the key items on the OSCE agenda, including the situation with illegal migrants and refugees, the fight against international terrorism, the situation in Syria and Ukraine. It will also include a debate “Protecting human rights in times of crisis”...

Belarus, Romania to enhance cooperation in sports
The parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the intensification of sports cooperation between Belarus and Romania. An agreement was reached to study the opportunity of signing a memorandum of cooperation between the National Olympic Committees of Belarus and Romania. The parties outlined concrete joint events in some sports and reaffirmed their readiness to establish cooperation...

Lukashenko sends birthday greetings to Mikhail Finberg
“You make a big contribution to the preservation and development of the best music traditions in Belarus, help promote our music in the country and abroad,” the felicitation message reads. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that numerous fans appreciate Mikhail Finberg’s high professionalism, outstanding experience, and selfless service to art...

Pirshtuk to head Belarus’ delegation at OSCE PA Winter Meeting in Vienna
The OSCE PA Winter Meetings will take place in Vienna, Austria on 23-24 February. MPs of the OSCE member states are expected to discuss politics, security, economy, environment and human rights issues. The OSCE PA Summer Meeting will be held in Minsk on 5-9 July to discuss the ways of strengthening mutual trust and cooperation for the sake of peace and wellbeing in the OSCE zone...

Belarus’ Foreign Minister expresses condolences over Churkin’s demise
Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The Belarusian minister expressed condolences over the death of outstanding Russian diplomat, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin...

Belarus approves national action plan on gender equality for 2017-2020
It is the fifth program document is designed to build up the capacity of gender mainstreaming in the development of state policies in various areas of activity. The major goals of the national plan is to develop an institutional mechanism of securing gender equality; to expand economic opportunities of women and men; ensure the gender-oriented healthcare...