Opinions & Interviews

UNDP: Environmental projects in Belarus yield tangible results
"The preservation of peatlands is not only a matter of economy or ecology. This also includes a social dimension. The focus should be placed on these points"...

Latvian FM: Belarus, EU have gone a good way towards normalization of relations
As for the signing of the agreement between Belarus and the EU, he stressed that both Minsk and Brussels, and also other countries should decide on how and in what areas to cooperate...

Lukashenko: Visit of Belarus’ foreign minister to Brussles planned well in advance of EaP summit
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told the media, commenting on the degree of Belarus’ representation at the summit and claims that Russia is somehow connected to it...

Wiktorin: EU will continue to support environmental projects in Belarus
"Climate has no borders. Climate change mitigation is a strategic priority for the European Union. European leaders signed a climate action that envisages a new target of 40% carbon emissions cut by 2030"...

Lukashenko urges more focus on healthcare facilities in small towns
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the need to ensure access to healthcare services for all, regardless of where a person lives, in a big city or a small town...

Draft ordinance on digital economy in Belarus pending approval
"It is a very comprehensive document. Not a simple one. We’ve tried to present it in a convenient way for those, who do business, and those, who oversee the operation of private businesses"...

Opinion: Ordinance on entrepreneurship promotion will dramatically change Belarus’ business climate
"The document introduces an institution of business self-regulation with minimum interference from the government. Although businessmen shall take more responsibility for their actions, great opportunities open up for developing your own business"...

Makei expects Belarus’ new agreement with EU to be signed soon
In his words, nothing prevents the parties from concluding the agreement. But each party needs to undertake certain steps. "There is an understanding that the document is needed"...

Opinion: Entrepreneurship Development Ordinance encourages self-employment and removes barriers
Novitsky, member of the Entrepreneurship Development Council, said that the main tasks include scrapping excessive administrative barriers, outdated and far-fetched requirements, which Belarusian private companies had to deal with...

Entrepreneurship development ordinance expected to produce results in Belarus in H1 2018
Belarusian Deputy Economy Minister Dmitry Matusevich stressed that the entrepreneurship development ordinance will send an ideological message. “This is why we can say it came into effect as of the day it was signed because it stipulates principles, which radically change the attitude of government agencies to the private sector"...

Belarus hopes for closer trade, economic relations with EU
“In the run-up to the summit we maintained close contact with our European partners and expressed our wishes. Our wish is to have closer smooth trade and economic contacts and relations, and also to have an easier access to the EU markets"...

New ordinance hailed as collective effort of Belarusian government agencies, private sector
"The fewer the requirements to business are, the less they have to spend on administrative expenses. This will significantly reduce production costs"...

Pharmaceutical self sufficiency seen as national security in Belarus
"The enterprise will focus primarily on import substitution. Using the unique technologies it will manufacture drugs that are currently quite expensive and are imported into the country from abroad"...

Lukashenko sets 2018 targets for Property Management Directorate
Alexander Lukashenko and Viktor Sheiman discussed the new fields of work of the Property Management Directorate, in particular, the establishment of pharmaceutical companies...

Shamko: Belarus is consistent in its commitment to combat doping
Alexander Shamko supported the Russian counterpart in the need to develop clear mechanisms for interaction between international sports organizations and national federations and sports departments...

Positive steps in Belarus-CoE cooperation welcomed
"In the June report we listed all the positions we marked in respect to Belarus. We acknowledged all the country’s positive steps and emphasized the things that need to be done. Our final goal is to see Belarus in the Council of Europe"...

Belarus in favor of pragmatic cooperation with Council of Europe
"We are working on the implementation of the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Belarus for 2016-2017 and we hope that this plan will be extended to 2018. We are interested in the project"...

Belarus president sends birthday greetings to Nicolas Maduro
“Your principled position in the domestic and foreign policy helps enhance the sovereignty of Venezuela and expand foreign trade ties,” the felicitation message reads...

Disability art festival in Mogilev to advance cultural cooperation in Belarus-Russia Union
"We are pleased with the fact that Belarus, namely the former CIS cultural capital Mogilev, has been granted the honor of hosting the festival. We hope that the high organizational level of the event will help new talents flouris"...

Belarus ready to build sports facilities in Georgia
Belarus and Georgia plan to boost trade at least up to $200 million. Belarus’ major exports are high-technology products, including Stadler trains, agricultural vehicles, petrochemical and pharmaceutical products...