Opinions & Interviews

Shamko: Young Belarusian atheltes should prove their skill at world championships
“Winning is hard, especially at international events. Every time young Belarusian athletes should prove that they are not accidental winners but regular contenders for top spots,” Alexander Shamko remarked. Moving from junior to senior level is a vital stage for a sportsman...

Belarus calls on UN member states to adopt comprehensive measures to protect trafficking victims
Belarus’ Permanent Representative stressed the importance of coordinating the efforts of the UN member states, international organizations and civil society in the fight against human trafficking. Ambassador Alena Kupchyna also expressed solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and urged UN member states to take comprehensive measures to ensure their protection and support...

Belarus to seek election to UNESCO intergovernmental committee for intangible cultural heritage
Belarus was a member of this international body from 2005 to 2009. “It was very good for us: the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding was extended with the first Belarusian element – the rite of the Kalyady Tsars in the village of Semezhevo, Kopyl District, Minsk Oblast,” the expert noted...

Belarus attaches great importance to cooperation with Turkey
“The previous meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held four years ago. The decisions approved during that meeting have been implemented. This resulted in the increased mutual trade, intensified investment cooperation and expanded legal framework,” Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said...

Ananich: Belarus preserves, develops experience of previous generations
“We do not reject anything. We take all the best, preserve and develop it for the good of people and society,” Lilia Ananich remarked. This was what Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko focused on at the solemn meeting timed to Belarus’ Independence Day, she noted...

Belarus to expand Chinese language program next school year
“This school year we will expand the Chinese language program in Belarus, and the process will continue. Belarus and China are implementing large-scale social, economic and investment projects, the largest of them being the Chinese-Belarusian industrial park Great Stone,” said Belarus Education Minister Igor Karpenko...

Belarus president wants smooth organization of 2nd European Games
The head of state was interested in whether there were any questions regarding the forthcoming hosting of the prestigious international competition. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that the Belarusian capital city will become an international sport epicenter in that period...

Finnish minister names promising areas in Belarus for investment
“Let us take energy for instance. This is the sector which provides real opportunities for investing. Retail trade has a big potential as well. A lot of Finnish products are sold in St Petersburg. We should do more in Minsk to make our products recognizable,” said Kai Mykkanen...

Rapid advancement of Belarusian-Chinese cooperation noted
The diplomat noted that an increasingly large number of young Belarusians show their interest in studying Chinese. For this purpose scholarships of the Chinese ambassador have been instituted and have been awarded for two years already. This year 30 students from various parts of Belarus have won the scholarships...

Belarus takes measures to mitigate impacts of climate change on economy
“We are currently working on Belarus’ low-carbon development strategy and we have already drafted it. We plan to use more renewable resources – wind, water, heat. They are the future,” Chief Researcher of the International Projects Department of the Belarusian Research Center Ecology Ivan Narkevich said...

Tractor industry viewed as important for Belarus
"For the related industrial enterprises it is a locomotive of their development. The agricultural industry, the economy of the agricultural industry depend largely on the state of affairs in the agricultural machinery industry. This, of course, has an impact on the social sector,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

Belarusian foreign minister explains lack of progress in Ukraine conflict resolution
"To secure peace and accord in the region, all the sides have to unconditionally fulfill the Minsk agreements. They don’t. If we see that they don’t, it means we should probably think about organizing another Normandy Four meeting"...

Makei: Dialogue between Belarus and EU benefits both sides
“We thanked our Slovene friends for the pragmatic, objective position that the country took in the matter of lifting sanctions against Belarus. The dialogue, which is now developing between Belarus and the European Union, is in the interest of our country and in the interest of the European Union"...

Belarusian NPP to be fully commissioned in summer of 2020
Rosatom Director General Aleksei Likhachev thanked the Belarusian side for constant attention to the BelNPP construction project. “We feel this. So do our builders working here in Belarus," he said...

Belarus, Ukraine aim to double trade within 2 years
“The global crisis is over. The economy is gradually recovering. Our states are out of recession. The potential is big and we must make use of it. I think that in 2019 we will reach $8 billion in mutual trade,” said Vladimir Semashko. He stressed that the two economies are largely complementary...

Ukraine values Belarus’ efforts to help peaceful settlement of conflict in Donbass
According to the Ambassador, the two heads of state discussed political and economic cooperation, interaction in the humanitarian and cultural areas. “The leaders also talked over the situation in Donbass. The emphasis was on the importance to continue the Minsk-format negotiations,” Igor Kizim said...

Poroshenko: No alternative to Minsk agreements in de-escalating conflict in Ukraine
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko stated following the negotiations with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Kiev. The Ukrainian leader thanked Belarus for the support, in word and deed, and for the effort to enable good working conditions for the negotiations in Minsk...

Belarus president confirms readiness to assist with peaceful resolution of situation in Ukraine
We deliver humanitarian aid to these oblasts. I asked Petro Poroshenko about it. We would like to work there without mediators and using the shortest route possible. I suggested we should do it together if our interests match and these humanitarian convoys coincide”...

Advancing relations with Belarus named important priority for Ukraine
“I am convinced that the advancement of close relations with neighboring countries, primarily with Belarus, remains a most important priority for us,” Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko made the statement during the expanded-participation negotiations with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko...

Belarus, Ukraine urged to win third markets together
“We need to cooperate in selling products to third countries. Ukraine has a free trade zone with EU. A free trade zone with Canada, which takes effect on 1 August, envisages the abolition of 98% of duties. Belarusian companies can team up with partners for the production of goods in Ukraine for the export to third countries"...