Opinions & Interviews

Opinion: Belarus president’s Helsinki 2 initiative is worth considering
“Alexander Lukashenko is an extraordinary person who regularly comes up with remarkable initiatives, and this initiative is certainly worth considering. It is a very good thing that the initiative was presented to the journalists who are attending the congress,” Igor Shchegolev said...

Call for creative attitudes on sidelines of Russian mass media congress in Belarus
The information minister pointed out that as early as the first day of the congress representatives of mass media, the general public, and the private sector contacted participants of the congress asking why the mass media talk so little about the most important thing — creation...

Belarus’ key role in integration processes in post-Soviet area emphasized
"Belarus is an active associated member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in particular in such essential matters as the development of the new Silk Road set to unite China and Europe"...

Opinion: It is important for journalists to honestly describe the events going on around them
“It is important for journalists to honestly report what is going on around them. Being honest, being devoted to the motherland, and presenting an objective view on things are the key requirements in news reporting,” noted Mikhail Gusman, First Deputy Director General of the Russian news agency TASS...

Putin hails World Congress of Russian Press as one of key events in Russian-language media space
“Your regular meetings are rightfully considered to be one of the key events in the Russian-language media space, in the Russian-speaking world,” reads the message of greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the participants of the 19th World Congress of Russian Press...

Ignatenko: Belarus is a vivid example of successful coexistence of two languages
Vitaly Ignatenko, President of the World Association of Russian Press (WARP), UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, noted during a plenary session at the 19th World Congress of Russian Press in Minsk...

Lukashenko: True freedom of speech means not only freedom of choice but also responsibility
“Imposing opinions on journalists and forcing some stereotypes on them is inadmissible. True freedom of speech, that is highly valued in Belarus, is not only about choice, but also about responsibility for it,” the Belarusian leader said...

Lukashenko: Internet and social media must comply with ethical and moral principles
“In the name of morality and protection of the rights of citizens to reliable information, the state has the right to apply the norms and force of law. Reliable barriers should be built to block the information harmful to people,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

Belarus president describes Russian language as national treasure
"Over the course of many centuries the Belarusians have contributed a lot to its development and have enriched the language. Today Russian is a state language in Belarus just like Belarusian. The people made their choice at the referendum”...

Prospects of advancing Belarus’ cooperation with Egypt, Sudan analyzed
"Roadmaps to advance Belarus’ cooperation with Egypt and Sudan in 2017-2018 have been developed with a focus on trade and economic cooperation. “In Egypt and Sudan we are introducing the project approach to export promotion into practice,” said Sergei Rachkov...

Gusman: Congress in Minsk will bring together Russian-language media from around the world
“The 19th Congress of Russian Press will will gather in Minsk the chiefs of Russian-language media outlets from virtually all around the world,” Mikhail Gusman said. According to him, the World Association of Russian Press (WARP) unites media outlets that are printed in Russian in 80 countries. Minsk will see representatives from more than 50 countries...

Brand new ways to promote Belarusian machines, vehicles in Russia
"The new concept will allow stabilizing tax conditions for the enterprises that assemble Belarusian machines and vehicles in Russia. In his words, the first contract of the kind has been signed in Russia’s Tatarstan to assemble MTZ vehicles. There are plans to launch a new line to make vehicle cabs"...

EU, U.S. pledge support to Belarus with WTO accession
“Belarus has made substantial progress in bilateral talks with the WTO members. The country has finished negotiations with 12 states and signed protocols with Japan and South Korea in April. We are now holding substantive negotiations with another 13 WTO members, including the EU and the U.S."...

Belarus urged to raise its voice on international arena
“At the modern stage of development, the Belarusian state needs to build its foreign policy and foreign economic activities in a new way, a more ambitious and aggressive way. I believe that the time has come for Belarus to assert itself on the world stage, to promote and protect the national interests more actively"...

Lukashenko on Belt and Road initiative: We should seize the historic chance
The Belarusian leader said that the current high level of trust-based all-round strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation with China requires increased attention to the implementation of bilateral projects and the interaction in large international associations...

Further normalization of relations with EU among Belarus’ foreign economic priorities
“Our neighbor, the European Union, is going through tough times. It is facing a number of serious challenges. I believe the EU will tackle them successfully. I have mentioned many times that we need an economically and politically strong European Union. The EU is one of the pillars of the multipolar world"...

Belarus president calls for more effective removal of barriers in common economic space
“Enabling equal conditions for commercial entities within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union is a strategic task for us. We should accomplish it in a resolute manner as soon as possible”...

Lukashenko: Helsinki 2 initiative reflects concerns over negative developments in the region
“This step should not be viewed as an ambitious international initiative for the sake of an initiative. First of all, it reflects our vision and concerns over the negative developments in the region,” the Belarusian leader emphasized...

Opinion: Belarus plays a very important role in ensuring stability in the region
“Belarus is a very important partner for us as it is located in the geographical center of Europe and borders on the European Union. The country plays a very important role in ensuring stability in the region. We are very glad that Belarus has organized the Minsk dialogue,” the diplomat said...

Belarus, Netherlands to continue vigorous political dialogue
Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said during the opening ceremony of the office of the Embassy of Netherlands in Minsk. Vladimir Makei underlined that the office of the embassy is opened in the year of the 25th anniversary of Belarus-Netherlands diplomatic relations. The office will open a new page in the history of the bilateral relations...