Opinions & Interviews

Belarus ready to host International Fencing Federation congress
“In April, the 2017 European Fencing U23 Championships will be no exception. A new generation of talented athletes is growing in Belarus, and we believe that the hosting of the championships will help them to improve their skills, and will attract more audience to fencing,” Alexander Shamko noted as he met with Chief Executive Officer of the FIE Headoffice Nathalie Rodriguez...

Lukashenko expects breakthrough in Belarusian science
“I would like our science to make a breakthrough and defeat the horrible disease that we have not yet managed to cure. If a breakthrough happened and we learned to cure cancer just like any other disease, it would be a blessing,” Alexander Lukashenko noted...

NATO welcomes Lukashenko’s initiative to invite observers to monitor Zapad 2017 army exercise
According to the source, no invitation has been received so far, but the opportunity to watch the maneuvers will be welcomed. NATO expects that channels of the NATO-Russia Council will be used to brief the Alliance about the exercise...

Lukashenko pledges support for honest investors in Belarus
On the example of the enterprise, the head of state said that investors can use various preferences in Belarus. “If they work in an honest way just like your enterprise is doing, I promised that we will support them in any fields. Members of the government, ministers, and I analyze the situation and try to meet investors halfway,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

Details of Belarusian-Russian army exercise Zapad 2017 unveiled
The geographic span of the exercise is impressive — from the Kola Peninsula direction in the arctic zone to Belarus, said the Defense Minister. During the joint strategic exercise in Belarus the Russian Federation will be represented by about 3,000 military personnel and about 280 vehicles, said the Belarusian Defense Minister...

Lukashenko urges maximum transparency during West 2017 army exercise
"You will see that this army exercise is purely defense oriented. You will see that Belarus and Russia are not going to attack anyone and are not going to provoke anyone here. This is not the case. We are getting ready to ensure our security in any situation just to be on the safe side,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

Belarus president in favor of rooting out non-core functions from government machine
Alexander Lukashenko stressed: “Constant improvement of the management system and its mechanisms is crucial to improving the effectiveness of the government machine. We need to achieve results with skills instead of superfluous efforts. Instead of blowing up personnel numbers it is necessary to systematically shape a compact structure and an effective management model"...

Belarusian pavilion at EXPO 2017 in Kazakhstan expected to draw crowds
“We know that your country pays great attention to the development of alternative and renewable energy. Therefore, I believe that your pavilion will be one of the most interesting and popular ones,” Nurlan Nigmatulin said...

Military town for Belarusian nuclear power plant security detachment opened
"We know and have mastered all the technologies for securing and defending a nuclear power plant. The nuclear power plant will start working under our protection,” stressed Igor Shunevich....

Belarus views OSCE PA as key venue for inter-parliamentary dialogue
Vladimir Makei noted that Belarus views the OSCE PA as an important venue to develop mutually beneficial inter-parliamentary dialogue on common approaches to the key issues of ensuring stability and security in the OSCE region. He reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to provide all possible assistance in the organization of the forthcoming OSCE PA summer session in Minsk...

PM: Belarus eager to restore trade with Kazakhstan to $1bn
Belarus is also ready for active participation in the third stage of Kazakhstan’s modernization program. “We have a number of ideas to propose within the framework of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s large-scale initiative on the country’s third modernization. Belarus expects to take part in this project,” Andrei Kobyakov underlined...

Belarus’ commitment to border security underlined
"For the sake of maintaining stability at the border the Belarusian border service pays close attention to ways of guarding the border using various forces and units. Laws on the state border, on the border service agency get amended as well as laws on administrative violations and criminal violations, regulatory acts on the border line and the depth of the border line”...

OSCE PA appreciates Belarus’ readiness to host 26th summer session
Christine Muttonen noted that it was her first visit to Belarus but she was already looking forward to a new meeting in July because the annual summer session is the key event in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. During such sessions top officials of the Assembly are elected, declarations and resolutions are adopted...

Speaker: Belarus contributes significantly to European security
The visit of the OSCE PA delegation to Belarus, the signing of the agreement on the 26th summer session are another step towards promoting cooperation and dialogue on all issues of mutual interest, Vladimir Andreichenko said...

Reynders: Belarus can have good relations with both EU and Russia
“We are currently in difficult talks with Russia on various issues. We, however, continue to believe and to persuade that it is normal to have good relations with all the neighbors. It is important for Belarus to continue diversifying its relations with neighbors,” Didier Reynders added...

Vice Speaker: Belarus thoroughly preparing for OSCE PA summer session
“We will welcome representatives of many EU states, CIS countries, MPs from the United States and Canada. These countries are our main economic partners. This is going to be a milestone event for Belarus. We have never hosted the event of such scale and such scope of participation before,” the Vice Speaker noted...

Lukashenko: EBRD’s cooperation with Belarus’ public sector will be productive
“Within the framework of the current strategy we will be able to expand cooperation in the public sector. I am convinced that this cooperation will yield good results. The development of all forms of ownership, including in the public and private sectors, is Belarus’ priority. I am grateful to you for understanding and for having no prejudice in this regard”...

Reynders: Europe sees Belarus as country promoting dialogue
Didier Reynders noted that more and more often Belarus becomes a participant of major international processes. He emphasized the important role of the country in the organization of the negotiation process to promote settlement of the conflict in Ukraine...

Lukashenko: Belarus will always support unity, stability in Europe
"I can guarantee that Belarus will always be working towards unity and stability in Europe. Even in the difficult times we did not create problems for you and will not create them in the future,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

Makei: Belarus is a staunch supporter of integration
“In line with this policy, Belarus’ presidency in the Central European Initiative will be mainly aimed at promoting connectivity in a greater Europe. This includes a big number of cross-cutting themes such as the development of transport infrastructure, harmonization of norms and standards related to customs and trade, promotion of economic development at the municipal and regional levels"...