Opinions & Interviews

Belarus president sends birthday greetings to Zhores Alferov
“Your vigorous public activities aimed at enhancing good neighborly relations between Belarus and Russia and a contribution to the mutually beneficial cooperation of our countries in science, technology and innovation are strongly appreciated,” the head of state noted...

Lukashenko: Belarus draws much attention to children’s sport development
The President believes that ice hockey tournaments are always bright and unforgettable events. The best teams reached the final stage of the nationwide tournament after demonstrating their strength and the will to win...

Choice of Belarus as place to study explained by foreign students
Over 1,600 foreign students from 38 countries study at five universities in Gomel. The number includes young people from India, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Peru, a number of African countries, the USA, France, ex-USSR countries and other ones...

Belarus views Mongolia as promising partner in Asia
“We are interested in maximizing the use of the still untapped potential of the bilateral cooperation. Our priority is the development of trade and economic relations”...

Makei: Belarus’ role reassessed thanks to its sincere peace efforts
According to the minister, 2015 was a successful year for Belarus’ foreign policy. Belarus presided in the Eurasian Economic Union. Among the main results of the previous year was the progress made in promoting the EEU coordinated industrial policy, the liberalization of the market of transport services...

Israel plans to keep its embassy in Belarus open
“So far the embassy has not received any specific instructions from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so we have not sent any notifications to our Belarusian colleagues about these developments. However, a relevant statement was made, and we are optimistic about the future,” Yulia Rachinski-Spivakov said...

Samarasinha: Belarus understands the importance of human rights
“This dialogue (the conference on the death penalty in Minsk – BelTA’s note) will be a true discussion for Belarus, rather than an instruction, pressure or dictate,” the UN representative said when talking to journalists...

Minsk conference on death penalty hailed as landmark event
“I am pleased to be here, at this historic moment,” he noted. Stavros Lambrinidis also welcomed the Belarusian MPs partaking in the conference...

UK Ambassador: Minsk conference open to any opinion on death penalty
Fionna Gibb thanked the UNDP office and the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the organization of the conference which is taking place in Minsk with the financial support from the British embassy in Belarus...

Rybakov: Belarus has severe restrictions on death penalty
“The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Belarus is party, sets some restrictions on the use of the death penalty,” noted Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentin Rybakov...

Samoseiko: Minsk conference on death penalty will promote cooperation with the EU
"Death penalty is one of the issues on which the restoration of the PACE special guest status for Belarus depends," noted MP of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Chairman of Belarus’ parliamentary working group on studying death penalty as an instrument of punishment...

Metropolitan Pavel does not rule out Pope’s visit to Belarus
“If this matter is agreed, then it cannot be ruled out. Not long ago they said that there would never be a meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch. And it took place”...

Andreichenko: Belarus is ready for respectful human rights dialogue with EU
"Belarus and the European Union do not need to build their relations from scratch. Much has already been achieved. For instance, Belarus takes part in the Eastern Partnership initiative. At present, the country is negotiating visa facilitation and readmission agreements with the European Commission"...

Belarus president meets with EU representative on human rights
"We are flexible, we are learning. We have adopted many practices of yours and adjusted them to our life. I think we will continue doing it in the future”...

Lambrinidis: EU expects to boost cooperation with Belarus in all areas
"The European Union sees the recent lifting of the sanctions against Belarus as an opportunity to multiply, to considerably step up the interaction in all areas without exception, both in political and economic areas, and in the sphere of human rights"...

China views Great Stone project in Belarus as important
Liu Xuesong, Counsellor for Trade and Economic Affairs of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Belarus, said...

Belarus president: Every person has the right to speak up
“Don’t clamp down too hard. Our people are smart. They understand how they should live and work and we should support it in our people,” added Alexander Lukashenko while making personnel decisions...

Belarus’ parliament urged to play more significant role in society
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he made new appointments. The head of state remarked that Belarus will, probably, host the parliamentary election in September...

Minsk compared to Chopin’s music
It is my first time in Minsk, and I am very glad to be here. The Belarusian capital can be compared to inspiring music. I think that Frederic Chopin’s music would suit this city. On my way to Minsk I saw very beautiful snowy landscapes that inspired me”...

Belarus committed to improving human rights legislation
Yuri Ambrazevich, Belarus’ resident representative in the UN office and other international organizations in Geneva, head of the Belarusian delegation, who took part in the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told...