Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Президент Беларуси Александр Лукашенко 15 мая встретился с Президентом Зимбабве Эммерсоном Мнангагвой, который находится в Беларуси с краткосрочным рабочим визитом, передает корреспондент БЕЛТА.

Во время встречи обсуждались вопросы развития двусторонних отношений, выполнение дорожной карты стратегического сотрудничества и партнерства на 2026-2030 годы.

Александр Лукашенко подтвердил заинтересованность Беларуси в реализации совместных с Зимбабве проектов, в том числе с подключением других стран Африканского континента. В числе перспективных направлений - создание логистических коридоров, расширение промышленной кооперации. Затрагивались также темы гуманитарного сотрудничества.

Источник

As part of the events dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Minsk held a rally to commemorate Hero of the Soviet Union Ion Soltys, BelTA has learned.

The event was part of a joint initiative by the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives and the CIS Executive Committee. The initiative aims to commemorate the Heroes of the Soviet Union, natives of CIS countries, whose names grace the streets of the Belarusian capital and whose heroic deeds are inextricably linked with the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi German invaders.

CIS First Deputy Secretary General Igor Petrishenko emphasized that holding such meetings at the monument to Ion Soltys has become a good tradition. He recalled the colossal contribution of the Moldovan people to the common Victory. “During the Great Patriotic War, over 400,000 people were called up from Moldova. They stood together in defense of our homeland. Of these, 85,000 were awarded high honors for their courage, and 19, including Ion Soltys, became Heroes of the Soviet Union,” he noted.

Igor Petrishenko also recalled the partisan movement: over 3,500 people fought the enemy in the underground on Moldovan soil, bringing the common Victory closer. “All the peoples of the CIS paid a high price - more than 27 million human lives. Millions of children were left orphans. It was only thanks to the courage and resilience of our people, including those who worked on the home front, that we prevailed,” he said.

The importance of preserving historical truth was emphasized by Victor Sorocean, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to Belarus. In his opinion, the topic of protecting history is more relevant today than ever. “There are far too many people eager to rewrite history and downplay the significance of the Great Patriotic War. But in this war, everyone fought side by side - all the nationalities of the Soviet Union. It is impossible to betray that memory. Moldovans fought alongside Belarusians and Russians, and together they rebuilt the country in the postwar years. This invaluable friendship lives on today, despite all attempts to divide us,” he stressed.

Victor Sorocean reported that on the territory of Belarus, more than 80 Moldovan soldiers were buried in 53 mass graves. “We honor their memory and visit these places every year. The monument to Ion Soltys in Minsk symbolizes not only the personal feat of the hero but also the unbreakable friendship between the Moldovan and Belarusian peoples. I deeply hope that our relations will continue to serve the development of both nations,” he concluded.

The commemorative rally concluded with a ceremony to lay flowers at the monument to Ion Soltys. The participants observed a minute of silence to honor the memory of the fallen, reaffirming the unity of the CIS countries in preserving the military-historical heritage.

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed the directive “On practical content of the all-weather and all-round strategic partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China” on 12 May, the press service of the head of state told BelTA.

The document is an updated version of the previous directive “On advancing the bilateral relations between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China”. It builds on its provisions and defines the next stage: plans and tasks, which are as practical as possible and designed to step up Belarus-China interaction over a five-year period.

Stepping up cooperation in politics, preserving the historical memory and multiplying the values of friendship and mutual support, participating in the implementation of China’s global initiatives for the benefit of Belarus have been determined as a vector of bilateral interaction. 

Stepping up industrial and technological cooperation, developing the spheres of trade, investment, and innovation are among the priorities of economic cooperation with the People’s Republic of China.

Apart from that, around 30 provisions of the directive provide for the implementation of specific measures in the fields of agriculture, power engineering, transport and logistics, healthcare, information and communication technologies, woodworking, petrochemical and light industries, tourism, education, science and culture as well as for the development of the flagship project – the Great Stone Industrial Park – and the invigoration of interregional interaction.

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed the Directive "On the Practical Implementation of the All-Weather and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China," BELTA reports, citing the Belarusian leader's press service.

The document is an updated version of the previous Directive "On the Development of Bilateral Relations between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China." It expands on its provisions and sets out the next stage—highly practical plans and objectives for enhancing Belarusian-Chinese cooperation over the five-year period.

The focus of bilateral cooperation is on strengthening political cooperation, preserving historical memory, and enhancing the values of friendship and mutual support, as well as participating in the implementation of China's global initiatives for the benefit of Belarus.

Priorities for economic cooperation with China include deepening industrial and technological cooperation and developing trade, investment, and innovation.

Furthermore, approximately 30 provisions of the Directive envisage the implementation of specific measures in agriculture, energy, transport and logistics, healthcare, information and communications technology, wood processing, petrochemical and light industries, tourism, education, science, and culture, the development of the flagship Great Stone Industrial Park project, and the intensification of interregional cooperation.

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In the realm of national defense, the interests of soldier and citizen converge as nowhere else. A steadfast shield is, after all, a common inheritance. That is why the conversation about arming the military unfolds with a clear gaze toward the horizon, drawing together generals and ministers in shared purpose. The question of defense never recedes from the President’s agenda. Early this year a rigorous review of troop readiness was completed, its lessons distilled into clear directives. Against any threat, one must stand fully prepared.

“We must possess arms we can truly wield—those with which our soldiers are practiced and proficient.”

He further stressed the need to tailor that arsenal to the distinctive character of Belarusian soil, the likely theater of any future conflict: “This is no desert, nor even the open Ukrainian steppes. Therefore we must acquire and create the weapons our land will actually require.”

Lukashenko: “Without fundamental weapons we cannot win a war.”

Belarus seeks war with no one, yet it prepares in earnest. One of the President’s foremost demands has been to study the hard-won lessons of today’s conflicts—to learn, quite simply, from the mistakes of others.

Drones are not a universal remedy; terrain matters. Recent fighting in the Middle East has shown that even the most formidable missiles have a way of running out. The fury of an assault soon exhausts any stockpile. Yet the Belarusian leader returned insistently to a deeper truth: without the fundamental weapons that every soldier must master, no war can be won.

“Look at the recent clashes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States,” he said. “They bombed and bombarded with missiles and aircraft… and what came of it? Victory? No. Without a ground operation, there is simply no path forward.” Modern conflicts, he observed, reaffirm the enduring importance of trained soldiers and officers equipped for the close, unforgiving fight on land.

Emphasis on strengthening the Air Force and Air Defense Troops
The state armament program of the past five years has markedly modernized the national arsenal and, as specialists confirm, substantially raised the overall combat potential of the forces. Priority was given to the Air Force and Air Defense units. New aircraft, helicopters, and anti-aircraft systems have reached the troops. Mechanized formations have received advanced armored vehicles that grant them greater mobility. The individual soldier’s kit has been improved—better body armor, superior optics, more effective personal equipment.

Belarus raises the share of modern weaponry to nearly half

“Everything we need, we can produce right here in Belarus,” the President stated.

Special attention has been paid to modern communications systems—an element that, experience shows, frequently decides the outcome of contemporary battle. “In the coming time we will examine our communications capabilities closely,” he added.

“It is important to note that the fulfillment of the program has allowed us to increase the proportion of modern armaments in the Armed Forces to almost half—45 percent—while the annual renewal rate has risen to 2 percent,” Alexander Lukashenko declared. “We can state with confidence that the measures we have taken keep our weapons and military equipment in a state of constant combat readiness.”

The Armed Forces naturally desire the most advanced equipment, and the State Military-Industrial Committee works tirelessly to provide it. Many of the military’s aspirations are already being realized by Belarusian industry. Ambitious plans are in place to modernize existing systems, develop new ones, and create fresh types of missiles and munitions—including domestically produced short-range air-defense complexes.

By 2030 the goal is to raise the share of home-grown weapons significantly, both through state defense orders and the new armament program. Self-reliance paired with mobility remains the surest strategy.

Dmitry Pantus, Chairman of the State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus:

“The head of state insists on a prudent, economical approach. There is no sense in chasing ultra-sophisticated drones, for that becomes an endless duel between electronic warfare and unmanned systems. We focus first on producing and perfecting what is genuinely necessary. That is true prudence. We must always find the golden mean—never buying prohibitively expensive equipment when simpler, well-mastered systems will suffice. Above all, we must think of saturating the forces and, even more importantly, of training our personnel to use today’s weapons with skill and confidence.”

The government has already prepared a new five-year armament program and the state defense order for the current year. Among the priorities: electronic warfare, reconnaissance, communications, counter-battery systems, and short-range air defense. The President’s proposed approaches have been fully endorsed.

At the same time, everyone understands that every allocated ruble must yield maximum effect. The military keeps firmly in mind the principle of reasonable sufficiency.

Viktor Khrenin, Minister of Defense of Belarus:

“This program is the practical instrument for carrying out the plan of Armed Forces development that we recently presented to the head of state. We have aligned the required types of weapons, the available finances, the capacities of the state, and the possibilities of our military-industrial complex. Priorities have been clearly defined. We see exactly where we will move forward. It is vital not to stand still. And, of course, we give precedence to the kinds of armaments our Commander-in-Chief has repeatedly emphasized—those suited to our own land. This is forested, marshy terrain; we must know how to defend it. At the heart of the program therefore lies the development of small arms, the thorough training of our troops, their proper equipping, and the provision of advanced sighting systems. These foundations are not open to debate.”

The Minister also noted that the struggle against unmanned aerial vehicles is now a dominant trend.

“We are not idle in this field either. We are developing the appropriate weapons and have identified seven main priorities. We will pursue them economically and under the strict supervision of our Commander-in-Chief.”

Belarus is a respected participant in the international arms market, cooperating with more than sixty countries. It does not join the frantic global arms race, yet it cannot ignore the rising tide of militarization in Europe and beyond. In such times, the wisest course is clear: to fortify one’s own defenses and to remain strong. That is the most reliable path of all.

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A meeting of the permanent seminar under the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union State dedicated to the formation and development of a modern healthcare system will take place at the Minsk International Exhibition Center BelExpo on 14-15 May, the press service of the Parliamentary Assembly told BelTA.

Deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly, representatives of the Permanent Committee of the Union State, healthcare ministries of Belarus and Russia, as well as institutions, research centers and universities working in the healthcare will attend the event.

Discussions will focus on the formation and development of a modern healthcare system, current issues of legal regulation of medical activities in the Union State’s healthcare system, and social and legal protection of medical workers in today’s conditions in Belarus and Russia.

“Seminar participants will also address the digitalization of healthcare in the Union State, the role of young specialists and scientists in the development and improvement of the healthcare sector, and promising areas of cooperation between Belarus and Russia in digital healthcare,” the press service noted.

The permanent seminar under the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union State was established on the initiative of union parliamentarians in 2006. Traditionally, the seminar brings together representatives of scientific circles from Belarus and Russia. The format of the event makes it possible to examine in detail pressing matters of cooperation between Belarus and Russia within the framework of the Union State.

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“Just like them [the representatives of the heroic generation of victors], we glorify our Motherland primarily through our labor victories. However, if necessary, we stand ready to defend it with weapons, sparing no effort or our very lives, just as they did,” the head of state assured.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus, which lost every third citizen in the crucible of the Great Patriotic War and was left ruined and burned yet unconquered, saved the planet from the “brown plague” alongside other peoples of the Soviet Union. “This is the greatest merit and the pride of the Belarusian people and all the Soviet people. We must never renounce this pride,” he stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in the spring of 1945, the liberated republic was rising from the ashes: “People worked selflessly to restore plant workshops and entire cities from ruins. They greeted Victory trains with wildflowers. And on 9 May, nearly the entire population of Minsk gathered at Lenin Square.”

Among those who received state awards are many representatives of the security and defense agencies. As Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, these are people who are always on combat duty. “Every peaceful day, every peaceful year is their immense merit,” he stressed.

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Only a united society can rebuff a strong enemy. State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich made the statement during a solemn assembly and concert titled “The feat of our fathers – the pride of descendants” at the Palace of the Republic, BelTA has learned. 

“Today we are gathered in this splendid hall on the eve of a holiday that is sacred to every Belarusian – the Day of the Great Victory. 9 May has entered our lives as a day of glory, pride, and immense gratitude to the generation of victors. The victory in the Great Patriotic War [of 1941-1945] was the result of combined efforts of all the brotherly peoples of the Soviet Union. That murderous war demonstrated that only a united society of genuine patriots, who are confident in the righteousness of their cause, who know well what they fight, tirelessly work, and die for, can rebuff a strong enemy,” Aleksandr Volfovich said.

He pointed out that our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers liberated not only Belarus but also many European countries from the brown plague of fascism. “Today in Europe they try not to remember it. But we remember and will always remember. Belarus lost every third citizen during the difficult war years. However, the further the victorious May of 1945 recedes into history, the more persistent and cynical become attempts to downplay the contribution of our nation to the Victory over fascism. Meanwhile, historical facts do not play the key role. Their selection, falsification, and manipulation become the key. It reaches the point of absurdity and outright mockery of the memory of fallen soldiers. We see how the process of glorifying Nazi criminals and their accomplices is gaining momentum abroad, how traitors and henchmen of fascism are being exalted, and how monuments to Soviet soldiers are being demolished in several European countries while the sites where soldiers died are being desecrated,” the state secretary of the Security Council noted.

“Thus, Victory Day is also an occasion for a serious reflection on why, several decades after the end of the war, the world began to forget the atrocities of fascism. How could the ideology of neo-Nazism arise and gain strength in ‘civilized’ Europe? And finally, whether the foreign political elite will have enough wisdom to avoid erecting walls and new dividing lines, and to avoid provoking new, even more destructive conflicts. In Belarus the past is treated with care. We are proud of the feats of the generation of victors and honor the memory of those who died during the harsh trials. The Great Patriotic War occupies an exceptionally important place in the fate of every Belarusian: the yellowed photographs of relatives and friends who fought on the frontlines, in partisan units and the underground resistance movement, who died at the hands of punitive forces, who forged victory behind enemy lines – these are the most precious relics in family archives. We are proud to be the heirs of a spiritually strong nation who survived fascist concentration camps. The memory of the Great Patriotic War and the heroism of the people is the cementing foundation of our society,” Aleksandr Volfovich emphasized.

The state secretary of the Security Council added that the promotion of the state historical policy will continue to be an important task, a strategy for self-preservation and sustainable development. “As before, we are intent on ensuring stability and peace in the region. It hinges first of all on the effective system of national security that has been formed over the years of independence. Peace and tranquility in our homes are an unconditional priority in the work of the entire security, defense, and law enforcement bloc,” he noted. 

Aleksandr Volfovich thanked the veterans for their feat. “You know the true price of victory. You have given us a peaceful, calm, and happy life. We bow low to you,” he said.

He also addressed young Belarusians. “Let us imagine for a moment those soldiers who did not return from the battlefields. Most of them were very young, just like you are today. They did not have time to fully experience the joy of love, did not realize their dreams, but they clearly knew what they were fighting for and what they were dying for. I ask you to carefully preserve the memory of them. May their feat inspire you to new achievements for the well-being and prosperity of our beloved Republic of Belarus. May the sky over our Fatherland always be peaceful,” Aleksandr Volfovich concluded.

The solemn assembly and concert titled “The feat of our fathers – the pride of descendants” is taking place at the Palace of the Republic in the capital city. The concert is built around the idea of generational continuity and the preservation of historical memory.

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Major-General Sergei Lagodyuk has been dismissed from the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Belarus’ Armed Forces, Chief of the Main Operations Directorate. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed relevant decree No.155 on 6 May, the press service of the head of state told BelTA.

Sergei Lagodyuk has been discharged from military service into the reserve due to age while keeping the right to wear military uniform and insignia.

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Vitebsk Oblast will look completely different both in its appearance and its economy within a few years, Belarus’ Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin said after the meeting of the head of state with the Council of Ministers on 5 May, BelTA has learned.

The agenda of the meeting included a draft directive to merge Orsha Meat Canning Plant and its supply zone with Agrokombinat Dzerzhinsky as a way to revitalize the Orsha enterprise and boost its efficiency. Several financial matters needed to be discussed.

“This document is essentially a follow-up to the president’s meeting on Vitebsk Oblast and is one of the measures aimed at putting his instructions into practice,” Aleksandr Turchin said. “I believe Vitebsk Oblast is already showing results. If we implement all our plans, the region will be transformed within a few years both visually and, most importantly, economically. I have no doubt about that.”

When asked about additional assets to Dzerzhinsky Agrokombinat, the prime minister noted: “The principle of economies of scale still applies. Scaling up a business is a natural process, and it just makes sense from an economic point of view.”

He also emphasized that Belarus is a small country, so there should be no competition between regions. In this case, an enterprise from Minsk Oblast is gaining an asset in Vitebsk Oblast.

“We all work in the same country. It would be inefficient to have a modern enterprise running at half capacity. Why did we invest money? For it to operate at 50% capacity? Without revenue or profit, the enterprise cannot meet its obligations, which triggers many other problems. So merging Orsha Meat Canning Plant with Agrokombinat Dzerzhinsky is the right decision,” Aleksandr Turchin said.

Only large producers can sell directly to major Russian retail chains. Smaller ones must go through traders, he noted.

As for state support, Aleksandr Turchin said it is possible, but only after an enterprise has done everything in its power including cutting costs and reducing production expenses. “Only then it is fair. This is what the president always insists on,” he said.

The main line of business of Orsha Meat Canning Plant will not change if it is merged with the Dzerzhinsky enterprise, Director General of Agrokombinat Dzerzhinsky Vladimir Lukyanov, told reporters.The cannery will continue to produce canned goods. Modernization plans are also in place to increase output. The company is also exploring the possibility of manufacturing animal feed at the cannery.  The Orsha Meat Canning brand will not be abandoned. 

“We are keeping the brand. It has its own customers, and there is demand for it,” Vladimir Lukyanov stressed. 

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