Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Each of us carries a great responsibility for the future of Belarus today, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko told reporters as he took part in early voting at polling station No. 4 in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

“I came to vote early due to my work schedule. In general, each of us carries a great responsibility for the future of Belarus today. Everyone should make an informed choice so that Belarus should continue to develop and our

people should live and work in peace. It is important to keep our country stable, safe and secure. This is the basis for improving the well-being of our people. This is what I have voted for today," Vladimir Andreichenko said.

Any campaigns should comply with the Constitution and electoral laws. “Our laws are very progressive. We have introduced amendments and additions to the Electoral Code three times. Our electoral legislation is viewed quite highly by international parliamentary organizations,” the speaker said.

Vladimir Andreichenko stressed that those people who are trying to destabilize the situation in Belarus today seek to stir protests in the society. “This will not do good to the country and the people. We should remain calm, restrained, and I see that this is what people want. I have held many meetings in regions. People understand that it is only through work, discipline, law and order that we can make Belarus a modern, prosperous country," he added.

The loading of nuclear fuel into the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will begin on 7 August, BelTA learned from Press Secretary of the Belarusian Energy Ministry Olga Kozlovich.

The official said that the loading of fuel rod arrays into the nuclear reactor core of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will begin on 7 August as one of the steps in the process of commissioning the unit.

A total of 163 fuel rod arrays will be inserted into the reactor in August.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built near Ostrovets, Grodno Oblast using the Russian design AES-2006 featuring two VVER-1200 reactors with the total output capacity of 2,400MW. The engineering division of the Russian state nuclear industry corporation Rosatom is the general contractor. Generation III+ reactor units boast improved technical and economic parameters. A unique combination of active and passive safeguards is their main peculiarity.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The heads of state discussed the development of bilateral relations and preparations for the third Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine due in Grodno this autumn. The parties noted they want to make every effort to ensure that this event should produce significant practical results, intensify cooperation.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Volodymyr Zelenskyy also discussed the epidemiological situation in the countries, measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, and exchanged the lessons learned in this regard.

The parties discussed the strengthening of control on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border and intensification of cooperation between the border agencies.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched upon the matter with the militants detained in Belarus. He said that they took part in the armed conflict in Donbass and the Ukrainian prosecutor's office is conducting an appropriate investigation. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the law enforcement bodies would cooperate on the issue within the framework of the international agreements signed with Russia and with Ukraine.

On the first day of early voting, the turnout in the presidential elections in Belarus was 4.98%. BelTA informs with a link to the CEC website.

In Minsk Oblast, 4.69% of voters came to polling stations on the first day of early voting, in Minsk - 4.77%, in Mogilev - 4.66%.

In Brest Oblast, 4.23% of voters from the total number included in the lists voted, in Vitebsk Oblast - 5%. In Gomel Oblast, the turnout was 7.55%, in the Grodno Oblast - 3.39%.

The total number of voters included in the lists is 6,836,585.

Early voting in the elections started on August 4 and will last until August 8 inclusive.

The list of countries that still register new cases of the novel coronavirus has been updated, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

As of 4 August, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Tanzania, Fiji and Sri Lanka were removed from the list.

People coming from the countries excluded from the list are not required to self-isolate for 14 days.

The average salary in Belarus will go up two times within the next five years.

This goal is spelled out in the country's road maps and state programs, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he delivered his annual address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 4 August, BelTA has learned.

“The number one goal for the government is to increase people's incomes. We will continue our well-balanced policy. Do not trust those people who, knowing nothing, promise every thing under the sun. Miracles do not happen. Everything is achieved through hard work, especially during the ongoing difficult crisis,” the head of state said.

In his words, there is no social divide in the country. The people's wellbeing depends on economic performance. “There are no secrets. The more in-demand products we produce and export, the more money we earn. This goal is laid down in our road maps and programs. Within the next five years the average salary in Belarus will go up two times. Neither five nor ten times. It will increase two times,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Miners of "Belaruskali" have begun to develop a new horizon at the second mine department, MLYN.BY reports with reference to the company's official telegram channel.

- On the 3rd of August at the Krasnoslobodsky mine, the exploration conveyor Bremsberg uncovered the second potash horizon. The development of the new horizon will increase the capacity for ore extraction to 9 million tons, and will extend the life of the mine by at least 10 years, ”the report says.

Krasnoslobodsky mine was commissioned in May 2009. According to the project, its production capacity for the extraction of ore was 6 million tons, today this figure is 8.7 million tons.

According to Belaruskali, with the help of new technologies and equipment, the miners have built a 1.2-kilometer-long tunnel to the new horizon, now the ore from the new development is already rising to the surface.

Polish Airlines LOT resumed flights to Minsk National Airport on 2 August, BelTA learned from the press service of the airport.

“The LOT flight arrived at Minsk National Airport from Warsaw on 2 August. The Embraer E-170 landed in the Belarusian capital at 13.45, and at 14.35 flew back to Warsaw, to the Chopin airport,” the press service noted.

Polish Airlines LOT is one of the oldest airlines in Europe. It began to carry out regular flights to Minsk in September 1992. The LOT flight program was put on hold due to COVID-19 on 14 March 2020. In August-September, the company plans to perform the Warsaw-Minsk-Warsaw flight four times a week: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday in August, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in September. Changes are possible in the schedule.

“On 17 July Iraqi Airways resumed regular flights on the Baghdad-Minsk-Baghdad route. Two flights per week are scheduled for August. Before the flight, we advise you to get familiar with the entry restrictions in the country of destination, and contact the authorized authorities of the country of arrival,” the press service of the Minsk National Airport said.

The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has ratified a package of international agreements at an extraordinary session on 3 August, BelTA has learned.

Vladimir Andreichenko declared the session open in line with Decree No.294 of 24 July 2020. “On the basis of the Constitution, the head of state has decided to convene an extraordinary session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic to hear the president's annual Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly and to consider other issues,” the speaker said.

The permanent commissions prepared three draft laws for inclusion in the agenda of the current session. On 3 August the MPs considered a number of international treaties aimed at developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation of Belarus with other countries.

MPs ratified the executive program between the governments of Belarus and Egypt on cooperation in higher and postgraduate education. A draft law on Belarus' accession to the protocol on electronic exchange of information between the CIS countries for tax administration was adopted as well.

The House of Representatives also ratified an agreement on transactions with precious metals and precious stones in the EAEU.

Seven new residents may appear in the China-Belarus Industrial Park "Great Stone" by the end of the year.

This was announced by Sergei Vaytekhovsky, Deputy Director General of the Industrial Park Development Company CJSC, during the international online investment conference "From Recovery to Sustainable Growth," BelTA informs.

“The closure of the borders affected investment activity. In January, 30 companies were making real plans to invest in the park in 2020, but many of them put their projects on hold. This year, eight companies were registered as residents. We plan that by the end of the year, more seven will join the Great Stone, - said Sergei Vaitekhovsky.

Now there are 63 residents in the industrial park. The volume of declared investments is over $ 1 billion. "More than 10 countries of the world participate in the capital of these residents, including Belarus, China, USA, Switzerland, Germany. 70% of the companies are of a production nature. They operate in various fields: electronics, mechanical engineering, new materials, pharmaceuticals, production of medical devices. There are residents who are engaged in research and development and projects in the service sector, "- said the deputy general director.

More than $ 200 million has already been invested in the construction of roads, gas and electricity supply systems, household water treatment, etc. in the Great Stone. "We have created quite ample opportunities for the implementation of projects by business: both on a land plot where the entire infrastructure has already been installed, and and in the finished modern production and office premises. Such premises occupy 95 thousand square meters, "added Sergei Vaitekhovsky.

The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park "Great Stone" is a special economic zone with a special legal regime, located 25 km from Minsk.