Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Russia's lowcost airline Pobeda is set to launch flights from Moscow to Minsk, BelTA learned from the website of the air carrier.

 Daily flights will kick off on 28 October from Vnukovo international airport in Moscow.

 Since 9 June Pobeda has been operating flights to Minsk from St. Petersburg three times a week.

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The military political situation around Belarus is evolving under the influence of the unprecedented geopolitical standoff between Russia and the collective West. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin mentioned it during the conference held by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to discuss military security, BelTA has learned.

 Viktor Khrenin said: “The military political situation around Belarus is evolving under the influence of the unprecedented geopolitical standoff between Russia and the so-called collective West led by the United States of America. A full-scale war by proxy has been essentially launched against Russia. Its end goal is to destroy Russian statehood and convert the country into a mere supplier of raw materials for the West.”

 The official remarked that as a strategic ally of Russia Belarus is in the epicenter of this fight. “An analysis of the international situation and a forecast of its development allow making a number of main conclusions that testify to the presence of direct challenges to the military security of the Republic of Belarus,” Viktor Khrenin said.

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Kyrgyzstan's Cholpon-Ata played host to a meeting of the CIS interstate council for cooperation in the field of press, book publishing, book distribution and printing on 3 and 4 October. Belarusian Deputy Information Minister Igor Buzovsky took part in the event via a video link, BelTA learned from the Information Ministry.

 During the meeting, members of the interstate council discussed the achievements of the industry of each of the CIS countries.

 Igor Buzovsky invited CIS publishers to promote mutual cooperation with the Belkniga book retailer and Belsoyuzpechat press distributor (the agencies affiliated with the Information Ministry) and distributing Belarusian print media in other CIS countries.

 Belarus also pitched a proposal to hold a fair of children's books in Russia with the support of interested parties. The proposal was supported by all participants of the meeting.

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Belarusian and Russian aviation universities have signed cooperation agreements to implement the Union State programs, BelTA learned from the press service of the Transport and Communications Ministry.

 During the meeting, the parties signed cooperation agreements in aviation personnel training in line with agreed programs, as well as agreements on the recognition of aviation personnel training programs approved by the civil aviation authorities.

 The documents were signed by Rector of the Belarusian State Academy of Aviation Artyom Shegidevich and Rector of the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation Boris Eliseev.

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The Belarusian news agency BelTA makes a great contribution to the development of cooperation in the CIS, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev told reporters on 30 September, BelTA has learned.

“Today, the CIS Plenipotentiaries Council is set to hear a report on the activities of the CIS Council of Heads of State News Agencies. As the chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, which attentively monitors cooperation between our news agencies, I would like to say that this cooperation is quite close and effective. It is both multilateral and bilateral. I know, for example, that BelTA actively cooperates with TASS, AZERTAC and other news agencies. Meetings take place on a regular basis. We have a common information portal ANIA, where representatives of the state news agencies post information, and others have the right to use this information. We post this information on the CIS Executive Committee information websites. This is very important,” said Sergei Lebedev.

According to him, news agencies provide support in strengthening interaction and cooperation within the CIS. "They contribute to strengthening our interaction, promote a deeper understanding and knowledge of the life of our neighbors, inform about the events that are taking place in the neighboring CIS countries. Unfortunately, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, we have somewhat lost sight of how our neighbors live. I am very grateful to the news agencies, in particular the Belarusian news agency BelTA for the detailed information about our integration cooperation. BelTA contributes a lot to promoting our cooperation. Of course, I cannot but mention the Mir International Television and Radio Company, with which we also work closely. This is an important organization for us in the CIS. Mir helps us to cover events in the CIS, to inform each other about life, nature, events in the CIS countries," Sergei Lebedev emphasized.

Another meeting of the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives was held at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 30 September. The permanent representatives discussed the activities of the CIS Council for Cultural Cooperation and the CIS Council of Heads of State News Agencies.

The permanent representatives reviewed the status of the provisions of the Agreement on a Free Trade Zone. The document was signed on 18 October 2011. Its main goal is to create conditions for the stable development of the economy for the sake of raising living standards and developing mutual trade without obstacles.

Preparations for the meetings of the CIS ministerial Council and the CIS Council of Heads of State in Astana on 12 and 14 October were also on the agenda.

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In January-July 2022 Belarus' export of tourist services surged by 30% year-on-year and amounted to $85 million, Belarusian Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Oleg Andreichik told journalists ahead of the second edition of the international scientific conference dedicated to World Tourism Day, BelTA has learned.

 In January-July 2022 the number of arrivals in the country doubled compared to January-July of last year. "Despite the difficult period, we built and upgraded more than 20 large tourism facilities last year alone. These are hotel and entertainment complexes, catering facilities. Dynamics is there, because demand is there. We see the positive developments in the sector. The potential is huge. It is important to use it smartly," said Oleg Andreichik.

 Now Belarus has a good opportunity to reformat tourism, he said. "We see how inbound tourism has picked up pace, especially to Russia and the CIS countries. Therefore, we meet with colleagues from the CIS countries to discuss a joint strategy to promote the tourism opportunities of our countries - from the organization of cross-border tourist routes to personnel training projects, introducing world standards. It is important to jointly promote the common tourist product of the CIS countries with a national flavor. Moreover, we are leaving behind all the negative things associated with the pandemic," the deputy minister said.

 According to him, despite some logistics restrictions, people began to travel more. "We see this in Belarus: there is a demand for tourist services. So, it is necessary to improve the infrastructure, develop the service, build an organizational system," he conclude

 The conference focused on the use of historical and cultural heritage in tourism, the prospects for the development of various types of tourism in Belarus, the current state and potential of tourism infrastructure, the possibilities of international and cross-border tourism, modern technologies in the tourism and hospitality industry, and the training of professional personnel for domestic tourism.

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Belarus should call for friendship between the nations through sport and tourism, Belarusian Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said at the opening of the 2nd International Scientific Conference on the World Tourism Day, BelTA has learned.

 “All the events that have taken place over the past two years have pushed us to rethink the format and nature of travels, the choice of routes and places to visit. Belarus is always open to visitors from all over the world and is ready to show true Belarusian hospitality, natural and cultural diversity, the beauty of cities and colorful villages, the achievements of modern industry, presented as part of the Belarusian tourist product. This includes historical, cultural, sports, health, rural and other types of tourism, which can surprise the most sophisticated travelers,” said Sergei Kovalchuk.

 In his opinion, the situation in the world is now in a turbulent phase - usual traditions and foundations are being destroyed, with global and hard-to-predict changes taking place in the modern system of international relations. All these changes directly affect Belarus, which requires a rapid response to new challenges. The minister said that the development of tourism becomes more relevant at the moment due to the external pressure. “Through sport and tourism we should encourage other countries to have a peaceful foreign policy and promote friendship between nations. Sport and tourism should encourage people to unite, communicate, and develop mutually beneficial cooperation. Today both Belarus and all the CIS countries have something to show and take pride in,” said Sergei Kovalchuk.

 The minister added that these areas should also be developed within the framework of the SCO and BRICS. “In addition, the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America are ready for this cooperation. The main thing for us is to build the right relationships and invite them to us. Development should take place only in joint interaction,” the minister said.

 The conference also highlighted issues of the potential of historical and cultural heritage in tourism activities, the features and prospects of development of various types of tourism in Belarus, the current state and potential of tourism infrastructure, opportunities for international and cross-border tourism, modern technologies in the tourism industry and hospitality, training of professional staff for domestic tourism and local history activities.

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A Belarusian military contingent has left the country for Kazakhstan to participate in a number of exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, BelTA has learned.

 Three exercises are scheduled to take place in the training area Matybulak in Kazakhstan in an integrated manner on 26 September – 13 October. The Belarusian military personnel will participate in the Vzaimodeistviye 2022 [Interaction] exercise with the CSTO collective rapid response forces, the Poisk 2022 [Search] special exercise with reconnaissance forces and assets, and the Eshelon 2022 [Echelon] exercise with logistics support forces and assets.

The special exercise Poisk 2022 is designed to practice the organization and actual reconnaissance for the sake of preparing and carrying out a joint operation. Participants of the Vzaimodeistviye 2022 exercise will practice preparing for and carrying out a joint operation meant to localize an armed conflict at a border.

 The Belarusian contingent includes not only Belarusian army personnel but also units representing the interior troops of the Internal Affairs Ministry and the Emergencies Ministry, which belong to the collective rapid response forces.

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Belarus and Azerbaijan are interested in advancing cooperation in the sphere of communications and informatization, the press service of the Belarusian Communications and Informatization Ministry told BelTA.

 Belarusian Communications and Informatization Minister Konstantin Shulgan met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus Ulvi Bakhshaliyev the other day. Prospects of advancing mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of communications and information and communications technologies were discussed.

 Konstantin Shulgan and Ulvi Bakhshaliyev remarked upon positive results of Belarus-Azerbaijan cooperation in communications and informatization. Matters concerning the expansion of constructive interaction, including within the framework of mutual participation in various international events, were discussed. The organization of the relevant joint events in view of the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the establishment of Belarus-Azerbaijan relations, which will be marked in 2023, was discussed.

 According to the ministry's press service, the meeting was productive. Further steps meant to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of communications and informatization were sketched out as a result.

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State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich has commented on emerging rumors that Belarusians may be recalled to active service due to Russia declaring partial mobilization, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Volfovich said: “Mobilization does not apply to us. The people of Belarus and the country are mobilized as it is. And they are certainly, god forbid, ready to strike back using the designated forces and assets: the defense, security, and law enforcement agencies, the peacetime composition that defends our country and the constitutional system on its own territory today.” The statement was made after Aleksandr Volfovich met with Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow on 21 September.

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