Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

We appreciate the activities and investments of Emaar Properties in our country, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Chairman of Emaar Properties Mohamed Alabbar on 1 October, BelTA informs.

“First of all, I appreciate your punctuality and commitment. When we met about a year ago, we agreed on our joint work. Back then we conceived a number of projects, which you were interested in and were ready to implement in Belarus, ranging from agriculture to the construction of large infrastructure objects,” the head of state said. “We agreed to meet this autumn after the presidential election to finally dot the i's. That is why I am grateful to you for being so punctual and for coming exactly on this day.”

“We understand that the time is complicated worldwide. The era has posed many challenges to the mankind. Tough competition for investors is in full swing. And, of course, your work in Belarus and the investments which you are mulling over are very important for us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

In his words, a lot of work is still ahead. “Therefore, the today's meeting has brought together so many high-ranking officials [on Belarus' behalf the meeting was also attended by the prime minister, the chairman of the Minsk City Hall, the president's aide for national security],” the head of state said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, he remembers Mohamed Alabbar's promise to erect the most beautiful buildings and facilities in Belarus which will become the UAE's trademarks in the center of Europe. “Therefore, I am ready to discuss all pending issues today. If there are any issues, we need to solve them promptly,” the president said.

Mohamed Alabbar is the co-owner of large international companies specializing in investment, real estate, hospitality business, e-commerce, logistics, public catering, fashion, design and other fields. His business has branched out into more than 50 countries. He is a developer of the concept of modern Dubai, a key advisor on economic and investment issues of the leaders of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Emaar Properties is one of the world's most valuable and admired real estate development companies. It operates more than 60 affiliated companies and is present on the markets of the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. It specializes in hospitality business, trade and entertainment infrastructure, commercial rent, IT development and other services for business, investment and real estate. The biggest construction projects of Dubai, including the tallest structure and building in the world Burj Khalifa and one of the largest shopping centers Dubai Mall, were implemented by Emaar Properties. Another ambitious project is the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia. The project is estimated to cover 168 square kilometers. It includes a seaport, an industrial zone, business, recreation and apartment zones, educational and healthcare facilities, retail facilities.

Previously, Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Mohamed Alabbar in Minsk on November 2019 to discuss promising investment projects. In particular, they discussed prospects of work in hospitality business, agricultural and industrial projects. Belarus is interested in the development of projects in the real production sector with the United Arab Emirates.

A presentation of the Belarusian-Russian movement Rzhev Initiative took place in the Victory Museum in Moscow on 1 October, TASS reports.

The Rzhev Initiative is supposed to offer a platform for uniting initiative groups from Belarus and Russia and for implementing joint projects in various fields. Participants of the event admitted they had been inspired by the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier, which is a vivid example of cooperation between peoples of Belarus and Russia under the aegis of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Participants of the presentation said that they would like to continue exploring the potential of bilateral relations by supporting civic initiatives.

“We need grassroots diplomacy. People should talk to each other. We can help with genuine internal human replenishment of these relations and we will try to do just that,” said Vladimir Mamontov, Director General of the radio station Govorit Moskva, one of the organizers of the movement.

The Rzhev Initiative founders are the Belarusian-Russian community of reporters Druzya-Syabry [friends in Russian and in Belarusian], the Victory Museum, the Foreign Policy Studies Association named after Andrei Gromyko, the Belaya Rus association, and the Russian movement of volunteers that searches battlefields for fallen soldiers in order to immortalize memory of them. During the presentation their representatives noted that the movement is open to all concerned citizens and the organizers will welcome any ideas.

State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota addressed participants of the presentation in a telegram: “Our time requires the development of a dialogue, the establishment of tighter ties, and at last the inclusion of young people into the integration process. Young people should choose in favor of the Union State of Belarus and Russia deliberately once they understand what prospects our common way of development of our two countries opens up. Young people are interested in working together, rich opportunities for self-realization, social mobility instead of nostalgia and historic traditions.”

Appeals for unity of the two countries bearing in mind political shocks after the presidential election in Belarus were the keynote idea of the presentation. Representatives of the Belarusian side and the Russian one mentioned the special significance of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the importance of preserving tight ties between citizens. Rzhev Initiative projects are supposed to provide a positive impulse to cooperation of the peoples of Belarus and Russia and attract their attention to the common potential not only during crisis times.

The vaccination of volunteers with the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V as part of a double blind randomized placebo-controlled study has begun in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has delivered the first batch of the Russian vaccine to Belarus for clinical trials. The fund finances the clinical trials in Belarus. One hundred people are supposed to take part in the trials. The vaccine was developed by the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Russian Healthcare Ministry.

According to Sergei Chernyak, a clinical trials specialist with the Russian company IPHARMA, all the 100 volunteers have already been selected. The trials require relatively healthy men and women aged 18-60. They may have some chronic diseases out of the exacerbation phase. The medics monitor the health of the volunteers after the injection in order to track any reactions.

The volunteer may be free to go one hour after the injection. “Just like with flu vaccination people may experience a slightly higher body temperature or some local hyperthermic reactions,” the specialist added.

The first two volunteers were vaccinated in Minsk city clinic No.28 on 1 October. Andrei Metlitsky will join them within the next few days. The man said he had learned about the trials from mass media and had found all the necessary information on the Healthcare Ministry website. “I want me and people around me to be safe. I always get vaccinated. I don't really get sick. But I would like this infection to miss me and my family,” he said.

The clinic's Head Physician Larisa Kazak stressed that the clinic is compliant with international requirements and is properly certified. Clinical trials of various medications have been performed here for years. “We hope these clinical trials will be a success and the international community will get an effective solution for fighting this dangerous infection,” she added.

Belarus is the first country to begin clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine after it was registered in Russia. The trials will take place in eight healthcare institutions in Belarus, which have been chosen as research centers. Two Belarusian clinics have already received the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine.

The cooperation between Belarus and Russia is beneficial for both countries, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia's Bryansk Oblast Aleksandr Bogomaz on 30 September, BelTA informs.

First of all, Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Aleksandr Bogomaz on the recent election as the governor of Bryansk Oblast. “I congratulate you on this achievement, you truly deserve this victory. You have recently made revolutionary progress in various fields – in the development of the region, in the gross regional product. This is a deserved victory. We are very happy for you. You are a decent man, people appreciated your work and re-elected you as the Bryansk Oblast governor,” the president said.

The head of state remarked that the 7th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia had finished its work the day before. During the forum the sides summed up achievements and determined development prospects. The forum was even more productive than the previous ones, the president believes. The sides concluded agreements to the tune of more than $750 million. “This is a good contribution to the economy of Belarus. And it is significant for Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes. “It is also essential to keep in mind the future impact of these contacts. They will give jobs and salaries to our people. This is what we lack in cooperation with other countries. It is good that in these conditions, amid the coronavirus spread and the aggravation of the international situation (you see what is going on around us) we have ultimately found ways for rapprochements and interaction which brings tangible economic benefits.”

Speaking about the regional cooperation with Bryansk Oblast, the president said that this is not only a neighboring region for Belarus but also a very friendly region. “We think and act in a similar way, we have similar economies. There will always be nuances, but we are fully committed to resolving them. I think that your visit to Belarus will help address these nuances,” he stressed.

As for the bilateral trade, the head described it as decent. “But I think that if we do our best, we will be able to reach the trade turnover of Belarus and Bryansk Oblast to 1 billion in the second half of your tenure,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The trade and economic cooperation of Belarus and Bryansk Oblast is increasingly vibrant. In 2019, the bilateral trade made up $650.7 million, including $411 million worth of export. In January-July 2020, the trade turnover reached $353.4 million, including $245.6 million worth of export (up 9.3% from the level of the previous year).

Major Belarusian exports to Bryansk Oblast are dairy products, agricultural, road and construction equipment, details for the railway industry, construction materials. Major imports from Bryansk Oblast are ferrous metals, cement, soya beans, paper and cardboard, various industrial and agricultural products.

There are assembly facilities of Belarusian enterprises Amkodor-Bryansk and Bryanskselmash; operators of the commodity distribution network of Mozyrsol and Milkavita; an official dealer of the Belarusian tapestry manufacturer Belorusskiye Oboi; a network of Belarusian enterprises Vitex, Belita, Milavitsa, Belwest and Nelva in the Russian region.

The reconstruction of the P23 Minsk-Mikashevichi highway is planned to be completed in November 2021, BelTA informs citing the press service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Currently, construction work is underway on the section from 110th to 126th km (continuation of the road section from 74th to 110th km, reconstructed from 2014 to 2017).

Construction is going on in two stages - on two sections of the road. The first one is located in the Slutsk district of the Minsk region and passes through the settlements of Kvasynichi and Novobelichi. Work on it started in July 2020. In August of this year, the reconstruction of the second section, located in the Slutsk and Soligorsk districts, near the villages of Mlynka, Prusy and Chepel, began. The completion of all work is scheduled for November 2021.

"After the reconstruction, the road will become a four-lane road with asphalt concrete pavement and will correspond to the parameters of the first category. It provides for the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge over the Devitsa river, as well as the modernization of the bridge over the Sivelga river," the press service said.

The Ministry of Transport noted that the republican road P23 Minsk - Mikashevichi is part of the network of international roads in the CIS. The work is carried out in accordance with the order of the President and is financed from the credit funds of the Development Bank.

Clinical trials of Russia's coronavirus vaccine are to start in Belarus in September, BelTA learned from the press service of the Healthcare Ministry.

Specialists from Belarus and Russia are actively collaborating on this matter. The Belarusian side has already determined the healthcare facilities where the trials will be done. Now some technical issues are being negotiated taking into account national and international requirements.

The categories and the number of patients are being determined. “According to preliminary information provided by the Russian side, there are plans to begin clinical trials in September this year,” the press service noted.

In addition, at the suggestion of the Russian side, Belarusian specialists are considering a possibility to make the vaccine with varying degrees of localization at Belarus' pharmaceutical companies.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo on 31 August, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted he would like to discuss tactical and strategic topics in the work of courts. “If we talk about tactics, I would like to discuss specific things, problems, including criminal cases, which are on the president's radar. As for the strategy, there has been a lot of talk lately that we have to somehow remodel our public and political system, change the situation in the country. Changes, changes… Truth be told, nobody says what kind of changes they want. But I know very well who wants changes and what kind. This is why you and I are going to discuss it. Life has to always change,” he explained.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that work is in progress on the third version of the Constitution of Belarus. He asked Valentin Sukalo to get involved in the work. “I would like you to have a say in the matter as an experienced man,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “As for the courts, many people – including representatives of the court system – want some kind of independence. Although I am ready to argue with anyone that Belarusian courts are the most independent ones. Nobody should laugh at it. You know how I protect you against all kinds of pressure or requests over the phone. I often say that everything depends on judges: if they want to be dependent on someone, it means they will have to respond to these phone calls, figuratively speaking. You've never received secret calls from me. Everything is in the open between us. If the president keeps an eye on some criminal case, I say it openly and you do, too.”

“This is why I believe that although we have a bit of an authoritarian system in the public life, nevertheless, the president protects and preserves courts. But it is a personal thing while we have to make a system work regardless of personalities, including Lukashenko. This is why I think in the new Constitution we have to properly reflect the system of our courts resulting from the experience of our work over the last quarter of the century. But in a responsible manner: if you submit a proposal, sign it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Speaking about the operation of the court system, Valentin Sukalo noted that on the whole the situation is stable and functional despite some tensions in city courts. “The court system performs the constitutional duties it has to,” he stressed.

Reconstruction of the M3 Minsk-Vitebsk highway is underway in Minsk Oblast, Belta reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

"The fourth stage of reconstruction of the M3 Minsk-Vitebsk highway (from 56 km to 64 km) is being implemented, including bypassing the urban village of Pleschenitsy. Construction is being carried out on an 8 km section located in Logoisk region of Minsk Oblast. The work is carried out in accordance with the instructions of the head of state from July 12, 2017 and are carried out by the general contractor OJSC "SMT No. 8", - said the press service.

As noted in the Ministry of Transport, M3 will become a four-lane highway and will meet the standards of the first technical category. As for materials, heavy concrete with a thickness of 24 cm is used to create a new roadbed. Two bridges over the Dvinos and Derazhnya rivers will also be reconstructed.

Repair work on the site will have a beneficial effect on the development of social life of the population. Along the M3 road there will be areas for recreation and trade, equipped with a special shed. The project will modernize about 80 km.

The beginning of repair work at the facility began in October 2019, it is planned to complete them in December of this year.

The M3 highway is one of the key transport arteries of the country connecting the capital with the regional center in Vitebsk; it is along this road that freight flows to Latvia and St. Petersburg move.

The Minsk Half Marathon has been postponed to September 2021, BelTA learned from the official website of the Belarusian Athletics Federation.

“Health and safety of our participants is a fundamental task for the organizers. For this reason, as well as based on the recommendations of the Minsk City Hall and the Sport and Tourism Ministry, a difficult decision was made to postpone the Minsk Half Marathon to 12 September 2021,” the organizers said.

Registration for the event will continue, and all the payments already made will be valid for next year. The 2020 Minsk Half Marathon was scheduled for 13 September.

It is essential to take care of people – workers of enterprises – and their salaries when addressing issues regarding the operation of certain enterprises, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the working trip to Orsha on 28 August where he is visiting a cheese-making plant of OOO Savushkin-Orsha, BelTA has learned.

Upon arrival the head of state asked about the performance of the enterprise and its development prospects. The modern facility is gradually increasing its production capacity, needs new workforce and raw materials.

Apart from that, there is an indebted melted cheese factory in Orsha. In current conditions, the products of this factory are easily replaceable, and salaries of workers are one third lower than salaries at OOO Savushkin-Orsha. It was mentioned that specialists can be employed at a new enterprise and their salaries will increase. Besides, a certain volume of raw materials will be released. Aleksandr Lukashenko gave an instruction to address the issue, to think what to do with debts, and to find sources for repayment.

The president stressed that people's salaries and highly productive jobs are a priority. “I am concerned about people,” he said. “We should not forget about people. We need to start to work as we should from 1 January. Mogilev Oblast – a land for a zone of raw materials – can be used if necessary.”

OOO Savushkin-Orsha was founded in October 2018. In December 2018 it included the enterpsie Orshansky Gorlachik with two factories in Orsha and Kopys. Since the acquisition the investments exceeded $41 million.

A new high-tech factory complying with all international quality and safety standards was built instead of the old one. The factory makes in-demand fromage frais under brand names Savushkin and Sveza.

OOO Savushkin-Orsha has already launched the manufacture of fromage frais – fetta and brynza (import substitution and in-demand products for export). The initial daily capacity is 20 tonnes of fromage frais. Plans have been made to launch the production of Adygei cheese, Queso Blanco, Caucasian cheese and Oltermanni. Besides, the installation of new mozzarella production lines will begin in autumn. Plans have been made to launch them in January 2021.

When the third stage of modernization is completed in June 2021, the daily demand for raw materials at the Orsha factory will increase to 600 tonnes. Therefore, the main objectives of the enterprise are to establish closer ties with producers of raw materials in Orsha District and Dibrovno District, Vitebsk Oblast, and to raise the quality and quantity of milk available for processing.