Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

The Belarusian Embassy in Uzbekistan together with the Belarusian airline Belavia organized charter flights to return Belarusians home, Belarusian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Leonid Marinich told BelTA.

The diplomat noted that the Uzbekistan government has suspended all types of international transport, including by road, air and rail since 16 March. “In this regard, evacuation of Belarusian citizens has become a task of overriding importance for the embassy. Thus, from mid-March to mid-July, more than 120 compatriots were brought home from Uzbekistan with our active participation. We used various options: a flight through Moscow, on private charter flights, transit routes through Minsk. In July, two charter flights were organized along the Tashkent-Minsk route,” Ambassador Leonid Marinich said.

About 250 people, including 29 citizens of Belarus, took advantage of this opportunity. “We are coordinating with Uzbekistan partners a possibility of organizing two more charters by the Belarusian carrier,” the ambassador added.

Another most important task for the embassy, according to the ambassador, is to help Belarusian road freight carriers. During the pandemic, assistance was provided to 19 drivers. “Each case is special, requiring an individual approach. The matter is not only about the crossing of the borders of Uzbekistan's neighbors by road but also assisting drivers- citizens of Belarus with the accelerated mandatory testing for coronavirus, improving conditions and reducing the length of stay in quarantine zones,” Ambassador Leonid Marinich noted.

Belarus and Hungary have agreed to develop an agreement on cooperation in training personnel for agricultural sectors, on establishing cooperation between agricultural universities, and on setting up a working group on cooperation in agriculture.

Such agreements were reached during the visit of a delegation of representatives of Belarusian agricultural enterprises led by Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo to Hungary, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy in Hungary.

During the visit, meetings were held with Hungarian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sandor Farkas and FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Nabil Gangi. The delegation visited the poultry farms of Babolna TETRA Kft. and held talks with the company's authorities. The talks focused on adopting the best Hungarian experience in the establishment of a breeding and genetics center for egg layers and the construction of a geese breeding factory. “Within several years Belarus will be able to develop its own cross to promote import substitution and create new jobs. Hungary's responsible approach to the implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level was confirmed by the presence of Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andras Baranyi at the talks,” the embassy said.

The members of the delegation visited the factories producing premixtures and fodder additives, processing milk, fruit and berries, and held talks in the HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency and also with agricultural businessmen.

The meetings highlighted the parties' vision on the development of bilateral relations in poultry breeding. The participants of the meetings exchanged views on innovative approaches and developments applied in poultry farming, animal breeding, selection work, development of processing industry, as well as current models and opportunities to support export-oriented rural business.

The participants of the negotiations confirmed mutual intention to continue mutually beneficial cooperation in scientific and research activities, expressed readiness to exchange information related to the agro-industrial complex and relevant technical documentation.

50 new livestock facilities will open after reconstruction in the Minsk region.

These will be modern complexes with automated milking parlors, CTB reports.

The control system itself will monitor the quality and quantity of milk. All this was only dreamed of decades ago. This is the norm now. Thanks to modern technology, the work of milking machine operators has also been greatly facilitated.

“Our farm keeps calves from birth, we raise them to the highest-yielding cows, which give us 40–45 liters of milk a day. In 2019, we needed 8,600 liters per cow, ”says Svetlana Goncharevich, head of the MTF of the Veseysky pokrov agricultural enterprise in Slutsk region.

- Everything has changed, a lot has changed. Milking was - barrels milked, and now mechanized. Now the milking system is easier on the hands. The wages are good, we get good money, - shared the operator of the milking machine Natalya Berezovskaya.

Representatives of 17 countries will perform at the international children's music contest Vitebsk 2020 as part of the Slavianski Bazaar festival, director of the forum, Director General of the Vitebsk Cultural Center Gleb Lapitsky told a press conference, BelTA has learned.

According to Gleb Lapitsky, the festival has been a venue of love and friendship for 29 years. The complicated epidemiological conditions this year have shown what the friendship and true love to art is. All indifferent people are in Vitebsk today. These are performers, organizers, mass media and guests of the forum. “Four days of the forum will be eventful and turn the city into an open-air celebration. Everything has been done to produce as many positive emotions as possible. This year young performers from 17 countries will perform at the Vitebsk concert hall. Contestants [the international popular song performers contest Vitebsk 2020] from 14 states will perform in the Summer Amphitheater. They are currently having rehearsals,” the director said.

Vitebsk Mayor Vadim Zaryankin added that he is happy to see that the festival tradition continues. “The city has welcomed many guests today. We do our best to make Vitebsk comfortable for everyone,” the mayor said.

Today, the Summer Amphitheater will host an official opening ceremony of the 29th edition of the International Arts Festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk. In the afternoon, a new star will be lit up in the Laureates' Square near the Summer Amphitheater. The star will bear the name of Philipp Kirkorov, the winner of the special award of the Belarusian president “Through Art - to Peace and Mutual Understanding”.

The 29th edition of the International Arts Festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will take place on 16-19 July. The major events of the festival will be the international contest of popular song performers Vitebsk 2020 and the international children's music contest Vitebsk 2020.

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has confirmed that the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will take place in Minsk on 17 July.

The meeting will be chaired by Belarus' Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko. The meeting will be attended by heads of government of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), BelTA has learned.

“The meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will take place in Minsk on 17 July. The agenda includes a wide range of issues of Eurasian integration in trade, functioning of the domestic market, competition, industry, technical regulation, and other issues,” the EEC said.

The meeting participants will consider the implementation of the agreement on marking of goods and further development of the marking system in the Eurasian Economic Union. “The agenda will also include a comprehensive plan of measures in healthcare and sanitary and epidemiological wellbeing of the population to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the Union,” the EEC said.

Plans are in place to discuss the draft interstate program on cooperation of EAEU countries in space and provision of geoinformation services on the basis of Earth remote sensing.

“It is also planned to consider the EAEU agro-industry development map and the Union's industrialization map. Both projects provide for a set of information on the major projects being implemented, which will enable the Union's partners to avoid duplication of production when drawing up national development plans and investment programs, to take into account development trends and to make effective use of each other's competences,” the EEC added.

From July 6 to 10, as part of the republican heroic-patriotic action "Great Victory - 75!" The republican rally of search units took place in online format.

The rally was attended by 7 teams from all regions of the Republic of Belarus. The Minsk region team was represented by students of Mikhanovichi secondary school, Minsk Oblast under the guidance of a teacher Maria Levkovets, methodological support was provided by teachers of Vetraz educational center for tourism and local lore of children and youth in the Minsk Oblast.

A rich program of the rally, in addition to various contests - “The Business Card of the Team”, which has already become a traditional conference of students - also included lecture and practical classes. At them, the participants got acquainted with the organization of search and research work in various educational institutions, mastered the techniques of working with search information systems, learned the basic principles of creating excursion routes.

The effectiveness of the participation of individual students and Minsk Oblast team in the rally was reflected in the results. So, in the competition “Team Business Card”, Minsk Region team was awarded a diploma of the 1st degree of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

Serchenya Olga, a student at the State Institution "Mikhanovichi Secondary School", was awarded a diploma of the first degree of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus for participating in the conference "We are bequeathed to protect this world."

In the competition for the best development of the excursion route “Victory Routes”, a team of the Minsk region was awarded a diploma of the second degree of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

The legendary rocket launcher Katyusha has been put on display at the Museum of Military Equipment by the Mound of Glory near Minsk, BelTA has learned.

Taking part in the solemn ceremony were veterans of the Great Patriotic War and labor veterans, government officials, senior members of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus. The guests of honor included Minister of Internal Affairs Yuri Karayev, Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin, Chairman of the Council of the Minsk city branch of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans Anatoly Adonyev, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus Mikhail Orda, Chairman of the Smolevichi District Executive Committee Andrei Ratomsky.

“When you look at this clear sky, it is difficult to imagine that there was time when the sky brought threat and fear and took lives. During the long four years our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers fought to bring back peace to Belarus, they fought for the opportunity to study, raise children and enjoy every moment of life. The path to freedom was paved by the blood of soldiers, tears of mothers and wives. We cherish the memory of those who defended our right for a future 75 years ago and we are sincerely grateful to our veterans,” Aleksandr Turchin said.

In the year when Belarus marks the 75th anniversary of the Victory, Minsk Oblast keeps refurbishing Victory symbols, the governor said. “After all, each memorial celebrates the courage, tenacity and spirit of our people, this is the most valuable heritage for the generations to come. The Mound of Glory holds a special place in the hearts of Belarusians. It embodies the invincibility of the Motherland defenders. We should never forget the heroic past of Belarusian people, we should preserve and strengthen the sovereignty and independence for our future and in the name of those who gave their lives for the Motherland,” he said.

Mikhail Orda explained that the date and time of the ceremony were chosen for a reason. It was on 14 July 1941 at 15.15 that this legendary rocket launcher was first used in a battle near Orsha. Katyusha was developed within a very short period of time and was used in almost every major operation of the Great Patriotic War. It particularly did well during Operation Bagration. “Katyusha became a symbol of the victory, and we decided to mount it at the foot of the Mound of Glory, which is also a symbol of the victory and liberation of Belarus,” Mikhail Orda noted.

The project to search and restore a Katyusha rocket launcher took about a year. Some parts were made using the samples from the Military Artillery Museum in St. Petersburg. The fire control console, plating parts, wheels and discs were found by searchers in Leningrad Oblast of Russia and restored by Belarusian specialists. “This is probably the only such original replica of this combat vehicle in Belarus,” Mikhail Orda stressed.

The project was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the sectoral trade unions. The money earned during the nationwide voluntary cleanup day (aka subbotnik) was used for the project too.

The project to improve the Mound of Glory grounds is one of the biggest initiatives of the trade unions. A few years ago, the reconstruction of the complex was completed, the grass cover replaced, the lighting installed, information stands were mounted. Last year, the Museum of Military Equipment had a new exhibit – an Il-2 attack bomber.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent greetings to France President Emmanuel Macron as the country celebrates Bastille Day, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The Belarusian head of state stressed that it is thanks to joint efforts that the Belarusian-French relations had become constructive and trust-based. This was boosted through the increased trade and the implementation of projects in various areas.

“I agree with you that the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two turns us once again to the origins of solidarity in modern Europe. Counteraction to new challenges, with the coronavirus pandemic among them, should lead to a wider consolidation of joint efforts on our continent,” the message of greetings runs.

A free online educational resource You Are Not Alone has been developed in Belarus for expecting mothers and fathers who want to be conscious parents, BelTA learned from the project developers.

The resource offers more than 340 hours of interviews with over 40 experts (healthcare professionals, psychologists and educators), documentaries and infographics. The content is grouped into eight blocks. After completing each block parents will take a test, and if this test is passed, they can move on to another block. The program of the course has a number of links and texts for those who prefer to read instead of watching.

“The educational online course You Are Not Alone is easy, user-friendly and positive. Together with the leading healthcare professionals from Minsk and Minsk Oblast, we managed to create brief and meaningful videos. They provide detailed answers to all questions about parenting. This course offers an opportunity to get ready for pregnancy and birth and to compare views of various experts who have a wealth of experience. Now parents-to-be have a manual that will be an alternative to using the Internet for medical advice,” Irina Ikonostasova, chief obstetrician-gynecologist at the healthcare committee of the Minsk City Council, said.

The developers of the project are confident that users will appreciate not only the content, but also the positive message of the resource. Pregnancy and birth is teamwork where all the participants are interested in success.

“In addition to the medical part, the resource also focuses on the psychological and social aspects. Other important themes include the role of fathers and childbirth with a partner. Although the project team has done their utmost to make the resource as informative as possible, we still see room for growth,” the project developer and head of the Happy Baby social center at the SOS Children's Village (Borovlyany) Irina Shmak said.

Deputy chair of the labor, employment and social security committee of the Minsk City Council Irina Dudka emphasized the importance of the section about benefits and allowances for parents.

The educational online course is available at https://kursy.sos-notalone.by.

The project was implemented by the international public association SOS Children's Villages Belarus together with the labor, employment and social security committee of the Minsk City Council and the labor, employment and social security committee of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee with financial support of SOS Children's Villages Poland and the Embassy of Canada.

A new issue of BelTA's multimedia project “With Pride in Heart” is dedicated to Belarusian culture.

The culture of Belarus developed over the centuries. Belarus has inherited a truly rich heritage: original architecture, long traditions of art schools, unique musical and literary works. Over the years of independence, Belarus was able not only to preserve its cultural heritage, but also to multiply it. The constant and comprehensive support from the state played a huge role in this.

The issue dedicated to the Belarusian culture and traditions tells about the colossal work to preserve and develop the country's cultural traditions, support young talents and personalities known all over the world.

BelTA's project “With Pride in Heart” was launched on 16 June. It is dedicated to the achievements of the sovereign Belarus in various fields.

Since gaining independence, Belarus has come a long way, and the results of this development have benefited every Belarusian. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus has managed not only to preserve the country, but also to expand its economic capacity, provide all citizens with the necessary social guarantees, and strengthen the national security. Belarus' voice is heard in respected international organizations, mostly thanks to peace initiatives of the country's authorities.

Every issue of the “With Pride in Heart” project tells about the country's achievements in many areas, from advanced technologies and national security to healthcare and national culture.

The project relies on the historical information, archival newspapers, photos, videos, and also BelTA's news materials and infographics.

The first four long-reads were dedicated to the manufacturing industry, the agricultural sector, national security and sport.