In January-February, Belarus’ GDP was 9.9% up to Br16.1 trillion. In 2008, GDP is expected to increase by 8-9%, BelTA was told in the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis. Industry generated 32.1% of the GDP, transport and communications – 8.7%, trade and public catering – 10.4%, construction – 6.8%, agriculture – 1.9%.

The Foreign Ministry of Belarus strongly recommends the USA embassy in Minsk reduce the number of personnel, BelTA was told in the ministry. “On March 17, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the United States of America to the Republic of Belarus Jonathan Moore was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Belarus where he was repeatedly informed about the insistent recommendation of the Belarusian side to reduce the number of personnel of the US embassy in Minsk,” the Foreign Ministry noted. A...

The interest of foreign investors in Belarus has been growing for the past several years, Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Martynov told BelTA. This is a practical rather than theoretical interest as attested to by the growing foreign investment in Belarus’ real production sector. In 2002 foreign investment in Belarus amounted to $722.2 million, while in 2004 the investment increased more than twofold to $1.5 billion. For the past three years it has upped 3.5 times to $5.4 billion....

The price for gas for Belarus in Q2 2008 can be fixed at a session of the Council of Ministers of the Belarus-Russia Union State, First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told reporters on March 14. “This issue will be discussed at a narrow-format meeting in Minsk on March 21,” he said. According to the First Vice Premier, the Belarusian side is discussing this issue with Gazprom and the Russian Government. “We are trying to convince our partners that it is necessary to adjust...

Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan have adopted the draft measures aimed at implementing the plan of action for the formation of the EurAsEC Customs Union for 2008-2010. The document was on the agenda of the session of the members of the EurAsEC Integration Committee representing Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. The Republic of Belarus was represented by Vice-Premier Andrei Kobyakov, Russia – by Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation-chief of the Government Office Sergei...

An inspection group of France conducted an inspection of the specified area on the territory of the Republic of Belarus under the Vienna Document, 1999 of the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security Building Measures, BelTA was told in the press service of the Defense Ministry of Belarus. The inspection confirmed the absence of military activity that is subject to prior notification in accordance with the Vienna Document, 1999, in the specified area (part of Minsk, Brest and Grodno...

The Russian Government has approved the draft programme of the Union State “Fight against crime on the territory of the Union State for 2008-2012”. The relative resolution has been signed by Russian Premier Viktor Zubkov, BelTA learnt in the press service of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers. Viktor Zubkov has charged the Russian Interior Ministry to introduce the draft programme before the Council of Ministers of the Union State.

Belarusian and Russian military men worked out joint approaches to the technical and logistic support of the regional forces of Belarus and Russia, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry. According to the press service, a representative delegation of the Russian Armed Forces is in Belarus on a visit. The delegation is led by Head of the Main Operations Department – Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General-Colonel Alexander...

During a meeting with Timothy Bell, a member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said he hopes to see active development of relations with Great Britain. “We hope you will be a goodwill ambassador of Great Britain, with which we have been actively developing relations, despite some disagreements in the political sphere. Great Britain takes one of the leading positions in terms of investment in Belarus,” the President said. Timothy...

The pension benefits in Belarus are higher than in the other CIS member states, Minister of Statistics and Analysis Vladimir Zinovsky told a press conference on March 12. As of late 2007, the average monthly pension in Belarus was equal to $152.6, in Russia - $134.8, in Ukraine – 148.4. The pension programmes of the social security agencies cover up 2.4 million Belarusian citizens, 78.6% of whom get retirement pensions, 12.1% - disability pensions, 6.1% - loss of provider pensions, 2.1% -...