MOZYR, 7 June (BelTA) – The Union State MPs will discuss the major objectives of joint efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. These objectives will be later formalized by a new Union State program, BelTA learnt from Alexander Popkov, Chairman of the Commission for Ecology, Nature Management and Mitigation of Accident Consequences of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State. He took part in a session of the permanent seminar of the Parliamentary Assembly to...

MINSK, 30 May (BelTA) – The Spanish visa center will open its doors in Minsk on 31 May, BelTA learnt from the Foreign Ministry of Belarus. “According to the information got by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in the Russian Federation, the order of issuing visas for trips to Spain changes on 31 May 2013,” the press service said. Starting from 31 May 2013 documents on getting visa to Spain will be received by the Spanish visa center located...

MINSK, 17 April (BelTA) - The increases in the prices for heating and electricity are only possible with the income growth of households. The income growth should outpace price increases, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting on the operation and development of the Belarusian energy industry, BelTA has learnt. The President stressed that his position on the increase in the tariffs for households remains unchanged: "The income growth should outpace price...

MINSK, 16 April (BelTA) – In Q1 2013 fixed-capital investments in Belarus rose by 12.5% in comparable prices from January-March 2012 to Br35.9 trillion in current prices, representatives of the National Statistics Committee told BelTA. In Brest Oblast fixed-capital investments exceeded Br5 trillion in Q1 2013, 153.1% as against Q1 2012. The figures in Vitebsk Oblast were Br5.2 trillion and 182.3%, Gomel Oblast Br5.5 trillion (134.2%), Grodno Oblast Br3.3 trillion (82.6%), Minsk Oblast...

MINSK, 13 March (BelTA) – The Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) has decided to reduce the refinancing rate by 1.5 percentage points down to 28.5% on 13 March 2013, BelTA learnt from the information and public relations department of the NBRB. “The refinancing rate has not been reduced since September 2012. By keeping the refinancing rate at 30% for six months we managed to maintain macroeconomic balance and reduce the inflation rate, thus sticking to a tough...

GOMEL, 28 February (BelTA) – Economic entities of Belarus and Turkmenistan should establish direct ties. The opinion was voiced by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Belarus Mr Murad Yazberdiyev in Gomel on 28 February. The Ambassador is in Gomel Oblast on a two-day visit, BelTA has learned. The diplomat said that cooperation of the two countries in trade and economy, education, and culture in the last few years has been strategic. Several major joint projects...

PARIS, 26 February (BelTA) – An exhibition of young Belarusian artists Irina Domanova and Marina Moroz opened at the Embassy of Belarus in France on 25 February, BelTA has learnt. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France Pavel Latushko stressed at the presentation that it is culture that brings nations the closest to each other. It gives an opportunity to get familiar with the spiritual legacy of different countries. Irina Domanova and Marina Moroz use their...

MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) – The system of interior affairs agencies is being reformed in Belarus. The President signed relevant decree No. 90 “Concerning measures to improve activity of the interior affairs agencies of the Republic of Belarus” on 25 February, BelTA learned from the presidential press service. In particular, the department of interior affairs on transport of the Interior Ministry has been abolished. Its functions and staff have been transferred to the Main Department...

MOSCOW, 18 February (BelTA) - In 2012 mutual trade among the countries of the Customs Union increased by 8.7% from last year, with foreign trade going up by 3.2%, BelTA learnt from the statistics department of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The Customs Union foreign trade with third countries totaled $939.3 billion. Exports made up $600.1 billion, imports - $339.2 billion. Foreign trade was up 3.2%, or $28.7 billion, as against 2011. Exports edged up by 2.6%, or $15.5 billion, imports...

MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – The Forestry Ministry of Belarus is expanding international cooperation, BelTA learnt from spokeswoman for the Forestry Ministry Ruzhena Novitskaya. Head of the forestry department under the Forestry Ministry Valentin Shatravko took part in the meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe that took place in Turkey. Attending the event were delegates from 47 countries, observers from 19 international...