MINSK, 12 August (BelTA) – Hydrometeorological services of Belarus and Russia have been working hard on similar approaches in preventing and informing the population on dangerous weather events, head of the hydrometeorology department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Maria Germenchuk told media on 11 August. Hydrometeorological experts exchange daily data on weather pattern including wildfire danger class. “A permanent monitoring of the...

MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – The results of the agricultural activity will be assessed proceeding from its effectiveness and profitability, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he toured the Vitebsk Oblast on 6 August. The President reiterated his orders to increase the efficiency of farming. “The croppage is important, but we need effectiveness here more. Let us count how much has been put in and what the profitability will be. The main thing here is the effect we will gain from...

BRASLAV DISTRICT, 6 August (BelTA) – It is impossible to drive a wedge between the Belarusians and the Russians, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko told tourists from Moscow, who stayed at the recreation center Drivyaty in the national park Braslav Lakes, on 6 August. “Some people in Russia would like you and us to quarrel, but I tell you it won’t happen. Whatever movies they can make, whatever they write, nothing will succeed,” said Alexander Lukashenko. The President...

MINSK, 3 August (BelTA) – Belarus will have enough grain in 2010, Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister of Belarus Vasily Pavlovsky told a press conference on 3 August. This year Belarusian agricultural companies are supposed to gather in 7.5-7.6 million tonnes of grain while individuals will collect around 0.5 million tonnes (excluding corn). The corn crop acre is supposed to increase up to 200,000 hectares, said the Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister. As of 3 August Belarusian farmers...

MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) – The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) have plans to increase gold and foreign exchange reserves to as much as $6.2-7.5 billion by the end of 2010, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus Piotr Prokopovich told media on 29 July. Today they amount to $5.5 billion. According to Piotr Prokopovich, only improved economy can boost the growth of reserves. For instance, in H1 2010 currency proceeds of the Belarusian companies soared more than...

MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) - Belarusian Andrei Kravchenko claimed a bronze medal in decathlon at the 20th European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. The silver Olympic medalist Andrei Kravchenko amassed 8,370 points to place third. Roman Barras of France won a gold (8,453 points) and Dutchman Eelco Sintnicolaas was second with 8436 points. Team Belarus has won three medals. Nadezhda Ostapchuk took gold and Natalia Mikhnevich won silver (both shot put). Belarus is fifth in the overall medal...

MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) – Belarus will always be at the forefront of supporting refugees, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he met with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres on 29 July. “You have a very honorable mission. You may be helping people in distress more than others. I am very glad that you can have an opportunity to see the country, see the real state of things here and the most problem category of people in the world. Unfortunately, the...

MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) - Belarus intends to step up cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov as he met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. Belarus has been cooperating with the UNHCR and its Belarusian office for fifteen years already. According to Sergei Martynov, a lot has been accomplished, but much more still needs to be done. The agreement on the legal status of the UNHCR...

MINSK, 28 July (BelTA) – The rate of utilization of funds of the conservation foundations was very low in the first half of 2010, First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Vitaly Kulik said at a session of the ministry. “No program has been implemented in full. The average percentage of the utilization is 40-60%, and this is despite the fact that we projected that only 10-20% of the annual funding would be disbursed in the first half,” Vitaly Kulik said....

MINSK, 28 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Belarusian shot putters Nadezhda Ostapchuk and Natalia Mikhnevich on gold and silver medals at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, BelTA learned from the presidential press service. The head of state wished the Belarusian team new achievements in sports. БЕЛТА