Belarus (magazine #8 2022)

The popular science, i

environmental journal

"Rodnaya Priroda" is:

–information about the natural potential of Belarus; –reflection of the state policy in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources; –technologies and innovations for solving environmental problems; –issues of environmental education and upbringing; -the best photographs of the animal and plant world from professionals and amateurs.

IN THE ISSUE

A convenient platform for investment in all respects

As you know, an investor evaluates a country not with emotions. The business climate is important for business. And, as statistics show, foreign business believes in the Belarusian economy and willingly invests its funds.

Social and political magazine

No. 8 (1067), 2022

Published since 1930

Founders: Zviazda Publishing House editorialand-publishing establishment

Editor-in-Chief: Viktor Kharkov

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by Boris Gerchikov

Editorial office address: 220013 Minsk, Belarus, 19 Zakharova Street

Tel.: +375 (17) 263-80-12.

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Registration Certificate No. 8 issued on 16.07.2018 by the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus Беларусь. Belarus is published in English and also contains articles in Belarusian and Chinese

44

From artificial valves to heart transplant52

The 500th heart transplant was recently performed in Belarus. In terms of the number of such operations per year, our country occupies a leading position not only in the post-Soviet space, but also in the world. With a transplanted heart, about 72% of patients live for more than 10 years.

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An environment conducive to a safe and comfortable life, or What is being done to improve the environmental situation in the capital

Increasing the use of electric buses, continuing tobuild the third metro line, creating electric chargingstations and bike lanes, allocating lanes for publictransport and developing the route network of urbanelectric passenger transport on the ground shouldhelp Belarus move towards carbon neutrality.

Final responsibility for factual accuracy and interpretation lies with publication authors. Should any article of Беларусь. Belarus be used, reference to the magazine is obligatory.

The editorial office does not bear responsibility for contents of advertisements.

Signed for printing on 25.07.2022 Offset printing. Coated paper. Format 60х84 1⁄8. Conventional printed sheets 11,16 Accounting published sheets 13,49 Circulation – 450

Order Republican unitary enterprise "BudMedyyaPrayekt" Licence No. 02330/71 on 23.01.2014

220123 Minsk, Belarus, 13/61 V. Khoruzhey Street

Cover photo — Dmitry Tkochenko

© Zviazda Publishing House editorial-and-publishing establishment, 2022

IN THE ISSUE

61

Striking meetings in the realm of beautiful nature

Drozdy Park is a popular place for Minsk resi dents and guests of the capital. Here is the most famous Minsk reservoir, which is located on the Svisloch River.

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Now this is one of the popular destinations for tourists who choose the Gomel Region for recreation. A small agricultural town in the Kalinkovichi District is primarily famous for its archaeological complex.

86 MAJORITY STANDS FOR SAFE PACKAGING

IMAGES IN THE FIREWORKS OF COLORS

IT’S IMPRESSIVE

The exhibition project of the Belarusian Union of Artists “Algerd Malishevski. Epoch”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous artist and teacher, was presented in the Minsk Palace of Arts

In the footsteps of primitive people, or why is it worth visiting Yurovichi

"THE MAIN PRINCIPLE IS IN NO CASE TO DO WORSE FOR YOUR COUNTRY"

At the end of July, the President of Belarus gave an interview to one of the largest news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP). Antoine Lambroschini, editor-in-chief of the news agency bureau in Moscow, acted as an interviewer. Aleksandr Lukashenko answered questions from a foreign journalist for more than an hour. We believe that the essence of the interview is still relevant today, because the central topic of the conversation was the military conflict in Ukraine, which, in fact, became the beginning of a redistribution of the existing world order. The Head of State dwelled in detail on the causes and consequences of this confrontation, possible ways out of the crisis, and once again noted the peaceful aspirations of the Belarusian side.

“My main powers are the protection of the sovereignty and independence of the state, first of all”

However, the conversation began with a topic that all Western journalists raise in a conversation with the President of Belarus. Talking about the events of 2020.

“Hundreds of people were imprisoned. Why not allow the opposition, free media to exist in Belarus?” asked the current interviewer.

“We have opposition, including free media,” answered Aleksandr Lukashenko. He added that in this regard, it is easier for him to speak, since Agence France-Presse keeps its line and tries to work objectively. At the same time, the Head of State did not notice that the agency’s journalists took an anti-state position against France, the European Union as a whole or some other countries, “I am for such media: that these basic

specific article. The law is harsh, but it is the law, as they say in France. They were convicted under a certain article. So how am I to blame here? You are in favour of an independent court. There are no independent judges and courts. The court is always dependent on the law.”

“Don’t you think that in the current situation the courts will do just what you expect from them?” the journalist tried to spice up the dialogue.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that in Belarus the President does not belong to the legislative, executive or judicial branches of power, but coordinates them. Moreover, its most important task is to ensure that no one ‘in any case influences the decisions of the courts’, “Therefore, whether my opinion coincides with the decision of the judges or not, it is up to the Belarusian people to judge. They will evaluate it. And then, why can’t the opinions of the President and judges coincide? In some cases, they may coincide, in some cases they may not, anything can happen. That’s life. But no hundreds, as your supporters used to say, ‘political prisoners’, you are now speaking on behalf of the opposition...”

“There is an opposition, there are NPOs, there are journalists...” Antoine Lambroschini enumerated.

“…which are financed from abroad, mainly through Poland, Lithuania,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued the sentence. “And now we see in all its glory what kind of policy, for example, Poland is pursuing.”

principles are not violated. But the main principle is in no case to do worse for your country. Do not fight against your country, against your own people. The country is given to you once and for all, but you can’t change the people. You must correspond to the people, spirit, traditions. I am for it. Our opposition and the media, which were financed exclusively from abroad, did not represent anything like this. Including the so-called free media.”

The President also stressed that he strongly disagrees with the assessment of the Belarusian domestic political situation, which is given in the West, “It is obviously directed in the right direction, the way the West needs it. For example, if you don’t like Lukashenko, then you can attack him up in every possible way.”

Returning to the issue of ‘hundreds who are imprisoned’, the Head of State noted that in some cases investigations are still underway, and he emphasised, “We refer to the law, a

The President asked, “And what, you wanted me to calmly take that Poland sees ‘in its possessions’ (I quote them), in its composition the whole of Belarus? If tomorrow Germany announced that it wants to see France as part of Germany? What position would you take? This is where I react harshly. I am the President, my main powers are the protection of the sovereignty and independence of the state, first of all. I do it. If the opposition fights against this, some individuals or the state claims the sovereignty and independence of Belarus, I will stand up to my full height and fight against it. With weapons in hand, if necessary.”

The journalist asked, “In the West they often say that you are a dictator. What do you think about this and what is the difference for you between a dictatorship and the system of government that you have?”

“Big difference. I am no dictator. Well, if the dictator, then ‘the last dictator of Europe’, as they say. If so, you’re in luck, that’s how I react to it. There is some truth in this joke, if we talk about our meeting,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted with a smile.

As for the question itself, the Head of State believes that neither politicians, nor journalists, nor scientists today can really understand what a dictatorship is. He is convinced that

in order to dictate something to someone, it is necessary to have certain levers of influence and resources.

“What resources does Belarus have to dictate to France, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia? What are my resources? None. Therefore, there is no need to say that we have a dictatorship... Probably only the United States can dictate in today’s world. They have everything for this: strength, population, territory and a printing press for money. There can be no dictatorship even in France, despite the fact that it is a nuclear power,” believes the Head of State.

At the same time, the President of Belarus emphasises, his country has strict discipline, order and exactingness towards the authorities. The goal is to make people’s lives better. As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited the food crisis that the world is facing, “Now everyone is talking about famine. And I agree that we are very close to this barrier. Famine is just knocking on the door. Many are already hungry. One could say: ‘Not critical’. But how can you say that it’s ‘not critical’ when every ten seconds a child dies in the world? Not famine? Famine. It will get worse. And I my position on harvesting (this applies to agricultural workers, and the whole country) is very tough. We must collect everything. We must mobilise. Because, God forbid, there is famine, then there will be a dictatorship. And in France as well. Because people need to be saved. Not to feed, but to save so that people do not die.”

“We have a good economy”

One more question: do credits, energy resources and Russian servicemen on its territory infringe on the sovereignty of Belarus?

“You know, there are so many military personnel of other countries in Europe, including in France, that you shouldn’t even ask me a question. You have tens of thousands of them,” the President answered reasonably. And he added that Russian servicemen have always been on Belarusian territory, “They were always as much as we needed, including me, since I invited them... And what sovereignty and independence do they violate if I asked them to help in something?”

“To what extent can you make decisions in your interests, and not in the interests of Russia, when Russian troops are here, when you depend on Russian energy resources and Russian loans?”

Aleksandr Lukashenko’s answer, “The situation with your sanctions showed how dependent YOU are on Russian energy resources. You are an established democracy, one might say, an established country, undivided, which existed within these borders for a long time. And we saw how much you depended. Why do you have such rapid inflation, why do you always cry that you do not have enough natural gas, oil, and so on?”

The Head of State recalled that Belarus is a young state, which until recently was part of one big country. And after the collapse of the USSR, it continued to independently develop the economy. At the same time, the Russian direction in trade has always been the main one, although in recent years a significant part of exports has also gone to Europe. Russia has always been the main source of energy resources for Belarus, the President added. And although the country bought oil from

other countries, economically it was much more expensive, “Therefore, here is our ‘dependence’. That’s how it happened historically. In order to shovel the entire economy, many billions of euros are needed. I didn’t have that money, I don’t have it, and I never will. And is it necessary at all? We have a good economy.”

And then a note, “The fact that the Russians are helping us today… Well, I don’t mind France helping us. Why did you refuse to cooperate with us? Why did you close your skies to our planes so that people could communicate? Why? In 2021, our trade turnover was half a billion dollars, moreover, you sold us more than we sold to you. What was wrong with you? Why did you refuse this cooperation? Let’s go without politics...”

“As far as I understand, they refused to fly because the RyanAir plane was hijacked to detain one oppositionist. This was confirmed by ICAO just the other day that Belarus acted illegally by detaining this plane,” Antoine Lambroschini tried to find some explanation.

“But you imposed sanctions against Belavia, probably, two years ago. You still had no reason for this (didn’t have), On the second day (after the incident), all in one voice, from Macron to German Chancellor Merkel, at the behest of Washington, began to say: ‘Criminals such and such’. You still had no facts on the table!” the Head of State was indignant.

“Maybe they were afraid that it would be like this every day.”

“Listen, I’m afraid that tomorrow you will launch a nuclear strike against some of the world powers. You are a nuclear country. I am afraid that you can inflict damage on Belarus as well, since you have nuclear weapons,” noted the President.

“Are you really afraid?”

“I am! But I go to you and cooperate so that this does not happen, do you understand? Listen, what kind of motivation is ‘I was afraid of Belarus’, based on which they landed the plane. Well, the plane wasn’t shot down, was it? Didn’t get hit!”

The President cited as an example the Malaysian Boeing 777 crash in the summer of 2014, which killed 298 people, “Whom did I kill? And where is this oppositionist Protasevich? He lives peacefully in his own country. He does not want to go back, he has matured and realised that this is his land, his country, he lives. It’s all gone a long time ago. ICAO (report of the organisation) is a fake, we assessed the statement.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered why the ICAO conclusion appeared right now and what right (ICAO or any country) has to impose sanctions, “That is the right of the United Nations. But there was no such recommendation, and you imposed sanctions, violating the international agreements that you signed. How to understand your French, German, or American democracy? Yes, you all dance to the American tune. Well, why are we playing games with each other...”

Another illustrative example from Aleksandr Lukashenko: Australia’s breaking the contract with France for the construction of nuclear submarines. Recall that in 2016, Australia cancelled a $66 billion contract with a French company, in return Canberra will receive American submarines. Aleksandr Lukashenko was open in his assessments, “What did you do? You are still

trampling on your hind legs in front of the President of the United States, you don’t know how to please him, sorry. What kind of sovereignty and independence is this? What kind of democracy are you? You have not defended either your country or your people. And you reproach me for something: Russia sells us something, delivers it. God grant that France has such relations with all states, as I have with Russia, on these principles.”

“We will deal with the sanctions”

The President stressed that neither Vladimir Putin nor the Russian authorities have ever ‘stepped on the tail’ and said ‘do it this way’, “We have really reliable, human, fraternal, good relations. Nobody presses me, I don’t step on anyone. Don’t think that I’m just some kind of puppet here, which is manipulated from morning to evening. Nothing like this! It’s not in my nature, and there’s no need for it... Is it your place to talk about how dependent we are on Russia? We are ready to receive loans from France, it will even be cheaper in the current situation, but you spat on us, tried to wipe your feet on me, on my country and on the people, I did not allow this and will not allow it. We will deal with the sanctions.”

By the way, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus will still trade with France, despite the fact that the trade turnover between the countries has decreased by 20 percent. The country is ready to supply food, if necessary, and wood, and furniture, “Business will always find these ways. It’s just crazy to impose sanctions today in this interdependent world. But you do it...”

Returning once again to the issue of dictatorship, the Head of State recalled the ‘yellow vests’ protest movement that appeared at the end of 2018, “You murdered your citizens...”

“I didn’t murder anyone!” protested the journalist.

“You personally didn’t. The authorities did... And it was no longer possible to hide it, we saw it. You showed it. And why did you beat people who did not go to fight against the authorities, but asked the authorities for a better life for themselves. And you beat them. And horses and dogs were set loose on the people in the Netherlands. And what was going on in Poland when women came out for abortion, when they spoke out. And why did you, the European Union, kill refugees on the border with Belarus and bury them at the border? Why haven’t the crimes of the Poles been investigated so far?”

“Any peace is always better than the best war”

Naturally, Ukraine is also in the center of attention. According to the journalist, this is the main crisis of our time.

“Well, yes, you created it, this crisis. This is a man-made crisis in Ukraine created by you,” confirmed Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“Well, now it’s not a crisis, now it’s ...”

“War. You have created this war. This is not just my belief. I can prove it 100% with facts. You have created and continue this war. And France as well.”

“What is the role of Belarus in this war?” asked the correspondent.

“The greatest. The first is peacekeeping,” emphasised Aleksandr Lukashenko.

He noted that as soon as the conflict began, he literally called Volodymyr Zelensky all day long, persuading him to sit

down at the negotiating table, since ‘any peace is always better than the best war’. Several rounds took place in Belarus, but then… The President reminded, “Then you banned it with your overseas patron (England and the USA played a larger role here, Emmanuel Macron played a smaller role and kept quiet). You began to interfere in any negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.”

“Sorry, but it was not like that. First, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers arrived, who went to Kyiv from the territory of Belarus, rockets were fired at the territory of Ukraine,” interrupted the journalist.

“Speaking of consistency, I must tell you that you are absolutely inconsistent. You took this out of the context and gave an assessment. It didn’t start with that,” noted the Head of State.

The President of Belarus emphasised that it was in the Palace of Independence, where the interview was held, that the Minsk agreements were signed in 2015. And their signing was preceded by the conflict of 2014, he recalled, “It started with the fact that in 2014 you carried out a coup d’état in Ukraine. You supported it, you financed it, primarily the Americans, but you, as always, ran after the Americans. This has already been proven: you overthrew the then incumbent president, almost killed him, he fled.”

“It was the Ukrainian people who wanted to change the president,” the AFP representative tried to object.

The President is convinced, “No, it’s you. Whether the people wanted it or not, it would not have come to that. It has now been proven that you brought snipers from Georgia who fired at the security forces. There, the security forces did or did not respond. The President trembled and fled. He abandoned his guys, how many people died... You were supporters of this coup d’état. You brought your people to power. Well, the chaos ensued.”

“It was the West, the NATO countries that escalated the situation”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Poroshenko, Zelensky are the same. In particular, the President recalled that in 2015 it was Poroshenko, among others, who signed the Minsk agreements, but was not going to fulfil them, “If this agreement had been fulfilled by the Ukrainian authorities, there would be no war today,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is sure. “And maybe even Donbass and Luhansk were already part of Ukraine.”

The President also recalled that he proposed to send peacekeepers to Ukraine in order to close 400 kilometres of the border between Ukraine and Russia, which is not controlled by Kyiv, “We agreed on a lot. Again Ukrainians, Poroshenko did nothing. Against the background of severe corruption. You yourself say that Ukraine is the most corrupt country.”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, it was the West, the NATO countries, that escalated the situation in order to start a war against Russia from the territory of Ukraine, “In 2020, you also wanted to break Belarus in order to build this belt from the Black Sea to the Baltic. And already stand at the threshold of Moscow. If you had broken Belarus then, NATO troops would

have been near Smolensk. If we had not survived then, it would have been worse here than in Ukraine. We survived. And you understood that conditions had been created for an attack on Russia. You started this war.”

The President noted that before the outbreak of hostilities, the Russian authorities had asked the United States and NATO to provide security guarantees, but had been refused, “Why didn’t you provide such guarantees? So you wanted war. And you started it. Now we know that if you managed to capture Belarus in 2020, then the war would start against Russia from Ukraine. There was a reason: ‘Donetsk, Luhansk are captured by Russia, we are liberating’. The war began there. And Belarus, being under the boot of NATO, also had to oppose Russia. Russia would have to wage war on two fronts.”

“We saw the cause of this war”

The Head of State gave a very detailed answer to the reproaches regarding the introduction of Russian troops from the territory of Belarus into Ukraine. In particular, he recalled that in order to ensure security, Belarus and Russia held joint exercises Allied Resolve-2022 in February this year, “At the time of the exercise, this mess was just brewing, when Russia asked, demanded security guarantees from you. You didn’t provide them. But Russia began to withdraw troops. We had under 40 thousand Russian troops in the exercises. They’ve already taken out half of it. What did the Ukrainians do? Four divisions on the border with our republic deployed and aimed to strike at Russian

and Belarusian objects that were in the exercises. The Russians suppressed these four points with their own means from the territory of Belarus. The Ukrainians do not refute this, we have facts, photographs… This is how the operation began. And the fact that the Russians turned these 20,000 [military personnel who remained in Belarus] into Ukraine is their right… But don’t think that I’m making excuses. I really support Russia. And not only because we have an alliance with Russia and we are legally obliged to do this (we signed an agreement with Russia on the creation of a single group of troops in the western direction, the basis of which is the Belarusian army. This is our doctrine). Not only for this reason. But because we saw the cause of this war. If Russia hadn’t gotten ahead of you NATO members, you would have organised and struck a blow against it. So it would be!”

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that even then he asked Zelensky to sit down at the negotiating table, to agree, to stop this war, “But Biden, Macron, Merkel, everyone ran after them: no! And this curly-haired British former Prime Minister Johnson was the driving force behind it all. He followed all the instructions, went there. The provocation in Bucha was done by the British. We recorded this and handed over the license plates to the Russians.

Everything after the start of the operation in February confirms that you, the NATO members, the Americans, wanted this war. If Putin had not started this operation, you would have started it. He’s just a little ahead of you.”

„ Demining of Mariupol airport

The Agence France-Presse was founded in 1944 and is a private for-profit organisation headquartered in Paris. As one of the world’s largest news agencies and a leader in digital verification, AFP covers 151 countries. The correspondent network consists of five regional centres, 200 bureaus and 50 special correspondents. The total number of employees is about two and a half thousand people. AFP statute provides for the agency’s absolute independence and neutrality, requiring employees to provide accurate, impartial and credible information on a regular and uninterrupted basis.

“Why are you targeting us?”

Aleksandr Lukashenko does not hide his indignation at the behaviour of the Kyiv regime, which for all these years has been spreading rot on the Russian people in the south-east of Ukraine, “Why? I am not punishing the Poles now for the policy that Poland is pursuing towards us. I always say we have ethnic Poles, but these are my Poles. They have all the rights, like Belarusians. We love, respect and appreciate them, and they behave with dignity. Why was the Russian language banned? Why was it necessary to pursue the policy that Poroshenko and Zelensky pursued inside Ukraine? All the time they were pushing Ukraine from the inside to the war.

Why did you insult the authorities in Russia, why did you insult President Putin? You didn’t just demonise him, you mocked him, threw in various fakes, speculation. This is also a bad background. Maybe not the reason for the operation, but the background is not good. You, NATO and Americans, needed a war, and you did everything, down to the smallest detail, to create this situation.”

At the same time, the Head of State added that Russia is not really fighting there yet, as Putin said, “Because the weapons that Russia has, I’m not even talking about nuclear weapons, these weapons are terrible. But Russia did not use it. I saw this weapon, I know it. Therefore, there is still no war that could be on the part of Russia. For example, Ukraine has already announced mobilisation several times. Now the women have been registered. The old people are registered, ready to call them to war. Russia did not announce mobilisation. It fights with those regular troops that it has, and then with contractors.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that not a single Belarusian soldier is fighting in Ukraine. However, on the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief, the western and south-western borders of Belarus were reliably covered.

“So that you, the NATO troops, primarily the Poles, pushed by the Americans, do not hit the Russians in the back,” explained the President. “I could not allow this, we have a contract. You are dancing to the tune of America, and you reproach me for supporting Russia. So I alone support Russia, and there are five dozen countries that support Ukraine. You reproach me

for being the aggressor. And who are you? You supply weapons there. There are 20 thousand of your mercenaries, including those from France. You yourself are the real aggressors. Where do you see the facts of our aggression in Ukraine? We do not fight there, we do not supply weapons to Russia, we did not bring our soldiers there. And you? Why deployed four divisions on the border? Why?! Why are you targeting us? And now we see that these blows would have been dealt to us. Do you want to say that I had to sit and wait until rockets start falling on the heads of the Belarusian people? No. I support Russia in that they preempted you. If the Russian military had missed this moment, they would have been forced to meet a massive blow from NATO troops. Now Ukraine is not at war, now you are at war there: your mercenaries and your weapons.”

According to the Head of State, the participation of Belarus in this operation comes down to covering the borders so that NATO forces do not strike Russian troops from the rear, ‘Here is our participation. Yes, we have treated the wounded, we have given and continue to give medicines to both Ukrainians and Russians. This is our participation in this operation. We don’t kill people.”

“The territory of Belarus is protected by the Russian Federation”

Further, the French journalist asked a question that, obviously, worries the whole West very much, “It was announced that aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons would appear in Belarus...”

“We have these planes,” Aleksandr Lukashenko responded calmly. “We just need to adapt them so that they can carry nuclear weapons. In response to what the Americans are doing. They train the Germans and other countries...”

“Do you want to have Russian nuclear weapons on your territory?” said the reporter.

“It is enough for us that it is in Russia. If necessary, Russia under the treaty will protect Belarus as its territory. If it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, God forbid, of course, they will be used by both France and Russia. Therefore, the territory of Belarus is protected by the Russian Federation. I am generally a categorical opponent of nuclear weapons. It must be completely

destroyed in the world. And the world will sleep better. But now, in addition to nuclear weapons, there are biological, cyber weapons. This is even worse than nuclear weapons. Therefore, we do not need nuclear weapons. But if the NATO members, the Americans are training you to fly aircraft capable of carrying nuclear bombs and charges, why shouldn’t we prepare for this. So we agreed (with Russia) that we will retrofit our aircraft so that they can carry nuclear weapons. But we can do it ourselves. We have aircraft factories that are capable of re-equipping according to Russian technologies. There are no difficulties. And as the military told me, this is a matter of several months. But Putin, you heard, said that they could help us. And we will train. You will stop doing this, NATO members, Americans, we will not do this. We don’t need it. We don’t want to be a theatre of war. So that you collide with Russia on our territory and fight. And it has always been like this: the First World War, the Second World War. We don’t want this.”

Antoine Lambroschini also asked the following question: why, despite the support of Russia, Belarus did not recognise the Crimea, the LPR and the DPR?

“There was no need. This would add nothing to either Luhansk, or Donetsk, or Crimea. But if Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk need food, bricks, cement, refurbishment, etc., we will help them. If it is necessary, we will recognise them,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. “If it makes any sense. But what is the point today, whether I recognise them publicly or not? We are actually cooperating with them, since you are actually cooperating with Ukraine and have already divided Ukraine into parts and will restore it. Well, I will help Luhansk and Donetsk, Crimea. We cooperate with them and do not hide it.”

That is, we de facto recognised that there is Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk. And this is all chatter, why Lukashenko recognised it there or did not recognise it. If necessary, I will recognise it by the decree of the President. But now it will not give anything extra.”

“I can’t help but be an optimist”

Many are now wondering when and how the military conflict in Ukraine will end. Aleksandr Lukashenko made it clear that the ball is now on the side of Kyiv and its Western hosts, “It all depends on Ukraine. Now the peculiarity of the moment is that this war can be ended on more acceptable terms for Ukraine. But no one will let Ukraine end the war.”

“What should Ukraine do to end this war?” asked the journalist.

“Sit down at the negotiating table and agree that they will never threaten Russia and will not have weapons on the territory of Ukraine that will threaten Russian territory. This is the main thing. And denazification and so on is a philosophy. The main thing is the security of Russia. The Russian government, having this power and wealth of Russia, will never back down from this. Give guarantees, help Kyiv. Kyiv will give these guarantees if you, NATO members and Americans, agree that there will never be a threat to Russian territory from the territory of Ukraine. Ukraine does not need MLRS, air defence, which hits 200-300, 500 kilometres. Ukraine needs something to ensure peace at home. Then Russia will give security guarantees to Ukraine.”

The President did not agree with his interlocutor that Putin allegedly dreams of creating some kind of pan-Slavic state, “It was I who dreamed of a Slavic state. They pushed the idea of the Russian world in their time. Since the 1990s, I have always said that there are Slavic states. I saw Poles, Slovaks, Bulgarians there... And we must not lose this connection. Yes, everyone lives in their own state, but we are Slavs. Putin did not talk about any pan-Slavic state and did not dream. It is you who say it.”

The journalist decided to continue the topic of BelarusianRussian relations, “You travelled to Russia very often, even in the midst of a pandemic...”

“I travelled, I travel and I will travel,” came the resolute answer. “We have such a level of relations that I don’t need any permission to go to Russia. This is my native country. Dear! That’s why I’m happy to go there. There are so many interesting things in Russia, such beauty that I have not seen.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that his Russian colleague offered him to visit Altai, Baikal, Kamchatka, “I want to see it. For me, Russia is open, it is very interesting to me.”

“Seize this moment”

In conclusion, Antoine Lambroschini asked the President, “Are you optimistic about the future?”

“Yes, I am optimistic, because I, like you, have children. I can’t help but be an optimist. I want our children to live differently than we even do, but live better. Here is the basis of my optimism.”

“So everything ends well?” the journalist asked with some disbelief.

“If you want it, it will end well. And for you, even unexpectedly fast. Take advantage of this moment. Especially Europeans. Why did you put your people in such a position in Europe: the French, Germans and others? Why? Let’s live peacefully. One day I came up with a crazy idea. If you, the Europeans, were friendly with Belarusians, Russians, built an alliance with us, it would be economically, financially, technologically, militarily invincible. Huge resources, territory in the East and the highest technology in the West. That’s where your happiness is. But you cannot carry out this policy, you are not allowed to. Now the euro has fallen to the level of the dollar, the Americans are already well. Don’t you see it? You see everything, you understand everything, but there is no de Gaulle, not even Chirac, no Kohl, not even Merkel. See what’s happening in the UK. In Italy, they started some kind of fuss. What is happening in Eastern European countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia. 15-20 percent trust the authorities there. And to be honest, elections will be held, the current Duda, Morawiecki will be swept away. Why are you making this life difficult? Let’s live in peace. We are ready for this, especially Russia. Russia doesn’t need anything, it has everything. It needs peace, tranquillity, trade. It needs to sell gas, and you need to buy. Why are you blocking? Buy this gas, pay. Why are you imposing sanctions? Well, it is impossible for a billion people (you have a billion who impose sanctions) to impose sanctions against 6-7 billion. You pushed the world to the fact that it will be different, and not in your favour.”

Vladimir Velikhov

Photo by BELTA

By the way, despite the difficult foreign policy situation in the world, the countries are already increasing cooperation. Experts predict that this year the volume of mutual trade will increase significantly. It is worth emphasizing that China is traditionally one of the three trade partners of Belarus. According to the results of last year, the foreign trade turnover of the two countries reached a record $ 5.9 billion. A favorable prospect has many components

Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between Belarus and China turned 30 years old in January this year. The parties approached the anniversary not only with a record turnover, but also with common principles in international politics. Countries today are not just partners, but also reliable friends. And in the conditions of the PRC’s sanctions pressure, these are new opportunities for Belarus. Last but not least, the President spoke about this during a working meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China Yuri Senko, “They did well, they helped us a lot, and now we have a decent increase in turnover, new opportunities. And we can easily add on the Chinese direction. ”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, special attention should now be paid to trade and economic cooperation and credit and financial relations, “Here we need to look at the moment where we still have to work hard and work seriously in order not to lose momentum especially at this moment. Because the dynamics were good — both trade and investment. Naturally, under the conditions of sanctions, China may also be wary of some steps: people are very careful, cautious. Nevertheless, it is our happiness that we have built good relations with the People’s Republic of China.” Aleksandr Lukashenko has no doubt that now is the time for opportunities to be used. He spoke about this at the same working meeting, “If this huge Chinese locomotive hooks an additional car in the volume of Belarus, it won’t even notice that something is attached there. Such a gigantic economy. It is good that we have such relations in the field of diplomacy and politics. And my personal relations with Xi Jinping’s family and with him are very good.”

Yuriy Senko confirmed that there is an understanding of Belarus and China in political relations, including on all international platforms, “In the field of economic relations, I come to the conclusion, and it is clear from the mood of

作。专家预测，今年双方贸易量将大幅增加。值得强调的是， 中国历来是白俄罗斯的三大贸易伙伴之一。 去年，两国对外 贸易额达到创纪录的59亿美元。

良好的前景包含许多组成部分

与此同时，白俄罗斯与中国的外交关系于今年1月迎来了 30周年。 在此纪念日到来之时，双方不仅达到了创纪录的贸 易额，而且在国际政治中保持的共同原则立场。 如今两国不 仅是合作伙伴，也是可靠的朋友。

而在制裁施压的条件下， 对白俄罗斯来说，和中国的合作会带来新的机遇。 最后，总 统在与白俄罗斯驻华特命全权大使尤里•先科的工作会议上 谈到的内容：

- “他们很棒，他们帮助了我们很多，而且现在我们的贸 易也有了可观的增长，新的机会。

白俄罗斯很顺利地开展与 中国的合作。亚历山大·卢卡申科认为，现在应该特别关注经 贸合作和信用金融关系：

- 在这里我们需要看一下，我们仍然需要收紧并认真工 作，以免失去动力，尤其是在这个时刻。因为动态很好——贸 易和投资都是如此。当然了，面对制裁，中国可能采取一些措 施提高警惕：人们非常小心谨慎。尽管如此，我们很高兴与中 华人民共和国建立了良好的关系。亚历山大·卢卡申科毫不怀 疑，现在正是利用机会的时候。他在同一次工作会议上谈到 了这一点：

如果中国这辆巨大的机车挂上像白俄罗斯这么大的车 厢，它甚至不会注意到那里已经挂上了一些东西，

Tactics of actions and the essence of strategic intentions

During a recent working meeting with the Ambassador of Belarus to China, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the country could easily add to the Chinese direction. The President paid special attention to the need to deepen, first of all, trade and economic cooperation.

Belarusian enterprises that we have simply unique opportunities to increase the pace of work with China. Which, in fact, has been done for the last seven years, since China announced the Belt and Road initiative.”

The diplomat is confident that Belarus’ joining this initiative has given a new impetus to relations. The Chinese-Belarusian Great Stone Industrial Park has also become their driver. Additional incentives were the agreement of the leaders of the two states to hold the Year of Regions between the countries, as well as the directiveThe President of Belarus on the development of bilateral relations with China, “For China, this is a very important signal on the issue of how Belarus treats China and what are our strategic intentions How cooperation develops.”

During the conversation, Yuri Senko said that the trade turnover between the countries is growing annually, not only in terms of the number of raw materials, but also the number of goods with high added value, “No matter how the relations between the countries develop in the world, China, even if it is far from us, is interested in Belarusian food products. And it knows perfectly well about their quality. Belarus and quality are two inseparable concepts for China. In whatever province I visited, I heard the wish everywhere: first of all, let’s give Belarusian products.”

The Ambassador gave a concrete example: over the five months of this year, the supply of agricultural products to China increased by 75 percent compared to the same period in 2021:

“On a fairly high base of the previous year, we got a very good result. Moreover, the initiators are Chinese companies themselves, who are looking for partners in Belarus. Over the past year and a half, Belarusian and Chinese companies have held about 20 business forums, where about three thousand companies met, got acquainted and exchanged contacts.”

Another topic touched upon by the diplomat was Belarus’ accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In his opinion, our country will bring novelty and its own ideas. Belarus has been a partner of the organization since 2010, and became an observer in 2015. Today we declared our full readiness to become full members of the SCO, and all the SCO member states supported this idea at the expert level, Yuri Senko said, “I think that in September of this year in Samarkand we will witness the decision to start the accession procedure. This will allow Belarus to fully work and join all the projects that exist in this multimillion-dollar international structure.” The head of the diplomatic mission also stressed that preparations are underway for the meeting of the Belarusian Head of State and the Chinese President on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. A revealing digression into the history of relations.

September 2016. The President of Belarus is making a state visit to China. At the same time, a historic moment will happen in the relations between the two states. The leaders of the countries signed a joint declaration of the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China on the establishment of the highest level of relations in history: trusting comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. There are more than words behind these formulations. This is a

signal for Chinese business that it is not only possible, but also necessary to develop maximum cooperation with our country. And indeed, every year the dynamics of bilateral cooperation only increases, a high degree of trust at the highest level allows us to implement various projects. In China, Belarus is called a fraternal country. The Republic is interesting and important for great China. First of all, because of the favorable geographical location. The place of Belarus in the scale of the implementation of the One Belt, One Road initiative is very high. Despite the political unrest, this status does not change. The country maintains a transit position for the railway route from China to Europe and ensures stability. And this is very important for China. But Belarus is also of interest as a separate state. In the framework of cooperation in international organizations, every voice is of great importance. Belarus and China have an understanding on almost all issues on the international agenda. The parties provide mutual support. In China, this is very appreciated. Belarus also appreciates China’s constructive position on issues that directly concern it.

In the context of sanctions pressure on Belarus, cooperation with China in the industrial sphere is gaining momentum. Enterprises that have lost the opportunity to purchase equipment and components from Western countries are paying attention to Chinese manufacturers. Chinese business feels the market situation and makes counter steps to offer its products to Belarusian customers. Given the drop in exports to Western countries, it is easy to assume that China will become one of the priority areas. But we must take into account that this market is very competitive. To get out there, you need to know it, be able to work there and have certain resources. And Belarusian manufacturers are beginning to do it successfully. There are good examples. But we need to expand the range of products. More active work should be done with Chinese business in general, and the emphasis should be on project activities. We need to offer profitable projects to convince Chinese businesses to invest in our economy. And cooperation should be mutually beneficial. Therefore, the future lies in the development of mutually beneficial business models. Occupy your niche in time

Against the background of news about global problems with food supplies, China is actively importing it, including Belarusian. And experts note that it is necessary to take advantage of this. By the way, Belarusian products fell in love with the Chinese consumer. It is of high quality, tasty and affordable. Despite the great distance between the countries, our milk, meat, and confectionery products appear every year in larger volumes on the shelves of China. Almost the entire main range of products is exported to this market: sugar, rapeseed oil, confectionery, strong alcoholic beverages, sparkling wines. According to Aleksandr Yakovchits, Deputy Chairman of the Belgospishcheprom concern, the Chinese market is one of the most important vectors for the development of trade and economic relations for us. Its consumer capacity makes it possible not to waste energy on competing with global multinational companies in the sale of similar goods, reducing selling prices, but to occupy its niche on the shelves of retail facilities, to develop demand for its own brands, “Recently, we

合作如何发展

尤里•先科在这次谈话中表示，两国之间的贸易额每年都 在增长，不仅是原材料的数量，还有高附加值的商品数量：

- 无论世界各国关系如何发展，即便中国距离我们很远， 他们也对白俄罗斯的食品感兴趣， 而且很清楚食品的质量。

白俄罗斯和食品质量对中国来说是两个密不可分的概念。

无论我到过哪个省，我都能听到一个愿望：首先让我们尝尝白 俄罗斯的食品。大使举了一个具体的例子：今年五个月，对华 农产品供应比2021年同期增长了75%： - 在上一年比较高的基数上，我们取得了很好的成绩。

而且，发起者是中国企业自己，他们正在白俄罗斯寻找合作伙

伴。 一年半来，白中两国企业共举办了近20场商务论坛，与 近3000家企业会面、结识、交流。

这位外交官谈到的另一个话题是白俄罗斯加入上海合作 组织。 在他看来，我们的国家会带来创新和独特的见解。

两国关系的历史回顾

9 月白俄罗斯总统完成了对中国进行的国事访 问。当时，两国关系迎来历史性时刻。两国领导人签署了白俄 罗斯共和国和中华人民共和国关于建立历史最高水平关系的 联合声明：相互信任合作共赢的全面战略伙伴关系。这些倡 议背后不仅仅是文字，这对中国企业来说是一个信号，即与 我国开展最大限度的合作不仅是可能的，也是必要的。的确， 双边合作的动力每年都在增长，最高级别的高度信任使得实 施各种项目成为可能。在中国，白俄罗斯被称为兄弟国家。白

have significantly expanded the range of export goods. Fruit baby food, oatmeal, and beer were already delivered last year. Three of our enterprises in the confectionery industry have exclusive representatives in China, which indicates a growing demand for products from both Chinese consumers and Chinese businesses.”

It is obvious that the strategy of working in the Chinese market is long-term and strengthening not only the brand image of Belarusian food products as healthy and safe, but also the image of goods from Belarus as a whole. Every year, the growing welfare of the Chinese population increases the demand for premium segment products, which in turn allows its suppliers, including Belarusian ones, to increase revenue from the sale of goods with high added value. The uniqueness of the Chinese market also lies in the fact that along with a significant part of the population that consumes food produced by large international companies, there are also niches with their own culture, centuries-old traditions and original taste preferences. Therefore, on the one hand, chocolate, familiar to any Belarusian, is popular in China, and on the other hand, organizations of the same concern Belgospishcheprom are developing recipes of products adapted to the Chinese market. For example, as Aleksandr Yakovchits said, a line of Lucky Chucky chocolates with a low sugar content has been developed and released, a line of sugar-free chocolate has been created. A vodka recipe with an alcohol content of 69 and 77 percent was developed especially for the Chinese market. In order to study the demand and characteristics of the Chinese consumer, Belarusian manufacturers are trying to participate in all international exhibitions of the People’s Republic of China.

By the way, a business meeting with a delegation of the People’s Republic of China headed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Chinese company UJU Holding Ltd took place in Belgospishchprom the other day. Peng Liang. The participants of the meeting considered promising options for cooperation and the potential of supplying products of the concern’s enterprises to China for sale in the National Pavilion of Belarus on the JD.com e-commerce platform and on the Douyin social network. The sides discussed the possibilities of exporting Belarusian flour and chocolate confectionery, alcoholic beverages and beer. Live Sales

The strategic and most ambitious project of bilateral cooperation is the Chinese-Belarusian Great Stone Industrial Park. It is a high-tech international platform for doing business 25 kilometers from Minsk with modern industrial architecture, affordable infrastructure and environmental solutions. Everything is created for fast and successful development.

As of today, 91 residents have been registered in the park with a total investment of more than a billion dollars. Seven new residents have been registered in seven months of this year. One of the last was a Chinese company. The investment project provides for the creation of an operating platform and a logistics distribution center for cross-border import and export of goods using e-commerce technologies. According to Kirill Koroteev, First Deputy General Director of the Industrial Park

Development Company, the implementation of the project will contribute to the promotion of products of Belarusian enterprises to the Chinese market, as well as the entry of Chinese goods into the EAEU market, Another area is actively developing — medical devices and biotechnologies. Recently, a new resident’s entry ceremony took place in the Great Stone. It became the Belarusian enterprise Artbiotech. The company plans to create a platform in the industrial park for the production of high-tech biotechnological and chemical products, the implementation of diagnostic activities. The project is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year, and the launch of production is scheduled for 2025. By the way, the park administration is considering a number of applications from biotech companies that wish to become residents of the Great Stone. It should be noted that Belarus and China actively use modern electronic trading tools. The Industrial Park Development Company initiated the development of e-commerce with China. Now it is the operator of the National Digital Trade Pavilion of Belarus on the most famous Chinese trade and social platforms Douyin and Jingdong. The Douyin platform is the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, only with a built-in sales function and an online store. Jingdong is a classic marketplace, very popular in China. The daily audience of Douyin is more than 600 million people a day, the audience of Jingdong is half a billion customers a month, Kirill Koroteev said. He explained, “We tried to commercialize this project. To do this, we organized and launched the first stream. In just a few hours, goods worth 900 thousand yuan were sold. What is important is that the audience received a positive response. And a couple more numbers. The total number of views during the broadcast reached 1.32 million, at

要了解它，能够在那里工作并拥有一定的资源。白俄罗斯制造 商开始成功地做到这一点。有很好的例子。但有必要扩大商品 范围。总的来说，和中国企业合作应该更加积极，重点应该放 在项目活动上。我们需要提供有利可图的项目来说服中国企 业投资我们的经济。合作应该是互惠互利的。因此，未来在于 发展互惠互利的商业模式。

及时找到你的利基市场

在有关全球粮食供应问题的消息背景下，中国开始积极 进口，包括白俄罗斯的产品。专家指出，应该利用这个机会。 而且，白俄罗斯产品很受中国消费者的欢迎。它质量好，美味 又实惠。尽管国与国相距遥远，但我们的牛奶、肉类和糖果产 品每年都大量出现在中国的货架上。几乎所有主要产品系列 都出口到这个市场：糖、菜籽油、糖果、烈性酒精饮料、起泡 酒。

白俄罗斯国家食品工业联合企业副主席亚历山大·雅科夫 什茨表示，中国市场是我们发展经贸关系的最重要方向之一。

其消费能力可不用浪费精力与全球跨国公司竞争类似产品的 销售，降低售价，而是在零售设施的货架上占据其利基，发展 对自有品牌的需求：

- 近期，我们大幅扩大了出口产品的范围。去年的水果婴

市场。因此，一方面，白俄罗斯人熟悉的巧克力在中国很受欢 迎，另一方面，属于白俄罗斯国家食品工业联合企业的公司同 样关注开发适合中国市场的产品配方。例如，亚历山大·雅科 夫什茨表示所说，开发并发布了低糖含量的 Lucky Chucky 巧克力系列，并创建了无糖巧克力系列。尤其针对中国市场， 开发了酒精度为 69% 和 77% 的伏特加配方。为了研究中国 消费者的需求和特点，白俄罗斯制造商尝试参加中国的所有 国际展览。

最近在白俄罗斯国家食品工业联合企业与一个由中国公 司 UJU Holding Ltd.首席执行董事彭亮率领的中国代表团 举行了商务会议。与会人员讨论了合作前景，以及通过京东电 子商务平台和抖音社交网的白俄罗斯国家馆向中国提供相关

性还在于，除了有相当一部分人购买大型国际公司生产的食 品外，还有具有自己文化、百年传统和独特口味偏好的利基

the same time 110 thousand people watched the stream. These are very good indicators. We plan to develop this direction. An agreement on cooperation with new enterprises has already been signed, and we will increase the assortment list for products not only of the food, but also of the industrial group.”

Today, during live broadcasts, products are sold in thirty commodity positions. For example, chocolate of various flavors and brands, sweets, potato chips, oatmeal.

“Belarusian sweets and chocolate are bought most of all in China. Decorative glass products of the Neman glass factory are also in high demand,” said the First Deputy General Director of the Industrial Park Development Company. “Traditionally, Chinese consumers buy Belarusian dairy products and baby food well. They also show interest in our linen products. During the year we plan to reach 7 million yuan per month, in the long term we expect to reach sales of 200 million yuan per month. The PRC market is not only a market of great opportunities, but also of high competition. Therefore, Belarusian enterprises should monitor the quality of their products and take into account the feedback of their Chinese colleagues. Yuan goes to auction.”

Analysts note: today, the dollar as the global equivalent of value is losing its position in the market. There is unprecedented inflation for this currency. The explanation is simple: for the years 2020-2021, a huge amount of dollars was printed.

Almost 200 trillion. And this is more than since the beginning of the creation of the US Federal Reserve Service in 1901. And this whole array is not backed up by anything. The Chinese yuan is gradually replacing the dollar, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Currency and Stock Exchange Andrey Aukhimenya notes, “Last year, the average monthly trade turnover between Belarus and China amounted to almost half a billion US dollars. Due to the sanctions pressure, the $5 billion that went to Western countries, the European Union is likely to gradually reorient itself to China. Meanwhile, the share of the Chinese yuan in the total trading volume in comparison with other currencies has already reached 5 percent. And there are substantial reserves for volume growth.”

Recall that since March of this year, auctions in the Chinese yuan have been launched in Belarus. During the first months, more than a thousand transactions were made on the stock exchange. The replacement of some imports from certain countries with supplies from Russia and China in the first quarter of this year led to a decrease in imports from Western countries compared to the same period in 2021. Experts believe that these processes will significantly increase the volume of transactions with the Russian ruble and the Chinese yuan.

P.S.

“We are working to sign in the near future a declaration on increasing cooperation to the level of iron brotherhood, all-weather partnership,” sums up the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the People’s Republic of China Yuri Senko. “We believe that the document may be signed in the near future. Today we have reached such a level of relationship that it is necessary to document this stage. It is important that in practical terms this means trust between our countries. The increase in the level of bilateral cooperation should affect all areas of contacts between Belarus and China. Through the prism of these relationships, all ties will be built in various spheres — economy, politics, education, culture. This is the highest level of relationship. This will contribute to an even faster and more expeditious solution of all issues on the Belarusian-Chinese agenda.”

And in general, the implementation of previously started and new regular projects that are interesting for both Belarus and China is currently underway. Serious work is underway. These are mutually beneficial projects that are based on the fact that we have good raw materials, and China has certain technologies. It also happens the other way around when Belarusian technologies are used, and some materials are Chinese, including engineering thought of both China and Belarus. We have found a symbiosis of knowledge, skills, raw materials, materials — everything that our industrial enterprises can provide in cooperation between our countries. I am sure that new projects will appear, work will continue on solving important strategic issues of cooperation.

Aleksey Fedosov Photo by BELTA

高科技和科学密集型生物技术和化学产品的基地，并开展诊 断活动。该项目预计今年第三季度开工，预计2025年投产。而 且，园区管理机构正在审核希望入驻《巨石》园区的几家生物 技术公司的申请。

应该指出的是，白俄罗斯和中国正在积极使用现代电子商 务平台。 中白工业园区开发股份有限公司率先与中国发展 电子商务。现在该公司是中国最著名的贸易和社交平台抖音和 京东上白俄罗斯国家数字贸易馆的运营商。抖音平台相当于 中国的 TikTok，但具有内置的销售功能和在线商店。京东是 一个在中国非常受欢迎的典型电子商场。 基里尔·科罗捷耶 夫表示，抖音的日观众量每天超过 6 亿人，京东每月有 5 亿 买家。他解释说： - 我们试图将这个项目商业化。为此，第一次组织并启动 了直播活动。短短几个小时，就卖出了价值90万元的商品。重 要的是——从观众那里得到了积极的回应。还有几个数字。 播出期间总播放量达到132万，单次观看人数达11万人。这些 都是非常好的指标。我们计划向这个方向发展。我们已经与 新的企业签订了合作协议，我们将不仅增加食品的商品种类， 还增加产业集团的商品种类。

目前在直播期间，销售了三十种商品的产品。例如各种口 味和品牌的巧克力、糖果、薯片和燕麦片。

- 在中国销售的最好是白俄罗斯糖果和巧克力。聂曼玻璃 厂的装饰玻璃产品需求量也很大。” 中白工业园区开发股份 有限公司第一副总经理说。 — 传统上，中国消费者对白俄 罗斯乳制品和婴儿食品的购买意愿良好，他们也对我们的亚

麻产品表现出兴趣。一年之内，我们计划达到每月700万元销 量，长期预计达到每月2亿元的销售额。中国市场不仅是一个 充满机遇的市场，也是一个竞争激烈的市场。因此，白俄罗斯 企业应关注其产品质量，并考虑中国同行的反馈。

人民币参加外汇交易

分析人士指出：今天，作为世界等价物的美元正在失去其 在市场上的地位。 对于这种货币出现了前所未有的通货膨 胀。 解释很简单：2020-2021 年，印了巨额美元。 近200 万亿。 这比自

DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR OPPORTUNITIES

To make up for lost profits

Summing up what the Prime Minister said, at first, I would like to focus on those moments when it was said about the diversification of exports, the volume of products supplied and in fact, interestingly, the increase in purchases of Belarusian products by individual EU countries.

“Previously, we planned to develop exports according to the 30-30-30 formula (a third of deliveries to the EAEU, a third to the EU and a third to the countries of the distant arc), but the current situation is fundamentally different from the previous one. Now, probably, it is no longer relevant to talk about some kind of rigid formula. But this does not mean that we put all our export resources in one basket. Absolutely not. However, we see the potential of those markets that we, perhaps, underdeveloped, taking into account our line on the balanced development of exports to all regions”, Roman Golovchenko noted.

It was also said that in recent years many barriers have been removed that prevented an increase in supplies to the Russian market.

“It was a titanic work of the entire top-down command structure – from the Government to ministries and concerns.

Which industries or individual companies are given special attention? How are things going with foreign economic activity and the reorientation of commodity flows to the East? Will importsubstituting enterprises receive financial support? What projects are already being implemented in the regions? Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko spoke about these and other important points on the air of the TV programme Question Number One.

And it was done in a very timely manner. That is why we are setting the goal of reaching a 40% increase in exports to the Russian Federation and other EAEU countries this year. But at the same time, no one disregards the markets in Europe and America”, the Prime Minister noted.

It is worth recalling that at a recent meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Head of State set the task of making up for lost profits by reorienting exports, while emphasizing that cooperation should also be intensified with the so-called unfriendly countries.

“Despite the introduction by these states of an embargo on a number of Belarusian export items (woodworking, metal products, oil products, mineral fertilizers), we still continue to trade with the European Union. At the same time, our exports with some countries even increased in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2021. Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain and several other countries have increased the purchase of our products”, said Roman Golovchenko.

Business relations remain

The Prime Minister stressed that despite what Western politicians say, there are people who have maintained a sober assessment of the situation:

“This, of course, is a business – both private and stateowned companies. Yes, they are under serious pressure – I call it psychopolitical maneuvers. But, nevertheless, no one is seriously going to break off business relations with us or with Russian colleagues.”

According to him, exports to the European Union for the first half of the year amounted to more than 3 billion US dollars.

“I would not dramatize the situation. Yes, it is difficult, yes, very strict restrictions. But the question is how long European politicians will be able to hold out on such a course. And we continue to work with Europe, with America – both North and South. But, of course, now our views are directed to the East and to the South. We need to replace the falling volume of exports from the markets of Western Europe and Ukraine. Of what was supplied to Ukraine in the first half of last year (which is about $2.5 billion), we have already redirected about $2 billion to other markets. And we will increase the pace,” the Head of Government emphasized.

At the same time, there are a lot of signals about the readiness of the West to work with Belarus.

“In six months, our exports to the so-called unfriendly countries amounted to $3.5 billion,” said Roman Golovchenko.

„ «Beltamozhe service» produces a continuous flow of shipments to the Eastern direction

Well, this, you see, is a lot for 17 billion dollars of Belarusian exports.

“I think that some kind of sobering will happen anyway. Moreover, there are a lot of signals about readiness to work with us. You can see that the sanctions that are being imposed on both Russia and Belarus backfire on those who do it. Europe is preparing for the hardest winter. To refuse from gas, not to refuse, to wash less often, they recommend not to turn on air conditioners, and so on. Wildness”, the Prime Minister is convinced. “Let’s say Belarusian fuel wood, pellets, so-called Euro-pellets would help solve the problem for the population. Therefore, I think that very soon we will see certain changes. You know, a person always votes, as they say, with a refrigerator.”

Tit-for-tat response prepared

At the same time, threats about the “nationalization” of Belarusian property in the Baltic countries are becoming more and more distinct from the West (more precisely, the political leadership). Roman Golovchenko explained what would be a tit-for-tat response to the actions of the European Union in relation to Belarusian property.

It should be reminded that the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded to take measures due to the fact that the Belarusian side was actually deprived of property in the port of Klaipeda. The Head of State drew attention to the fact that, in addition to the sanctions on the transportation of potassium, Lithuania also actually took away the property of the Belarusian enterprise in Klaipeda. As you know, since 2013

Belaruskali has been the owner of 30 percent of the shares of the Klaipeda bulk cargo terminal. In addition, the sanatorium Belarus in the Latvian Jurmala was forced to stop working due to sanctions.

As Roman Golovchenko explained, decisions on the confiscation of Belarusian property in Klaipeda, Druskininkai or Jurmala have not yet been made.

“There are threats, statements about plans for nationalization, but so far there are no precedents in the EU countries for direct confiscation or seizure of Belarusian property. We, accordingly, have not yet taken such measures,” he said.

However, there is pressure, worsening business conditions, limited opportunities to make payments:

“For sanatoriums — a restriction on accepting Belarusian citizens. For a potash terminal, it is impossible to enter to send goods. The synchronicity of our actions implies that we take appropriate measures. A fairly extensive list of companies — legal entities — residents of Belarus, in which residents from unfriendly countries have shares, has been determined. We have imposed a ban on the alienation of these shares. If you want to work in Belarus — please, work, there will be no obstacles, but if you are suddenly going to leave everything here, run away and take away money — sorry. As long as this is the attitude towards us, we will take the same measures here,” said the Prime Minister.

According to him, if the Baltic countries go further, materialize their threats of confiscation, nationalization, and so on, the Belarusian side will immediately mirror these measures on the territory of their country.

On the redrawing of the main trade routes

Now the Government sees the main task of the Belarusian economy in maintaining the level reached last year. The task is tempestuous, but doable. The main thing is to reconfigure the chains: consumers, supplies, settlements. Logistics was an important link in this. According to the Prime Minister, it was it what underwent the most difficult challenges during the period of economic pressure.

“It all started with a pandemic, then the aviation industry suffered absolutely illegally. After that, road transport, then sea. It was necessary to take prompt and serious measures to restore the possibility of transporting goods. I believe that we have been coping with this task quite successfully so far,” believes Roman Golovchenko.

He noted that the reorientation of exports also requires a redrawing of the main trade routes.

“Now we are going to Russian ports — both northern and southern — by road, to China — by rail and road — towards the Persian Gulf, to the countries of the Central Asian region. We fly, maneuvering between all restricted areas. Now, in principle, there are no problems with the shipment or export of Belarusian products. We are working further to reduce the cost, ” said the Prime Minister.

So far, the sticking-point, according to him, remains the underdevelopment of the railway infrastructure towards China, Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries.

“Therefore, now, together with our Russian and Kazakh colleagues, we are working to organise balanced supplies in these directions from our three states, without blocking this sticking-point that still exists in that direction,” the Head of Government concluded figuratively.

In terms of maritime transport, Belarus is currently working with nine Russian ports (both in the Baltic and Barents Seas and in the Black Sea ports).

“We have built logistics routes in this direction, we have good tariffs. Russian ports are ready to receive our cargoes. And the construction of our infrastructure in the Russian Federation optimises for us the issues of the cost of cargo transshipment services. And we are talking about our own capacities not only for Belarusian products, this is a commercial project. The deal is in its final stages. Already now, through the location that will be Belarusian, cargo is being delivered,” informed Roman Golovchenko.

According to the Prime Minister, one of the ports will be the base. In addition, there are plans to create separate transshipment facilities in other ports.

“Why is the same Murmansk interesting for the Belarusian side? Free access to the oceans, regardless of whether the straits will be closed or not. From the Baltic there is one bottleneck to go to the ocean, and from Murmansk there is free access both to the Atlantic Ocean and along the Northern Sea Route to the Pacific Ocean,” explained Roman Golovchenko.

Import substitution is more relevant than ever

Continuing the topic of cooperation with the eastern neighbor, Roman Golovchenko told in detail what import substituting projects will be implemented at the expense of credit resources of the Russian Federation.

Recall, as previously reported, Russia will allocate $1.5 billion for Belarus’participation in import substitution programs, “Now the governments are working out two directions. The first is directly the loan agreement, the conditions for the provision of resources. The second, and most important, is the list of projects that will be implemented, including those involving these funds.”

The Prime Minister recalled that import substitution has never left the agenda, it just wasn’t as large-scale, “But in reality, investments in import substituting projects within our country annually amount to billions of rubles.

As for the designated direction, one of the key elements is that the products that will be produced as part of its implementation are in high demand both among Belarusian and Russian manufacturers. It is by this criterion that the first three projects were determined,” said the Prime Minister.

The first of them is the production of lighting equipment for automotive vehicles. The project is being implemented in Rudensk on the basis of one of the Belarusian enterprises, where they will produce modern LED optics for all types of vehicles. The second project is the creation of braking systems with ABS and EBS elements. The third is ring-rolling production, which is also used in the automotive industry. It will be implemented by BELAZ on the basis of one of the enterprises in the Orsha District.

“Actually, we have already started to implement it, without waiting for credit resources, we are starting to finance ourselves. If credit resources arrive in a timely manner, we will simply add them to this investment pool,” the Head of Government noted.

According to him, there is a whole pool of projects that are planned to be implemented on the basis of Amkodor OJSC.

Roman Golovchenko also commented on the topic of packaging for milk and noted the need to start their own production of an analogue of tetra pak.

In the regions – modern production

By the way, at the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was held under the chairmanship of the Head of State, Roman Golovchenko spoke about the Government’s initiative to identify projects that should breathe new life into the development of the regions. In particular, we are talking about the fact that on the basis of the industrialization map developed by the Ministry of Economy, based on local conditions and advantages, the Government itself will determine projects and oblige them to be implemented in the regions. The Prime Minister explained, “The task of the regions will be to deploy them. This is such a living matter of the economy, which is just now conjugated.”

Union gives confidence

Giving an assessment of the current situation in the global economy and forecasts for the future, the Head of Government also drew attention to the fact that the world is moving away from the hegemony of the dollar, the role and weight of regional currencies in the calculations is growing.

“The realization is coming that the currency is valuable

’’

“In each region, in each settlement, modern production should be created. We see what we lack in terms of import substitution. And we are comparing the needs of, let’s say, engineering, other sectors of the economy with the potential opportunities that exist in these regions. What is their workforce, what industries are underutilized. Accordingly, proceeding from this, and now this work is being carried out, investment proposals will be formed, which will come, relatively speaking, from the republic.”

’’

“According to my personal assessment, there is a certain recovery of the world economy, of course, with grave consequences for individual states, but in general this has a cleansing effect on the world economy. Why? Because countries that have matured to play an important role in world politics and the economy are emerging from the dictates of individual states and are increasingly saying that their interests must be taken into account. A non-Americancentric economic model is being built.”

not because of what can be bought with it, but by what goods it is backed,” Roman Golovchenko emphasized. “Therefore, these processes, perhaps, are not very visible, because they are extended in time. Nevertheless, the world will become healthier, that’s for sure. There will be new centers of power, a balancing of interests. This is also important for Belarus, because we have always (throughout our independence) tried to uphold the right of nations and states (including small and medium-sized states) to an independent path of development,” Roman Golovchenko noted and cited the ongoing events in support of this. “We were right in our messages and in what we said to the world community, which did not want to hear us or did not want to listen.”

And in this regard, he recalled, “We are not alone, we have powerful allies, primarily the Russian Federation, a country that cannot be ignored. And what the West is doing — pretending that Russia does not exist — is impossible. We feel confident in this kind of alliance that we have with our closest partner.”

At the end of the conversation, Roman Golovchenko explained what is the number one issue on the agenda of the Government and the Prime Minister personally, “Lately I (and the whole team) have the number one question that I ask every day when I work with documents, listen to reports: “Has everything been done, what can be done?” The most important thing now is not to miss any opportunity.”

Vasiliy Kharitonov

Photo by BELTA

TAKING NEW REALITIES INTO ACCOUNT

Collage by Boris Gerchikov

The restrictions and sanctions adopted by the collective West, as well as the freezing of relations with Ukraine, preconditioned for Belarus a complete structural reformatting of foreign trade. The task to reorient export flows in the amount of at least $16 billion in equivalent is not an easy one. But it is addressable. This is assured, first of all, by the government of the country.

Investors will be happy

According to the strong conviction of Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, the solution of this issue is directly related to ensuring the stable operation of the state economy. And in the new realities, taking into account the existing agreements, a significant part of the exports that have fallen out of circulation are planned to be redirected to the markets of other states, including the strategic partner, Russia. By the way, in JanuaryMay, exports to the Russian Federation grew by more than 17 percent. Other major export destinations, which, as they say, is changing things dramatically, are the countries of the distant arc, which for the most part remain friendly to Belarus. First of all, these are China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the entire region of Asia and the Middle East.

CollagebyBorisGerchikov

术公司正在积极与外国买家合作。例如，目前该 公司正与俄罗斯在动物饲料方面密切合作。已签 订约 2.18 亿美元的合同。正在就猪禽配合饲 料的供应进行谈判，以确保企业的生产力能够满 足国内外市场的需求。副总理列昂尼德·扎亚茨 最近在访问该企业时强调，白俄罗斯国家生物技 术公司是一个独特的项目，得益于白俄罗斯总统 的倡议和白俄罗斯总统与中国国家主席的密切友 谊：

- 我们看到，今天已经创建了一个独特的企 业，它将完全满足白俄罗斯畜牧业之前一直进口 的产品——氨基酸、预混料的需求。 全球像白 俄罗斯国家生物技术公司这样的企业有20家， 苏联解体后的地区有3家。

副总理还强调，根据总统的决定，博布鲁伊 斯基、格鲁斯基、普霍维奇斯基三个区的农业 企业接受了白俄罗斯国家生物技术公司的信托管

理。 接下来是奥西波维奇斯基。

Moreover, the components of achieving the goal are already defined. A comprehensive strategy for cooperation with countries of the distant arc, plans for interaction between embassies and industries were agreed upon, resolutions of the Council of Ministers on indicators for the export of goods and a significant simplification of approaches to export crediting were signed. And the Prime Minister only clarifies the positions, emphasising that measures of financial support for exporters have been taken, tasks have been set, and it is necessary to fulfil them. It is only the intensification of cooperation with the countries of the distant arc that is becoming the most important priority in the work of leaders at all levels and sectors. Demand will be the toughest, as the Prime Minister emphasised.

In addition, the government once again draws attention to the need to intensify work with investors. And this despite the fact that foreign direct investment in Belarus continues to grow. After all, only in the first quarter of this year, on a net basis, their growth amounted to 45 percent. But Roman Golovchenko speaks about the interest of Asian manufacturers in coming to the Belarusian market. In his opinion, in the conditions of closing up of production by Western companies in Russia, a real struggle for Asian investments will develop. That is why their involvement is also a highly demanded area of work for the heads of foreign missions in the respective countries.

What are the plans for work in the distant arc markets? The Minister of Industry Piotr Parkhomchik notes that Belarusian enterprises intend to increase supplies to African countries. By the way, there are already preliminary results of the work of the Ministry of Industry for six months. Export rates remain high: 110 percent compared to the same period last year. There is a reorientation of exports taking into account the sanctions. The focus is on the African market. And here, too, there are positive examples. For example, there were complex deliveries of equipment to Zimbabwe. Already the second tranche. While last year 900 units of equipment were delivered to this country, this year it is almost 1.500. These are tractors, combines and other agricultural machinery. New large deliveries to the region are now being discussed. The export structure is also expanding. A large order for the supply of fire equipment has been received. BSW (Byelorussian Steel Works) products will also be reoriented to the markets of Africa and Asia. Yes, there are issues with logistics, but gradually they are being resolved. The Minister said that there were good basis for deliveries to Nigeria ,an experimental batch of tractors has already been shipped to this country. The issue of the visit of the Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria to Belarus is also being resolved, during this visit they intend to discuss the supply of about a thousand tractors.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food also expects to increase exports to the distant arc countries. The head of the department, Igor Brylo, said that Belarus plans to increase food exports to $8 billion by the end of the year. Quite good figures for five months: the growth rate in value terms amounted to 114 percent compared to the same period last year. Agricultural producers sold their products to more than a hundred countries of the world for about three billion dollars. But the task is to add more than a billion to the level of last year.

According to the Minister, quite a good price environment is now emerging in the markets

达到计划产能后，白俄罗 斯国家生物技术公司的外 汇收入约为4.5亿美元。

for Belarusian products. Russia remains the main market. It takes about 70 percent. For the CIS countries, about ten percent remains in the total export loaf. A significant growth rate of exports is observed in the countries of the distant arc, which is almost 167 percent. Deliveries to China and other countries of Asia, Oceania and Africa have been increased. It is the diversification of the export of Belarusian products that is becoming a very important aspect in the economy of the agroindustrial complex. Today, these products are recognisable, competitive, there are practically no leftovers in warehouses, Igor Brylo sums up. Corporation with unique production

In the same context, another illustrative example. The Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation (BNBC), in accordance with the decree of the President, is implementing a large-scale export-oriented and import-substituting investment project to organise full-cycle high-tech agro-industrial production, designed right up to 2032.

In general, the technology of advanced grain processing is truly unique and is of particular importance for the development

After reaching the designed capacity, BNBC’s foreign exchange earnings will be about $450 million.

面，它并不逊于俄罗斯。 从五吨谷物中，我们

生产一吨氨基酸。

由此产生的利润可以投资于

农场和白俄罗斯国家生物技术公司的发展。

此外，副总理表示，计划在白俄罗斯国家生 物技术公司发展大规模生产维生素的能力。 现 在这个问题正在总统和政府层面与中国合作伙伴

一起协调：

- 准确地说，是在该公司的现有的基础上建 立生产维生素的能力。 全世界，只有少数几家 企业生产维生素。 由于这个合作，我们将获得 设备和技术。 这将对巩固我国的地位起到一定 的作用。

反过来，白俄罗斯国家生物技术公司总经理 丹尼尔·乌里茨基表示，新企业打算生产维生 素 B2、B12、C。中方也在考虑参与这个项目。 根据计划，谈判将在明年夏天之前结束，然后开 始建设新的生产设施。它的成本计划为8.5亿美 元。据负责人介绍，白俄罗斯国家生物技术公司 拥有七个国际标准证书，其产品出口到亚洲、中 东、北非、俄罗斯等国家。

物流比以往任何时候都重要

随着新的区域联盟得到加强，由于疫情大流 行和西方制裁而形成的物流枢纽正在逐步重建。 7月在维捷布斯克召开的欧亚经济委员会理事会 会议上，“中吉乌铁路建设”和“卢戈瓦亚-巴 雷克奇铁路段电气化”项目被列入欧亚政府间理 事会“关于欧亚经济联盟成员国家运输领域的优 先整合基础设施项目清单”法令草案。它们的实 施将加剧“大欧亚”大陆一体化的进程。

如果我们参考国际公路货运交易所ATI.SU代 表处的数据，第二季度白俄罗斯和亚洲之间的货 运需求出现了创纪录的增长。 白俄罗斯—土耳 其（5倍）和白俄罗斯—格鲁吉亚（4.5倍）航 线的受欢迎程度最高。

在 4 月至 6 月，从乌兹别克斯坦到白俄罗 斯的运输量急剧上升 - 几乎达到了 700%。 来 自亚美尼亚的航线吸引力增长超过 500%，来自 哈萨克斯坦的为 300%，来自土耳其的货运量增 加了一倍多。

据交易所专家介绍，物流市场转型的关键因 素是进入欧盟的禁令，导致整个欧亚大陆建立新 的链条。大型运输公司不仅积极重建物流，还在 中亚和高加索地区开设代表处。拥有友好国家的 牌照，承运人可以在各个方向不受限制地工作， 保持国际运输量并建立替代路线，从而使与欧盟

of the country. The corporation is expected to reach its full capacity for the production of animal feed and amino acids in September. Since then, BNBC’s foreign exchange earnings will be about $450 million. The positive balance must be at least $200 million. The enterprise is gaining momentum every month. Since July, an increase in the production of animal feed and amino acids has already begun. At the same time, BNBC is actively cooperating with foreign buyers. For example, now we are working closely with Russia on animal feed. Contracts have been concluded for approximately $218 million. Negotiations are underway on the supply of compound feed for pigs and poultry in order to ensure the loading of enterprises to cover the needs in the foreign and domestic markets. Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats emphasised during his recent visit to the enterprise that the BNBC is a unique project built thanks to the initiative of the President and close friendship with the President of the People’s Republic of China, “We see that today a unique enterprise has been created that will fully meet the needs of the animal husbandry sector in Belarus in previously constantly imported products: amino acids, premixes. There are 20 such enterprises as BNBC in the world, and three in the postSoviet space.”

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasised that by the decision of the President, agricultural enterprises of three districts were accepted for trust management of the BNBC: Bobruisk, Glusk, Pukhovichy. Next up is Osipovichy. The result is more than one hundred thousand hectares of land, the entire list of equipment. It is planned to load BNBC capacities from these areas. This is a very close cooperation, which will serve as a serious economic strengthening for agricultural enterprises, as well as create conditions for the economic growth of the corporation.

“Grain, which is produced in the country, is much cheaper than foreign analogues,” notes Leonid Zayats. “In terms of quality, it can compete with the Russian one. From five tons of grain, we produce a ton of amino acids. The resulting profit can be invested both in farms and in the development of the BNBC.”

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister said that on the basis of the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation, it is planned to build capacities for the production of vitamins. Now this issue is being resolved with Chinese partners at the level of the President and the Government, “Precisely, in order to create a capacity for the production of vitamins on the territory of the corporation. They are produced only by a few enterprises in the world. Thanks to the agreements, we will receive both equipment and technologies. This will play a role in strengthening the position of our country.”

In turn, BNBC General Director Daniil Uritsky said that the new enterprise intended to produce vitamins B2, B12, C. This project is also being considered by the Chinese side. There are suggestions that the negotiations will end before the summer of next year, and then the construction of a new production facility will begin. Its cost is estimated at 850 million dollars. According to the head, the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation has certificates of seven

international standards. Its products are exported to Asia, the countries of the Middle East, North Africa, Russia. Logistics is more important than ever

As new regional alliances are strengthened, there is a progressive juncture of logistics hubs, formed both as a result of the pandemic and Western sanctions. At a meeting of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission held in Vitebsk in July, the Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway and Electrification of the Lugovaya-Balykchi Railway Section projects were included in the draft decree of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council ‘On the List of Priority Integration Infrastructure Projects in the Field of Transport of MemberStates of the EAEU’. Their implementation will enhance the dynamics of integration processes in ‘Greater Eurasia’.

If we refer to the data of the representative office of the international road freight exchange ATI.SU, a record growth in demand for freight transportation between Belarus and Asia was recorded in the second quarter. The popularity of the routes Belarus-Turkey (five times) and Belarus-Georgia (4.5 times) grew the most.

In April-June, the popularity of transportation from Uzbekistan to Belarus increased sharply by almost seven hundred percent. The increase in the attractiveness of routes from Armenia exceeded 500 percent, from Kazakhstan — 300

percent, and more than twice as much cargo was brought from Turkey.

According to the experts of the exchange, the key factor in the transformation in the logistics market was the ban on entry into the EU, which led to the building of new chains throughout Eurasia. Large transport companies are not only actively rebuilding logistics, but also opening representative offices in Central Asia and the Caucasus. With license plates of friendly countries, transporters can work without restrictions in all directions, maintaining the volume of international transportation and building alternative routes that make it possible to remove cargo flows with the EU countries from sanctions risks.

But, perhaps, the most significant event in the framework of the ‘pivot to Asia’, which is gaining momentum in lockstep with global and regional trends, was the official filing of an application by Minsk to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full member. It is expected that already in September at the summit in Uzbek Samarkand the corresponding formal procedure will be launched. It is deeply symbolic that it was through this ancient city that the Great Silk Road ran for more than two millennia, which facilitated trade between China and Europe.

Vladislav Yevseyev

Photo by BELTA

Collage by Boris Gerchikov

Sergei Terentyev,

“We continue to consider African and Middle Eastern states as promising partners”

R

R ecently, when priorities are really changing no less than on a global scale, the Middle East and, of course, the African continent, cannot but attract the close attention of far-sighted politicians. But how attractive, first of all, from the point of view of beneficial cooperation, are these regions specifically for Belarus?

These and other issues are discussed in an interview with Sergei Terentyev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (concurrently) to the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Sudan.

“This February marks exactly 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Arab Republic of Egypt. How can one assess the dynamics of the development of Belarusian-Egyptian relations during this period?”

“Yes, diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Arab Republic of Egypt were established on February 1st, 1992. Egypt became one of the first countries to recognise the sovereign Belarusian state and establish official relations with the Republic of Belarus. We have always considered Egypt as a key partner in the Middle East and North Africa. The first embassy of our country in the Arab world was opened in Cairo.

For 30 years, relations between Belarus and Egypt have had a steady positive trend. Even in difficult periods, under the influence of circumstances beyond our control (the ‘Arab spring’ and political transformations in Egypt, the pandemic), we managed not to reduce the intensity of bilateral contacts and maintain the dynamics of the Belarusian-Egyptian interaction.

“In the current year, there has been a rapid growth in trade turnover. In the first half of 2022, it almost doubled the figures for the corresponding period in 2021 and amounted to more than 80 million US dollars.”

In developing cooperation with Egypt, we took all the best from the heritage of Soviet-Egyptian relations, while maintaining traditionally strong ties in the fields of industry, agriculture, medicine, education, science and culture. Perhaps this was the key to the stability of the dynamics of bilateral contacts.

Since 2014, cooperation between Belarus and Egypt has reached a new level. The engine of our successful interaction was a constructive and trusting dialogue between the heads of the two states. In January 2017, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, the President of the Republic of Belarus paid an official visit to Egypt. In June 2019, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt visited Minsk. The high-level dialogue was continued just six months later by the visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus to Cairo in February 2020. The principal agreements reached by the heads of the two states gave birth to many projects in the fields of industry, agriculture, education and science.

Our task now is to search for new promising areas of cooperation, opening up new horizons, based on the accumulated experience and the significant potential that both countries have.”

“Undoubtedly, trade and economic cooperation plays an important, if not the main, role in bilateral international relations. How are things here? What projects of the Belarusian-Egyptian cooperation can be considered the most notable?”

“The Arab Republic of Egypt is one of the key trade and economic partners of the Republic of Belarus in the African region. Economic cooperation between the two countries has been actively developing for many years. In 2016-2019, bilateral trade showed steady growth. In the 2020-2021 COVID years,

for objective reasons, there was a slight decline in trade between the two states. At the same time, we were able to focus on providing a more balanced mutual performance and expanding the range of goods supplied. In particular, during the mentioned period, the export of cellulose, fermented milk products, glassware, toys and other new Belarusian goods to the market of the host country began.”

“The basis of long-term trade cooperation between our countries is a high level of trust and objective factors related to the geographical location and socio-economic priorities of the two countries: Egypt for Belarus is the ‘gateway’ to Africa, and our state provides tangible benefits for Egypt in terms of access to the markets of the EAEU countries.

The joint projects in the field of industrial cooperation, which are being implemented in Egypt in accordance with the agreements of the presidents of the two countries, are also oriented towards the long term: for example, the production of MAZ trucks has been organised on the basis of the enterprises of the Ministry of Military Industry of Egypt, and an assembly line for road-building equipment of Amkodor OJSC has been opened. The level of localisation of equipment assembled in Egypt is noticeably increasing (for example, for 5 models of MAZ trucks, localisation is already more than 40%), issues of improving its quality and service are being addressed.”

“To what extent are the reserves of bilateral trade and economic cooperation not yet tapped? In what areas should the parties show much greater, above all, investment activity?”

“I would like to note that the issues of diversification of mutual deliveries are a priority for the Embassy of Belarus in Egypt. At present, the efforts of the diplomatic mission are concentrated on exploring the possibilities of expanding exports of Belarusian food, steel and woodworking products, as well as agricultural machinery to this country. The relevant

„ Meeting of the Ambassador of Belarus to Egypt Sergei Terentiev with the Deputy Chairman of the National Organization of the Military Industry of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mohamed Salah El-Din.

„ In the framework of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ambassador of Belarus to Egypt Sergei Terentiev took part in the opening of the first BelarusianEgyptian Medical Center CairoMinsk Orthopedics

topics are being actively worked out this year with potential consumers and other interested parties.

For the same purpose, in May 2022, a videoconference was held with the participation of representatives of Belarusian agricultural machinery enterprises and the Egyptian Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, during which the prospects for establishing supplies of Belarusian equipment for institutions controlled by the Institute and issues of organising maintenance of Belarusian agricultural machinery located in Egypt at the service centres of the Institute were discussed. Taking into account the issues discussed, detailed information was sent to the Egyptian side about the export opportunities of Belarusian enterprises.

In June this year, on the basis of the National Centre for Marketing and Price Study RUE and the Association of Egyptian Businessmen, a videoconference was organised for representatives of Belarusian and Egyptian business circles on food trade. The Belarusian side presented the possibility of supplying dairy, meat and fat products, and the Egyptian side — vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood.

Taking into account this experience with the participation of Egyptian business representatives and Belarusian partners, the possibility of holding similar videoconferences on steel and woodworking products this year is being considered.

The Embassy of Belarus in Egypt also took part in a videoconference organized by the National Centre for Marketing and Price Study in June for Belarusian businessmen entitled Objective View of Business in Africa. During the video conference, enterprises and companies from Belarus were provided with detailed information about the peculiarities of business relations in the countries of responsibility of the embassy and promising areas for increasing exports to Egypt, Algeria and Sudan.

With regard to investment cooperation, it should be noted that Egypt is the recipient of investments, not their donor. Nevertheless, the Belfarmprom company and other economic entities of the pharmaceutical industry of Belarus are working on a project with one of the largest Egyptian companies EIPICO to establish a joint production of medicines in the Republic of Belarus. Mutual deliveries of pharmacological products can also become another area of cooperation with EIPICO.

In turn, taking into account the current situation in connection with the sanctions policy of some countries, it is advisable for Belarusian enterprises to consider the possibility of interacting with Egypt not only in the format of industrial cooperation, but also in the format of direct investment. The existing free trade agreements between Egypt and the economic unions of the countries of Africa, the Middle East and Europe provide access to the range of goods, the purchase of which is currently limited from a number of countries, and also contribute to the promotion of joint and Egyptian-made products to most of the African continent, to the European Union and the Gulf states.”

“What joint projects are currently being worked on? What sectors of the Belarusian economy could potentially expand the interest of the Egyptian business? Taking into account both the conditions of the local market, and including possible work with third countries.”

“As I have already noted, cooperation between the two countries in the field of industry has shown itself well. Here and today, work continues to expand relevant ties.

For example, since 2021, Minsk Automobile Plant OJSC with the Egyptian company EAMCO of the Egyptian Ministry of State Enterprises has been implementing a project to create a joint production of buses with gas engines. A prototype

PRIORITIES

historical and cultural values, large infrastructure facilities, recreational centres.

’’

of a joint bus was developed, which was presented at the TransMIA-2021 exhibition, where the President of Egypt A.F. el-Sisi was acquainted with it. The Egyptian side expresses its interest in expanding the project through the production of joint electric buses.

This year, work has begun with private Egyptian partners on projects to create, together with Minsk Automobile Plant OJSC, an assembly of small buses, expand maintenance services for MAZ equipment operating in Egypt and build a demonstration room for MAZ products. An important role in the work in these areas is played by the representative office of Minsk Automobile Plant OJSC in Egypt.

A number of promising projects are being developed with the Ministry of Internal Trade and Supply of Egypt and its subordinate structures (the Ministry oversees the activities of a number of government agencies responsible for the production and storage of food products, organising public procurement, stock trading, ensuring consumer rights, and observing intellectual property rights). In particular, in 2021, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange and the Egyptian Commodity Exchange. Work is underway to intensify interaction in the field of experience exchange and organisation of transit transactions. The possibilities of establishing largescale cooperation in the field of drying and storage of grain, as well as organising the supply of Belarusian food products within the framework of targeted social programmes to supply food to the population of Egypt are being explored.

The establishment of interaction between Egyptian business and official institutions with Belarusian IT companies looks promising. The embassy plans to organise visits of business missions from Egypt to our country to study this issue.

In addition, an interesting topic for bilateral cooperation may be the organization of medical tourism for Egyptian citizens to Belarus, cooperation in the field of vocational education, through the academies of sciences of the two countries.”

“To what extent are regional ties between Belarus and Egypt developed today?”

“Regional cooperation has a good potential, which has not yet been fully exploited. Many provinces of Egypt (Alexandria, Ismailia, Beheira, Beni Suef, Port Said, Suez, Damietta, Qena, Kafr el-Sheikh, Aswan, Asyut, North and South Sinai and others) have their traditional economic specialisation,

Active steps are being taken to develop cooperation between the Minsk region and the South Sinai governorate. The nearest plans include holding Days of the Minsk Region in the Governorate of South Sinai with the organisation of food products of enterprises of the Minsk Region, the creation of a permanent exhibition of Belarusian goods in the city of Sharm El Sheikh, the participation of the Belarusian side in the creation of a health centre in the city of El Tor, the establishment cooperation between the Sharm El Sheikh International Hospital and a leading medical institution in the Minsk Region.

We look forward to the visit of the Governor of South Sinai to Belarus to discuss the current state of bilateral cooperation and sign the Joint Action Programme for the medium term.

The development of cooperation between the Minsk Region and the Governorate of South Sinai seems promising both within the framework of the further development of interregional cooperation between Belarus and Egypt, and maintaining regular contacts at the interstate level.”

“How is the cooperation between Belarus and Egypt in the humanitarian sphere going? Is there a prospect of expanding cultural and, in particular, tourism ties?”

“Undoubtedly, a promising area of cooperation between our countries is cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. The Embassy provides active assistance to Belarusian organisations and institutions in establishing new and resuming old contacts, implementing bilateral projects with Egyptian partners in the cultural, educational, medical and other fields, developing interaction between public organisations of the two countries.

In particular, cooperation is developing between the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus and the Cairo Opera House. Work is underway to organise mutual tours of theatrical groups of the two countries, options are being worked out for the implementation of iconic Belarusian and Egyptian productions in Cairo and Minsk.”

“I am pleased to announce that in February 2022, the opening of the first Belarusian-Egyptian medical centre CairoMinsk Orthopedics took place in Cairo. Its main specialisation is traumatology and orthopaedics, it is equipped with the most modern equipment for diagnostics and treatment. Belarusian and Egyptian doctors and medical personnel will work in the centre.”

“In October 2022, a collection of minicopies of rare books from Belarus will be donated to the New Library of Alexandria.”

“In the field of education, interuniversity cooperation is developing in such areas as medicine, linguistics, computer technology, natural sciences. The visit of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt to Belarus is expected, within the framework of which negotiations between the Ministers of Education of the two countries, the second Forum of Rectors of Belarusian and Egyptian Universities, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Republican Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions (Belarus) and the Supreme Council universities (Egypt), are planned.

Contacts have been established with the Sadat Academy for Management Sciences. An agreement was reached on the visit of the delegation of the Academy to the Republic of Belarus to discuss and consider options for cooperation with the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus. Cooperation in the field of mechatronics is being worked out with the Beni-Suef University. A Memorandum of Cooperation between MSLU and the Faculty of Linguistics of Ain Shams University is being prepared for signing.

Belarus has significant experience of cooperation with Egypt in the field of medicine. Hundreds of Egyptian doctors have been trained in our country. Today, Belarus is transferring to Egypt its advanced experience in the treatment of various diseases in such areas as cardiology, oncology, dentistry, and supplies modern equipment for X-ray diagnostics.”

“In the last two years, interaction has been developing along the lines of public structures working in the humanitarian

sphere. Links have been established between the Egyptian National Council for Women, the National Council for Gender Policy under the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, and the Belarusian Union of Women in order to exchange experiences and best practices on achieving gender equality in both countries.

Cooperation in the field of tourism traditionally occupies a special position in bilateral Belarusian-Egyptian relations. First of all, this is due to the priorities of our tourists, who massively choose the resorts of Egypt for their holidays. So, in 2021, the number of Belarusian tourists in Egypt exceeded 230 thousand people. The embassy maintains constant contact with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, regularly holds meetings with the Egyptian Association of Tour Operators and leading Belarusian travel companies. The security conditions of the stay of organised tourist groups of Belarusians in Egypt are constantly monitored.

It should be noted that at present, in order to further develop the tourist exchange between the countries, the relevant aviation departments of Belarus and Egypt are negotiating to improve the air communication system by expanding the route map of flights, the possible introduction of new destinations, as well as the resumption of regular flights between the capitals.

In order to intensify bilateral humanitarian ties, expand cooperation in the field of education and culture, and implement joint business projects, the embassy actively cooperates with the Belarusian diaspora living in Egypt.”

„ Ambassador of Belarus to Egypt Sergei Terentiev took part in the opening ceremony of the MTZ holding equipment sales center in the Egyptian governorate of Sharqiya

“In addition to the Arab Republic of Egypt, you are concurrently the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Sultanate of Oman, as well as to the Republic of Sudan. How are relations with these countries being established?”

“The responsibilities of the Embassy of Belarus in Egypt include countries that are completely different in terms of forms of government, socio-economic processes, and resource potential.

The Sultanate of Oman is a monarchical state of the Persian Gulf, an exporter of energy resources and a regional logistics centre. Cooperation with Oman, just like with Egypt, already has a 30-year history. The neutral and equidistant position of Muscat regarding interstate conflicts, internal political stability, extensive trade relations with all states of the region make Oman especially attractive for the development of long-term partnership.

There are no problems or contradictions in political relations between Belarus and Oman. Inter-parliamentary cooperation is actively developing, which has already become the engine of contacts in the educational, scientific and humanitarian spheres. Contacts are being made between the Chambers of Commerce

’’

and Industry of Belarus and Oman. Relations are being established between educational and healthcare institutions of the two countries.

In the trade and economic sphere, we consider Oman, first of all, as a consumer of technology, high-precision equipment, fertilizers, and food products. We expect to use the business connections of Omani trading companies to promote Belarusian products to Asian and African countries.

Belarusian-Omani cooperation in the field of culture is developing, contacts are being maintained and joint projects are being implemented between theatres and museums of Belarus and Oman. With the support of the Omani side, the Omani Centre for Arabic Language and Culture has been operating at BSU since 2018.

Relations between Belarus and the Republic of Sudan have been stable for a long time. At present, due to the incompleteness of internal political transformations in Sudan, the dynamics of cooperation has significantly decreased. At the same time, deliveries of Belarusian agricultural and cargo machinery and equipment to Sudan continue.

Sudan, a country with vast agricultural lands and significant raw material potential, is a promising partner of Belarus for the implementation of industrial, agricultural, energy, and irrigation projects. The experience and potential of Belarus in the educational and medical fields are in great demand here.”

“Today, when priorities are changing on a global scale, the Middle East and, of course, the African continent cannot but arouse close attention. How attractive are these regions for Belarus in terms of further cooperation?”

“The Middle East region and the African continent have never been static. The processes taking place here often ‘set the tone’ for processes on a global scale and contribute to the formation of some global trends. Africa and the Middle East have long been the scene of actions of the leading world powers and are still the object of general close attention. The presence of natural resources for a long time formed the ‘raw material’ specialisation of these regions.”

“Our country is interesting as a supplier of modern technology, the author of scientific and technical developments and technologies, a partner in the implementation of projects in the industrial, agricultural, telecommunications, and medical fields.

I would like to note that we have not fully developed the African and Middle Eastern markets yet. Opportunities for

“We continue to consider African and Middle Eastern states as promising partners, regardless of the domestic political situation in these countries and global geopolitical changes.”

„ Sergei Terentiev and the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt at a reception on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic

Belarus

trade and economic cooperation are expanding due to the continuation of regional integration processes, including the creation of free trade zones and special economic zones in these countries, the development of logistics, the simplification of customs and banking procedures, etc. Africa remains attractive for investors and open to interaction with foreign partners.”

“You also act as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the League of Arab States. What gives our country participation in the work in this international organisation?”

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of Belarus’ cooperation with the Arab League as an observer state. The League of Arab States is a pan-Arab organization covering a wide range of issues of cooperation between Arab countries and forming a ‘pan-Arab’ position on the problems of the regional and global agenda. Of course, the Republic of Belarus, which is actively developing ties with the Arab countries, needs to follow these trends in order to form its own regional policy. The cooperation with specialised institutions and organisations under the Arab League is of particular interest.

In particular, contacts are being developed with the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD). The problems of ensuring food security, the possibility of developing and implementing the latest technologies for the production of agricultural products, combating desertification

and soil degradation are especially relevant for the Arab states. The organisation is interested in developing cooperation with Belarus, which has experience and advanced technologies in the field of agriculture. In 2021, a visit of the AOAD delegation headed by the Director General I. El-Dukheiry to Belarus was organised. We agreed to formalise the agreements reached during the visit by developing and signing an appropriate cooperation road map.

Interaction is being carried out with the Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. In June 2021, at the invitation of the Rector of the Belarusian State University, a delegation of the Arab Academy visited Belarus, during which memorandums of understanding were signed with the Belarusian State University and a cooperation agreement with the Belarusian State Medical University. In September of the same year, the deans of the faculties of general medicine, pharmaceutics and dentistry of the Arab Academy visited Minsk, short-term courses were organised for dental students of the academy (11 people) at the premises of BSMU.

The cooperation with Arab countries in the field of information technology is promising. Contacts have been established with the Arab Organisation for Communications and Information Technologies, specific areas of interaction of Belarusian interested organisations with this specialised structure under the League of Arab States are being determined.”

Vladimir Mikhailov

Photo provided by egypt@mfa.gov.by

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„ The Embassy of Belarus hosted an evening-meeting with representatives of the Belarusian diaspora living in the capital region of Egypt. The meeting was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Minsk Gomel

Mogilev Vitebsk

FEZs

Grodno

Collage by Boris Gerchikov

A CONVENIENT PLATFORM FOR INVESTMENT IN ALL RESPECTS

As you know, an investor evaluates a country not with emotions. The business climate is important for business. And, as statistics show, foreign business believes in the Belarusian economy and willingly invests its funds.

The number of residents of free economic zones is growing in Belarus

Becoming a resident is profitable

According to the latest statistics, in the first quarter of this year, residents of free economic zones attracted a quarter of foreign direct investment on a net basis to Belarus, exported a quarter of the total volume of goods, and produced a fifth of the country’s industrial output. Residents of free economic zones have significantly improved their results compared to the same period last year. Foreign direct investment on a net basis more than doubled totalling to $469 million, industrial output and sales proceeds increased by 1.3 times, exports of goods increased by 1.2 times to $2 billion with an average monthly salary of more than five hundred dollars equivalent. In general, economic entities of the FEZs worked financially efficiently: their total net profit exceeded 285 million roubles. Territories with preferential regimes actively contributed to the development of regions. Depending on the FEZ, residents formed up to 80 percent of investments, up to 58 percent of the export of goods, and up to 40 percent of the industrial production of the regions and Minsk. Business plan for tomorrow is important

In the face of sanctions pressure, it is necessary to maintain competitive advantages and a favourable business climate in the FEZs. So says, for example, doctor of economic sciences Valery Baynev. In his opinion, it is in the preferential zones that the investment, innovation, production and export potential is concentrated in the form of promising business projects. They also contribute to the sustainable and dynamic development of the country. Therefore, the expert emphasises, it is important

to level the risks of business activity in the FEZ, to maintain competitive advantages and favourable conditions for doing business for residents.

It should be noted that the government of the country takes the necessary decisions for this. Take, for example, a comprehensive plan to support the economy. Valery Baynev is confident that its implementation will contribute to the normal operation of exporters, the reorientation of imports from Ukrainian and European directions to the markets of friendly countries.

Of course, industrial cooperation and import substitution will receive an additional incentive. And there is another important point that you should pay attention to. In the current conditions, it is important for the regions, industries and administrations of the FEZ to develop a common vision of what additional steps should be taken in order to prevent a decrease in the effectiveness of each of the zones. Who comes to FEZs

Yes, now let’s talk about specific examples. Here is, for example, information from the field. 55 investment projects have been implemented with the participation of capital from 15 countries of the world. The number of resident employees is more than 16 thousand people. This is how the activity of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone, which was founded in 1999, looks like today in figures. The developed transport network makes the FEZ the most attractive for the organisation of industries focused on the export of their products. Not for nothing, due to its geo-economic position, its territory is a

„ Another resident of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone, the SIVital

Photo by BELTA

certain springboard in the development of promising markets for goods and services in Russia, the Baltic countries, and Scandinavia. The number of companies wishing to develop their business in this FEZ is growing.

Only since the beginning of this year, the fifth resident has been registered in the administration of the free economic zone. It was Orie Galvametal Limited Liability Company. The company will implement an investment project for the construction of a hot-dip galvanizing plant. The goal of the project is to create an efficient production facility for hot-dip galvanizing of metal structures to meet the needs of energy, communications, transport infrastructure, construction, industry, urban and agricultural sectors. It is planned to create new production capacities, increase the volume of production of export-oriented and import-substituting products. The plant will be built near the village of Farinovo, Polotsk District, on one of the sites included in the free economic zone. The site has good infrastructural equipment. It is planned to purchase Iranian equipment for production. The construction and commissioning of the plant will take about two to three years. Hot-dip galvanizing technology is considered one of the most economical methods of long-term protection of metal from corrosion. It is in demand and has good prospects. An increase in demand for such a service is predicted against the backdrop of a high workload of two enterprises existing in Belarus in Rechitsa and Lida, including in the Russian market, where this technology can effectively replace imported dyes that were used for anti-corrosion protection and have left the market. When the export potential is obvious

Another resident of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone, the SIVital research and production enterprise, has mastered the production of an unparalleled test system for determining nine infectious agents at a time. The PCR-based diagnostic kit allows you to identify in one study the most clinically significant pathogens of bacterial infections spread nosocomially against the background of COVID-19. The test system was developed by scientists and specialists of the research and production enterprise, which has a modern laboratory base and the potential for industrial production of innovative development. In addition, such studies make it possible to train highly qualified personnel, prepare theses for the scientific degrees of candidate of sciences and PhD, and successfully present their work. The test system has a good export potential. In particular, the possibility of using the Belarusian development in the territory of Russia is being considered. Modern approaches will lead the way

At the same time, Belkarolin, a resident company of the Vitebsk FEZ, plans to launch a digitalised plant for the production of innovative veterinary drugs in two years. Technologies of the fifth technological mode will be introduced at the plant. It is already included in the list of projects for the creation of new industries that are of decisive importance for the innovative development of Belarus. The project provides for the use of global approaches to design, as well as to control and production management based on the Industry 4.0 concept, including the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. In

particular, the plant will create a single information centre that allows you to see all production processes, and a drug designer based on artificial intelligence technologies, which will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the process of creating innovative products.

Now the construction of the production building of a new plant with a developed infrastructure in one of the sectors of the Vitebsk FEZ on the outskirts of the regional centre has been completed. This year, administrative and warehouse divisions, as well as the research and development department with a laboratory complex, will move to the new site. At the same time, the process of purchasing technological equipment with a high degree of automation is underway. Starting from 2023, a phased transfer of production of non-sterile and sterile veterinary drugs is planned. The production of original medicines for the treatment of animals under the general name ‘Green Line’ will be organized here, taking into account the requirements of the GMP system. This line was developed jointly with scientists from the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and includes veterinary medicines without antibiotics based on natural raw materials.

According to the estimates of the company’s specialists, the implementation of the project will increase the main production indicators, as well as expand the export potential, mainly through the creation and launch of original innovative products on the market. More precisely, they plan to increase the main production indicators by four times, as well as enter the markets of non-CIS countries, where potential partners are already interested. Although now the share of exports in the total production of the company already exceeds 70 percent, and in recent years there has been a continuous increase in external supplies.

By the way, today Belkarolin is present in Russia, where the company has a developed network of distributors, as well as in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, veterinary preparations are being registered in Mongolia. In total, the company’s production portfolio includes more than 40 types of veterinary drugs, and about ten more drugs are under development.

Aleksey Fedosov

In the first quarter of 2022, residents of the Vitebsk FEZ Vitebsk attracted a quarter of FDI on a net basis to Belarus

REGION IS THE TERRITORY OF OPPORTUNITIES

On how the economic policy of the Gomel Region solves one of the main goals in ensuring a quality standard of living for people. On additional impulses for the development of the economy, the implementation of large investment projects and ensuring the stable operation of enterprises in an interview with Ivan Krupko, Chairman of the Gomel Region Executive Committee.

“What are the main types of economic activity today that determine the development of the real sector of the economy of the Gomel Region?”

“Gomel Region is the largest industrial region of Belarus, which forms a fifth of the republic’s industrial output. GDP generating enterprises of petrochemical and chemical production, pulp and paper industry and woodworking, metallurgy and mechanical engineering are located in the territory of the region. More than one and a half thousand industrial organisations operate in the region, including more than 200 large and medium-sized enterprises, which employ almost 120 thousand people. The development of the real sector of the region’s economy is determined by industry (the share in the gross regional product is about 40%), agriculture (about 10%), construction (about 6%). In the industrial sector of the region, the leading areas are oil refining, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, extraction of fuel and energy minerals, chemical production, and the food industry. In the Gomel Region, all the extraction of Belarusian oil and gas is carried out, as well as the production of thermally polished

sheet glass, mineral phosphate fertilizers, machine tools for metal processing. The region produces almost all domestic forage and grain harvesting equipment, more than 95% of Belarusian steel and about 50% of motor gasoline and diesel fuel.

The industry of the Gomel Region has been and remains export-oriented. Every year, more than 60% of products manufactured in the region were supplied outside the country. For many years, the main foreign trade partners of the region, apart from Russia, were Germany, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. Today, market reorientation and an increase in export deliveries to Russia, Central and Southeast Asia, African countries and the search for other partners are relevant for the region.”

“Tell us about the significant production facilities recently opened in the region and those that should appear in the future?”

“In recent years, new unique facilities have appeared in the Gomel Region. A new plant for the production of coated and uncoated types of cardboard was commissioned in

Boris Gerc

Collageby

Dobrush at the premises of the branch of the Dobrush Paper Mill Heroy Truda of Belorusskie Oboi Holding Management Company OJSC. Mastering the production of such products made it possible to reduce imports and fully meet the needs of the food, light, medical and printing industries of the republic in packaging materials. The production capacity of the plant is about 200 thousand tons of cardboard per year.

A mining and processing complex was put into operation in the Petrikov District with the industrial development of a potassium salt deposit. Potash ore deposits here amount to millions of tons, and today they are already being actively mined.

At the Mozyr Oil Refinery, the construction of a complex for the hydrocracking of heavy oil residues is being completed. This large-scale project will increase the depth of oil refining up to 90%. At the same time, the share of output of light oil products in the total volume will increase to 70%, which will have a positive impact on product quality.

The Medplast enterprise launched the production of disposable containers for collecting venous blood samples, SvetlogorskKhimvolokno organised the production of gloves made of artificial and natural latex.

Korall Technopark was introduced in Gomel. This project has a high potential for the development of innovative infrastructure. A children’s technopark was also created

In January-May of this year, enterprises of the Gomel Region exported products worth more than $1.7 billion.

An important aspect of the geographic potential of the region is the base of natural resources. Rich deposits of potash and rock salt, brown coal, glass sands, peat, chalk, as well as resources such as wood, building stone, granite, gypsum, clay, oil shale are compactly located on the territory of the region.

at its premises, which has become an excellent platform for capable, talented children, the implementation of their ideas and the training of future specialists in the fields of innovation and information technologies.

In the future, in the Gomel Region, it is planned to launch an energy complex for the production of ‘green’ hydrogen in the Mozyr District, a complex for the processing of solid waste in the Gomel District, increase the production of fireproof materials in Zhlobin, the production of feed additives and veterinary drugs based on peat in the Lelchitsy District, the production of flat lift cables in Mozyr, production of disposable paper tableware in Svetlogorsk and more.”

“Attracting investments as an opportunity for further development of the Gomel Region and its regions. What are the reserves in this direction?”

“We are facing serious challenges in the development of the regions. In small ones, this is, first of all, an increase in the volume of agricultural products and the development of enterprises for the processing of local raw materials. In large industrial regions, this is the expansion of production capacities at existing enterprises, the creation of cooperative chains based on them, the implementation of importsubstituting industries.

The investment attractiveness of each region is special. It is determined by the presence of a raw material base, the development of infrastructure, and the availability of a qualified working-age population.

Our regions are rich in forests, there is a potential in implementing projects for the use of existing mineral deposits in order to create new industries on their basis (quartz sand, kaolin, peat, sapropels, basalts).

Today we offer businesses more than 350 promising investment sites.”

“Tell us about the measures to stimulate the business activity of the population.”

“A regional set of measures has been approved in the region within the framework of the State Programme ‘Small

and Medium Enterprises’, designed for 2021-2025. For the implementation of the activities of this State Programme in the current year, funds from the regional budget are provided, of which more than 90% are for direct financial support of small and medium-sized businesses.

The region has a network of small and medium business support infrastructure entities, consisting of six business support centres and three small business incubators, which provide a wide range of services to small businesses. These are accounting, educational services, leasing of office, production space and equipment.

To strengthen the entrepreneurial activity of the population, organise new industries, develop proposals for solving problematic issues related to the development of small and medium-sized businesses, councils for the development of entrepreneurship have been created at the Gomel Region Executive Committee and local executive committees. To promote entrepreneurship, working meetings are held with the participation of small businesses on their development. This year, a meeting has already been held with business entities on the development of measures aimed at preserving and developing the economy in the new conditions. In the format of a dialogue platform, the issues of involving business in cooperative chains in the production of products by large enterprises of the region were considered.

It is also worth noting that today a system to support the start-up movement of small innovative entrepreneurship has been deployed in the Republic of Belarus. With this approach, promising ideas can be successfully brought to mass production, producing competitive products that are in demand on the market, creating new jobs with a decent level of wages.” “The experience of expanding the production capacities of existing enterprises, creating cooperative chains on their basis, including import substitution, is interesting”

“For a number of years, enterprises of the region have been actively involved in the process of increasing the localisation of the production of domestic products (increasing the share of domestic components and materials in the production of Belarusian products): for more than 15 years, the state policy in the field of import substitution has been implemented through the implementation of sectoral and regional action plans for import substitution.

Small and medium-sized businesses are actively involved in the process of import substitution, their share in the regional programme is more than 20%.

Today there are already successful examples of import substitution. This is the production of printing ink (ColorMaster JSC), parts of railway rolling stock (Saturn-1 JSC), counters and components for them (MirtekEngineering LLC), glass bottles (Belstekloprom FLLC), foundry brass in ingots (Terra Motors LLC) and others.

As examples of well-established cooperative chains, one can cite the supply of hydraulic products by SALEO-

GDP generating enterprises of the Gomel Region are Mozyr Oil Refinery, Byelorussian Steel Works, Gomel Chemical Plant, Gomselmash, Belorusneft, Gomelenergo, SvetlogorskKhimvolokno, Gomel Plant of Castings and Normals, Rechitsa Hardware Plant, Rogachev Milk Canning Plant and others

Collageby

Boris Gerchikov

The Polesie branch of Milkavita

JSC specialises in the production of cheese and the processing of any whey. The capacities allow producing up to 12 tons of cheese and processing up to 500 tons of whey. In 2021, the company purchased an automatic line for cutting cheeses with a fixed weight, the investment amounted to 3.7 million roubles (capacity — 2 tons of packaged cheese per day).

Gomel JSC to machine-building enterprises of the republic, such as MTW JSC and Gomselmash JSC; supply of copper enamelled wire by Gomelkabel to enterprises of the Ministry of Industry, the sale by Freshpack Solutions of packages and barrier films to enterprises in the meat and dairy industry, the use of cylindrical textile cartridges by BelVenaLtd by enterprises that produce chemical threads, and others.”

“Organisation of entrepreneurship and doing business on the basis of state property, which was not previously used. Are there any successful examples?”

“I would like to emphasise that systematic work with unused property in the region has been carried out for a long time, and it is yielding results. Year by year the number of such objects decreases. In total, more than 9,000 stateowned facilities have been returned and demolished to the

economic circulation, of which more than 3,000 buildings and structures have been sold, they work, provide services, and benefit from them. This year, 117 facilities are offered for sale.

There are examples of organising entrepreneurship and doing business in almost every district of the region. In Gomel in 2014, the building of the former canteen with an area of more than 660 square meters was sold. In 2018, a medical centre was opened on its basis, where modern expert-level equipment is installed, which allows medical research to be carried out with high accuracy and in a short time. In Zhitkovichi in 2010, a complex of buildings with an area of 1.6 thousand square meters was sold through an auction. Today it is a beautiful modern administrative building, which houses an organization engaged in international transportation and delivery of vehicles. The modern ‘business class’ residential apartment building was built with buildings (premises) for serving the population, underground heated parking, apartments with a free layout, panoramic windows at the premises of the complex of buildings of the former oncological dispensary, with an area 1.5 thousand square meters in Mozyr. In the Gomel Region, in the territory of the former pioneer camp Junga sold at auction with the initial sale price equal to one base unit, there is a modern recreation centre with comfortable cottages and cosy rooms.”

“An important part of the economic potential of the Gomel Region is the production of agricultural products. Tell us about the reference points of this direction.”

“Animal husbandry is a priority for the region’s agriculture. To increase the production and sale of meat and dairy products, construction of new and reconstruction, modernisation of existing livestock complexes is underway.

The project for the construction of a dairy farm with a capacity of 600 heads of dairy herds is being implemented this year at the Sudkovo Collective Farming Unitary Enterprise in the Khoiniki District. There is a project for the construction of a modern dairy farm with a capacity of 1162 heads of cattle, including 600 heads of dairy herds, in the Narovlya District. In general, by the end of the year in small areas of the region it is planned to complete the reconstruction of 30 livestock buildings for young cattle.

In recent years, periods with abnormally high air temperatures against the background of soil and air drought have been recorded in the region. We cannot change the climate. But they intend to reduce the influence of external factors on the results of the work of agricultural enterprises by making some adjustments to the strategy for the development of the agricultural sector in the region. Consistent work on variety change and variety renewal has been organised in the region. We are improving the reproductive composition of grain and leguminous crops, perennial grasses, seed plots are being planted with original and elite seeds. In order to consistently work to improve the structure of grass fodder, work is purposefully carried out to increase the area of perennial grasses while reducing the area of silage corn cultivation. In the structure of the winter wedge, we are systematically increasing the sowing area of winter barley (for the 2023 harvest, it is planned to increase the sowing area of this high-yielding crop by more than 6 times to 41.5 thousand hectares). Grain production is actively carried out at the expense of corn for grain, since the gross harvest of this crop from 1 hectare significantly exceeds the yield of grain crops. This year, the area of cultivation of corn for grain in the region is more than 78 thousand hectares.”

“The land makes it possible to work, provide for oneself with food and earn on their sale. Tell us how the issue

of training qualified specialists for the agro-industrial complex is being solved in the region.”

“The training of specialists and workers of the agricultural profile in the Gomel Region is carried out in 16 institutions of vocational education. These include 10 professional lyceums, a vocational college and 5 colleges of secondary specialised education. Training is conducted in 7 specialties of secondary specialised education and 7 specialties of vocational education (most of the specialties are integrated with other qualifications, due to which 85% of graduates simultaneously receive two or more professions). Admission targets are formed on the basis of applications from the Committee on Agriculture and Food of the Region Executive Committee (secondary specialised education), as well as agricultural departments and food district executive committees, agricultural organisations (vocational education).

Two agricultural resource centres have been created at the premises of the Zhlobin State Vocational and Technical College and the Kalinkovichi State Vocational Agrarian and Technical Lyceum.

In order to interest students in obtaining specialties that are in demand in the agricultural sector, employees of the departments of agriculture and food of the district executive committees take an active part in events at the premises of institutions of vocational education in the agricultural profile. ‘Targeted training’ is actively used when a tripartite agreement is concluded between the educational institution, the applicant and the customer of personnel (it may be the Committee on Agriculture and Food of the Region Executive Committee, the department on agriculture and food of the district executive committees, agricultural organisations).

In the 2021/2022 academic year, 48 specialised agrarian classes were organised in institutions of general secondary education, in which 308 people studied. Of the 116 graduates of these classes, 30 people entered the institutions of higher and secondary specialised education of the agrarian profile. Days of open doors were held on the basis of all institutions of vocational education in agriculture. Future applicants were provided with information, handouts, video presentations, speeches by promotion teams, professional skills competitions, and master classes.” “What are the prospects for the economic development of the areas affected by the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant?”

“Within the framework of the State Programme for Overcoming the Consequences of the Catastrophe at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, systematic work is being carried out to strengthen the economic potential

of the affected regions. Since these areas are predominantly agricultural, the main investments are directed to the development of the agro-industrial complex. In 2022, at the expense of the republican budget, the construction of 2 dairy farms in Narovlya and Khoiniki districts and a pig farm in Dobrush District is underway. Design estimates are being developed for the construction and reconstruction of dairy farms in the Bragin and Chechersk districts. The construction of a grain drying complex is being completed in the agro-town of Zavoyt, Narovlya District, as well as the gasification of existing grain drying complexes in the Khoiniki District.

The main priorities for the development of areas affected by the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant include the attraction of investments. Today, investment projects are already being implemented or planned, such as the organisation of the production of confectionery and bakery products in the Kalinkovichi District, fuel pellets in the Bragin District, potato chips in the Korma District, plastic products in the Buda-Koshelevo District, reconstruction of the taffy area with the introduction of a new equipment in Narovlya, and others.” “What areas of international and interregional business cooperation are developing in the region?”

“The Gomel Region has concluded about 70 cooperation agreements with the regions of 20 countries (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, China, Vietnam, Iran, Syria, Pakistan). Cities and districts of the Gomel Region signed 168 bilateral documents on cooperation with administrative-territorial

units of 20 states (Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Serbia, France , Czech Republic, Estonia, China, USA).

At present, our main efforts are directed, first of all, to the development of integration processes within the framework of the Union State - the strengthening and expansion of interregional ties, trade, economic, investment and cooperation with the regions of the Russian Federation.

In general, the results of the work of the Gomel Region with the Russian Federation in the trade sector for 2021 can be described as dynamic and quite effective: the share of the Russian Federation in the foreign trade turnover of the Gomel region is about 60%, and at the end of 2021 is about 6.6 billion dollars (growth rate - 169.9%). Positive dynamics can also be traced in January-April 2022: the trade turnover amounted to more than one and a half billion dollars, the export growth rate was 121.8%.

This is facilitated by the signing of bilateral documents, holding joint business events, visits and negotiations both at the level of enterprises and the leadership of the regions.

In December 2021, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Gomel Regional Council of Deputies and the State Assembly of the Republic of Sakha. This year, the Memorandum of Intentions for Cooperation between the Republic of Tyva of the Russian Federation and the Gomel Region Executive Committee, the Agreement on the Establishment of Partnership (Sister-City) Relations Between the Chechersk District of the Gomel Region and the Terbuny District of the Lipetsk Region, the Agreement on the Establishment of Cooperation between the City of Kursk

The collection of the Museum of the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble is one of the richest in the Republic of Belarus. It is based on memorial items from the collections of the Rumyantsevs and Paskevichs: archaeological and numismatic collections, collections of handwritten and early printed books, iconography and cult objects.

Municipal Formation (Kursk Region) and Gomel, as well as the Agreement on the Establishment of Sister-City Relations Between the Zheleznogorsk District of the Kursk Region and the Gomel District.

This year, Gomel hosted the 1st regional business forum Gomel-Bryansk with the participation of the Governor of the Bryansk Region A.V. Bogomaz, representatives of more than 100 enterprises and organisations of the Gomel and Bryansk regions.

In June this year, at the Belarusian Agro-Industrial Week and the Belagro-2022 exhibition, priority areas of cooperation in the field of the agro-industrial complex were discussed with representatives of the Russian regions, such as Kirov, Kursk regions, the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Within the framework of the 9th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia, the enterprises of the region signed contracts for January-June 2022 for a total amount of 951.3 million US dollars.

Also, one of the main areas of interregional cooperation is the development of interaction with the People’s Republic of China. In 2021-2022, the Year of the Regions of Belarus and China is being held. Currently, the status of interregional relations between the Gomel region and the People’s Republic of China is being upgraded to the level of twinning. In April 2021, an online meeting was held with the Governor of Sichuan Province, during which an Agreement on the Establishment of Sister-City Relations Between the Gomel Region of the Republic of Belarus and the Sichuan Province of the People’s Republic of China was signed. In November 2021, the cities of Gomel and Hohhot (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, PRC) became sister cities. This year, an agreement was signed between the Svetlogorsk District and the city of Baoding of the Hebei province of the PRC on socio-economic, scientific,

The 19th-century manor and park complex of the Kozel-Poklevsky in Krasny Bereg is the only Belarusian estate decorated in a rare Arabic style — the Alhambra, or Moorish. The manor house is decorated with tower tents, mansard roofs, gargoyle figures built into the main entrance. The interior halls, a kind of guide to the history of architectural styles in the interior, combine elements from more than ten styles.

technical and cultural cooperation, the Agreement on the Establishment of Sister-City Relations and the Cooperation Plan for 2021-2025 between the Gomel Region and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. We are preparing to sign a cooperation agreement with Hebei Province and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.” “The tourism sector is also important for the economy, and the Gomel Region is rightfully known for its cultural brands...”

“Yes, every tourist and traveller in the region will be able to choose a holiday for every taste. The hallmark of Gomel is one of the most popular sights of Belarus, the oldest museum institution in the country — the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble. An obligatory point of tourist trips and Krasny Bereg in the Zhlobin Region. Here is the 19th-century manor and park complex of Kozel-Poklevsky, which is included in the list of historical and cultural heritage of the republic, and the only memorial in the CIS to Children Victims of War. Tourists are also waiting for the oldest city of Turov in the Gomel Region, the first chronicle mention of which dates back to 980. There are baroque churches of two monasteries of the 18th century in Mozyr. The territory of Yurovichi has the oldest settlement of primitive people in Belarus, the age of which is about 25 thousand years, and the remains of a large medieval city of the 10th-11th centuries. There is also a complex of the former Jesuit monastery built in the 18th century. Chechersk, Rechitsa, Dobrush greet tourists with original architectural monuments. In general, there are more than 2,500 monuments, including archaeological ones, in the region. The resource for the development of cultural and educational tourism in the Gomel Region is the objects included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the Golden Ring of the Gomel Region project.”

Natalia Kaprilenko

ARTIFICIAL VALVES TO HEART TRANSPLANT

H

How new technologies helpsave and prolong life

The 500th heart transplant was recently performed in Belarus. In terms of the number of such operations per year, our country occupies a leading position not only in the post-Soviet space, but also in the world. With a transplanted heart, about 72% of patients live for more than 10 years. This is a good result, considering that without such an operation, doctors gave them less than a year. In the structure of mortality and morbidity in Belarus and other countries, cardiovascular diseases occupy a leading place – about 50%. However, thanks to new methods of treatment, many patients today manage to save and prolong their lives. Sergei Spiridonov, Deputy Director for Surgery of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center “Cardiology”, spoke about promising technologies in cardiac surgery.

10 years of life thanks to a heart transplant

Belarusian transplantologists have 12 years of experience in heart transplantation. Every year, the Republican Scientific and Practical Center “Cardiology” performs about 50 such operations and ranks 11th in the world among all clinics. Often, people from neighboring countries come to Russian cardiac surgeons for heart transplantation.

“We summed up the results of 500 operations – ten-year survival rate is 72%. Considering that in case of heart failure one of the indications for transplantation is the expected life expectancy of less than a year, and after the operation the patient lives for more than 10 years, then this is a good result. Compared with European and North American indicators, ours are no worse, and somewhere even better, since heart transplantations in Belarus are concentrated in one center and we accumulate experience due to a large number of operations and are able to track each patient,” says Sergei Spiridonov.

Belarusian cardiac surgeons even have experience in taking donor hearts from donors who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus. It is noteworthy that there is no transmission of the virus from a donor to a recipient.

Titanium or biological valve?

In addition to transplantation, today three areas are actively developing in domestic cardiology – X-ray endovascular therapy, arrhythmology and cardiac surgery. X-ray endovascular therapy is a fairly new direction, in which intervention is performed on blood vessels through a skin puncture.

“Belarus has adopted a concept for the development of interregional centers for patients with myocardial infarction. In such a situation, there are only six hours to restore blood supply. This is the most optimal period during which the myocardium does not have time to die. It is very important to deliver the patient during this time from the moment of the pain attack

„ Preparation of the patient for surgery at the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Center

to a medical institution and perform an X-ray endovascular intervention,” explains Sergey Spiridonov. “Therefore, interdistrict endovascular rooms are being created throughout the country, which will receive patients with acute coronary syndrome. They will be located on the basis of significant regional hospitals and will be provided with all the necessary equipment for diagnosis and treatment.”

Meanwhile, the creation of such centers continues, since this takes time. In addition to filling them with modern equipment, training of specialists who will own such technologies is also required. This work is carried out in the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Center and other clinics that have the necessary experience.

With the help of X-ray endovascular technologies, valve implantations are also performed. This happens without major surgical intervention – through the femoral artery or the apex of the heart. The operation does not require the connection of an artificial blood supply device, it takes place under general anesthesia or even under local anesthesia. Compared to classical interventions, this is a less traumatic operation, and about 260 of them have already been performed in Belarus.

By the way, the replacement of the aortic valve can significantly prolong the life of the patient. True, both mechanical and biological devices have their own characteristics.

“There is no perfect valve created by human hands. All have their advantages and disadvantages,” he says. “The advantage

of mechanical valves is that they are made of titanium and can work as long as a person lives – and 20, and 30, and 40 years. The disadvantage is the daily intake of warfarin and the control of the blood coagulation system. A person with such a valve, as a rule, dies not from cardiovascular, but from concomitant pathology.”

Biological valves have a certain service life – an average of 10-15 years. But for each person it is individual and is associated with the characteristics of the thyroid gland, calcium metabolism and other factors. But such valves have the advantage of not having to use drugs like warfarin, which depress the blood clotting system. Such valves, as a rule, are placed in older people after 65-70 years.

A second operation is required to replace the biological valve. However, today endovascular technologies allow for such a procedure as “valve to valve”. It is performed without a second operation – through a puncture in the femoral artery or through the apex of the left ventricle.

The Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Center is working on the creation of domestic valves. Mechanical valves of domestic production Planix, which are produced by the Planar concern, have been used here for a long time. They are constantly improved, they are exported to the countries of near and far abroad. The cost of one valve is about $300. The plans include the creation of a domestic biological valve and vascular prostheses.

Support of the heart with an artificial pump

Domestic cardiac surgeons have significant experience in the treatment of chronic heart failure using various devices that improve the functions of the mitral valve and the left ventricle. In this area, there is active cooperation with surgeons from the United States who come to Belarus and share their experience in implantation.

Surgical arrhythmology is actively developing in our country. If earlier heart rhythm failure was treated mainly with medication, now on the basis of cardiological dispensaries and departments, structures are being opened that perform radiofrequency ablation (when pathologically altered heart tissues are set on fire with currents of a certain frequency). Specialists of the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Center actively teach this method to their colleagues from regional centers.

In cardiac surgery, many areas are being improved, in particular, minimizing trauma after surgery, performing cardiac surgical interventions through small accesses: to the mitral valve through thoracotomy, to the aortic valve through limited sternatomy (sternal dissection).

Cardiology RSPC has extensive experience in the treatment of chronic heart failure. A full range of methods is used, in particular, X-ray endovascular and rhythmological procedures, which help to reduce the manifestations of heart failure, improve the quality of life and even return to work.

“If that doesn’t work, cardiac surgeons step in. We have the option of implanting left ventricular bypasses. These are pumps that take over part of the functions of the heart and help pump blood. This is a rather expensive procedure, and we use it,” Sergei Spiridonov clarifies.

The usual surgeries are also performed: coronary artery bypass grafting, plastic surgery of the mitral and tricuspid valves. Cardiac surgeons call them the “bridge to transplant” because they extend the time until a heart transplant is needed for heart failure.

The Cardiology RSPC has accumulated considerable experience in the treatment of patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus, generalized atherosclerosis, primary heart tumors and other comorbidities. Technologies for managing the pool of donors and patients after heart transplantation are expanding.

The export of services in the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Center to the COVID-19 pandemic was about $2 million. The most demanded operations are heart transplantation, the demand for cardiac surgery, arrhythmology, and endovascular interventions also grew. During the pandemic, due to the closure of borders, the number of foreign patients decreased, but now they are increasing.

Yelena KRAVETS

Photo by BELTA

Increasing the use of electric buses, continuing to build the third metro line, creating electric charging stations and bike lanes, allocating lanes for public transport and developing the route network of urban electric passenger transport on the ground should help Belarus move towards carbon neutrality. And in order to encourage the population to separate waste collection, two tariffs should be set for them. One (very high) for the conservation of waste so that it would be unprofitable for residents to store them. The second (smaller) one is for the service of handling secondary material resources (SMR). If there is more garbage in the SMR containers, the population will pay less. Experts spoke about the system of separate waste collection and waste management, as well as monitoring of air quality in Minsk, river water and harmful emissions from enterprises. Environmental indicator

The national monitoring system as such was established in Belarus in 1993. This includes 13 types of monitoring for the main components of the environment. These are monitoring of atmospheric air, surface and underground waters, lands, forests, flora and fauna, the ozone layer, radiation, physical monitoring, local monitoring of the surroundings. In 2015, a comprehensive monitoring of natural ecological systems

appeared in specially protected natural areas (SPNA), and this year the integrated monitoring of peatlands was implemented, according to Marina Kalinovik, consultant of the Department of Analytical Work, Science and Information of the Main Directorate of Environmental Policy, International Cooperation and Science of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

“As part of monitoring, specialists observe what trends exist, evaluate and predict data changes. Monitoring is an indicator of the state of the environment, thanks to which it is clear where the promptest response is needed.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for radiation and local monitoring, as well as air and surface water monitoring. The State Property Committee monitors lands, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is engaged in geophysical integrated monitoring of protected areas, monitoring of flora and fauna, as well as peatlands.

Every year, a scientific review of the national monitoring system is created, which is contained on the website https://www.pmos.bu and is available to all interested. The digitisation of the presentation of information was introduced in 2006. And the information contained here will be useful

„ Electric charging complexes

when writing term papers, diplomas and even theses, as well as for the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and local authorities, since all the information is justified and backed up by law, as Marina Kalinovik noted. Detailed information with online maps from automatic observation points is also available on the Belgoshydromet website, “In addition to monitoring, which is carried out by state bodies and which is financed from the budget, there is local monitoring, the responsibility for which is borne by nature users and develops it at their own expense. At the same time, the Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for the number and location of observation points within the limits of local monitoring.” Continuous and discrete observation once a year and once a month

Since 2017, the Main Information and Analytical Centre of the National Environmental Monitoring System (MIAC NEMS) has been operating on the basis of the Environmental Information Service of Belgoshydromet. This organisation is responsible for monitoring surface water, atmospheric air and radiation monitoring, according to Polina Palchekh, Lead Engineer of the Environmental Information Service of the Republican Centre for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive

Pollution Control and Environmental Monitoring,

“Monitoring of atmospheric air in Minsk is carried out at 12 observation points, including five automatic stations and seven points with a discrete sampling mode. At automatic stations on Independence Avenue, Timiryazeva, Radialnaya, Korzhenevskogo and Geroev of the 120th Division streets, monitoring of the content of pollutants is carried out continuously, and at discrete points, three to four times a day.”

Meteorological conditions last year were generally favourable for the dispersion of pollutants in the surface layer of the atmosphere, and air quality was assessed as good, very good and moderate, the expert said. Unstable environmental conditions were noted in separate short periods. In February, for example, in one of the districts an increase in the level of air pollution with nitrogen dioxide was observed. An increase in the content of particulate matter in the air was recorded in April and late July, and in general, an increase in the content of formaldehyde in ground-level ozone is noted in summer.

Surface water monitoring in the territory of Minsk is carried out in the water of the Svisloch and Loshitsa rivers, the Loshitsa and Drozdy reservoirs, as well as Komsomolskoye Lake. Observation of hydrobiological indicators in them

„ Electric transport, metro, bike paths throughout the city

ENVIRONMENT

is carried out once a year, hydrochemical — once a month, and on reservoirs — four times a year every two years. In general, the state of surface waters is assessed as good, the expert specified. As practice shows, priority substances, the excess concentration of which is more often recorded in water, are biogenic elements (the Svisloch River near the village of Korolishevichi and the Loshitsa River), less often organic substances. Electric transport, bike paths, metro

Local monitoring in Minsk is carried out by large enterprises (Minskenergo, Minsk Tractor Works, Keramin, Minskkommunteploseti and others) according to sources, the total number of which exceeds 80, according to Anastasia Prokopovich, Head of the Control Department for the Protection of Atmospheric Air, Water Resources and Mineral Resources of the Minsk City Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, “If there are excesses of local monitoring on these sources, damage to the surroundings is not established. This is done only when the data is recorded using automated control systems. According to the results of last year’s observations, no excesses were found in Minsk.”

According to preliminary air estimates, gross total emissions for 2021 will decrease by 1.2 thousand tons and will be less than 130 thousand tons. Reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary mobile sources was achieved by eliminating sources of emissions, increasing the efficiency of gas treatment plants, renewing the vehicle fleet, and expanding the network of electrified transport, she added.

The area of special attention of the committee is monitoring compliance with the conditions for the implementation of emissions of pollutants into the air by the Minsk Tractor Works in terms of the reconstruction of the foundry. This year, the company plans to put into operation two induction furnaces, which will reduce emissions by 1,600 tons per year (8.7% of the total emissions from city enterprises) and improve the environmental situation in the zone of influence of the Minsk Tractor Works.

More than 80% of air pollution is created by motor vehicles, so the transition from hydrocarbon transport to electric transport is one of the directions for introducing and expanding the use of low-carbon technologies that contribute to the transition to carbon neutrality, as Anastasia Prokopovich noted, “As part of the national action plan for the green economy in Minsk, 42% of electrified passenger vehicles are already electrified, while the plan of the Transport Complex state programme for 2021-2025 is 27.4%.” Medicines, tires, batteries...

About three million tons of production waste is generated in Minsk every year. Almost all of them are recycled and more than 90% of them are reusable. About 700 thousand tons of municipal waste is created annually, and only about 30% of such waste is removed and recycled, according to Yelena Avramenko, Head of the Waste Management Department of the Minsk City Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, “For waste containing mercury, as

well as batteries, lamps, household appliances and hazardous waste, collection is organised in containers at the points of sale of such equipment. For the export of large-sized equipment, the process is based on applications from the population.”

Expired medicines can be brought into special containers in 20 Moscow polyclinics (then they will be taken out for burning). Last year, Minsk residents brought over 1,000 tons of such garbage. Last year, Minskzelenstroy put into operation a composting line for green waste generated in public areas.

“With waste glass, paper and plastic, which are collected in separate containers, the situation is worse, since all this waste is sent to sorting lines in a mixed form,” the expert added. “The reason that such waste is poorly recycled, firstly, is that the population does not collect enough such waste through containers. The second reason is the mixing of such waste in a garbage truck, where they are compacted, after which it is almost impossible to sort the waste.”

Last year, the Committee conducted 70 spot checks, 440 monitorings, 77 technical events, as a result of which more than 850 prescriptions and over 2,200 recommendations were issued. 99% of them were completed on time.

After analysing the violations with separate waste collection, the committee sent proposals to the Minsk City Executive Committee that the waste collected by residents separately be also taken out separately on certain days of the week. Then only plastic, paper or glass will fall on the line, which will be much easier to sort. A similar practice is already working in the Grodno Region, where paper is transported separately for processing. It is also proposed to create a unified electronic accounting system in which it will be possible to see which producers and processors accepted how much and when waste.

Iryna Sidorok

Photos from open access

STRIKING MEETINGS IN THE REALM OF BEAUTIFUL NATURE

IN PICTURES

Drozdy Park is a popular place for Minsk residents and guests of the capital. Here is the most famous Minsk reservoir, which is located on the Svisloch River. It was erected in 1976 in order to improve the city’s water amenities. The reservoir has four small islands, on which very often, especially in hot weather, many people rest.

For most visitors, the park is a kind of resort area where you can spend your time well: relax in a place full with greenery and even take a dip in the reservoir if you wish. Yes, beautiful nature reigns in the park, which cannot leave anyone indifferent. No wonder the local routes have become a favourite choice for amateur photographers. After all, where else can you organise such an interesting perspective with a mermaid that you suddenly met, so harmoniously and naturally nestled among water lilies in warm summer water that filled the inflow of one of the reservoir’s canals.

And where else can girls in national clothes look so attractive, if not surrounded by the primeval beauty of the park!

The appearance of a medieval warrior on the park path seems somewhat unexpected. Interest in the character does not pass even when you realise that the gallant knight is not at all accidental here, he is also involved in an amateur photo shoot.

Well, this colouring additionally makes Drozdy attractive. And really, everyone can have a great rest here. After all, this park has collected everything a tourist can dream of. Paths are laid along the entire coast where you can walk with a baby carriage, ride a bike, rollerblade or skateboard. There are also benches along them. Therefore, walks in Drozdy Park will not be tiring even for pensioners and young mothers.

You should definitely take a walk along the coast to the dam itself. The view from it is impressive, and during the walk you will meet many decorative structures, along which you can even cross to the other side. There is also a small waterfall in Drozdy, and going deeper into the wild zone, you will see a charming old bridge across the Svisloch. Here’s what’s really worth seeing!

For the fishermen of Minsk, the Drozdy reservoir also has a special status: there are a lot of fish here. Only you need to catch it not in crowded cultivated areas, but in the wildest places, where all the paths are unpaved.

In a word, Drozdy is a park worth visiting for spiritual relaxation, fresh air and good mood. Moreover, lovers of picturesque places and unity with nature will be comfortable here at any time of the year. But in the summer, of course, especially. Everything here brings pleasure, even just a peaceful contemplation of the water surface.

Moreover, the additional advantage of the Drozdy reservoir is hidden in its transport accessibility. You can get to Drozdy from the city centre by bus, even without transfers.

Vselovolod Yevseyev

Photo of the author

шануем,

— Віталь, з чаго пачалася тэма ўшанавання памяці Яўхіма Карскага на Гарадзеншчыне, у Гродна? — Ушанаванне памяці акадэміка Яўхіма Фёдаравіча Карскага ў Гродна варта пачаць з дзвух постацяў: пісьмен ніка Аляксея Нічыпаравіча Карпюка і краязнаўцы і педагога Апанаса Пятровіча Цыхуна. Кожны з іх зрабіў тую справу, якая паспрыяла фіксацыі ў памяці і далей у свядомасці жы хароў Гродна і, шырэй, Гарадзеншчыны постаці гэтага славу тага навукоўцы. Па ініцыятыве Аляксея Карпюка у сярэдзіне 50-х гадоў ХХ стагоддзя імя Яўхіма Карскага было нададзена Лашанскай базавай школе, у Гродне з’явіліся вуліца і завулак Карскага, абласная бібліятэка атрымала ў сваёй назве яго імя. Намаганнямі Апанаса Цыхуна ў Лашанскай базавай школе ў 1957 годзе спачатку з’явіўся музейны куток, а ўслед яму, у 1964 годзе, і музей Карскага. Чарговым крокам увагі да жыцця і спадчыны Карскага стане навуковая канферэнцыя «Карскія чытанні», якую ініцыявала ў 1991 годзе прафесар Гродзенскага дзяржаўнага ўніверсітэта імя Янкі Купалы Марыя Іосіфаўна Канюшкевіч. Доўгі час яна заставалася ар ганізатарам гэтай канферэнцыі. У гэтым годзе прайшлі ўжо чарговыя 16-я «Карскія чытанні».

У 1992 годзе, пасля амаль двух дзесяцігоддзяў «хаджэн ня» па выдавецтвах, убачыла свет кніга Апанаса Цыхуна «Акадэмік з вёскі Лаша».

- 维塔利，在格罗德诺和格罗德诺州纪念叶菲姆·卡尔斯 基的工作是如何开始的？

- 在格罗德诺纪念叶菲姆·费多罗维奇·卡尔斯基院士应 该从两个人物开始：作家 阿列克谢·尼奇波罗维奇·卡尔皮 克和地区历史学家兼教师阿帕纳斯·彼得罗维奇·齐洪。 他 们所做的工作都有助于将这位著名科学家的形象刻在格罗德诺 人的记忆中，并注入在格罗德诺人的意识中，更广泛地说，在

— Каго з краязнаўцаў на гэтым своеасаблівым, вельмі важным для гісторыі Беларусі шляху да Карскага вы ад значылі б найперш? — Калі казаць пра Гродна, то той, хто ў рознай ступені менавіта цяпер у Гродна звяртаецца да постаці Карскага –гэта краязнаўца, былы настаўнік геаграфіі гімназіі № 1 імя акадэміка Яўхіма Карскага Аляксандр Ільіч Крой. Ён даволі актыўна друкуе свае тэксты ў газеце «Наша слова», з’яўляец ца ініцыятарам і арганізатарам усталявання ў 2019 годзе па мятнага знака (дошкі) Карскаму ў вёсцы Мігова Гродзенскага раёна. Сярод жа тых, хто зрабіў важныя знаходкі ў вывучэнні жыцця і дзейнасці Карскага, трэба назваць, акрамя згаданых вышэй імёнаў, гісторыкаў Віталя Уладзіміравіча Скалабана і Андрэя Уладзіміравіча Блінца. Іх архіўныя і палявыя пошукі істотна зрушылі нашу справу вывучэння гісторыі штодзён насці ў дачыненні да постаці Карскага. Зразумела, што сваё слова сказаў і праўнук навукоўцы Аляксандр Аляксандравіч Карскі сваім велічным двух томнікам пра свайго прашчура. Матэрыялы згаданых даследчыкаў ужо немагчыма абый сці ў далейшых навуковых пошуках у розных напрамках Карскіяны.

— Як так склалася, што музей вялікага сына Беларусі перабраўся (ці стварыўся наноў?) у Гродна, у гімназію? — Гісторыя стварэння музея ў гімназііі № 1 імя акадэміка Яўхіма Карскага мае ўласную перадгісторыю. Ліквідаванне музея ў Лашанскай школе было звязана з закрыццём Лашанскай васьмігадовай школы і пераводам вучняў у сярэднюю школу ў вёску Луцкаўляны. Гэта адбылася ў 1991 годзе. Як згадвае былы дырэктар Лашанскай школы Сяргей Канстанцінавіч Трафімаў, яго забралі адразу ў калгасны музей працоўнай славы імя Дзяншчыкова. Гэты эпізод і роля розных людзей ў дадзеным моманце гісторыі музея Карскага яшчэ чакаюць дэталёвага даследавання. Створаны ў 1992-м у тагачаснай школе–гімназіі № 30 Гродна (цяпер—гімназія № 1 імя акадэміка Яўхіма Карскага) на базе восьмага класа з профілем беларускай філалогіі (на стаўнік беларускай славеснасці Таццяна Іосіфаўна Еўтух, вы хавацель класнага калектыву Валянціна Сямёнаўна Шарова) клуб «Спадчына» арганізаваў сустрэчы і экскурсіі з мэтаю пашырэння ведаў аб беларускай культуры і гісторыі. Сустрэча з педагогам, паэтам і краязнаўцам Апанасам Цыхуном, ства ральнікам музея Карскага ў вёсцы Лаша Гродзенскага раёна, нарадзіла цікавасць да асобы выдатнага навукоўцы. У 1995-м настаўнікамі і вучнямі гімназіі пры падтрымцы дырэктара гімназіі Рэгіны Іванаўны Можджар і Апанаса Цыхуна экспа наты лашанскага музея былі перанесены ў гімназію № 1. Так яны былі выратаваны ад страты для наступных пакаленняў. Да 2005 года месцам знаходжання музея Карскага ў гімназіі былі два памяшканні на першым паверсе. Гэта быў перыяд з 1995 па 2004 год. З-за пытанняў пажар най бяспекі ў 2004-м адміністрацыя гімназіі была вымушана дэманціраваць музей, і праз год, у 2005-м у іншым вызначаным і падрыхтаваным памяшканні гэты музей быў адноўлены ўжо ў

校的地理老师亚历山大·伊里奇·克罗伊。 他非常积极地在

《我们的话》报纸上发表了他的文章，而且是 2019 年在格罗

德诺区米霍瓦村为卡尔斯基举办纪念活动（安装牌匾）的发起 人和组织者。

在研究卡尔斯基生平中，取得重要发现的人，除了以上提

новым дызайнерскім рашэнні. Тут ён знаходзіцца і цяпер.

— Яўхім Карскі — постаць, да прац якога звяртаюцца новыя пакаленні даследчыкаў. А школьнікі, юныя кра язнаўцы? Ці бачаць яны ў спадчыне навукоўцы крыніцы, да якіх ім трэба звяртацца?

— Бачыцца, што навуковая спадчына Карскага, а яшчэ больш, гісторыя яго навуковага і грамадскага жыцця — яшчэ чакаюць сваіх чытачоў, слухачоў і гледачоў. На сённяшні час няма той кнігі, якая б у навукова-папулярнай форме (нак шталт кніг серыі «Жыццё Знакамітых Людзей»), таленавіта і цікава была б адрасавана юнаму чытачу. Пакуль ідзе збіранне матэрыялу, науковых звестак, ацэначных меркаванняў пра жыццё і навуковы плён акадэміка. Усё гэта знаходзіць месца ў артыкулах, манаграфіях, зборніках дакументаў. Зразумела, што змест і стыль кніг пра Карскага не робяць іх кнігамі толь кі школьнай бібліятэкі. З другога боку, гісторыя фармавання постаці гэтай асобы, вытокі ўласнай цікавасці Карскага да роднай мовы, няпро стая эвалюцыя нацыянальнай самасвядомасці навукоўцы, дэманстрацыя памераў і значнасць ім зробленага – гэта ўсё тое, што проста неабходна даносіць маладым пакаленням беларусаў.

— У Гродзеншчыне сярод школьнікаў Гродна вядзецца велізарная краязнаўчая праца. У апошні час яна носіць даволі сістэматызаваны характіар. Якія ўрокі, якія выс новы, на ваш погляд, можна было б вынесці з такіх адука цыйных краязнаўчых абсягаў?

— Адказ на пытанне варты асобнага артыкула. Калі ка заць сцісла, то школьнае гродназнаўства ў апошні адрэзак часу можна пачынаць ад дзейнасці заняткаў Алеся Пятровіча Госцева ў гродзенскім ліцэі №1. Гэтыя заняткі былі аформ лены ў якасці гуртка «Карані і вытокі». Госцеў на пляцоўцы створанага ім Музея гісторыі педагогікі Гродна здолеў на працягу 1990-х — 2000 -х гадоў выпусціць немала сваіх га даванцаў, якія далей зрабілі гісторыю і краязнаўства сваёй прафесіяй. Сярод ключавых прынцыпаў краязнаўчай педага гічнай сістэмы Госцева варта згадаць заўважны дэвіз: «Няхай уецца вакол жалезнай логікі фактаў срэбная стужка фантазіі». Адной з ініцыятыў Госцева была ў свой час ідэя стварэння Асацыяцыі школьных краязнаўцаў Гродзеншчыны. На вялікі жаль, гэтая ідэя не знайшла падтрымкі. Але пазней на аблас ным жа ўзроўні была падтрымана ідэя правядзення абласной краязнаўчай канферэнцыі вучняў «Край Гарадзенскі». Гэта было ў 2012-м. Па-свойму, гэты крок у развіцці краязнаўства і гродназнаўства быў лагічным пасля працяглай работы над вучэбным дапаможнікам па «Гродназнаўству». Гэтая справа аб’яднала цэлую каманду педагогаў і выкладчыкаў Гродна. У выніку выйшла тры выданні гэтага дапамож ніка. Канцэптуальна гэта адна і тая ж кніга, хоць і маючая пэўныя адрозненні. Найперш у тым, што трэцяе выданне мае вялікую колькасць ілюстрацый, спецыяльна падабра ных пад вучэбны тэкст. У 2014 годзе была падрыхтавана і дасюль існуе вучэбная праграма па факультатыўным курсе «Гродназнаўства». Яшчэ ў 2012-м на пляцоўцы Гродзенскага абласнога інстытута павышэння кваліфікацыі работнікаў адукацыі былі праведзены першыя курсы па гродназнаўстве

《遗产》俱乐部成立于 1992 年在格罗德诺的第 30 号重 点中小学（现为以叶菲姆·卡尔斯基院士命名的第1号重点学 校），在白俄罗斯语言学专业八年级班级基础上组织起来的， 旨在组织有关白俄罗斯文化和历史知识的会议和游览 （白俄 罗斯文学教师是塔齐亚娜·约西福芙娜·耶图赫、级任教师是 瓦伦蒂娜·谢梅诺夫娜·莎罗娃）。与格罗德诺区拉沙村卡尔 斯基博物馆的创始人、教师、诗人和方志学家阿帕纳斯·齐洪 的会面引发了对这位杰出科学家的兴趣。

для настаўнікаў школ горада. Ведаю з водгукаў настаўнікаў: яны былі ацэнены імі станоўча. Наўздагон гэтых курсаў пачалося выкладанне факультатыўных курсаў у школах горада. Сярод знакавых элементаў краязнаўчай працы ў Гродна нельга не згадаць краязнаўчую гульню пад назваю «Я этим городом храним…» Ініцыятарам і шматгадовым аргані затарам (разам з калегамі) і «душой» гэтай інтэлектуальнай гульні з канца 90-х гадоў ХХ стагоддзя да 2018 года была педагог Гродзенскага абласнога палаца творчасці дзяцей і моладзі Таццяна Анатольеўна Еўдакімава. Сутнасць гульні ў тым, што на пра цягу вучэбнага года каманды вучняў разам з настаўнікамі-кіраўнікамі сустракаюцца з краязнаўцамі і сама стойна вывучаюць гісторыю і куль туру Гродна. А ў канцы красавіка ўсе гэтыя каманды з пяці чалавек адказваюць на падрыхта ваныя пытанні па гродназнаўстве ў тых ці іншых пунктах гістарычнай часткі горада. Іх перамяшчэнне, а па-сутнасці, бег на працягу 2 – 3 гадзін па 20 – 35 пунктах гэта — куль мінацыя гульні. Да атрыманых балаў далучаюцца балы, якія атрымліваюць капітаны каманд на адмысловым конкурсе. Па выніках вызначаюцца пераможцы. Гульня трымае і кан салідуе велізарнае краязнаўчае вучнёўскае і настаўніцкае ася роддзе горада больш чым два дзесяцігоддзі. Працягваецца яна і цяпер, праўда, ужо пад эгідаю ГрДУ імя Янкі Купалы. Можна сцвярджаць, што і курсы «Гродназнаўства», і ўласны дапаможнік, і працяглая традыцыя краязнаўчай гульні – гэта краевугольныя элеметы сапраўднай педагагічнай сістэмы краязнаўства, якая выпрацавана ў Гродна. Да гэтага варта далучыць развіццё краязнаўчай думкі, носьбітамі якой з’яўляюцца шмат адмыслоўцаў. — Гродзеншчына вядомая сваімі краязнаўцамі — і згаданы Апанас Цыхун, і Сяргей Чыгрын са Слоніма, і Уладзімір Урбановіч з навагрудскай Валеўкі, і Мікола Гайба з Навагрудка, Святлана Кошур з Карэліч... Можна яшчэ згадваць безліч імёнаў настаўнікаў-краязнаўцаў, журналістаў, прадстаўнікоў іншых прафесій — з Любчы, Міра, Ваўкавыска, Ліды, Шчучына... А вось ці ёсць сёння цікаўнасць моладзі да сталых заняткаў краязнаўствам? Я маю на ўвазе маладых настаўнікаў, увогуле маладых людзей...

— На сённяшні дзень у Гродне ёсць пэўная частка края знаўцаў-настаўнікаў, якія актыўна займаюцца краязнаўчай працай – музейнай, даследчай, палявой. Гэта, у прыватнасці, Дзмітрый Уладзіміравіч Люцік – настаўнік гімназіі № 4 Гродна, стваральнік «Музея гісторыі Гродна ў войнах», аўтар не менш пяці манаграфій (!!!) па гісторыі Гродна ў Першай і Другой сусветных войнах. Дзяніс Паўлавіч Тарасюк, настаўнік СШ № 40

传记》系列的书籍），以一种有才华和有趣的方式写给年轻读 者。目前，有关院士生平和科研成果的资料、科学数据、评价 意见的收集工作正在进行中。所有这些都可以在文章、专著、 文件集中找到一席之地。很明显，关于卡尔斯基书籍的内容和 风格并没有使它们成为仅供学校图书馆使用的书籍。

另一方面，本人的成长经历，卡尔斯基自己对母语的兴趣 起源，这名科学家的个人的民族意识的艰难演变，他作品的维 度和意义的展示——这些都是需要传达给年轻一代的白俄罗斯 人的知识。

- 在格罗德诺州，在格罗德诺的学生中，正在积极进行的 普及地方历史知识的工作。 最近，它变得系统具体化了。 在 您看来，从这些具有教育意义的地方历史著作中可以得出什么 教训和结论？

- 这个问题的答案值得单独写一篇文章。简而言之，前一 时期的学校格罗德诺地方历史学，可以从格罗德诺第1号重点

артыкуламі па гісторыі Гродна часоў Расійскай імперыі. Стварае музей гісторыі лейб-гвардыі гродзенскага палка. Актыўна штогод ходзіць з вучнямі ў краязнаўчыя паходы па Гродзеншчыне. Аўтар кнігі па гісторыі Гродзенскага заа парка (у сааўтарстве з Фёдарам Іванавічам Ігнатовічам). Як калекцыянер – арганізатар разнастайных выстаў для вучняў з уласных збораў. Аляксандр Сяргеевіч Рабкоў – настаўнік СШ № 28 Гродна – калекцыянер, стваральнік школьнага музея гісторыі 28-й Чырвонасцяжнай арміі. Аўтар рабочага сшытка па «Гродназнаўстве». Да мінулага года актыўным краязнаў цам працавала ў гімназіі № 4 Вольга Георгіеўна Грамыка, якая стварыла музей рэзідэнцыі Станіслава-Аўгуста Панятоўскага «Аўгустовак». Віталь Станіслававіч Гуменны – біёлаг гімназіі № 1 імя акадэміка Карскага, вядомы аўтар і вядучы перадачы «У аб’ектыве натураліста» (каля 300 выпускаў у 2007—2020 гадах). Актыўна займаецца экалагічным краязнаўствам, вы вучае з дзецьмі гісторыю гродзенскага парка Румлёва. Інтарэс да краязнаўства ў маладых настаўнікаў не знікае. Колькасна ён, пасутнасці, мае тыя ж памеры, як і коль касць студэнтаў, якія заахвочаны даследчай працай. Але, як сведчыць дзесяцігадовая дзейнасць канферэнцыі «Край Гарадзенскі», калі такі напрамак дадатковай адукацыі стыму ляваць, падтрымліваць, спрыяць яму, то, вядома, у яе будзе ўключацца больш педагогаў.

— Як вы ацанілі б сёння гродзенскае краязнаўства ў па раўнанні з іншымі рэгіёнамі краіны?

— Мяркую, што пры адпаведных сустрэчах, абмене вопы там гродзенскім краязнаўцам ёсць што паказаць з уласнага дасведу. Але адначасова ведаю і даведваюся ўсё больш час ад часу, што і нам ёсць пра што даведацца ў калег з іншых рэгіёнаў краіны. Калі казаць пра забеспячэнне краязнаў чай літаратурай для вучэбнага працэсу, то адзначу — такія выданні якія могуць быць па-свойму, ўзорнымі для іншых: «Гродназнаўства»; «Біяграфія гарадзенскіх вуліц. Ад фар тоў да Каложы», часопіс «Гарадзенскі гадавік», альманах «Горад Святога Губерта», зборнік канферэнцыі «Гарадзенскі палімпсест».

— Мы гутарым з вамі з разлікам на тое, што нашу размову прачытаюць і пісьменнікі... Ці заўважны іх сён няшні ўдзел у краязнаўчай працы?

— Калі казаць пра Гродна, то варта прыгадаць вельмі плённую працу прафесара і сябра пісьменніцкіх арганізацый Аляксея Міхайлавіча Пяткевіча, які цягам гадоў рыхтаваў «Беларускі перакладны настольны краязнаўчы каляндар». На вялікі жаль, ён пайшоў з жыцця ў гэтым годзе, але паспеў зра біць такі каляндар і на наступны 2023 год. У сваім родзе гэты каляндар акумулюе звесткі пра самых розных дзеячаў куль туры, навукі, адукацыі, лёсам звязаных з Гродзеншчынай. Актыўную ролю ў краязнаўчым руху Гродна адыгрывае паэтка Ала Петрушкевіч. Яе публічныя лекцыі, выступы, падтрымка школьных музеяў, канферэнцый навідавоку. У свой час (калі не замінала хвароба) актыўна прымаў удзел у школьных ініцыятывах гімназіі паэт і публіцыст Алесь Фёдаравіч Чобат. На сённяшні дзень бачыцца важным, і па-свойму ключавым кірункам краязнаўчага развіцця Гродна пазіцыянаванне яго як «горада Васіля Быкава». Той плён

馈中知道：他们得到了积极的评价。 在这些课程之后，该市 的学校开始开设选修课。

在格罗德诺当地历史工作的标志性事件中，不能不提到名 为“这座城市拯救我......”的当地历史游戏。从 20 世纪 90 年代末到 2018 年，这场智力游戏的发起者和长期组织者 （与同事一起），主要策划者是格罗德诺地区儿童和青年创意 宫的老师塔齐亚娜·阿纳托利耶夫娜·叶夫达基莫娃。游戏的 精髓在于，在学年期间，学生团队与他们的辅导教师一起，与 当地历史学家会面，并独立研究格罗德诺的历史和文化。并且

学系统的基石元素。 除此之外，还有许多专家支持地方历史 思想的发展。

- 格罗德诺州以其当地历史学家而闻名 - 前面提到的来 自斯洛宁的阿帕纳斯·齐洪和 谢尔盖·奇格林，来自纳瓦鲁 杜克区的瓦列夫卡的弗拉基米尔·乌尔巴诺维奇和来自 纳瓦 鲁杜克的米科拉·盖巴，来自科雷利奇的斯维特兰娜·科舒 尔……我们还可以提到许多老师的名字 -- 地区历史学家、记 者、其他职业的代表 – 来自柳布齐、米尔、沃卡维斯克、利 达、舒钦……但是今天的年轻人对当地历史的研究有兴趣吗？ 我的意思是年轻教师，普通的年轻人......

- 目前，格罗德诺有一定数量的当地历史学家教师，他 们积极参与当地历史工作 - 博物馆、研究和实地工作。特别 是： 格罗德诺第 4 号重点学校的教师，《格罗德诺战争历 史博物馆》的创建者德米特里·弗拉基米罗维奇·卢蒂克，他 撰写了至少五本（！！！）关于第一次和第二次世界大战中格 罗德诺历史的专著。第40号中学的教师丹尼斯·帕夫洛维奇· 塔拉修克是格罗德诺报的作者，专门撰写关于俄罗斯帝国时期 格罗德诺历史的文章，创建格罗德诺团救生员历史博物馆。每 年，他都积极与他的学生在格罗德诺地区进行当地历史之旅。 他也是格罗德诺动物园历史书的作者（与费多尔·伊万诺维 奇·伊格纳托维奇合着）。作为收藏家，他从自己的收藏品中 为学生组织了各种展览。

творчай дзейнасці пісьменніка, які звязаны з гродзенскім перыядам нельга, пераацаніць. Усялякае акрэсліванне гэта га — ператварае Гродна ў сапраўдную літаратурную «Меку» ( а значыць і турыстычную), дзе нараджалася сусветная літа ратура. Пэўныя крокі ў гэтым кірунку мы ўжо пачалі рабіць. — А што вы скажаце адносна ідэі стварэння школьна га курса «Краязнаўства»? — Ён у нас існуе афіцыйна з 2014 года. Але для таго, каб гэты курс меў характар не справы энтузіястаў, а сістэмны і паўсюдны, варта, каб інтарэс да старонак нашай шматвека вой гісторыі падтрымліваўся на ўсіх узроўнях арганізацыі адукацыі і асветы. Наступным ключавым элементам масава га выкладання курса павінны быць падручнікі і іншыя вучэб ныя кнігі – тое, што павінна ляжаць як перад настаўнікам, так і перад кожным вучнем. Гэта справа пры адпаведных умовах — дасягальная.

— Сёння шмат гавораць пра спалучэнне краязнаўчай і турыстычнай працы. Наколькі фундаментальным, на ваш погляд, можа быць краязнаўчы грунт для развіцця турыстычна-экскурсійнай працы?

— Гэта асобная частка краязнаўчай справы і асобнай раз мовы. Па-свойму, ва ўмовах сапраўднага адкрыцця нашымі грамадзянамі сваёй краіны (ведаю гэта як прафесійны экс курсавод і выкладчык турыстычных дысцыплін) краязнаў чая дзейнасць з’яўляецца своеасаблівым падмуркам развіцця ўнутранняга і ўязднога турызму. Нагадаю толькі, што шэраг школьных музеяў могуць адчыніць свае дзверы для турыстаў (у тым ліку агратурыстаў) і паказаць мясцовасць іх адпачын ку з нечаканых, захапляльных бакоў. — І ўсё ж пра Яўхіма Карскага... Якімі яшчэ павінны быць бліжэйшыя крокі па мемарыялізацыі яго памяці? — Бачыцца неабходным стварэнне помніка Карскаму ў Гродне і памятнай дошкі ў Санкт—Пецярбургу на будынку акадэмікаў (Універсітэцкая набярэжная). Яшчэ раз нагадаю пра напісанне пра гэту асобу добрай кнігі для сярэдняга і старэйшага школьнага ўзросту. Лічу неабходным аб’яд нанне сабранай калекцыі Апанаса Цыхуна, расцярушанай абставінамі часу паміж музеем Карскага ў Гродна і музеем СПК імя Дзяншчыкова ў Луцкаўлянах. Мэтазгодна аб’яднаць гэта ў абласным цэнтры, у існуючым спецыяльным музеі, у дасягальнасці масавага турыста. —Болей падрабязна раскажыце пра школьную края знаўчую канферэнцыю. Чым мог бы быць карысны ў гэтай справе Саюз пісьменнікаў Беларусі? — 9-я канферэнцыя «Край Гарадзенскі» сабрала каля 280 выступоўцаў з Гродзеншчыны найперш, але і з іншых аблас цей. У 25 секцыях пад кіраўніцтвам 50 сябраў журы рабіліся навуковыя паведамленні вучняў. Падкрэслю галоўныя, ад метныя элементы гэтай самай вялікай у краіне краязнаўчай абласной канферэнцыі. Першае. Секцыі адпавядаюць краязнаўчым напрамкам: Археалагічная Гарадзеншчына, Літаратурная Гарадзеншчына, Гарадзеншчына ў Другой Сусветнай вайне, Ваенныя лёсы гарадзенцаў, Радаводы Гарадзеншчыны, Лінгвістычная Гарадзеншчына, Праваслаўная Гарадзеншчына, Каталіцкая Гарадзеншчына, Шматэтнічны свет Гарадзеншчыны, Флора

- 我相信在相应的会议和经验交流中，格罗德诺当地历史学 家可以从他们自己的经验中展示一些研究成果。但是，与此同 时，我知道，并且不断发现，我们也有很多东西要向白俄罗斯 其他地区的同事学习。如果我们谈论为教育过程提供地方历史

议的协助都有目共睹。她当时（如果没有受到疾病的阻碍）， 与诗人和时评家阿莱斯·费多拉维奇·乔巴特积极参与了重点 学校的活动。迄今为止，“瓦西里·贝科夫市”被视为格罗德 诺当地历史发展的一个重要方向，并且按照自己的意愿。与格 罗德诺历史有关的作家创作活动的成果不容小觑。对此可这样 定义 — 将格罗德诺变成一个真正的文学“麦加”（也是一个 旅游胜地），世界文学诞生的地方。我们已经开始朝着这个方 向采取了一些方法。

- 您对创建《地方历史》中小学课程的想法有何看法？

- 自 2014 年以来，它已在白俄罗斯正式实施。 但是，这 门课程不仅仅是为了爱好者的，而是系统性和普遍性的，有必 要在教育和教育组织的各个层面都支持，对我们数百年历史产 生兴趣。 课程大规模教学的下一个关键要素应该是教科书和其 他教材——应该放在老师和每个学生的面前。 这个事情，在适 当的条件下，是可以实现的。

- 今天有很多关于地方历史和旅游工作的结合的讨论。 在 您看来，当地的历史背景对于旅游和游览工作的发展有多重

і фаўна Гарадзеншчыны, Геаграфічная Гарадзеншчына, Турыстычная Гарадзеншчына і г. д.

Другое. Колькаць выступоўцаў на секцыі імкнемся мець 7-8, каб можна было сапраўды арганізаваць дыскусію. Хоця цяжка гэта атрымлваецца, бо вельмі шмат сапраўды добрых прац.

Трэцяе. Вучні і настаўнікі прысутнічаюць разам, бо і разам ствараюць працу – будзем шчырымі. Ведаю, што на шматлікіх іншых настаўнікаў не дапускаюць, быццам бы гэта экзамен. Але тады траціцца галоўнае — адчуванне супрацы, якая, калі ёсць, то ёсць і пра яе варта казаць. Так, вучань выступае. Але ў працэсе дыскусіі слова павінен мець і на стаўнік. Ён дадае (не падказвае, а менавіта дадае, як удзельнік даследавання).

Чацвёртае. Усе выступоўцы-вучні атрымліваюць месцы. Праўда ад пачатку імкнуліся адмовіцца ад месцаў, бо, як вядо ма, на навуковых канферэнцыях гэтага няма па вызначэнні. Але наша «рэйтынгавае жыццё» пакуль перамагло. Тады мы ўсеагульным наданнем месцаў гэта трохі нівеліравалі. Галоўны крытэрый ацэнкі вучня – пытанне і адказ на яго. Пятае. Дыпломы атрымліваюць усе сааўтары паасабку. Мы маем уласны дызайн дыплому. Шостае. На пленар ным пасяджэнні – выступ выдатнага краязнаўцы. У нас у розны час былі Вячка Целеш (Рыга), Мікола Нікалаеў (Санкт –Пецярбург), Сяргей Токць, Дарафей Фенік (Бельск), Алесь Смалянчук, Анатоль Федарук, Генадзь Сагановіч. Пагадзіцеся, сустрэча вучняў і настаўнікаў з кожным з іх гэта падзея ў жыцці.

З-за перасцярог пандэміі ў трох канферэнцыях мы пленарнае пасяджэнне не рабілі. А ці будзе працяг такіх канферэнцый – пакажа жыццё… Вядома, што шматлікія літаратары маюць у падмурку сваёй творчасці вытокі сваёй малой бацькаўшчыны і могуць пра гэта цікава паведаміць. Таму, калі працяг канферэнцыі адбудзецца, мы будзем рады такім сустрэчам. Гутарыў Кастусь Лешніца

- 请告诉我们更多关于学校地方历史会议的信息。 白俄罗 斯作家联盟如何在这件事上起作用的？

- 第九届会议《格罗德诺地区》：首先聚集了来自格罗德 诺州的大约 280 位演讲者，还有来自其他地区的演讲者。在 25个分会中，在50名评委的带领下，学生们进行了科学报告。 我将强调这个全国最大的地方历史区域会议的主要、独特的元 素。首先。对应地方研究的分会有：考古格罗德诺、文学格罗 德诺、第二次世界大战中的格罗德诺、格罗德诺的军事命运、 格罗德诺的家谱、语言格罗德诺、东正教格罗德诺、天主教格 罗德诺、格罗德诺多民族世界、格罗德诺动植物、地理格罗德 诺、旅游格罗德诺等。第二。我们的目标是每个分会有 7-8 位 发言人，这样我们才能真正组织讨论。虽然很难得到，但因为 有很多真正好的报告。第三。学生和老师在一起，因为实际上 他们是一起准备报告的。我知道很多其他会议像考试一样不让 老师参加。但是，最重要的就消失了——合作的精神，如果它 存在，也需要提这样的合作。是的，学生会发言。但是老师在 讨论过程中也应该有发言权。他补充说（不提建议，而是补充 说，作为研究参与者）。

第四个。 所有学生演讲者都有座位。 虽然，他们从一开始 就试图放弃席位，因为众所周知，科学会议并非如此。 但到目 前为止，我们的“评级原则”赢了。 然后我们通过普遍分配位 置来稍微平衡它。 评估学生的主要标准是问题和答案。

THIS SWEET VITEBSK CORNER

The city of Glubokoye, Vitebsk Region, hosted the tenth Cherry Festival, which has long become the hallmark of the northern region

Interestingly, it was cherries that became the Glubokoye brand, and not the famous condensed milk in a bluish-white jar. It turns out that in the 20-30s of the 19th century, the plant breeder Boleslav Lapyr brought out his own winterhardy varieties of cherries, hybrids of sweet and ordinary cherries, which were distinguished by juicy and large fruits. Since then, these trees have been planted in every yard in Glubokoye, and the fact that Glubokoye cherries are the most delicious has long been generally recognised.

有趣的是，格鲁博科市的品牌是樱桃，而不 是著名的蓝白色罐装炼乳。 事实证明，在十九 世纪的二三十年代，育种者博莱斯拉夫·拉皮尔 栽培了耐寒樱桃品种，即欧洲甜樱桃和普通樱桃 的杂交品种，其特点是多汁和大果实。 从那时 起，这些树就在格鲁博科市的每一个院子里占据 了一席之地，而格鲁博科市的樱桃最美味这一事 实早已被普遍认可。

维捷布斯克州格鲁博科市举办周年纪念活动第十届 《樱桃节》，这早已成为白俄罗斯北部地区的名片。

The history of the festival begins in 2012, when the project took second place in the final of the republican competition of creative works for the development of cities and regions of the Republic of Belarus. The sweet festival launched the process of returning the honorary title of ‘Garden City’ to Glubokoye, and, as the 10-year festival experience shows, quite successfully. In 2013, the Cherry sculpture was installed in the city, which is a symbol of the festival and the main attraction for interested tourists and residents of the Glubokoye District.

The current festival began with a prestige meeting at the residence of the Cherry Queen. There, guests could send branded postcards with a festive stamp to their relatives and friends, conveying greetings from the cherry capital. While some were doing mail,

others were shooting at the target with giant cherry stones. The winner in this competition was a guest from Minsk, by the way, the travel agency organised a tour to Glubokoye for those who wished to visit the city, which Minsk residents really liked. Employees of the local House of Crafts invited guests to master classes in straw weaving and making dolls from threads. Guests were offered an ethnic party In the Cherry Orchard , an intellectual adventure quest, a kite contest, a solemn procession. There was so much to see! The Chinese artist Pan Wuliji held a master class on watercolour painting for students of the art school, and everyone could visit an exhibition of his works.

It was impossible to try all sorts of cherries and sweets from them: cookies, pies, sweets in the form of

项目在白俄罗斯共和国城市和地区发展 创意作品竞赛决赛中获得第二名。“甜 蜜”的节日开启了将“花园城市”荣誉称 号归还给格鲁博科市的进程，并且经过 10年的节日庆祝活动来看，举办的相当成 功。2013年，樱桃雕塑放置在城市中，这 是节日的象征，也是对此感兴趣的游客和 格鲁博科居民的主要景点。

当前的节日始于在樱桃皇后住所举行 的声望会议。在那里，客人可以将带有节 日邮票的品牌明信片寄给亲友，传达来自 樱桃之都的问候。当一些人在寄邮件时， 另一些人则用巨大的樱桃核向目标射击。 这次比赛的获胜者是来自明斯克的客人， 顺便说一句，旅行社为那些想来旅游的 人组织了一次前往格鲁博科市的旅行，明

产品由新鲜冷却的牛肉制成，腌制后用热 香料和新鲜或干燥的浆果调味。之后，肉 制品被燃烧的山毛榉片烟熏熏制，在任何 节日里可以端上这个香气四溢的美味佳 肴。

这个节日里最真挚的传统就是“樱 桃”婚礼，这可不是表演 – 是真正的婚 礼！新婚夫妇经常为自己选择有纪念意义 的结婚日期，而对于达里亚·格尔曼和安 德烈·桑科来说，他们家庭的生日恰逢周 年纪念日。按照传统隆重的结婚仪式在“ 夫妇公园”里的卡加诺耶湖畔举行。节日 的女主人樱桃皇后向新家庭送上祝贺和 礼物，而正是这个仪式成为了当地登记处 的第 100 个仪式。而在短短两天的节日 里，就有10个家庭在格鲁博科地区“出生”

。

不仅来自白俄罗斯，还有来自邻国的 两个年龄段的专业和非专业选手参加了最 佳巴杨、手风琴和口琴表演的国际比赛。

主要奖品是一架全新的 «樱桃» 巴杨， 授予了格鲁博科儿童艺术学校的学生波 琳娜·辛尼亚夫斯卡娅，这意味着巴杨再 次留在了格鲁博科。 在周年庆典上，首次 举办了以拼布技术制作的作品“樱桃镶嵌

画”的展览比赛。

换句话说，这两天维捷布斯克地区的

berries for every taste. You could not only taste the culinary inventions of the hostesses, but also learn a lot of interesting recipes during the tasting contest Cook Cherry Jam Together. Not only the owners and organisations of the region diligently prepared for the holiday, but also the Glubokoye Meat Processing Plant, which annually prepares new meat products for the festival. This year, they presented drycured chopped ‘Glubokoye Tartar’ with cherries. A product from the elite series is made from freshly cooled beef, which, after salting, is seasoned with hot spices and fresh or dried berries. After that, the meat product is smoked with smoke from burning beech chips, and the fragrant delicacy is ready to decorate any holiday table.

Queen, sent her congratulations and gifts to the new family, and it was this ceremony that became the 100th for the local registry office. And in just two festival days, 10 families were ‘born’ in the Glubokoye District.

亚历山德拉·格沃兹德娃

One of the most sincere traditions of the festival is a ‘cherry’ wedding, and a real one at that! Newlyweds often choose distinctive dates for themselves, and for Daria German and Andrei Sanko, their family’s birthday coincided with the anniversary festival. The solemn ceremony of marriage was traditionally held on the shore of Lake Kagalnoye in the park of the newlyweds. The hostess of the holiday, the Cherry

Professionals and self-taught students of two age categories, not only from Belarus, but also from neighbouring countries, took part in the international competition for the best mastery of the button accordion, accordion and harmonica. The main prize, a brand new ‘cherry’ button accordion, was given to Polina Sinyavskaya, a student of the Glubokoye Children’s Art School, which means that the button accordion has again remained in Glubokoye. The first Cherry Mosaic , an exhibitioncompetition of works made in the patchwork technique, was held at the anniversary celebration.

In other words, for two days the sweet capital of the Vitebsk Region turned into a colourful town filled with dances and ringing songs, leaving a memorable cherry taste on the lips of each festival participant.

Aleksandra Gvozdeva

Photo by BELTA

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLE, OR WHY IS IT

Now this is one of the popular destinations for tourists who choose the Gomel Region for recreation. A small agricultural town in the Kalinkovichi District is primarily famous for its archaeological complex. One of the oldest sites of primitive people was found here. The age of the settlement is 26 thousand years.

An open-air museum has been opened in the archaeological complex, where research has been conducted for more than a hundred years. It is located on Yurovichi hill, which rises to 25 meters. There are 120 steps leading to the top of the hill. There are stunning views from the observation deck. And on the very territory of the museum complex, copies of the dwellings of primitive man were built, and you even can meet ‘Cro-Magnons’ near the fire. The kids from the regional House of Arts act as primitive people. And the head of the museum, Maria Shkrobot, wraps herself in animal skins, puts on war paint, picks up a spear before the arrival of guests ... And there is no end to those who want to take a selfie with a ‘primitive’ girl.

Entertainment programmes are arranged here for tourists, and you can buy mammoth figurines, magnets and other thematic items in the souvenir shop. By the way, souvenirs are made by local artisans and children who study at the House of Arts.

The observation pavilion of the museum of primitive man’s settlement is located at the place where archaeologists found ancient artefacts. Among them there are stone tools and remains of dwellings of primitive people.

Mammoth bones were also dug up here. And when, in 2006, rumours spread around the area that archaeologists had stumbled upon tusks and a skull, all shops closed nearby and local residents went to look at the sensational find.

The open-air museum does not yet have conditions for storing valuable artefacts. True, there is a huge figure of a mammoth and a panorama that shows the life of a primitive man.

You can take a look at the Yurovichi finds in the local school museum. It is here that you should begin your acquaintance with the Yurovichi. The children conduct tours and tell a lot of interesting facts about their village. This is the very first school museum that was created in the Kalinkovichi District. Today, there are more than a thousand exhibits on display here, dedicated to various periods in the history of Yurovichi.

By the way, the Yurovichi hill had a lot of puzzles for explorers. So, above the site of a primitive man, archaeologists discovered an ancient settlement of the 10th-13th centuries. The ancient city, which was located here, occupied at that time a considerable territory of 7-8 hectares. A lot of interesting artefacts have been collected in the citadel, the roundabout city and the Tserkovishche hill. Items left by the medieval inhabitants were found not only on the hill fort, but also at the foot of the hill on which it is located. While cultivating the land, local residents came across the remains of vessels and spinning wheels, items made of horns and bones. During excavations, archaeologists discovered medieval earrings, coral and carnelian beads, the bottom of a pot with Scandinavian symbols.

There were many disputes about what name the discovered medieval city had. Yurovichi? Vidovichi (this is the name of one of the streets, in the Old Slavonic ‘vidovichi’ meant ‘witnesses’, ‘watchmen’)? Mezhimostye (such a name is found in the Hypatian Codex)? Or Turov (the Turya River is located nearby, and in Belarusian lands many city names are associated with the rivers on the banks of which they are located)?

A mini-cluster was created in the agro-town, which brought together a museum, a folk art centre, a Yurovichi kindergarten-

school, artisans and owners of agro-estates. And today you can spend quite a lot of time in this village. For example, stay at the Litvin agro-estate, where horseback riding, fishing, kayaking are organised. Be sure to visit the complex of the Holy Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery (the former collegium of the Jesuits).

There are many legends about the church of the 18th century in honour of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These include the stories about the underground passages through which the carriage could pass. But the main legend is connected with the miraculous icon of the Mother of God ‘Merciful’. Allegedly, during the journey, the monk Martin Tyrnovsky stopped to rest in Yurovichi, and when he was about to continue his journey, the horses became rooted to the spot. The preacher heard the voice of the Mother of God. She asked him to leave the icon that he was taking with him there. A wooden temple was built here, and in 1680 the Jesuits decided to build a monastery in Yurovichi.

Many healings were associated with the icon, pilgrims from different parts of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania went to bow to it. In one of the chronicles, it is even noted that ‘... at times it was difficult to distinguish an ordinary day from a festive one, as there were so

many people at the shrine’. For almost two and a half centuries, the Yurovichi icon was the patroness of Polesie, bringing people hope and consolation. In 1755, the printing house of the Radziwiłł family even published a book about the history and miracles of the Yurovichi icon, which indicated examples confirming its miraculous effect.

Unfortunately, the original of the icon was taken to Krakow at the end of the 19th century, and there is a copy of it, which is revered by believers, in the Holy Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in Yurovichi. When the processions are held, people from different parts of Belarus and abroad come here. The day of veneration of the Yurovichi icon (and both Orthodox and Catholics worship it) is September 13th. There is a unique religious procession on bicycles from Kalinkovichi to Yurovichi, which is organised in summer.

The Holy Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery is one of the points of the Golden Ring of the Gomel Region. Today, tourists can go down to the basement and look at the ancient stone vaults. The main temple is under reconstruction, which is nearing completion. Soon one of the largest and most famous temples of Polesie can be seen in all its glory.

Yelena Dedyulya

Photos from open access

Aleksandra Gaiduk: “THE UNIVERSE GIVES ME MANY OPPORTUNITIES”

Beautiful and talented, feminine and smart, charming and optimistic... This list of epithets for Aleksandra Gaiduk in her hometown of Brest, where she constantly, wherever she goes, comes for the holidays and sings for the townspeople, is completed with two important words for the pop artist, TV host and producer: ours, national ... For Aleksandra, this is a great recognition.

MEGA-STARS

Aleksandra Gaiduk is an accomplished, self-sufficient person. A profession, a country house, a loving husband, two adult sons, an established positive public opinion ... It would seem that what else could you want: live and be happy, rest on your laurels ... But Aleksandra, in her beautiful mature years, when you realize a lot in life and feel happy, remains a tireless worker – she does not imagine herself without movement both in the profession, and in everyday life, and in the spiritual sphere. By the way, she recently completed her studies at the Academy of Public Administration under the Aegis of the President of Belarus.

The singer’s fans know that her creative career has developed in several directions: vocals, music, the world of cinema and television. We remind the reader: in 1994, Aleksandra graduated from the Academic Vocal Department of the Music College in Brest. Later – the Ostankino Television School, where she acquired the specialty of a television and radio host. There, in Moscow, she studied at the course of Andrei Panin and Evgeny Steblov at the Academy of Cinema. And in 2008 – she graduated from the Production Department of the Faculty of Arts of the Institute of Modern Knowledge. Aleksandra came to the big screen after 30 years and starred in more than 26 films.

Many viewers in the post-Soviet space remembered her thanks to the series “Correction of Mistakes” and melodrama “My Close Enemy”.

Aleksandra’s singing repertoire includes both lyrical romances and dance remixes, but one of the songs, “The Sweetest Place on the Body”, became a hit. From 2006 to 2010, Aleksandra was the general producer of the BelMuzTV channel, the author and host of the TV project “Figures” on television – “Belarus 1”. It was for this project that she was awarded the highest award of the Belarusian television “Televershina”.

During her musical career, she released three albums –“Lady Sadness”, “Sunny”, “Adrenaline Angel”.

We met Sasha in one of the Minsk coffee places. We had an unhasting, not a clip conversation, as they say, about life, during which I could not get rid of thoughts about the appearance of my counterpart. So I wanted to tell her: what an impossibly beautiful you are, you can’t take your eyes off. Such female beauty cannot be ignored not only due to, let’s say, formal shell – eyes, eyebrows, lips, hairstyle, shape, exquisite perfume ... Sasha Gaiduk is first of all, in my opinion, the frankness of life. Hence – the hypnotic warmth that she radiates, the depth of feelings and that spiritual aroma that magically attracts to a person.

“Aleksandra, who are you more in your social roles today –singer, actress, TV host, producer?”

“I think it would be more correct to say: an artist and a public figure. Why a public figure? It so happened in Belarus that we don’t have show business as such. Stage, on the other hand, requires from the artist great concentration, mobility, possession of not only singing skills and stage art, but also the ability to be, as they say, a director and producer for himself. On the Russian stage, everything is arranged differently. There, many artists do not even know what, say, an ordinary flash drive looks like. Ours – they are their own drivers, and sometimes administrators, sometimes – sound producers. They can make excellent content for themselves, think over an outfit, create a

video clip and even a creative make up and appear in a worthy form before the public. Therefore, I can say about all the Belarusian pop artists who have achieved

recognition: they are public

figures.

The charitable activities of my colleagues, including those at the sites of many institutions, ministries, organisations – and these are thousands of events – inspire great respect. Belarusian artists deserve deep

respect and appreciation of their work”.

“Do you think you were appreciated?”

“I have nothing to complain about. I am busy at the Youth Variety Theater, where I currently work, as well as in other projects.

We have wonderful musicals, acting

Gaiduk

performances.

With coming of Artistic Director Vladislava Artyukovskaya, a lot has changed fundamentally. Let me remind you that our theater is already 25 years old. In addition, I really like trips to

MEGA-STARS

Belarusian cities with the Vytoki festival, which is organized by the National Olympic Committee of Belarus. It is aimed at acquainting residents and guests of the country with the historical and cultural heritage of Belarus. “Vytoky” is already a Belarusian brand, a symbol that reflects the direction of the festival movement with the aim of popularizing national culture, sports, history, traditions and supporting small towns. And the indicator of success for us, the artists participating in this project, is recognition from ordinary people. If we work on stage for five minutes, and then 45 minutes take pictures with people for memory and give them autographs, then this is clearly worth something! Since people want to be next to me, then, therefore, I did something good”.

“In one of the interviews, you also talked about what makes a person happy, first of all, his desire to be happy. And so, let’s say, you, Aleksandra Gaiduk, are in a good mood. No matter where it comes from, there will be a problem. This can upset you, interfere with your state of inner harmony. What do you do to find yourself back in the “paradise” world of the soul when it is easy and calm? How not to fall out of this world? Do you manage not to get hooked on irritability, nervousness, anger? After all, Aries are both very pure, sincere, and impulsive, and hot-tempered ...”

“(Sighs, smiles, thinks ...). Impulsivity is, of course, about me. But this happens, as a rule, at some specific moment, when I encounter dilettantism and the so-called lack of human presence in the profession. When I see that someone does not put enough energy into the business, he dabbles, when everything is, as they say, half-heartedly and with hands down. Then I wind up ... And I react to such moments. Harsh! Emotionally! Of course, there are no happy moments here. I don’t want to be loved by everyone. At some point, for someone I can seem very uncomfortable. But I always say sincerely: you did it poorly. Here we can rehearse for 30 minutes live sound. And then they start a phonogram ... There were concerts where I generally sang live alone. Those who were supposed to be there managed to forget to turn on the microphone. This is the lack of human presence in the profession. I’m a perfectionist, since childhood, perfectionism has ground me. But I understand: in our profession, if it is different, then nothing will work. In youth, of course, we, artists, all go through a period of some kind of narcissism on stage. We go out to show ourselves. We are pleased when the eyes of the audience are fixed on us. How you are estimated is important. But over the years, when you are already in a mature state of mind, spiritually filled, then every time you go on stage, you realise: why are you going there and what you want to tell people. In any case, that’s how it is for me. I am a professional, I have great opportunities and I have great strength. In 3-4 minutes, being on stage, I can say so much to the viewer! Therefore, my perfectionism is probably still a quality of character with a positive sign”.

“And if, to put it mildly, someone disturbs your balance, how do you recover later?”

“Differently. Sometimes I drive a car. With breakneck speed... Then there is a kind of outburst of negative emotions. Well, music ... It heals. Sometimes they ask me: you are always in a good mood, what is the secret? And I just make myself such a setting. A good artist has no right to be in a bad mood. Especially when you’re in public. When you go on stage, into the auditorium. Even if there is

a smile on the face, and a negative in the soul, thousands of people will feel it. So you have to deal with it somehow. Yes, I can cry myself to sleep, and even loudly but when no one hears”.

“Of course, you have heard about such a trendy concept as the ecology of the soul? What would you say about this?”

“The ecology of the soul is, as far as I understand, everything that helps us maintain mental balance. To be, as they say, at peace with oneself and with the world around. So, now I try not to clog my soul, speaking in ecological terms. If the actions and thoughts of people – and ours – are clean, the environment will also be clean. If there is a dirty soul, the ecology of our planet will be dirty. Therefore, I strive to use environmentally friendly sources of spiritual energy. I am working on myself. In my youth I was very categorical. Only life in Brest, when I had a cafe and small children, says a lot. At that time everything was divided into white and black. However, this does not mean that now I have changed a lot. But at some point, each of us, apparently, comes to faith – not to religion. To the feeling of one’s soul, to understanding: we are not only a body. Now I realise that I could have treated some things in the past differently – not so harshly judging people. Not to judge everyone by my own standards. Moreover, today I understand: you can’t expect people to treat you the way you would like. Another person is a different universe, maybe he is not able to show friendliness, openness. Many people are closed, restrained, subject to stereotypes. They can behave just saving appearances. This is also good. Everything is really subtle, everything is very individual ... I stopped dividing people into good and bad. Now I try not to judge anyone at all. If there is a request to me for help, then it does not matter whether I like the person or not, I will provide this help. Whether they contacted me from an

orphanage, a boarding school, a school – if I can help, I do it and do not expect anything in return”.

“As I understand, you find time to “clean up your planet”, as Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, to keep the territory of your soul in order”.

“Yes, and for this – for self-awareness – you should not grudge time even when you have to do a lot. And if you get into modern rhythms, as they say, up to the hilt, if you identify with them, then you can forget about yourself. To do seemingly important things, but in fact the main “field” – one’s soul – not to cultivate ... One should not forget about oneself in any case. It’s not about egocentrism. Each of us is unique in itself. Each has its own purpose. Unfortunately, many never find it”.

“When did you realise that a huge interior life is going on inside of us? That there is an immense world of thoughts, feelings, emotions...”

“It was a long time ago... Especially slings and arrows of life, of course, encourage each of us, as you say, to cultivate the field of our soul. The recent situation with the pandemic has sobered many. It helped me to prioritise my life. A lot of unnecessary stuff has fell off for me. You know, sometimes I remember good moments from our Soviet life. We could live modestly, without expensive outfits and cars. Appreciated live communication. Dates were appointed at the cinema or some other building, a monument, on a park bench, they didn’t know mobile phones – and everything somehow went well without them, and without social networks. A lot of what is new, as it turned out in a pandemic, is not the most important thing. And what is the most important thing? Life and health itself. Yours and loved ones. And live communication cannot be replaced by anything – we felt it very strongly, and in countries with lockdowns even more strongly ... But we have lost it in the modern rush of everyday life, replacing it with various kinds of surrogates. The pandemic helped us realise all this. For some reason, we always tend to see our lives in gloomy colors. And we take some important things too easy. Although we can lose them overnight. Therefore, I try to appreciate every moment of life – to be there and now. Nobody knows what might happen in the next minute. To be closer to those who are truly dear to you and to whom you are dear. I already know how to refuse something not the most important. Telling “no” – for a very long time I did not know how to do this. I feel that life is worth spending on good deeds. I’m glad I now have this opportunity. I am doing this”.

“If it’s not a secret, tell us...”

“It happened thanks to Aleksander Tikhanovich and Jadwiga Poplavskaya. All my life I will be grateful to them for their help and support. Aleksander and Jadwiga believed in me, and got to their theater. There took place my first solo concert in 1999. Sasha and Yadya instilled in me the confidence that I, a 22-year-old Brest resident, who arrived in Minsk, which was completely alien to me, could achieve a lot on the stage. It were them who became my god-parents on the stage. I recorded my first solo album in the Tikhanovich-Poplavskaya studio. They inspired me to do something useful for those who need it. And later it was done by Sergey Dovgal, a man who became a real friend to me. He taught me on a global scale to love not myself. I think it’s called love without condition. In addition, Sergey also taught me how many good deeds we can do for

„ Aleksandra Gaiduk and Valery Shmat at Slavianski Bazaar-2022 during the performance of the song “Most Important”

Dmitry Tkachenko

those who need it. At one time, he established the Spiros Charitable Fund named after Aleksander Tikhanovich. This fund helps children and adults with disabilities who live in neuropsychiatric boarding schools, as well as people with disabilities. So I go there for some time with charity performances. And now Sergey is gone. Today I can’t talk about him without tears: he was ... I tirelessly think about what a bright person with a big heart and clear soul I was friends with. With him I made a proving flight on a light aircraft. In September, I had to go to Sergey, this wonderful instructorexaminer, director of the VRP Avia pilot school, an experienced pilot with 38 years of experience, to learn to fly .... I also think about how he managed to do all of this. If he asked for something, it was always for someone. I had the feeling that every minute he lived not for himself. It seems to me that this quality is a gift from God. And if so, then I’m sure: in turn, I should, with great zeal, help those who have more difficulties than us. I promised him… After all, God sends me great opportunities”.

“It’s hard psychologically...”

“It is. But at some point I realised that our profession is similar to healing. I now feel with all my heart that something important is happening during the time I spend with these people. Perhaps, I have never seen a more grateful audience than there. For them these are the moments of happiness”.

“I saw your performance in Aleksandria on Kupala. There you appeared in such an unusual look ...”

“Yes, I managed to enter the proposed, slightly grotesque image, it was funny. I felt myself to other people in the role of a local teacher. This is a completely different body language – plasticity, facial expressions, gestures, gait, hair ... Even those who have known me for 25 years did not recognize me in such an unusual role!

I personally like character roles. This is for me. When you need to get something from the depths of yourself that you may not even suspect. Now I was offered to play the role of a business woman in a Moscow film project – I had already passed the audition. According to the plot, she is good for everyone but in fact, as they say, she is on her mind. Here is such a duality. I think it will be interesting. Filming will begin in September”.

“Many say about you that you are a strong person ...”

“Perhaps they are right. Many life factors contributed to this. But I would not like to be repetitious about myself: there is a lot of information on the Internet about my life path. I can confess: I am able to stop any aggression, and I was convinced of that more than once. Perhaps it is the strength of my own energy, my certainty. There were just cases to make sure: it works. I know how to defuse an aggressively charged situation, how to manage it. Once – and I seem to go to a different energy level, or something ... At the same time, a person who shows aggression also seems to be involved in it. What works? Probably, both experience, and charm, and a spiritual component ... By the way, to be honest: I am completely devoid of any envy. I love life in its various aspects, I love people. And at the same time I understand: happiness for everyone at once globally is impossible”.

“What simple human joys are your priority?”

“(smiles) My two little dogs, chihuahuas, make me happy. One short-haired, purebred, just brutal dog. It seems to me that he presents himself as a defender who must guard the house, territory,

and copes well with such tasks. Previously, he was “unsocialized” – he died down when he saw another dog. I took for a week – to help him socialize – a little chihuahua girl: white, with red spots –almost a fox. Couldn’t bring her back. Now I have two of them. At night, they literally sleep on my head. Like little kids… What else can make me happy? Fishing in winter!”

“Wow! You and fishing?”

“Yes, I love it. Ice fishing, with a drill and all the other proper equipment. I fish in different places: both near St. Petersburg and in Belarus on some lake with friends. The male company takes me willingly – after all, I don’t drink and drive. In which case I can control the situation. So fishing is always a small adventure”.

“Did you manage to catch something worthwhile?”

“Of course! Somehow I fished out a pike with live bait – 4 kilograms. And at night, under the moon! When biting in tackle, the flags work. I remember – the hole is nearby, and before my face – clang! - the flag worked. Me: ah, ah! ..The farm is near, everyone is sleeping. I shout: guys, I caught a pike! They tell me: pull! This is cool! Unique emotions. I also love picking mushrooms. Every year I try to make canned staples. Last year, I made 70 cans. This year I have not been to the forest yet, but I have already cooked strawberry jam. The smell throughout the house ... And I cooked the apricot one ... This is from my grandmother...”

“At the “Slavianski Bazaar-2022” you came out with the premiere of the song ... What can you say about your partner?”

“Yes, we came out at the Belarusian day and to the closing with Valery Shmat. He is the founder and artistic director of the Belorusy group, and is also a composer, organist, and conductor. Amazing musician. Valery was recently awarded the title of

One

Aleksandra Gaiduk’s solo performances

Dmitry Tkachenko

MEGA-STARS

Honored Artist. We worked together at Vytoki. By the way, he created the organ himself and gives many concerts on the road. There are actually few men on the Belarusian stage now. The persistent request of society, the viewer for male charisma, healthy, correct energy exists. In my opinion, Valera can fill this niche as a solo artist if he pursues a solo career. So we made the premiere of the closing song. Valery wrote music, Anna Seluk wrote poetry. It’s a beautiful duet. The song “The most important is about love”. The name speaks volumes”.

“Are you satisfied with the way your singing career has developed?”

“It worked out. The Universe gives me many opportunities! I’m multi-faceted and multi-genre! I can create different images. I can sing a pop song – and at the same time, my operatic academic education provides an opportunity to turn to serious, complex works. In addition, we live in an interesting time: after the pandemic, everything seems to come to life. For me, every project, every concert is a fascinating experiment”.

“Do your dreams come true?”

“Judging by my experience, I seem to have learned how to dream correctly ... First, you should really want, then send this request to the Universe ... Well, this is a special technique ... Then make a little more effort, work in the right direction. Then it usually works out”.

“Have you ever crossed over your principles in your professional activity?”

“I didn’t have to. I’m an Aries, so it’s simply impossible to cross over, as you say. I already have 26 films. All the roles of the second plan, but big, bright, noticeable. Diverse. But not a single main one. They didn’t happen. Because I don’t allow myself to accept improper offers from certain directors and producers. Because I can’t treat some directors the way they would like to. I have principles, and to give up on them means to stop respecting yourself. I am an accomplished person, an artist. I am known and respected in my country. By the way, I am sure: what should be mine – will be mine anyway Therefore, I do not strive to achieve something at any cost. By the way, I can stand up for myself not only verbally. I have 6 years of kung fu and two years of sambo. My dad is a paratrooper officer, a sambo wrestler, so the school is very good. Once I had to ask one director, who expressed breadth: are you not afraid, I can break your arm ... He later apologized …”

“What would you never do in your life?”

“(thinks for a long time). Difficult question... I don’t know, Valentina. There is a saying: never say never. This is exactly the case when it is difficult to talk about it ... You have to think about it”.

“And if the life situation provokes you to some extreme actions ...”

“Then I think would still try to show my strength, not weakness. It’s the same as not cheating on yourself. Or the situation at the entrance: you need to show your readiness to meet the blow – and not just give up, surrender to the will of “fate” or chance. This is my original, one might say, life attitude. With age, people do not change – only we take control of something and develop something in ourselves. Unless, of course, you have an internal ramrod and a sense of yourself in time and space. I

absolutely clearly realise: who I am, why I am here, what else I can do good in this life. Therefore, apparently, I will not do what will subsequently cause a feeling of remorse, will not allow me to live and breathe in peace”.

“From the realm of speculative ideas, let’s turn to reality. What do you usually like to cook for your friends, sons? And in general: what are your favorite dishes, also books, films?”

“What am I cooking? Everything is different – anyway. Pilaf, borsch as well – and taking into account the rich Ukrainian traditions: everything is as it should be. I cook Olivier salad and season it with delicious mayonnaise – it is also “handmade”, according to my recipe. In general, I love to cook. Now I live in a country house, as I have long dreamed of, and there is a special pleasure in this. During the pandemic, I felt how great it is. It’s nice to have your personal space where you fell comfort, warmth and security. In addition, the house is in a beautiful place – in the agricultural town of Kolodishchi near Minsk, and next to us is a beautiful forest – the Glebkovsky Biosphere Reserve. I also go there for mushrooms. As for books. I have favorites that I reread from time to time. I love Leskov’s prose. Recently re-read Remarque. He has a work “The Spark of Life” – I advise everyone to read it. This novel is dedicated to the writer’s sister, and when I first read it, I couldn’t eat for a week. The shock was so strong. From the movies I advise you to watch “The Notebook”. Amazing, very deep American movie. Music – Brahms, Rachmaninov ...”

“How are your sons doing in life?”

“The eldest lives in Minsk, and the youngest in Sochi is engaged in the hotel, tourist and restaurant business, he is 29 years old. Both are not yet married. The older one is a tennis coach, we meet almost every week, with the younger one much less often. He is independent, like me – it is useless to put pressure on him, we can only be friends. He graduated from the Suvorov School, studied at the university at the Chinese Language and Literature Department”.

„

In the melodrama “My Close Enemy” Aleksandra Gaiduk played the mother of the heroines Valentina Gartsueva and Daria Baranova. This movie is one of her favorite movies. To the right: Anatoly Golub as the father of the family.

“By the way, did your popularity somehow influence you?”

“For any artist, I repeat, popularity is one of the components of the profession. In any case, this is how I feel about it. Before becoming popular, the artist strives to become recognized and recognizable. But many do not pass such a test in their careers. They go crazy. The wear a crown. Some suddenly start to think: they are somehow incredibly special. God has mercy on me. There was a moment of narcissism, but I quickly realized that it was all empty, that this should be taken easily – as one of the components of the profession. The next stage is when people really want to see and hear you. It costs a lot. And when no one recognizes you after decades of work, it means that you have done nothing in your profession. You need to be grateful to fate if people are drawn to you.

And I’m happy to give interviews. I regard this as an additional opportunity to say something to my viewer and listener”.

“Looking back at the mileage, you can probably remember your greatest achievement. What do you think?”

“For every normal woman the main achievement in life is her children. My sons were born early, and I was able to raise my boys as worthy people. This is probably my greatest achievement. I can imagine a situation where I can no longer go on stage. Injury, illness, there is simply no strength ... It’s not like about me, but in life you have to be ready for this. Then no one, except for close and dear people, will no longer need you. Recognition, popularity – it all quickly disappears then ... As long as you are strong, on the beat, as long as you can give back – you are in demand and everyone needs you. A little failure – and no one needs you. Except close people. That is why I am proud of my sons, I believe in them. Like my mother and I, they are by my side in difficult times. For me, this is the main backbone and support”.

“But they will have wives, families ...”

“Each person is a multidimensional being. In addition, I believe that children are guests in our house. I do not at all pretend that my sons belong to me wholly. So, if they are happy in the new conditions, I will be happy too. And the main thing for me is to see that they are happy. That they smile and enjoy this life –with another person, another woman. After all, this is, let’s say, the hidden code of maternal happiness. The only thing: I would like my sons to meet their other halves not at ninety (smiles)”.

“Do you think we create our own destiny?”

“Absolutely sure of it. It is clear that we propose, God disposes. But at the same time, every day we make decisions, we make choices. So who are we to be offended by if something did not work out the way we wanted? Let’s say they call me in the morning, they offer something. I can refuse, or I can agree. If it’s charity, I’ll work for free. Then – ten proposals will come. If I give, then it comes back. This is the law of life, so you don’t even have to keep this bookkeeping: what will I get for this ... To show weakness or fight? To embody the warrior, solve the problem, resolve the situation or immediately to give up? I am not from the category of people who go with the stream – rather, I go against ... It’s not always easy, but I can’t even imagine how it could be otherwise. What are the obstacles on the way – believe me, I know very well. And I don’t give up. Otherwise I can’t”.

„ Aleksandra Gaiduk always fondly remembers her trips to the city of her childhood and youth – Brest. There she is always a welcome guest at holidays and concerts. This city, as it is recognised, is the place of her power. Having become an artist, Aleksandra goes there almost every year to hold requiem rallies dedicated to the Day of National Memory of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War.

For her, it is sacred. Aleksandra also finds time to visit the 38th separate airborne assault brigade, where her father, godfather, and classmates’ fathers served. The picture shows Aleksandra with the brigade commander, lieutenant colonel Aleksander Ilyukevich, who presented her with the anniversary award of the Airborne Forces on the Day of National Memory of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian people – June 22, 2021.

“So you think that a certain percentage of luck and good luck in our destiny are all beautiful words?”

“Fate is elbow grease. At the heart of all our successes and luck is the daily huge work. Those who are not able to endure it, are not able to do something systematically and persistently, they try to find an excuse for themselves in other worlds. They ask me: how does it all work out so well for you? .. Guys, I sleep 5-6 hours a day. The rest of the time I work”.

“What impresses you the most in people?”

“Sincerity, friendliness, to some extent openness. Sometimes I hear people’s thoughts. What’s this? Perhaps intuition, perhaps clairvoyance. Sometimes it is very difficult for me behind the scenes. Because I see both flattery and insincerity among some of my colleagues. I don’t judge them like I said before. They are different, not my people, so I try to avoid them ... So it is a great happiness and luxury in our conscious, wonderful age – to be able to see and hear. And communicate exactly with those whom we like, with whom I am on the same wavelength”.

Interviewed by Valentina Zhdanovich

Photo from Alexandra Hajduk’s personal archive

STANDS

The fast pace of modern life loves plastic packaging. Lightweight, convenient, beautiful and, moreover, cheap, it is used and thrown away. And this is where problems start. Feeding landfills with polymer waste is more trouble than it is worth — it does not decompose for hundreds of years. Besides, there are many types of plastic, but not all of them can be a raw material for a new product. How should consumers and manufacturers handle polymers so as not to make the environment and then society hostages of their preferences? Let us reflect on the topic.

Divide and be useful

Let us ask ourselves a question: what types of plastic packaging can get a second life in Belarus today? We find out that in the register of waste management facilities, more than 170 ones are registered that use various types of plastic waste, including polymer packaging. Polyethylene, high and low pressure polyethylene, polyethylene terephtalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and other materials are processed in the country.

Combined packaging containing plastic is non-recyclable. We mean metallised packaging of chips, coffee, tea, sweets, toothpaste, cosmetic creams, as well as soft packaging of mayonnaise and ketchup. Such packaging is difficult to separate into single components, therefore it is mainly dumped.

As we were explained at the General Directorate for Regulation of Waste Management and Biological and Landscape Diversity of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, until recently, using combined packaging such as Tetra Pak and Pure Pak had been problematic in the country. Today, these types are used as raw materials. Last year, an enterprise was put into operation where, for instance, regenerated cellulose and, following it, cardboard is obtained from Tetra Pak. However, so far such enterprise is the only one in the country.

Let us acknowledge the fact that for people who care about the environment it is sometimes difficult to distinguish recyclable plastic from non-recyclable one and decide what to throw into the yellow mesh containers. Not everyone understands what polypropylene is and whether it is suitable for a recycler. Well, the experts’ advice is quite definite: you can throw there all packaging from all products that visually consists mainly of plastic. They will select what meets the processors’ requirements at the sorting lines where waste from these containers will be taken to.

Probably, many quite rightly ask whether it is possible to expand the range of recyclable plastic, and if so, by what means. At the above-mentioned Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, they believe that everything depends on whether there is a processing technology for this or that type. It is necessary, of course, to develop and implement new technologies, the Ministry is sure. But, in addition to this, at the design stage of any product, it is important to consider what will happen to it after use. It is better to prevent the generation of waste than to seek a solution how to dispose of it later.

Here is an example. PET bottles are recyclable. Yet, PVC labels on them complicate the process. Not in vain, to solve this problem, at the initiative of our country, changes are being made to the technical regulation of the Customs Union

MODERN TRENDS

‘On the Safety of Packaging’ according to which it will be prohibited to use PVC labels on PET packaging.

Belarus also initiated the introduction into the same technical regulation of rules that prohibit light plastic bags and packaging made of oxo-degradable polymers and consumer packaging made of expanded polystyrene for food products. Unfortunately, this initiative has not been supported by the majority of the EAEU member states.

Standards to legitimise the rules

Let us take another situation. Today, at points of sale, we are offered many different plastic bags. Some of them read they are made of 100 per cent biodegradable plastic, some bear a recycling symbol and some are not labelled at all. Why not establish uniform requirements for plastic bags to facilitate their separate collection and recycling? It would

probably be fair. But it turns out that there are no uniform requirements for biodegradable packaging. And this is indeed a problem, the Ministry of Natural Resources agrees.

At the same time, it is encouraging that work has begun in Belarus to establish such requirements for environmentally friendly packaging (including biodegradable one), together with methods for testing it. A number of state standards that determine the ability for complete aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials are in force. State standards for reusable packaging, recycled plastic, glass and paper packaging are being developed. A laboratory for testing biodegradable packaging is under construction. The labelling requirements, including those for biodegradable packaging, are provided for as part of the changes being made to the already mentioned technical regulation of the Customs Union ‘On the Safety of Packaging’. These changes are currently pending approval.

Example of social responsibility

One cannot but agree that large retail chains with a huge turnover of plastic bags could reduce the use of plastic. We wonder if there are eco-friendly retail chains in Belarus. Yes, there are! This year, the Ministry of Natural Resources initiated signing cooperation agreements with retailers to reduce the use of plastic. In order not to hit the economy, the Ministry did not introduce strict restrictions but selected the path of voluntary agreements to take organisational measures limiting the use of plastic. What is meant is that plastic bags are placed only in certain spots in trading floors and are not placed at the cash desks. For bakery and pastry products of own production, only paper bags are offered at retail outlets. Visitors are given more opportunities to buy products in glass, etc.

By the way, such agreements have been signed with the country’s largest trading network Eurotorg LLC and Belkoopsoyuz. As for the latter, cooperation with it will make it possible to involve wider population, including rural areas — Belkoopsoyuz conducts trade for residents of small and remote rural settlements.

In general, such agreements are a vivid example of the social responsibility of business and its greening in the context of sustainable development and green economy.

Environmentally friendly packaging is profitable

It is often said that money is the best stimulus. Are Belarusian manufacturers stimulated to switch to recyclable plastic or, even better, to paper, metal and glass as most environmentally friendly materials?

MODERN TRENDS

Economic incentive measures to reduce the use of polymer packaging and increase the use of environmentally friendly packaging, including biodegradable one, do work in the country. We imply the so-called extended liability of producers and importers of certain types of goods. For manufacturers and suppliers of plastic packaging, the fees are bigger, and for manufacturers and suppliers of environmentally friendly packaging, the fees are smaller. So, the motivation is apparent.

Plus, compensation is provided for the use of glass containers in the production and bottling of drinking water, including carbonated and mineral water. From 2022, the list of waste for which compensation is paid has been expanded. Now, it includes impregnated and coated paper and cardboard — combined package such as Tetra Pak, Pure Pak, etc. That is, today it is more cost-effective for manufacturers and suppliers to switch to environmentally friendly packaging made of paper, glass and biodegradable materials.

Natural takes its toll

What will be done in Belarus in the near future to reduce the use of plastic packaging? The question is not idle. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the country is implementing an action plan aimed to gradually reduce the use of polymer packaging and replace it with environmentally friendly one. So far, about twenty measures are planned. Among them are improving the waste management system and reducing the use of polymer packaging, conducting scientific research in the field of production and use of environmentally friendly packaging, as well as technical regulation and reduction of the import of polymer packaging.

In order to increase the sales of products in glass containers, retailers of various formats are obliged to offer the buyer soft drinks in such packaging, as well as paper bags and paper disposable tableware and cutlery. In parallel with this, the number of plastic bags and plastic utensils should be minimised.

Last year, it was forbidden to use disposable plastic utensils in public catering. By 2024, a deposit (collateral) system for the circulation of disposable consumer packaging will be introduced.

Measures are being taken to develop and expand the capacities already available in the country for the production of packaging from paper, cardboard and glass, including disposable tableware. In order to increase the production of glass containers and expand their range, to make them lightweight and of different colours and shapes, the Grodno Glassworks is implementing the investment project ‘Creating the Production of Glass Bottles Using Innovative EnergyEfficient and Resource-Saving Technologies’.

Benefits for both the environment and the economy

Meanwhile, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is conducting scientific research to create domestic scientific, technological and industrial reserves for the organisation

of production and release of biodegradable packaging and products made of it. Two types of active formulations and methods have been developed to produce safe additives to improve wrapping paper and other pulp and paper materials. There is a technology for producing lactic acid and biodegradable polylactide based on it that will become the raw material for biodegradable film, other packaging materials and disposable tableware. In future, the country will produce biodegradable packaging from domestic plant materials, which will benefit both the environment and the economy.

As part of the technical regulation and reduction of import of polymer packaging, the State Committee for Standardisation is implementing a program to develop state standards of Belarus based on international and European standards in the field of establishing requirements for environmentally friendly packaging, including biodegradable one, and its test methods. By 2025, more than forty state standards of the kind will appear in the country.

On the whole, taking into account the geopolitical situation, work is underway to attract investment for the production of environmentally friendly packaging within the Union State, as well as in cooperation with China and countries of the ‘far arc’.

Aleksei Fedosov

BRIGHT IMAGES IN THE FIREWORKS OF COLORS

S IMPRESSIVE

IT

TThe exhibition project of the Belarusian Union of Artists “Algerd Malishevski. Epoch”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the famous artist and teacher, was presented in the Minsk Palace of Arts

Painting as an emotional organism

The exhibition features paintings by the Honored Artist of Belarus, World War II veteran Algerd Malishevsky from the collection of the Belarusian Union of Artists and the family collection of Elina Malishevskaya.

It must be said right away that Algerd Malishevsky was a master of expressive, figurative narrative paintings, an excellent colorist who skillfully and masterfully owned paints on canvas. In essence, he considered painting not just a painted picture, but an emotional organism through which the world is perceived as alive and immediate. The vein of the artist fell on the 1960s, which became a turning point for the Belarusian fine arts, because this is the period of the birth of new forms of plastic language. Search by color, texture, rhythm, light is one of the principles and the entire creative path of Algerd Malishevsky, which became the basis of his creative activity.

In general, a significant part of the current exhibition was the work of his students from the school named after A. Glebov, where the master taught from 1953 to 1981. Among them are Zoya Litvinova, Svetlana Katkova, Georgy Skripnichenko, Nikolai Seleschuk, Oleg Matievich, Vladimir Gordenko, Mikhail Rogalevich, Vasily Sumarev, Vladimir Urodnich, Nikolai Opiok, Vladimir Zinkevich, Nikolai Tsudik, Nikolai and Maria Isaenki, Sergey Malishevsky, Gennady Kozel, Vladislav Kufko, Oleg Nazarenko and many others. No wonder that the exhibition “Algerd Malishevsky. Epoch” was prepared with the support of the now Minsk State Art College named after A. Glebov.

“It is impossible to gather and present all the master’s students at one exhibition, but even with this, far from a complete circle of artists who today are already well-known masters in Belarus, we can talk about the undoubted pedagogical talent of Algerd Malishevsky. About the era of his enormous influence on young people in the period their upbringing, formation as personalities and artists”, the First Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Artists, art critic Natalya Sharangovich noted the significance of the event.

The current exhibition featured landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and sketches for paintings by Algerd Malishevsky. In search of a picturesque “formula”, the artist went from the particular to the general. In the late period of creativity, the master has a tendency to increasingly reject the subject image.

„

He expressed himself meaningfully

Algerd Malishevsky loved the painting of the French Impressionists, the Barbizons, Paolo Veronese, Titian Vecellio, El Greco, Van Gogh, Konstantin Korovin, and especially Paul Cezanne. He considered them the standard for every artist. Despite his military youth, the master sang harmony in art, the joy of human existence in landscapes and still lifes. The artist looked for answers to exciting questions in them: what kind of person he is, how he is connected with the present and the environment. He turned even banal scenes with the workers of the Minsk Tractor Plant, builders, portraits of foremen, doctors and oil workers into fireworks of colors.

“But the main thing that sounds in the canvases of Algerd Malishevsky is all the riot soul of the painter, admiration for his native land and his people”, concluded Natalya Sharangovich.

He was born in Bobruisk. He was a participant in the Great Patriotic War. In 1952 he graduated from the Faculty of Painting of the Kharkov Art Institute. He has been a participant in art

exhibitions since 1956, has been a member of the Belarusian Union of Artists since 1965. He received the title of Honored Artist of the BSSR in 1977. Today, his works are kept in the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, the National Center for Contemporary Arts, the funds of the Belarusian Union of Artists, in private collections both in Belarus and abroad.

Yes, Malishevsky is one of those who honed his skills in the 60s, which became a turning point for Soviet art, a period of the emergence of new forms of artistic language. He expressed himself meaningfully, harmoniously subordinating to his plan all the means of artistic expression. By the way, in addition to the paintings of Algerd Malishevsky himself, at the exhibition one could see the works of his colleagues Anatoly Kuznetsov, Leonid Khobotov, Nikolai Bushchik and other members of the Nemiga-17 creative group, of which he was also a member.

Undoubtedly, the work of the Master is a landmark phenomenon for the national fine arts of the last century. Despite the fact that Algerd Malishevsky lived and worked in the Soviet

period, when creativity was largely subordinated to the principles of socialist realism. He himself accumulated many of his trends of the 60s and 70s, but at the same time he stood apart. The artist continued the line that Mikhail Filippovich, Mikhail Stanyuta, Mikhail Sevruk developed in Belarusian art in the first quarter of the 20th century: the desire to establish a connection between the national basis and European artistic traditions. The main thing in his works is the search for oneself, the search for color and plasticity, composition and space.

The current exhibition featured landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and sketches for paintings by Algerd Malishevsky. In search of a picturesque “formula”, the artist went from the particular to the general. In the late period of creativity, the master has a tendency to increasingly reject the subject image. In these works, the inner impulse, impetous expression and the strongest energy of the author seem to erase the boundaries between writing, drawing and painting, between space and plane. In other words, in them there is a shift of objectivity towards objectlessness, the direct impact of color and form on the viewer is felt.

That’s how he was remembered

Here are some characteristic and in their own way original notes about the teacher made by one of the students of Algerd Malishevsky.

Socket and plug. You think I’m talking about electricity? No. I’m talking about painting. About the quiet secret life of things, about still life. Algerd Adamovich Malishevsky put a few things on the podium, threw a piece of fabric and left for Paris ... The teacher left, the students stayed. I didn’t like that still life, it alerted me, surprised me. I started to picture it. For a whole month I bonked with a small brush, struggling to make things look like they were alive ... There, on a gray wall, above the podium, there was a socket. Square, flat. With holes and a screw in the middle. It seemed to me that everything on the canvas turned out: a green enameled teapot, a piece of pink fabric in small folds ... After Paris, the teacher looked cheerful and excited. I looked at my work for a short time. Neither the teapot nor the cloth surprised him. He dabbed at the painted socket with his finger: “I would like it to be shocked ... To insert the plug – and the light bulb lit up.”

I didn’t know how this could be done. But I believed. Art is an attempt to do the impossible. This is what was hidden behind the words of Algerd Malishevsky.

About Renoir. I came to school with a girl. In the corridor I ran into Algerd Malishevsky. We said hello each other. He threw back his head and took a step towards the wall. But he looked not at me, but at my girlfriend. With this look, he usually examined paintings that aroused interest or surprise. Through

the glasses, over, then rearranged the glasses, tilted his head and smiled. My Alena blushed from such attention, and I felt a little uncomfortable. Malishevsky clicked his tongue like a bird.

“Purely Renoir,” he said loudly so that everyone could hear. I looked at a mother-of-pearl-golden girl in a striped shirt and a narrow opalesque sundress and saw a painting by Auguste Renoir. Vibrant colors, like the smells of French perfume, changeable, like silk in the wind, like sand on the seashore... We hurried to the buffet to buy... No, not champagne, not coffee with croissants, but hot pasties.

Beret. When Malishevsky liked something, he could look at the canvas or drawing for a long time. Sits on a stool. He played with a pencil or a brush in his fingers and is silent. Selects words. He could ask for a cigarette, smoke it, so that he could look at work through the smoke, so that it would be easier to think.

He left. The black beret stayed on the stool. I tried it on – it was too small for me. I don’t put any sense into it.

Portrait of the artist. Forty years have passed since I received my diploma, but to this day I respectfully call Malishevsky by his full name – Algerd Adamovich. How else? After all, he is my

teacher. And not only mine. Many of today’s well-known and famous artists will say the same about him – a teacher!

He came to the workshop. Tall, elegant, portentous and confident. He spoke sharply, sometimes with caustic humor... It was from him that we heard that if an artist has only one picture, then it is always wonderful and the best. And if there are a lot of pictures, then there are both poor and good ones.

But words and remarks are not the most important thing. Personal example is important. Students went to exhibitions and there they always saw the new work of the teacher, still smelling of paint. And looking at these canvases – landscapes, portraits, still lifes, narrative paintings, they understood what and how to do.

In the Art School named after Glebov, Malishevsky’s authority was undeniable, he always had the last word. He could look at a student’s work and in a very serious voice advise you to bring it to the nearest tram stop, quietly leave it there and run away, and if they call you, then not admit that this is your canvas. The student understood that the picture had failed and that he had to start all over again. There was no offense to the teacher.

The collection of our museum contains three dozen paintings by Algerd Malishevsky. All genres are represented. Each has a masterpiece. But, as he himself said, when there are many works, there will be different ones among them.

In 1968, Algerd Malishevsky painted a portrait of his fellow artist Arlen Kashkurevich. Today this canvas is on permanent display. When the portrait was created, both artists were still young, they believed in their talent and future. All this is felt in the portrait: both youth, and vigor, and energy, and courage. This magnificent portrait was not shown for a long time. I think it did not fit into the serene and regular picture of the Belarusian fine arts of those years. Patiently waiting for its time in the archives. Today you look at this canvas with surprise and delight, admiring the simplicity and clarity of the solution. By the way, in recent years, Belarusian artists have practically ceased to engage in portraiture as an independent genre. It’s too hard to create a convincing image of a contemporary, to make it not only recognizable, but also expressive.

Malishevsky dynasty. Continuation

At the exhibition in the Palace of Arts one could also see the works of the son of Algerd Malishevsky – Sergey and his wife Elina, the daughter of the famous Gennady Gorkunov, the chief

artist of the Borisov Combine of Applied Arts, who in the 1970s organized a tapestry workshop and an experimental and creative laboratory of artistic weaving at the enterprise .

Sergey Malishevsky is an artist with a true individual style and inner charisma. His work is synonymous with mystique and mystery, and the paintings themselves are sometimes the most amazing puzzles, the meaning of which is not immediately revealed. They trace the idea of man’s eternal search for his true essence, his destiny. The artist’s works are fascinating, thanks to the depth and originality, closeness and inconceivability at the same time. In some works, irony is felt, in others – satire and even grotesque. The characters in the paintings are often endowed with features, like actors on the stage, when scenes are played out, the plots of which were born from the boundless imagination of Sergei Malishevsky. Ultimately, they are in many ways a kind of self-portrait of the artist’s soul. At the exhibition, the viewer was able to get acquainted with the works of Sergei Malishevsky, written mainly in the last years before his unexpected death. Many of them were exhibited for the first time.

Elina Malishevskaya is known, first of all, as a professional who has been engaged in batik for more than a quarter of a century – artistic painting on fabric. She is distinguished by love and devotion to this type of creativity. However, the artist

is always on the lookout and always open to experimentation. That is why at the exhibition Elina presented the viewer with new paintings made in the author’s technique. In her still lifes and landscapes, the image of the material world is filled with the author’s poetic love for nature. The artist is interested in building her own color in each work, creating new plots and compositional solutions. The paintings by Elina Malishevskaya presented in the exposition are characterized by emotionality and expressiveness of color, a sense of harmony.

What unites followers

At the same time with the exhibition of Algerd Malishevsky, another exhibition project was demonstrated at the Palace of Art – works of various genres by members of the Belarusian Union of Artists from the Brest and Mogilev regions were placed in the halls of the Republican Art Gallery. Tellingly, with the work of the famous master, these contemporary authors were united by the same desire to show individuality, experiments and searches in material, plots, composition, and color.

Brest artists presented paintings, graphics, sculpture and arts and crafts at the exhibition. The exhibited works showed that they live and work in the south of Belarus.

“It is obvious that the southern location of Brest affects the worldview of the artists of this region of the country”, says the First Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Artists Natalia Sharangovich. “The warm breath of the wind from the Atlantic,

the abundance of sunny days determine the artistic direction of the creators, their meaning of life. Light sets a special mood, creates the energy of positive emotions, a feeling of joy of life. This is reflected in the presented works – paintings, drawings and art objects”.

The exposition of the artists of the Mogilev region was a retrospective of works related to the theme of human destiny and life. The authors of different generations gathered in one exhibition space, provoked the visitor to think, conducted an invisible dialogue with him and among themselves. The viewer was presented with both the experience of the older generation and the rethinking of traditions by younger masters.

“The basis of the creative practice of Mogilev artists is the associative form of figurative interpretation”, explained art historian Svetlana Strogina, head of the V. K. Byalynitsky-Biruli Museum branch. “In their works, perspective construction is increasingly missing, the plasticity of the language of fine art is becoming more complicated, metaphorical and symbolic conventions are growing, and iconic forms are appearing”.

It was also noticeable that the authors of the Mogilev region are characterized by regionalism – a feeling of personal love for their small homeland, a sincere desire of artists to depict the poetic beauty of their native places, a deep interest in the lost way of life, rituals and customs, to people living in their native lands.

Veniamin Mikheev

Photo of the author

ГОЛАС РАДЗIМЫ

КУЛЬТУРА ЗБЛІЖАЕ — Спачатку цэнтр займаў два памяшканні ў сталічным Палацы ветэранаў, — расказвае дырэктар Рэспубліканскага цэнтра нацыя нальных культур Вольга Антоненка. – Пры грамадскіх аб’яднаннях сталі арганізоўвацца творчыя калектывы. На маленькіх плошчах яны пачыналі рэпеціраваць. Сярод першых былі ўкраінскі хор, малдаўскі калектыў. Іншыя нацыянальнасці бачылі гэтую

актыўнасць, падцягваліся, прыхо дзілі са сваімі ідэямі. А ўжо ў 1996 годзе прайшоў першы Рэспубліканскі фестываль нацыянальных культур, у якім прынялі ўдзел 13 нацыяналь насцяў. Старшыні арганізацый і

творчыя дэлегацыі

і запрашалі

аднаго

Сёлета ён быў

прыўзняты на новую прыступку. У Год гістарычнай памяці дадалося многа мерапрыемстваў. Гэта і ўскладанне кветак да помніка воінам Вялікай Айчыннай вайны ў Гродне, і круглы стол, дзе распавядалася пра тую рабо ту, якая праводзіцца з дыяспарамі ў Рэспубліцы Беларусь. Адбыўся добры дыялог. Свята атрымалася яскравым

зваецца, што Беларусь тая краіна, дзе ўсе нацыянальнасці жывуць у міры, сяброўстве, згодзе, узаемаразуменні. Мы можам прадстаўляць розныя культуры, але мы адна вялікая сям’я. У нас усё пыталіся, як прадстаўнікі украінскай і рускай дыяспар будуць узаемадзейнічаць на фестывалі. А яны ўдзельнічалі ў адным шэсці, канцэрце, у іх нават падвор’і былі насупраць, яны хадзілі ў госці адно да аднаго з караваем. Фестываль нацы янальных культур у Гродне паказаў, што і творчыя калектывы нацыяналь на-культурных аб’яднанняў, і гледачы засумавалі без такіх мерапрыемстваў. Да пандэміі ў Мінску ў Верхнім го радзе рэгулярна праводзіліся святы нацыянальных культур. У наступ ным годзе мы іх плануем аднавіць. Увогуле творчыя калектывы нацы янальна-культурных аб’яднанняў прымаюць удзел у розных фестыва лях, сярод якіх «Вянок сяброўства», «Мотальскія прысмакі», «Сожскі ка рагод», «Звіняць цымбалы і гармонік», «Дняпроўскія галасы ў Дуброўне», «Кліч Палесся». Запрашэнняў на такія мерапрыемства многа, па магчымасці мы дапамагаем транспартам. На базе нашага цэнтра размяшчаецца 14 твор чых калектываў. Мы прадастаўляем плошчы для рэпетыцый, ці для моў ных курсаў на бязвыплатнай аснове ў рамках дзяржпраграмы «Культура Беларусі». Такім чынам дапамагаем рэалізаваць свае патрэбы, магчымас ці, правы нацыянальна-куьтурным грамадскім аб’яднанням. Больш за 350 (а да пандэміі было больш за 400) мерапрыемстваў цэнтр праводзіць разам з нацыянальна-культурнымі аб’яднаннямі. Прадстаўнікі розных нацыянальнасцяў, творчых калек тываў, з якімі мы супрацоўнічаем, займаюцца дабрачыннай дзейнасцю. Многія наведваюць хоспісы, анка лагічны дзіцячы цэнтр, дзіцячыя дамы, дамы ветэранаў. Гэтым летам адбыўся дабрачынны канцэрт для дзяцей з прытулкаў, ініцыятарам якога выступіла армянская дыяспара. Да справы падключылася эстонская дыяспара, набыла юным гледачам са лодкія падарункі. І падобных акцый ладзіцца вельмі многа.

— Ці можна сказаць, што фе стывалі адкрываюць сучаснай мо ладзі наколькі разнастайны свет, абуджаюць цікавасць да культуры і традыцый розных народаў? — Сапраўды, моладзь бачы ць трапяткія адносіны прад стаўнікоў нацыянальна-куль турных аб’яднанняў да сваёй спадчыны. Творчыя калектывы, прадстаўнікі дыяспар перадаю ць веды праз пакаленні. Асабліва добра гэта заўважана ў армян скай дыяспары, азербайджанскай. У т ворчых калектывах дыяспар зай маюцца ў тым ліку і беларусы, якім цікава вывучаць культуру іншых народаў. Напрыклад, армянскі ка лектыў «Эрыбуні» на 80 працэнтаў складаецца з армян. А вось у карэй скім калектыве «Арыранг» этнічных карэйцаў мала. Але беларускай мо ладзі вельмі цікавая культура гэтага народа. Калі ў Верхнім горадзе на свяце карэйскай культуры праходзі ла віктарына на веданне карэйскіх фільмаў, песень, знакамітасцяў, я была ўражана, наколькі добра бела руская моладзь усё гэта ведае. Пазнаваць культуру той ці іншай краіны вельмі цікава. І сёння для гэтага шмат магчымасцяў. У нас вяліся заняткі для людзей, якія хацелі вывучаць грузінскую, украінскую і нямецкую мовы. Усё на бязвыплатнай аснове. Некалькі гадоў таму мы наладзілі стасункі з арганізацыяй «Жанчыны Японіі за мір ва ўсім свеце», падпі салі пагадненне. Госці з Японіі пры язджалі сюды і знаёмілі гледачоў з японскай культурай, паказвалі, як апранаць кімано, праводзілі чайную цырымонію.

Мы сябрум з грамадскімі ар ганізацыямі, якія аб’ядноўваюць інтэрнацыянальныя сем’і. Можна ўзгадаць цудоўны фестываль «Узор», які аб’ядноўваў людзей усіх узростаў, розных нацыянальнасцяў і веравы знанняў.

— Атрымліваецца, культура дапамагае збліжаць народы?

— Прадстаўнікі нацыянальнасцяў распавядаюць, якая Беларусь цудоў ная. І да нас з задавальненнем едуць

госці. Напрыклад мы сустракаліся з намеснікам міністра культуры Рэспублікі Башкартастан Наталляй Лапшыной. Адбылося знаёмства з нашай татара-башкірскай дыяспа рай. Як вынік такой сустрэчы – у Беларусь для дыяспары перададзены нацыянальныя башкірскія касцюмы, сапраўдная юрта, шацёр. Як мы пад трымліваем беларусаў замежжа, так і іншыя краіны падтрымліваюць свае дыяспары, якія пражываюць тут. Мы сустракаліся з міністрам куль туры Рэспублікі Мардовіі. Там так сама цікавяцца нашымі брэндавымі фестывалямі. Гасцям было прыемна даведацца, што на Фестывалі нацы янальных культур у Гродне ў нас была прадстаўніца нацыянальнасці мардва, якая знаёміла са сваёй нацы янальнай кухняй. Узгадаю, як цёпла прайшоў дзень эстонскай культуры. З эстонскай абшчынай мы рыхтавалі яго практычна два гады. З горада Тарту да нас прыехалі калектывы, сярод якіх быў сямейны ансамбль, у якім выступаюць прадстаўнікі не калькіх пакаленняў. Старэйшай жан чыне было на той час 92 гады, і яна прызналася, што прыезд у Беларусь быў яе другой марай (а першую — скачок з парашутам — яна ўжо здзей сніла ў 80-гадовым узросце).

„

ДЗЕ ГУЧАЦЬ

БЕЛАРУСКІЯ ПЕСНІ?

— Чым Беларусь можа здзівіць свет?

— Калі мы размаўляем з прад стаўнікамі дыяспар, замежнымі га сцямі, яны адзначаюць, што першае, што іх уражвае, гэта адкрытасць, гасціннасць. Калі да беларусаў звяр таюцца з пытаннямі, яны заўсёды гатовы дапамагчы. Гэтыя рысы ў характары фарміраваліся стагод дзямі. У гісторыі нашай краіны няма канфліктаў на нацыянальнай і кан фесіянальнай глебе. Тут усе роўныя. У адзіным парыве могуць маліцца за мір ва ўсім свеце. Нашы народныя песні ідуць ад душы. Яны чыстыя, светлыя. Можна ўявіць поплавы. Пасецца конік ці кароўка. Туман на світанні, прабіваецца сонейка. Вось такія асацыяцыі і з нашымі песнямі, і з Беларуссю наогул. У замежжы многа калектываў, якія выконваюць нашы песні. Напрыклад, частка ка лектыву — беларусы, другая — іта льянцы. У Францыі ёсць змешаны калектыў, дзе спяваюць беларускія песні. У Казахтане ў Паўладары ў бе ларускім калектыве займаецца хло пец, у якога маці — украінка, а баць ка — рускі. Але хлопец так захапіўся беларускай культурай, сам па кнігах вывучыў мову, выдатна спявае, тан цуе, цікавіцца дэкаратыўнымі рамё

Фальклорны ансамбль армянскага танца «Эрыбуні» Старшыні нацыянальна-куль турных аб’яднанняў вельмі актыў ныя. Нехта папулярызуе Беларусь у краінах пражывання, іншыя запра шаюць калектывы сваіх нацыяналь насцяў сюды. Напрыклад, армянскае культурна-асветніцкае аб’яднанне ў гэтым годзе праводзіла тыдні сваёй культуры ў розных універсітэтах. Цікавыя праекты робім з цыган скай абшчынай. Варта адзначыць беларуска-нямецкі праект, звязаны з ромамі. Мы аб’ездзілі ўсю Беларусь, сустракаліся з цыганскімі сем’ямі і запісвалі ўспаміны пра генацыд ромаў у гады Другой сусветнай вайны. Гэта вылілася ў выставачны праект, які быў адкрыты ў Беларускім дзяржаўным музеі гісторыі Вялікай Айчыннай вайны. Лёсы ўражваю ць. Напрыклад, у Барысаве ў часы Вялікай Айчыннай вайны француз скі салдат, які быў ахоўнікам канцла гера, закахаўся ў дзяўчыну — цыган ку, якая там утрымлівалася. Хлопец прапанаваў каханай ажаніцца і з’еха ць ва Францыю. Але тая адмовілася пакідаць братоў і сясцёр, якія таксама былі вязнямі ў лагеры. Пазней, пасля вызвалення, у дзяўчыны нарадзілася дачка, вельмі падобная на свайго тату – француза. Яна прысутнічала на адкрыцці выстаўкі. Дарэчы, выстаўка ўжо пабывала ў Віцебску, Гомелі, Мазыры і будзе далей экспанавацца.

Беларусi

ствамі, марыць зрабіць дуду. І такіх прыкладаў вельмі многа. — Магутны кірунак дзейнасці Рэ спубліканскага цэнтра нацыяналь ных культур звязаны з беларусамі за межжа, якіх можна сустрэць у розных кутках свету, у тым ліку ў Аўстраліі, Аргненціне. Па розных крыніцах па ўсім свеце пражываюць ад 1,5 да 3,5 мільёнаў беларусаў. Якім чынам вы наладжваеце стасункі?

— У нас ладзіцца Фестываль мастацтваў беларусаў свету. З-за пандэміі ён адкладваўся, але ў на ступным годзе мы плануем яго пра весці. На апошнім такім фестывалі прысутнічалі прадстаўнікі 19 краін, 214 удзельнікаў, у тым ліку, з Італіі, Францыі, Германіі, Канады, Ізраіля. Суайчыннікі паказваюць, як за хоўваюць і папулярызуюць белару скую культуру ў сваіх краінах. Мы заўсёды рады бачыць іх на стажы роўках, куды прыязджаюць кіраўнікі творчых калектываў, дыяспар, якія пасля могуць рэтрансляваць тое, што атрымліваюць тут. Семінары ладзяцца на базе Універсітэта куль туры, Акадэміі навук, мы працуем з Саюзам народных майстроў, рознымі музеямі. Абавязкова вывозім удзель нікаў у рэгіёны, дзе яны могуць па гутарыць з носьбітамі народных тра

дыцый, майстрамі, паўдзельнічаць у майстар-класах. Для суайчыннікаў гэта выдатная магчымасць паглы біцца ў нашу культуру. У праграме стажыровак — вакал, харэаграфія, дэкаратыўна-прыкладное мастацтва, нацыянальная кухня, беларуская мова. Па вялікай просьбе беларусаў замежжа з 2019 года мы сталі право дзіць семінары два разы на год. Калі я адкрываю стажыроўку, заўсёды кажу : «Вы прадстаўнікі бела рускіх дыяспар з розных краін свету. Але пасля тыдню, праведзенага тут, вы будзеце адной вялікай дружнай сям’ёй». Яны сапраўды пачынаюць сябраваць, перапісвацца, ездзіць адзін да аднаго ў госці. Апошняя такая стажыроўка была ў красавіку. Тады ўпершыню ў Беларусі пабывала прадстаўніца беларускай дыяспары з Аргенціны Ірына Аслоўскі. Калі ўручалі сертыфікат напрыканцы стажыроўкі, яна нават заплакала і прызналася наколькі для яе важна, што яна пабывала на зямлі продкаў. У Аргенціне дзевяць беларускіх клу баў. Гэта былыя эмігранты, якія ў 30-х гадах патрапілі ў гэтую краіну. Удзельнікам клуба «Усход», які прадстаўляе Ірына, мы пашылі кас цюмы, перадалі літаратуру. У п ла нах — н акіраваць двух харэографаў

„

беларусаў Ірданіі

з Універсітэта культуры і мастацт ваў, каб яны аб’ехалі ўсе клубы ў Аргенціне, расказалі пра Беларусь. Там рады любой вестачцы адсюль. Дарэчы, дзякуючы беларускаму клубу «Усход», адна з вуліц аргенцін скага горада Берыса атрымала назву «Рэспубліка Беларусь». З Іарданіі прыязджала Аксана Чамеза. Яе арганізацыя дзейнічае каля трох гадоў, але вельмі актыў ная. У асноўным гэта жанчыны, што выйшлі замуж за іарданцаў. Дарэчы, дзеці народжаныя ў інтэрнацыя нальных сем’ях, выдатна ведаюць рускую і беларускую мовы, чытаю ць вершы па — б еларуску. Аксана Чамеза хацела праводзіць Дні бе ларускай культуры ў Іарданіі, але перашкодзіла пандэмія… Удзельнікі семінараў адзначаюць, што такія сустрэчы для іх як глыток свежага паветра, адсюль яны вяртаюцца з ідэямі, якія пасля рэалізоўваюць у краіне свайго пражывання. У рамках дзяржпраграмы «Культура Беларусі» мы стараемся ім дапамагаць. Для беларусаў замежжа можам пашыць нацыянальныя касцюмы. Наогул, пра беларускі касцюм, пра кожны яго элемент, можна гаварыць асобна. Перадаем кнігі пра Беларусь. Вельмі запатрабаваныя фотаальбомы, якія

як раз дапамагаюць папулярызава ць беларускую культуру за мяжой. Беларусы замежжа адзначаюць дзяржаўныя і народныя святы: Дзень Перамогі, Дзень Незалежнасці, Масленіцу, Купалле, Гуканне вясны, Дажынкі і Зажынкі. Многія дасыла юць відэа справаздачы мерапрыем стваў. Шмат гадоў ладзіцца конкурс «Культура», дзе адзначаюцца самыя актыўныя суполкі. — Ці едуць у Беларусь госці не толькі за ведамі, але і на адпачынак?

— Часам да нас звяртаюцца з просьбай дампамагчы прадумаць графік адпачынку. Гэтым летам у Беларусі многа гасцей з Эстоніі, Латвіі, Літвы. Сярод іх не толькі беларусы замежжа, але і іх сябры. Цікавіць іх культурны турызм, гастранамічны, медыцынскі, прамысловы, госці жадаюць пабываць на МАЗе і «Камунарцы», у музеях. Ёсць людзі, якія пастаянна адпачываюць у Беларусі. Многія выбіраюць нашы санаторыі, бо іх задавальняюць кошты і якасць. Бясспрэчна, кантакты з беларусамі замежжа спрыяюць развіццю турызму і наладжванню гандлёваэканамічных сувязяў. Напрыклад, беларусы з эстонскай абшчыны, што пабывалі тут на стажыроўках, пасля прывозяць сюды суайчыннікаў. Дылегацыі знаёмяцца з беларускай

з Беларусi

нацыянальнай культурай, а таксама наведваюць прадпрыемствы, ідзе прасоўванне беларускіх тавараў. — Якім чынам супляменнікі прад стаўляюць беларускую культуру ў свеце? — Яны перадаюць сваім дзецям, якія нарадзіліся ў краінах пражы вання, любоў да Беларусі. У м інулым годзе мы папрасілі беларусаў замеж жа запісваць невялікія віншаванні, ці нават апавяданні, і дасылаць разам з малюнкамі сваіх дзяцей. Шмат сем’яў адгукнулася, у тым ліку, з Італіі, Францыі, Германіі. Яны пісалі, што бабулі засталіся ў Беларусі, прызна валіся, як любяць наведваць родных, што ім падабаецца. А на дасланых малюнках мы бачылі чыстыя азёры, палёт буслоў, лясы і добрых людзей. Сапраўды ўражвае, як людзі захоўва юць і перадаюць любоў да нашай зямлі. Да пандэміі шмат беларускіх творчых калектываў мы накіроўвалі ў рамках дзяржпраграмы за мяжу. Напрыклад, праводзілі Дні беларускай культуры ў Неапалі. Гомельскі лялькавы тэатр і іншыя творчыя калектывы папу лярызавалі беларускую культуру ў Францыі. У Л атвію мы адпраўлялі «Песняроў», шмат калектываў вы язджалі ў Літву на Купалле. Мы ўвялі практыку, што пры выездзе кіраўнікі калектываў на месцы праводзяць майстар-класы з беларусамі замеж

жа. Дыяспара ў Томску запрасіла з Беларусі навуковых супрацоўнікаў, музейшчыкаў для ўдзелу у канферэн цыі. У Томск ездзіў і заслужаны ама тарскі калектыў Рэспублікі Беларусь «Гомель». Ён аб’ехаў усе маленькія вёсачкі. Жанчыны гатавалі нацыя нальныя беларускія стравы, разам з калектывам спявалі, плакалі, калі ўзгадвалі Беларусь. Такія сустрэчы дарагога вартыя. Калі прыязджаюць прадстаўнікі кіраўніцтва рэгіёнаў з Расійскай Федэрацыі, то адзначаюць, што на беларусаў можна разлічваць. Напрыклад, нам хвалілі беларусаў, што пражываюць у Башкартастане. Там ёсць сяло Балтыка, дзе жывуць нашы супляменнікі. У Іркуцкай воб ласці шмат сёл, дзе людзі размаўляюць на беларускай мове. Мы заўсёды з за давальненнем прымаем іх на стажы роўку. Часта нас уражваюць тыя аўтэнтычныя рэчы, якія яны захоўва юць. На трэцім Фестывалі беларусаў свету ўсіх скарыў калектыў «Вячоркі» з Цюмені. Яны захавалі і выконваюць цудоўныя песні. Многія адзначаюць, што і ў замежжы беларус застаецца беларусам. Гэта адкрытыя людзі, га товыя заўсёды прыйсці на дапамогу. Алена Дзядзюля

канферэнцыю,

адбылася

Нацыянальнай акадэміі навук. Таксама

межах

канцы ліпеня ў Заслаўі вернікі адзначылі Дзень памяці святога раўнаапостальнага князя Уладзіміра, з іменем якога звязана хрышчэнне Русі ў 988 годзе. Гэта месца для ўрачыстасцяў было абрана не выпадкова. Па-першае, на Беларусі не так

Гісторыя… Так, гэты горад разам з Полацкам і Туравам стаў адным з цэнтраў распаўсюджвання хрэсціянства на нашых землях. Князь Ізяслаў адыграў у гэтым немалую ролю. Ніканаўскі летапіс характарызуе яго як адукава нага чалавека, які «быў ціхі і рахма ны, пакорлівы і літаслівы», вывучаў святыя пісанні і надаваў вялікую ролю асвеце. Верагодна, такім жа чынам дзейнічала і духавенства. І к алі ў Ноўгарадзе і Кіеве напачат ку здараліся выпадкі «перадачы» новай рэлігііі «агнём і мячом», то на Беларусі падобных фактаў не было знойдзена. Хутчэй за ўсё,

Ізяслава, не характэрнай для таго суровага часу. На жаль, дакладных пісьмовых звестак, якія датычацца таго гістарычнага перыяду, захава лася вельмі мала. Таму вялікая ўвага ў рэспубліцы надаецца працы архе олагаў. Артэфакты, знойдзеныя пад час раскопак, дазваляюць адкрываць раней невядомыя старонкі гісторыі. А пытанняў, на якія яшчэ трэба знайс ці адказы, пакуль застаецца шмат. Напрыклад, калі епіскапская кафедра з’явілася ў Тураве? Большасць даслед чыкаў лічаць, што гэта адбылося ў той

жа час, як і ў Полацку (у 992 годзе). Чаму князь Уладзімір з язычніка ператварыўся ў глыбокаверуючага чалавека? Прафесар Мінскай ду хоўнай акадэміі, гісторык Валянціна Цяплова заўважыла, што да князя з’язджаліся месіянеры ад розных рэлігій і знаёмілі з асновамі сваёй веры, да таго ж князь пасылыў сваіх людзей, каб тыя на месцы высветлілі, што ўяўляюць сабой вераванні роз ных народаў. Хрышчэнне Русі стала адпраўной кропкай для тых працэсаў, дзякуючы якім у 992 годзе ў Полацку пачала дзейнічаць епіскапская ка федра. У свой час гэта сведчыла пра адміністратыўнае афармленне царкоўнага жыцця і пра тое, што ідэі хрысціянства былі прынятыя на беларускіх землях. Хрышчэнне Русі цалкам перавярнула ўсходне-сла вянскі свет, паклала пачатак адліку новай эпохі ў жыцці цэлага шэрагу народаў, у першую чаргу, беларускага, рускага і ўкраінскага. «Важнасць для грамадства святкавання 1030–годзя дзя праваслаўя на беларускіх землях заключаецца ў тым, што менавіта хрысціянства зрабіла рашучы ўплыў на фарміраванне нашай сістэмы каштоўнасцяў, светаўспрымання і выбудавала маральную сістэму ка ардынат», — заўважыў старшыня Сінадальнага інфармацыйнага аддзе ла Беларускай Праваслаўнай Царквы іерэй Ігар Васько. — Праваслаўе

стала адным з важнейшых факта раў не толькі станаўлення нашага народа, яго культуры, але і яго за хавання ў гісторыі»… І сучаснасць Урачыстасці ў Заслаўі сабралі больш за тысячу гасцей. Яны пачыналіся з богаслужэння на тэрыторыі храма ў гонар Праабражэння Гасподняга. Службу ўзначаліў Мітрапаліт Мінскі і Заслаўскі Веніямін, Патрыяршы Экзарх усяе Беларусі. Працавала ўнікальная выстаўка «Сувязь часоў», на якой былі прадстаўлены архіўныя і сучасныя фатаграфіі (многія з якіх выстаўляліся ўпершыню). Алеі гарад скога скверу напоўніліся карцінамі юных мастакоў Заслаўскай школы мастацтваў. А ў гісторыка-культур ным музі-запаведніку «Заслаўе» прайшла выстаўка жывапісу мастака Віктара Данілава «Храмы Заслаўя». Ладзіліся фестывалі хлеба і мёду, працавалі рамеснікі, кірмаш вырабаў майстэрань Свята-Елісавецінскага манастыра, інтэрактыўныя пляцоўкі для дзяцей і дарослых, палявая кухня, дэманстраваліся батлеечныя спектаклі. А ўвечары на цэнтраль най плошчы Заслаўя адбыўся вялікі святочны канцэрт з удзелам вядучых музычных калектываў. Намеснік старшыні Мінскага раённага выканаўчага камітэта Ірына Ціхонка адзначыла, наколькі адмет най стала гэтая падзея для рэгіёна. Колькасць праваслаўных прыхаджан у Мінскім раёне з кожным годам павялічваецца. Сёння тут маецца 49 прыходаў беларускай праваслаўнай царквы, 3 благачынні, 32 храмы, якія дзейнічаюць, і 16, якія цяпер знаходзяцца на стадыі будаўніцтва. А днямі была выдзелена зямля пад будоўлю яшчэ адной царквы — у гонар Святога Мікалая Цудатворцы. Наладжана цесная супрацоўніцтва паміж дзяржорганамі і Праваслаўнай царквой. Ладзяцца сустрэчы ў наву чальных установах, у шэрагу вайско вых часцей пабудаваны капліцы. Не забываюцца пра людзей састарэлых і інвалідаў з цэнтраў дзённага і кру гласутачнага знаходжання. У раёне дзейнічае таксама духоўна-асветніцкі цэнтр.

ДЗЯДЗЮЛЯ.

— Андрэй Аркадзьевіч, мне зда ецца, што слова традыцыі ў дачы ненні да рэлігійнага жыцця белару саў даволі важкае… — Многія рэчы ў жыцці грамадства мяняюцца, але калі мы кажам пра рэлігію, нам падаец ца, што мы не адчува ем зменаў. Гэта вельмі кансерватыўная частка сацыяльнага жыцця. Магчыма, самая кансерва тыўная. Чаму? Таму што рэлі гійнае жыццё кожнага наро да, як правіла, фарміруецца на працягу ты сячагоддзяў. Гэта працяглы працэс, і ён звычайна перарастае ў традыцыю: як адносіцца да рэлігій нага жыцця, як адносіцца да вернікаў іншых канфесій, як адносіцца да сям’і і сваякоў і г. д. На гэтыя пытанні пер шапачаткова адказвае рэлігія, дае ма ральныя прыклады. І тут вельмі шмат традыцыйнага ў кожным грамадстве. Не трэба казаць, што толькі ў белару саў. Паўсюль. Мы добра ведаем, што ў многіх краінах яна вельмі ўплывае на жыццё грамадства. Напрыклад, рэлі гія старажытных габрэяў кансалідуе іх на працягу ўжо 3,5 тысячы гадоў. Цэлыя стагоддзі іх больш нічога не аб’ядноўвала. На працягу невера годнай колькасці гадоў яны жывуць адасоблена ў розных краінах, але ім усім ўласціва рэлігійнае адзінства. Мы ўсе ведаем, што італьянцы — зацятыя каталікі. Гэта іх традыцыя, якая развівалася ў грамадстве доўгі час. Грэкі, наадварот, зацятыя пра васлаўныя, і гэта закладвалася яшчэ з часоў старажытнай Візантыі. Для іх рэлігія — гэта не выбар чалавека, а традыцыя іх продкаў. У значнай ступені так і ў беларусаў. Але трэба ўлічваць, што на працягу стагод дзяў тут склалася іншае разуменне рэлігійных працэсаў. Беларусы ўвесь час жылі на памежжы: гістарычным, цывілізацыйным, этнічным. І на нас

аказвалася вельмі шмат уплываў. Як на працягу тысячагоддзяў фарміру ецца беларуская нацыя, так на пра цягу тысячагоддзяў фарміруюцца яе рэлігійныя разуменні і ўяўленні. Наша традыцыя якраз паказвае не монаканфесійнасць, а магчымасць мірна суіснаваць вялікай колькасці канфесій. І гэта таксама традыцыя. Яна не падобная, напрыклад, на тра дыцыю нашых суседзяў рускіх, дзе праваслаўе пануе бездыскусійна, або палякаў, дзе пануе каталіцтва. А ў беларусаў жыццё на памежжы якраз сфарміравала разуменне талерантна сці да іншых рэлігій. Пад уплывам тых або іншых суседзяў змянялася і наша разуменне рэлігіі. У выніку змянялася і колькасць прыхільнікаў таго або іншага рэлігійнага напрам ку. Так было падчас змагання ка таліцтва і праваслаўя, але ж бачыце, заўсёды ў жыцці беларусаў прысутні чала некалькі кірункаў і іх немагчыма было вынішчыць. Беларусы ніколі не перабольшвалі з рэлігійным пытан нем. І можа быць, гэта таксама такі феномен, што на першым месцы ў нас стаіць пытанне этнічнага паход жання. Нават існуе думка ў сучасным грамадстве, што можна выбіраць ве равызнанне… У адпаведнасці з Канстытуцыяй Беларусі і Законам «Аб свабодзе сумлення i рэлiгiйных арганiзацы ях» беларусы карыстаюцца свабодай веравызнання і маюць права не ад казваць на пытанне, прыхільнікамі якой рэлігіі яны з’яўляюцца. Вы ж таксама праходзілі перапіс насельні цтва, і ніхто не пытаўся ў вас, якога вы веравызнання. Таму тут нельга апе ляваць пэўнымі лічбамі, але сацыя лагічныя апытанні, што праводзіліся ў нашай краіне ў апошнія дзесяць гадоў, даюць магчымасць гаварыць: да атэістаў адносіць сябе вялікая колькасць насельніцтва краіны. І ў гэтым мы не адзінокія. Напрыклад, у Чэхіі, якая недалёка ад нас, таксама шмат атэістаў. — Наша грамадства ў сваёй большасці з’яўляецца прыхільнікам хрысціянскіх рэлігій. І толькі? — Калі кажуць, што каталіцызм і праваслаўе — асноўныя рэлігійныя

напрамкі, якіх прытрымліваецца наша грамадства, то гэта не значыць, што няма іншых. Каталіцызм і пра васлаўе — гэта безумоўна тыя рэлігіі, якія найбольш распаўсюджаны ў нашай краіне. Але былі часы, калі на тэрыторыі Беларусі вельмі актыўна распаўсюджваўся пратэстантызм. Было гэта ў сярэдзіне XVI — пачатку XVII стагоддзя. Захаваліся навучаль ныя ўстановы, а таксама выданні нашых друкароў. Гэта было стагод дзе росквіту беларускага кнігадрука вання. Пасля Францыска Скарыны і яго друкарні ў Вільні былі засна ваны друкарні ў Брэсце, у Нясвіжы і іншыя. Пазней контррэфармацыя вынішчыла амаль ўсе дасягненні пратэстантызму. На нейкі час пратэ станскі рух у нашай краіне спыніўся. Але пазней пад яго ўплывам у ХІХ ст. у нас з’явіліся штунды. Такі напрамак пратэстантызму шырока распаўсю дзіўся сярод сялян. Быў вялікі выбух цікавасці простых людзей да самаа дукацыі. У нас да гэтага часу можна сустрэць людзей з незвычайнымі для беларусаў імёнамі, такімі, напры клад, як Сяргей Адольфавіч. Вось як толькі чалавек так называецца, але не мае сваякоў немцаў, гэта амаль пэўнае сведчанне таго, што калісьці сям’я прытрымлівалася ідэй штунд зізму: штунды звычайна абіралі для сваіх дзяцей нямецкія імёны. — А як наконт традыцый, якія дайшлі да нас з глыбіні вякоў?

— У беларусаў вельмі шмат уяўленняў звязана са старымі паган скімі вераваннямі. Яшчэ ў царскай Расіі праваслаўныя святары правялі апытанне сярод прыхаджан храмаў і прыйшлі ў жах: большая частка з іх паствы хадзіла маліцца да камянёў і крыніц. І калі ў 90-я гады ХХ ст. з’явілася цікавасць да рэлігіі, то перш за ўсё людзі пайшлі да месцаў, дзе раней праводзіліся традыцыйныя хрысціянскія абрады — да святых крыніц, камянёў, дрэваў у лесе і г. д. Апошнім часам выдаецца нямала альбомаў з фотаздымкамі, на якіх адлюстравана, як і дзе беларусы ад навілі гэтую традыцыю. Але гэта не што іншае, як перапляценне паган ства нашых старажытных продкаў з

кіраўнікамі вядучых

хрысціянскай верай. А яшчэ — па цвярджэнне таго, што вера ў белару саў практычная і служыць вырашэн ню іх праблем. Аднак традыцыйны ўклад беларусаў мяняецца: вельмі моцна змяніўся ён яшчэ напачатку XX стагоддзя, у многім пад уплывам Першай сусветнай вайны. Апошнім часам традыцыі перарываюцца з-за таго, што моладзь пераязджае жыць у гарады, а іх бацькі застаюцца ў вёсках.

— Ці можна назваць беларусаў, якія праводзяць абрады каля камя нёў і крыніц, паганцамі?

— Насамрэч гэта не паганцыі. Язычніцтва згубілася ў глыбіні вякоў. Да нас яно вярнулася ў выглядзе вя сковых традыцый, якія маюць хрыс ціянскую афарбоўку. Не трэба казаць, што беларусы паганцы. Але шанаван не старадаўніх традыцый — адна з рысаў талерантнасці нашага народа. З ажыўленнем рэлігійнага жыцця паступова больш важнымі для яго становяцца праваслаўная царква і ка таліцкі касцёл, уплыў маюць і пратэс танты. Паколькі свет становіцца ўсё больш і больш глабальным, у Беларусі паступова з’яўляюцца сучасныя рэлі гіі ці рэлігійныя плыні. Вы ведаеце,

што адзін час з’явілася нямала крыш наітаў-вашнаваў, з’яўляюцца будды сты, прыхільнікі іншых рэлігійных напрамкаў. Праўда, для нашай краіны пакуль не надта характэрна.

— Беларусы ў сваёй большасці пачалі хадзіць у царкву і касцёл. Але ці разумеюць яны адрозненні паміж дзвюма канфесіямі?

— Гэта зноў жа частка і традыцый, і талерантнасці. Неразуменне адроз нення паміж канфесіямі, каталіцкай і праваслаўнай, вельмі ўплывовы мо мант для нашай тэрыторыі. Дарэчы, нездарма ў Беларусі праходзяць эку менічныя канферэнцыі, накіраваныя на збліжэнне і аб’яднанне міжхрыс ціянскіх адносін.

— У нашай краіне нярэдкасць — змешаныя шлюбы. Шмат сем’яў, дзе адзін з бацькоў праваслаўнага вера вызнання, а другі — каталіцкага. У такой сям’і і рэлігійныя святы адзначаюць два разы на год…

— Згодна з апошнімі апытаннямі, беларусы адны з самых талерантных і ў гэтым сэнсе. Яны могуць пусціць у сваю сям’ю чалавека іншага вера вызнання. Католікі — праваслаўных, а праваслаўныя — католікаў. Гэта не ў кожнай краіне можна назіраць. У

монаэтнічнай і монарэлігійнай краіне

— Сучасная моладзь цікавіцца пытаннямі рэлігіі?

— Сапраўды, на жыццё многіх маладых людзей рэлігія мала ўплы вае ў нашай краіне. Але яны разу меюць, што гэта моцны сацыяльны фактар сучаснага свету, і ім цікава даведацца, як дзяржава ставіцца да гэтага пытання. А дзаржава рэгулюе ў тым ліку і рэлігійнае жыццё. Трэба ведаць пра апарат Упаўнаважанага па справах рэлігій і нацыянальнасцяў. Зразумела, што студэнты цікавяцца, ці ўплываюць на сітуацыю ў Беларусі іншыя канфесіі – іслам, усходнія рэ лігіі, іудаізм, нават дастаткова незвы чайныя сучасныя рэлігійныя групы. У адрозненне ад Беларусі ў некаторых краінах, у тым ліку суседніх, рэлігій ныя пытанні стаяць вельмі востра і могуць паўплываць на беларусаў. Дарэчы, беларусы за мяжой жывуць у розным канфесійным асяроддзі, якое часам уплывае на іх. Таму нема лаважна ведаць не толькі беларускія рэлігійныя традыцыі, але і сучасныя магчымасці рэлігійных уплываў з боку іншых традыцый.

Лагун

Падчас канферэнцыі намеснік Упаўнаважанага па справах рэлігій і нацыянальнасцяў Алена Радчанка адзначыла, што Беларусь адбылася як тэрыторыя сацыяльнай справядліва сці, міру і спакою, дзе ў згодзе і ваза емаразуменні жывуць прадстаўнікі 156 н ацыянальнасцяў, а дзяржава забяспечвае захаванне гісторыка-куль турнай спадчыны, рэалізацыю правоў і гарантый нацыянальных таварыстваў. І сёння, у складаны гістарычны момант, вельмі важна захоўваць памяць аб ахвярах Вялікай Айчыннай вайны, аб подзвігу вайскоўцаў, якія здабывалі Перамогу. «Трэба памятаць пра важнасць кансалідацыі грамадства на аснове гераічных традыцый і гісторыі нашай краіны, неабходнасць

захавання сувязі пакаленняў і, што надзвычай важна, супрацьстаяння спробам скажэння гістарычнай праўды пра гераізм шматнацыянальнага народа ў гады Другой сусветнай вайны», — заўважыла Алена Радчанка. Неразуменне таго, што адбываецца, пераацэнка каштоўнасцяў, тых адносін, якія напрацягу доўгага часу былі для нас святасцю, нязменнай каштоўнас цю, па словах намесніка Міністра ін фармацыі Ігара Бузоўскага, вядуць да разбурэння тых асноў, якія дазвалялі народам жыць у згодзе. Ён падкрэсліў, што захаванне

розных народаў ў Вялікую Перамогу і важнасць захавання гістарычнай

Так, старшыня грамадскага аб’яднання «Мінскае гарадское армянскае культурна-асветніцкае таварыства “Айастан”», старшыня Кансультацыйнага міжэтнічнага савета пры Упаўнаважаным па справах рэлігій і нацыянальнасцяў Георгій Егіазаран паведаміў, што дыяспары стараюцца рэгулярна праводзіць мерапрыемствы, прысвечаныя гістарычнай памяці. Многія

моладзь, якой важна перадаць, што

іх

гады Вялікай Айчыннай вайны

600 тысяч армян, адна трэць з іх за гінула (між іншым, у той час у Арменіі пражывала менш за тры мільёны чала век). Лёсы многіх з гэтых воінаў звяза ны з Беларуссю. 60 тысяч змагаліся з ворагам на тэрыторыі нашай краіны. Больш за сотню армян атрымалі зван не Герой Савецкага Саюза, 15 з іх – за вызваленне Беларусі. Даведацца пра подзвігі прадстаўнікоў братняга на рода дапаможа кніга «Воіны – армяне ў баях за Беларусь (1941—1944 гг.)», якая выйшла ў Мінску. Да праекта па падрыхтоўцы гэтага навукова-ме марыяльнага выдання падключыўся Інстытут гісторыі Нацыянальнай акадэміі навук і Упраўленне па ўвека вечванні памяці абаронцаў Айчыны і ахвяр войнаў Узброеных Сіл Рэспублікі Беларусь. На працягу некалькіх гадоў аўтарскі калектыў перагледзеў тысячы дакументаў, якія захоўваюцца ў му зеях і архівах Беларусі, Арменіі, Расіі, Украіны. Сабрана інфармацыя пра некалькі тысяч вайскоўцаў, партызан і падпольшчыкаў, упершыню падаюцца звесткі пра воінаў – армян, якія загінулі і пахаваны на беларускай зямлі. Сёння вялікая ўвага ўдзяляецца захаванню імёнаў прадстаўнікоў роз ных народаў, якія змагаліся за свабоду Беларусі. Так, у Віцебску і ў Гарадку вулі цы атрымалі назвы ў гонар камандую чага Першым Прыбалтыйскім фронтам Івана Баграмяна. Сярэдняя школа № 46 горада Віцебска носіць імя гэтага мар шала, двойчы Героя Савецкага Саюза, які, дарэчы, адну з зорак Героя атрымаў за вызваленне Беларусі. Сёлета ў школе, з удзелам Пасла Рэспублікі Арменія ў Рэспубліцы Беларусь Разміка Хумарана, была ўрачыста адкрыта манументаль ная кампазіцыя «Маршал Баграмян і Беларусь». Пры ўваходзе ў школу ўста ляваны барэльефы, якія спецыяльна былі прывезены з Арменіі, узоры на іх выкананы ў стылі традыцыйнага ар мянскага мастацтва разьбы па каменю. Адна з вуліц Мінска названа ў гонар армяніна Газараса Авакяна, які паказаў сябе ў аперацыі «Баграціён», калі была ліквідаана варожая групоўка ў Мінскім катле. Стралковы ўзвод старэйшага лейтэнанта Газараса Авакяна ўтрым ліваў стратэгічную вышыню, змог ад біць шэсць контратак.

Больш за сотню армян было сярод абаронцаў Брэсцкай крэпасці, восем з іх пахаваны ў цытадэлі. Дарэчы, у верасні 1975 года, калі адкрываўся мемарыяль ны комплекс «Брэсцкая крэпасць-ге рой», факел для запальвання вечнага агню на бронетранспарцёры прывёз адзін з удзельнікаў абароны цытадэлі Самвэл Мацэвасян. Прынамсі, ён быў адным з першых абаронцаў крэпасці, на якога выйшаў пісьменнік Сяргей Смірноў, рыхтуючы кнігу пра падзеі, што адбываліся ў Брэсце, ў пачатку вайны. Намеснік старшыні грамадскага аб’яднання «Грузінскае культур на-асветніцкае таварыства “Мамулі”» Гіві Кбілашвілі, у сваю чаргу узгадаў пра подзвіг сваіх суайчыннікаў. У Вялікай Айчыннай вайне ўдзельнічала каля 900 тысяч грузін, 400 тысяч з іх загінулі. Малады грузінскі паэт Мірза Гелавані загінуў у баі на Віцебшчыне пры фарсіраванні Заходняй Дзвіны. Сёлета яго імя было прысвоена школе ў аграгарадку Ржаўка ў Бешанковіцкім раёне. Амаль ужо 70 гадоў ў Беларусі жыве Галіна Калюжная – намеснік старшыні Беларускага грамадскага аб’яднання «Ватра». Калі пачалася вайна ёй было восем гадоў. Яе сям’я тады знаходзілася ў горадзе Дубна. Жанчына памятае, як адступалі войскі і як яе маці са сваімі ча тырма дзеткамі вырашыла перабрацца на хутар. Сям’я пераадолела ўжо частку шляху, але вымушана была вярнуцца, каб выратаваць параненага салдата, якога яны знайшлі ў пшанічным полі. «Калі ішла Вялікая Айчынная вайна, ніхто не пытаўся, якой ты нацыяналь насці. Гэта была адзіная вялікая Радзіма, якую абаранялі нашы бацькі, браты. У мяне тры дзядзькі загінулі на вайне. Адзін вызваляў Рыгу… Гэта боль, які не мае тэрміну даўніны. У Беларусі сотні брацкіх магіл, а ў кожнай – прад стаўнікі розных нацыянальнасцяў», — заўважыла Галіна Яфімаўна. Жанчына паабяцала, што ўкраінскае таварыства, нягледзячы на ўсе склада насці, будзе захоўваць памяць пра тых, хто загінуў падчас вызвалення Беларусі. «Вы едзеце на маладзечанскую дарогу, дзе помнік капітану Гастэлу, а ў тым самалёце быў яшчэ Скорабагаценка,

родам з Чарнігаўшчыны. Вы праязд жаеце праз Беразіно, там стаіць танк. Яго экіпаж змагаўся 17 гадзін, знішчыў шмат ворагаў і згарэў у танку. Камандзір гэтага экіпажа быў Павел Рак. Родам ён з Палтаўшчыны, — называе прыклады Галіна Калюжная. — Толькі ў баі за Лоеў 49 украінцаў атрымалі званне Герой Савецкага Саюза. Наогул, вышэйшае званне за вызваленне Беларусі атрымалі 235 украінцаў». Намеснік старшыні міжнароднага грамадскага аб’яднання «Татара-башкірская культурная спад чына “Чымша”» Гульсіна Аброськіна расказала пра ўдзел у Вялікай Айчыннай вайне татараў і башкіраў. З Рэспублікі Татарстан было прызвана ў войска каля 700 тысяч чалавек. Амаль кожны другі загінуў у баях, 10 тысяч з іх — падчас вызвалення Беларусі. На Віцебшчыне ў брацкай магіле (мемарыяльны ком плекс «Рыленкі») пахаваны татарскі кампазітар, аўтар музыкі да першага нацыянальнага балета Татарстана «Шурале» Фарыд Ярулін. Першая паста ноўка балета адбылася ў пасляваенны час, а Фарыд загінуў у 1943-м. Сёння імя татарскага кампазітара носіць дзі цячая школа мастацтваў у Дуброўне. З Ба шкірыі на фронт пайшло больш за 700 тысяч чалавек. 112-я башкірская кавалерыйская дывізія прымала ўдзел ў баявых дзеяннях у Гомельскай воблас

ці. Яе камандзір генерал-маёр Мінігалі Шаймуратаў, лічыцца народным ге роем Башкартастана. Двойчы Герой Савецкага Саюза, ганаровы грама дзянін гарадоў Ліда і Уфа Муса Гарэеў прымаў удзел у Віцебска-Аршанскай, Мінскай і другіх аперацыях. Старшыня Саюза беларускіх яўрэйскіх грамадскіх аб’яднанняў і абшчын Алег Рагатнікаў заўважыў: «Вайна была адна на ўсіх. Трагедыя і подзвіг – адны на ўсе народы і нацыянальнасці, якія прымалі ўдзел у абароне Савецкага Саюза. У Год гіста рычнай памяці нам неабходна знаёміць маладое пакаленне з гераічнымі гісто рыямі нашых продкаў, каб яны разу мелі каштоўнасць чалавечага жыцця, бачылі годныя прыклады і пасля пе радавалі гэтыя веды сваім дзецям». Ён узгадаў пра яўрэйскае супраціўленне. У Чырвонай Арміі змагаліся 500 тысяч прадстаўнікоў яўрэйскага народу, сярод іх было шмат ураджэнцаў бела рускай зямлі. Канешне, адным з сім валаў стойкасці савецкіх салдат стала абарона Брэсцкай крэпасці. Адзін з яе герояў — ураджэнец мястэчка Колышкі Віцебскай вобласці, палкавы камісар Яфім Фамін. Спачатку ён кіра ваў абаронай Холмскіх варот, а праз пару дзён стаў намеснікам камандзіра зводнай баявой групы абаронцаў цы тадэлі. Цяжка паранены Фамін трапіў

у палон і быў расстраляны ля Холмскіх варот. Званне Героя Савецкага Саюза атрымалі яўрэі — ураджэнцы Гомеля, Барысава, Віцебска, Бабруйска, Чэрвеня, Магілёва, Чаус, Крычава, Оршы, Нароўлі і іншых гарадоў. Яшчэ ў пачатку вайны камандзір першай мотастралковай дывізіі 20-й арміі Заходняга фронту палкоўнік Якаў Крэйзер здзейсніў подзвіг пад Барысавам. Ён умела арганізаваў баявыя дзеянні і здолеў затрымаць рух на рубяжы Бярэзіны. Яго дывізія знішчыла дзясяткі танкаў, 12 самалётаў, звыш тысячы ворагаў. Сваім асабістым удзелам у баі і смеласцю палкоўнік натхняў воінаў. За мужнасць і гераізм Якаву Крэйзеру, аднаму з першых камандзіраў дывізій Чырвонай Арміі прысвоена званне Героя Савецкага Саюза. Шмат яўрэяў далучыліся да партызанскага руху. Можна ўзгадаць яўрэйскі атрад, створаны братамі Бельскімі, у які ўліліся вязні, што змаглі збегчы з Навагрудскага гета. Не забыўся Алег Рагатнікаў і пра Праведнікаў народаў свету, якія рызыкавалі жыццём сваім і сваіх блізкіх, ратуючы яўрэяў. Першыя беларусы, якія атрымалі гэта званне, — Андрэй і Наталля Станько з вёскі Рэчкі на Вілейшчыне. Яны выратавалі сям’ю Элемелеха Казінца, якая збегла з гета ў Далгінаве. Званне сужэнцам Станько было прысвоена ў 1965 годзе. Антаніна Габіс са Шчучыншчыны выратавала сям’ю Кравец. У 1967 годзе Этэль Кравец запрасіла Антаніну ў Ізраіль, дзе адбылося ўрачыстае ўзнагароджанне. Беларуска нават пасадзіла дрэва на Алеі праведнікаў. Гэта было першае публічнае прадстаўленне беларускага Праведніка народаў свету. А сёння ў нашай краіне вядома ўжо каля 800 імёнаў такіх людзей. «Сапраўдныя героі — не заўсёды людзі са зброяй на перадавой, не заўсёды тыя, хто атрымліваў званні і ўзнагароды, а звычайныя людзі, якія жывуць па чалавечых законах, цэняць жыццё і гатовы абараняць іншых, прадстаўнікоў розных нацыянальнасцяў і рэлігійных перакананняў», — заўважыў Алег Рагатнікаў. Ганна Бузіноўская Фота з адкрытага доступу

з Беларусi

Беларуская зямля багата на таленты. Цяжка знайсці куток, дзе б ні ўзгадвалі пра вядомых ураджэнцаў. Пра іх распавядаюць у мясцовых музеях і школах. У краязнаўчых гуртках дзеці і падлеткі збіраюць інфармацыю пра вядомых суседзяў, вандруюць па мясцінах, звязаных з жыццём і дзейнасцю творцаў. Далёка не ўсюды ёсць музеі, дзе можна прэзентаваць літаратурныя здабыткі краю, але, як аказалася, і бібліятэкі сёння могуць стаць выдатнай пляцоўкай для папулярызацыі культурнай спадчыны.

Увага – гісторыі Шклоўская раённая бібліятэка садзейнічае захаванню памяці пра Міхася Зарэцкага. Хоць і нарадзіў ся пісьменнік у Талачынскім раёне, псеўданім свой узяў ад вёскі Зарэчча на Шклоўшчыне, дзе прайшло яго дзяцінства. У бібліятэцы афармля юцца кніжныя выстаўкі, робяцца відэапрэзентацыі, праходзяць твор чыя сустрэчы. Шмат гадоў пры Уздзенскай ра ённай бібліятэцы імя Паўлюка Труса дзейнічае літаратурная гасцёўня, дзе адбываюцца святы, прэзентацыі, тэматычныя вечары, краязнаўчыя ўрокі, сустрэчы, гадзіны паэзіі… І д зе робяцца, як тут жартуюць, «літара турныя прышчэпкі» – раздаюцца наведвальнікам цытаты з твораў знакамітага земляка.

З раённымі бібліятэкамі трымае сувязь галоўная кніжная скарбніца Беларусі. Госці з рэгіёнаў прыязджа юць у Нацыянальную бібліятэку на круглыя сталы і канферэнцыі, прысвечаныя юбілеям беларускіх пісьменнікаў. Бібліятэкары і чытачы далучаюцца да літаратурных кон курсаў, што праводзяцца ў межах праекта «На хвалі часу, у плыні жыцця». Адзін з такіх конкурсаў «О, Беларусь, мая шыпшына» аб’яднаў аматараў паэзіі Уладзіміра Дубоўкі. Не застаўся па-за ўвагай, у тым ліку і беларусаў замежжа, яшчэ адзін конкурс — «Беларускі салавей», якім Нацыянальная бібліятэка прапана вала чытачам звярнуцца да творчасці ўжо другога аўтара-маладнякоўца. Удзельнікам трэба было напісаць эсэ па творы Змітрака Бядулі. Здавалася, не так проста прыдумаць сюжэт з удзелам герояў, пазычаных у класіка, які будзе папярэднічаць апісаным Бядулем падзеям, працягваць іх ці развівацца паралельна. І тым не менш, сотні работ паступілі ад удзельнікаў розных узростаў. Беларускі авангард Аматары творчасці ансамбля «Песняры» добра памятаюць песню пра смуглявую Стасю. Яе выконвалі розныя артысты, а ў 2014 годзе ў межах Міжнароднага конкурсу выка наўцаў эстраднай песні, які правод

зіўся падчас фестывалю «Славянскі базар», менавіта за выкананне «Стасі» Пётр Ялфімаў атрымаў Гран-пры. На стварэнне гэтага музычнага твора кампазітара Алега Молчана натхніла творчасць Язэпа Пушчы, даклад ней, верш, які паэт-маладняковец прысвяціў сваёй жонцы Станіславе. Язэп Пушча (Іосіф Плашчынскі) пакінуў унікальную літаратурную спадчыну. Паэт смела працаваў са словам, шукаў трапныя і адметныя спалучэнні, уражваў чытача нечака нымі метафарамі, здзіўляў, шакіра ваў. Яго лічылі экстравагантным, эпатажным. Сябры–аднадумцы захапляліся яго эксперыментамі, а больш памяркоўныя калегі рэзка крытыкавалі. Язэп Пушча ўвайшоу у шасцёрку пісьменнікаў, якія выступілі з ідэяй стварэння Усебеларускага літаратур нага аб’яднання «Маладняк». У 20-я гады вяліся пошукі новых мастацкіх форм, кірункаў, тэм. Тэарэтыкі пры думвалі новыя тэрміны для новай, не падобнай на класічныя ўзоры паэ зіі. Беларускія творцы прапанавалі тэрмін «маладнякізм», што падкрэ слівала, што літаратура развіваецца ў плыні еўрапейскага авангарду і мадэрнізму, але ў той жа час паказва ла, што айчынныя наватары жадаю ць захаваць сваю адметнасць. Язэп Пушча з’яўляўся адным з яскравых наватараў таго часу. Не ўсе былі гато

выя прыняць яго творчасць. У выніку рэпрэсій амаль на два дзесяцігоддзі ён вымушаны быў «замаўчаць». У 1930 годзе паэт быў арыштаваны і з 31-га года жыў у высылцы. Але і на новым месцы ён паспеў пакінуць годны след. Іосіф Плашчынскі пра цаваў настаўнікам у школах Расіі, спачатку ў Манакоўскай, а пасля Чаадаеўскай. Пра тое, што вучні па любілі свайго настаўніка, сведчаць вершы, якія яны пісалі для яго. Урокі літаратуры і мовы праходзілі нетра дыцыйна. Настаўнік вучыў дзяцей майстэрству спрэчкі, не баяцца аўта рытэтаў, а смела даказываць свае по гляды перад любым суразмоўцам. У хуткім часе Плашчынскі становіцца дырэктарам, пры ім на прышколь ным ўчастку быў закладзены вішнё вы сад. Пра дырэктара, які, як пасля даведаліся вучні, аказаўся вядомым беларускім пісьменнікам, і сёння ўзгадваюць у музейнай экспазіцыі Чаадаеўскай школы Мурамскага раёна Уладзімірскай вобласці Расійскай Федэрацыі.

Не забываюцца пра Язэпа Пушчу і на яго радзіме. Настаўнікі і вучні Навадворскай сярэдняй школы Мінскага раёна стварылі віртуаль ны школьны гісторыка-краязнаўчы музей «Адраджэнне», дзе распавя даюць у тым ліку і пра знакамітага земляка.

Дзе пачынаецца Радзіма?

Свой адказ на гэтае пытанне быў у Кузьмы Чорнага. Безумоўна, там, дзе прайшло маленства. «Родныя мае мясціны. Як мая душа рвецца туды! Яны заўсёды там. Там жывуць усе мае персанажы. Усе дарогі, пейзажы, дрэвы, хаты, чалавечыя натуры, пра якія калі-небудзь пісаў. Гэта ўсё ад туль, сапраўднае», – прызнаваўся ў свой час пісьменнік і адзначаў, што толькі пра землякоў мог бы пісаць усё жыццё. А на малой радзіме, не без гонару, жыхары пры сустрэчах пыталіся адзін у аднаго: «Не чыталі. Каролькаў сын (вясковая мянушка Чорнага) зноў пра нас расказвае!». Таму, калі пажадаеце сустрэцца з персанажамі класіка і мясцінамі, якія ён адлюстраваў у сваіх тво

рах, завітайце на Капыльшчыну ў Цімкавічы – вёску сапраўды з бага тай гісторыяй. У канцы пазамінулага стагоддзя тут была валасная ўправа, паштовая станцыя, дзве царквы і старажытны драўляны касцёл, дзве яўрэйскія школы, народнае вучылішча, шэсць заездных дамоў і некалькі дзясяткаў дробных крам. Далёка за межамі Цімкавічаў ведалі пра майстэрства слуцкіх ткачоў–сурвэтнікаў, сярод якіх вызначаўся і дзядуля Кузьмы Чорнаг. Выдатна гэтым майстэрствам аваалодала і маці пісьменніка. У Цімкавічах быў арганізаваны першы народны тэатр, вядомы з 1918 г ода. Кузьма Чорны быў адным з яго акцёраў, а таксама доўгі час у тэатры ішлі п’есы па яго творах. Цяперашнія Цімкавічы –каля 1300 жыхароў, 11 вуліц агульнай працягласцю 12 кіламетраў. Школа, у якой вучыўся Кузьма Чорны, а пасля выкладаў, носіць яго імя. Дарэчы, гэта вясковая навучальная ўстанова можа пахваліцца, што з яе сцен вый шлі дзясяткі кандыдатаў і дактароў навук.

Бібліятэкар Цімкавіцкай сель скай бібліятэкі Вольга Радкевіч, расказала, што адным з прыярытэт ных накірункаў установы з’яўляецца краязнаўства і ўшанаванне памяці славутых землякоў. Літаратурныя гульні па творчасці Кузьмы Чорнага,

даведнікі, выстаўкі сведчаць пра тое, што вясковая бібліятэка стала сапраўдным асяродкам культурнай актыўнасці.

Добра, што я іх ведаў Яшчэ адна асоба на Капыльшчыне, інфармацыю пра якую актыў на збіраюць удзячныя землякі з гісторыка-краязнаўчага музея «Бацькаўшчына» Каменскага вучэб на-педагагічнага комплексу дзіцячы сад – сярэдняя школа, — пісьменнік, паэт, крытык Ян Скрыган. Вучні і настаўнікі вядуць даследчую працу. Яны стварылі макет дома, у якім жыў пісьменнік. У музеі сабралі дакумен ты, фатаграфіі, медалі, падзякі і аса бістыя рэчы (сярод якіх самаробныя кіёчкі, тканыя гальштукі і закладач кі, якія так падабаліся пісьменніку). Тэматычныя экскурсіі, творчыя конкурсы, чытанні, сустрэчы са сваякамі знакамітага ўраджэнца сталі тут добрай традыцыяй. Дачка Яна Скрыгана Галіна прызналася, што знаходзіцца ў захапленні ад на столькі насычанай, разнастайнай і плённай працы: «Гэта смаката. Я тут выкарыстала любімае слова свайго таты. Менавіта так ён называў усё, што яму падабалася». Сама жанчына прыкладае вялікія намаганні для таго, каб прасоўваць спадчыну свайго бацькі. Дзякуючы

Праект «На хвалі часу, у плыні жыцця» Нацыянальная бібліятэка ладзіць сумесна з Беларускім дзяржаўным музеем гісторыі літаратуры і Беларускім дзяржаўным архівам-музеем літаратуры. У межах яго на базе Нацыянальнай бібліятэкі ствараецца віртуальны рэсурс, прысвечаны пісьменнікаммаладнякоўцам. У свабодным доступе выкладаюцца аблічбаваныя кнігі пісьменнікаў, іх артыкулы, архіўныя дакументы, у тым ліку фотаздымкі, дзённікі, нататнікі і рукапісы, а таксама падаецца інфармацыя і публікацыі даследчыкаў, якія вывучалі творчасць пэўных аўтараў. Рэсурс можа быць карысным аматарам прыгожага слова, настаўнікам, даследчыкам і людзям, якія хочуць больш ведаць пра беларускую літаратуру. «Маладнякоўцы» шмат эксперыментавалі са словам, стваралі ўнікальныя творы. На жаль, многія з імёнаў пачаткоўцаў 20-30-х усё яшчэ малавядомыя шырокаму колу чытачоў. Дзякуючы рэсурсу ў вас ёсць магчымасць адкрыць для сябе цікавых аўтараў. Давайце разам здзіўляцца і натхняцца!

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ёй працягваюць выходзіць кнігі Яна Скрыгана, апрацаваны яго дзённікі, хатнія архівы, сабраны ўспаміны пра пісьменніка і яго калег, фотаархівы. У пасляваенныя гады Ян Скрыган пачаў пісаць літаратурныя партрэты пра сваіх калег–маладнякоўцаў. Ён вельмі баяўся, што многія асобы мо гуць аказацца забытымі. Пісьменнік загарэўся ідэяй аднавіць імёны са здымка з’езду «Маладняка». Гэта сем дзясяткаў маладых творцаў! Родныя ўспаміналі, што ён радаваўся як дзіця, калі ўдавалася ўзгадаць яшчэ якое-небудзь прозвішча. Некаторыя з успамінаў пісьменніка былі надру каваны пры жыцці аўтара, а частка літаратурных партрэтаў засталася ў хатніх шуфлядах, прычым некато рыя з іх ён пісаў нават да апошніх сваіх дзён. У дзённіках бацькі Галіна Іванаўна знайшла запіс, што ён хацеў бы назваць кнігу ўспамінаў «Добра, што я іх ведаў», і менавіта пад такой назвай бацькоўская спадчына па бачыла свет. На старонках ажыў час, засталіся жывыя звесткі, якія наўрад ці могуць быць знойдзены ў літаратурных энцыклапедыях. Напрыклад, Ян Скрыган узгадваў, як маладыя творцы збіраліся на пу стой кватэры ў Паўлюка Шукайлы, расцілалі кажухі, ляжалі на падлозе, перабіралі рукапісы, крэмсалі, спра чаліся. Так Платон Галавач, Васіль

Каваль, Уладзімір Хадыка, Максім Гарэцкі, Міхась Зарэцкі і многія іншыя творцы 20–30-х гадоў навечна засталіся маладымі. Сваякі Міколы Нікановіча так сама імкнуцца вяртаць звесткі пра пісьменніка. Пляменніца празаіка Яўгенія Дзяркач перажывае, што многія творы былі страчаныя. Толькі пасля рэабілітацыі ў 60-х гадах быў сабраны матэрыял для сціплага выдання. Нашчадкі пад зяліліся каштоўнымі фотаздымкамі, якія размешчаны на віртуальным рэсурсе Нацыянальнай бібліятэкі «На хвалі часу, у плыні жыцця». У

межах праекта ствараюцца раздзе лы, прысвечаныя асобным пісьмен нікам–маладнякоўцам, наладжаны сувязі са сваякамі, у тым ліку з тымі, што сёння пражываюць за межамі Беларусі, сабраныя рэдкія дакумен ты і фотаздымкі, адсканаваны кнігі і даследаванні, звязаныя з бурлівым літаратурным працэсам 20–30-х гадоў. Калі бібліятэка носіць імя класіка…

То там гучаць творы, пакінутыя пісьменнікам, ладзяцца сустрэчы з літаратарамі, краязнаўцамі, здыма юцца фільмы, ствараецца энцыкла педыя, дзякуючы якой школьнікі могуць адкрываць сакрэты свайго земляка, праходзяць спектаклі, ства раецца інтэрактыўная карта (калі пры

дапамозе QR-кодаў можна знаходзіць факты пра жыццёвы і творчы шлях пісьменніка). Так працуе Пастаўская дзіцячая бібліятэка імя Уладзіміра Дубоўкі. У ёй ладзілі і відэаталаку (дарэчы, слова «талака» менавіта Дубоўка актыўна ўводзіў у літаратур ную мову). Тут маюць арыгінальныя лісты і паштоўкі, падпісаныя пісь меннікам, ладзяць вела-падарожжы па малой радзіме творцы — у аснову ўзята яго аўтабіяграфічная кніга «Пялёсткі», на кожным прыпынку падарожнікі чытаюць апавяданні Дубоўкі. «Падчас падрыхтоўкі кож нага мерапрыемства мы хвалюемся, ці знойдзе наша праца па ўшанаванні землякоў спажыўцоў,— прызнаецца бібліятэкар Пастаўскай дзіцячай бібліятэкі Людміла Сяменас. — І мы бачым, што яна патрэбна моладзі, мясцовым жыхарам, наогул усім беларусам. Мы з’яўляемся асаблівым каналам сувязі, спрабуем больш скла даныя, навуковыя веды праз розныя формы і мерапрыемствы данесці да людзей, зрабіць блізкімі і цікавымі. Мы з’яўляемся сейбітамі і права ваднікамі духоўнасці». Сапраўды, у руках неабыякавых людзей твор чая спадчына становіцца выдатнай крыніцай для прыцягнення ўвагі да куточкаў, у якіх нарадзіліся і якія апявалі пісьменнікі, для стварэн ня турыстычных маршрутаў, для абуджэння ў мясцовых дзяцей і мо ладзі захаплення сваімі мясцінамі і роднай мовай. А ў Мінску можна нават зазір нуць у бібліятэкі класікаў, пабыва ць у іх кабінетах. Напрыклад, гэта можна зрабіць у адзіным у сталіцы музеі–кватэры Петруся Броўкі ці ў Цэнтральнай навуковай бібліятэцы імя Якуба Коласа НАН Беларусі. У а пошняй, згодна з запаветам Пятра Глебкі, захоўваецца каля чатырох тысяч кніг, якія збіраў пісьменнік, а таксама створаны мемарыяльны ка бінет Глебкі з арыгінальнай мэбляй і асабістымі рэчамі класіка. Дарэчы, пабываць у гасцях у творцы можна і віртуальна — на сайце бібліятэкі створаны віртуальны кабінет. Алена ДЗЯДЗЮЛЯ Фота з адкрытага доступу

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