Belarus (magazine #1 2015) by BELARUS Magazine

Magazine for you

No.1 (976), 2015

BELARUS

www.belarus-magazine.by

Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

THE OUTLINE

of the many-sided reality

Events in Belarus and abroad

Weekly newspaper read in dozens of countries Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be late to subscribe

contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 1 (976), 2015 Published since 1930 State Registration Certificate of mass medium No.8 dated March 2nd, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus

Founders: The Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus “SB” newspaper editorial office Belvnesheconombank Editor: Viktor Kharkov

Nation strong in its traditions

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

Loan of trust as a good stimulus

How to measure wealth Once again

we turn to money, as we all know, there is never too much but is there enough? And what yardstick should we apply? A comparative measurement is the best way

Beginning life with a blank sheet The situation in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions has pushed many to flee their homes. Belarus’ Gomel Region has become a new home for hundreds of families

What remains? Archaeological Museum

Friendship with a book from the early age What is a modern children’s

Prodi thinks…

of National Academy of Sciences is unique not only in Belarus but across Europe

regional library and how does it reflect our fast-paced computerized lifestyle? What does it offer today’s children?

Incredible flax

Vladimir Gridyushko: ‘I love serving the Theatre’

Generosity — the feature of the strong people

UZARI and MAIMUNA will perform at Eurovision-2015

Reasonable care for the respectable age In order to receive at least a social pension, one year ago, it was necessary to have labor experience of just five years. However, last year, the minimum period of labor experience was raised to ten years and, from January 1st, it was raised to 15 years

No secrets on nuclear power station Grodno Region boasts a great many

castles, churches and other sites attractive to tourists. Recently, it has also gained the Belarusian nuclear power station site as an ‘attraction’.

беларусь.belarus 2015

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish. Distributed in 50 countries of the world. Final responsibility for factual accuracy or interpretation rests with the authors of the publications. Should any article of Беларусь.Belarus be used, the reference to the magazine is obligatory. The magazine does not bear responsibility for the contents of advertisements.

Publisher: “SB” editorial office This magazine has been printed at State Entertainment “Publishers “Belarus Printing House”. 79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No. 128 Total circulation — 1883 copies (including 723 in English).

Write us to the address: 11 Kiselyov Str., Minsk, Belarus, 220029. Tel.: +375 (17) 290-62-24, 290-66-45. Tel./Fax: +375 (17) 290-68-31. www.belarus-magazine.by E-mail: mail@belarus-magazine.by Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977

A game for which we must live

For future foreign subscribers for ‘Belarus’ magazine, apply to ‘MK-Periodica’ agency. E-mail: info@periodicals.ru Telephone in Minsk: +375 (17) 227-09-10.

editor's note

Exact reflection of one’s time

robably, these are usual words but we repeat them each time when we wish each other new hopes and well-being. Originality is inappropriate here; sincerity comes first. All these are directly relevant to the moment when another year arrives. Each has their own plans for the new year: both people and countries. The outline of the manysided reality is a publication in our magazine which says that, in 2015, Belarus will try a whole range of innovations. The Eurasian Economic Union was launched on January 1st: a historical fact already, while Belarus has become the first country chairing in this integration union. According to experts, the Eurasian Economic Union will be the world’s sixth economy with total GDP reaching almost $3 trillion. Another $1 trillion is expected by 2030 due to integration effect. The market of more than 170m people with free movement of goods, services, capital and labour resources promises big profits for business and investors. An interesting prospect, isn’t it? Moreover, since the beginning of this year, additional measures of state support have been introduced for families with children, aiming to stimulate birth rate. Since January 2015, a decree has entered into force in Belarus, envisaging a range of measures, aiming to enhance pensions for citizens boasting long period of work. Experts note that implementation of these measures will allow to strengthen employees’ motivation towards long and legal labour activity, on the one hand, and to restrict leading-strings mentality, on the other hand.

Meanwhile, another decree (also coming into force since January) enhances requirements for executives and workers of organizations. The document is designed to help get rid of economic mismanagement while reinforcing manufacturing-technological, labour and performance discipline. New amendments to the law on mass media have also entered into force since January 2015. One of the major innovations is changes in regulating the work of so called the Internet media. In particular, now the action of the law on mass media also spreads on information resources, placed in the global computer network Internet (except for the requirement for state registration) which are used to spread the products of mass media information. It means that from now on the Internet resources will bear responsibility for ‘virtual’ words equally with official mass media. Moreover, Belarus also toughens criminal responsibility for crimes in the sphere of drug illegal trafficking while also reinforcing administrative responsibility for violations connected with drug consumption. This is envisaged by the corresponding decree, entering into force from January 1st. These are the innovations brought by the new year. We still have the whole year to assess their benefit and effect. Let’s now return to the past, e.g., some eighty years ago. Belarus magazine boasts a rich history, as its first issue appeared in January 1930. Of course, these were different times… The magazine itself was a mirror of its time rather than its chronicler. It continues to be such now and I’m confident it will be such in future. By Viktor Kharkov

2015 беларусь.belarus

Panorama  Key peace-keeping mission Russian Vedomosti announces President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as politician of the year as part of its Person of the Year special publication

Belta

Values of cheerful Christmas As is traditional, on the festive day, Alexander Lukashenko lights Christmas candle and exchanges gifts with the Patriarchal Exarch, while assuring citizens that there will be always peace and accord in our country

ozens of thousands of Orthodox believers visited church with their family on Christmas Day, offering friendly greetings and congratulations. Of course, this time of year isn’t only for gift giving, as Mr. Lukashenko reminded everyone in his speech. The enduring values of mercy and compassion, mutual understanding and tolerance support altruistic actions: caring for others deserving our love and sympathy. On Christmas Day, the President visited the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk, thanking the Church for its great contribution to strengthening peace and accord across Belarus. Extending his warmest greetings, the President stressed, “You can rely on the state and authorities, feeling sure that our country will always be peaceful and calm. We guarantee it.” The new year will be complicated but Mr. Lukashenko is confident that the

беларусь.belarus 2015

country will survive successfully ‘thanks to the kindness of our people and their wish to live in peace in our God-given land’. “I congratulate all Belarusians, our friends, brothers and neighbours. I wish peace and kindness to them and, especially, I wish peace to our close southern neighbour. We will do our best to enhance peace and accord in the souls and hearts of these fraternal people,” said Mr. Lukashenko. The President lit a candle for the Icon of the Mother of God of Minsk, together with his younger son Nikolay. Then, the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Pavel, presented the revered Icon of the Mother of God ‘Of the Three Hands’ — brought from the Athos. The Presented gave the Belarusian Orthodox Church a souvenir panel picture, depicting the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Polotsk. The panel picture is made of silver, using an embossing technique on cardboard. Built in 1893, the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is part of St. Yevfrosiniya Monastery in Polotsk, which holds the relics of St. Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya.

ccording to the publication, in 2014, the President of Belarus proved to be an extremely skilled diplomat and economist who adopted a well-balanced position from the very start of events in Kiev. It reads: ‘As a result, Minsk has become the major venue for the resolution of the crisis peacefully; the Minsk format is recognized as the only possible format for talks, while Mr. Lukashenko has become the foremost peacemaker in Europe’.

 Material and spiritual Belarus to send several more applications to UNESCO for its historical and cultural sites to be included in the World Heritage List

gor Chernyavsky, who heads the Department for Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage, at the Ministr y of Culture, tells us, “By February 1st, all records will be ready for submission to UNESCO’s Centre of World Heritage. The Material Embodiment of Spiritual Heritage of St. Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya (which includes the 12th century Transfiguration Church), the felt boot manufacturing custom (celebrated in Dribin District of Mogilev Region) and the celebration of the Budslav Mother of God icon are making the application. In April, we will continue negotiations with Poland to add the Avgustovsky Canal to the Heritage List.”

“FOR SPIRITUAL REVIVAL” AWARD

Nation strong in its traditions Of our many customs, one of the deepest and most revered is linked to Christmas

he ‘For Spiritual Revival’ awards, as well as special Presidential awards to cultural and artistic figures and the ‘Belarusian Sport Olympus’ awards were recently presented at the Palace of the Republic, in the presence of the Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus. The solemn event symbolizes the sincere gratitude of the country to those who serve with self-sacrifice. Our countrymen inspire pride in our Motherland, making us stronger in our own dedication. The dramatic and tragic events in neighbouring countries have shown

where selfish motives can lead. The storm of international and interfaith conflicts, including terrorist threats, seems to be engulfing the whole world. Having congratulated all those gathered on the cheerful holiday of Christmas, the President emphasized that the ceremony to present ‘For Spiritual Revival’ awards is purposefully organized at Christmas time. Belarus is committed to Christian values, alongside moral and aesthetic traditions, in developing its nationhood and unity. The President addressed the audience and all citizens, saying, “Under these conditions, the unity and integrity of the nation is to the fore. The New Tes-

tament reads: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house’.” History shows that the solid wellbeing of every country relies on peace and accord. The Belarusian nation has always strived towards creativity, diligence, justice and mutual aid. Since time immemorial, we’ve respected those who work to uphold such fundamental moral principles. The President named the merits of the laureates of the ‘For Spiritual Revival’ award, who are highly appreciated by the state and our society. He underlined, “We award those who have dedicated their lives to delivering mercy and aid to others...”

2015 беларусь.belarus

“FOR SPIRITUAL REVIVAL” AWARD

Belta

REFERENCE

Belarus is committed to creating conditions for self-realization of young citizens, so that they might use their strength and skills for the benefit of their native country. On the solemn awards day, we pay respect to those who work every day to achieve this goal. Mr. Lukashenko reminded that 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory. He noted, “Everything possible is being done in Belarus to preserve its memory. We take good care of the historical truth and try to extract priceless lessons. Thanks to the labour and talents of cultural workers, the new Great Patriotic War History Museum building opened last year and a new exhibition launched at Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial.” The President awarded the Director of Brest HeroFortress Memorial, Grigory Bysyuk. Our country is eager to use global experience but needs to take care not to become overwhelmed by other nations’ culture. Our identity is valuable. We award those who innovate in various genres, creating a new legacy, worldview and traditions. Ten special Presidential awards were bestowed to masters of arts, author

беларусь.belarus 2015

groups and cultural organizations, as well as athletes, who have brought glory to our country internationally. The past year was rich in sport events and Minsk hosted the World Ice Hockey Championship. Our athletes performed well at the Olympic Games in Sochi and, of course, special gratitude goes to their teachers and coaches. The President emphasized that the health of the nation, physical culture and sports remain a state focus. He commented, “We’d like to see healthy lifestyle, love of sport and active recreation become a tradition among people of all ages. Certainly, our country should rejoice at the vivid triumphs of Belarusian professional athletes, whose lives are inseparable from top-effort sport.” Mr. Lukashenko passionately thanked the awardees for setting an example of service to the community and genuine love for their country. The ceremony confirmed an ancient truth: good deeds are always rewarded. The country is filled with such deeds and those who fulfil this mission will always be deservedly honoured.

 Several groups have been given the President’s ‘For Spiritual Revival’ awards for humanitarian activities, including a group which organizes special social workshops for those with disabilities. The laureates include the Father Superior of the religious community of the Parish of the Church of the Mother of God ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon in Minsk (at the Minsk Eparchy of the Belarusian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Igor Korostelev, and the Associate Professor of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, Marina Kravtsova. The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus has been awarded for highlighting national and historical traditions in its performance of the ballet Vytautas. Other awardees include the Republican Care Home for War and Labour Veterans, which has made a great contribution to improving the country’s social security system and to promoting humanity and kindness. Meanwhile, Zubrenok Children’s Education and Recreation Centre has been recognized for its significant achievements in developing children’s talents, skills and abilities, while nurturing future public leaders. The Central Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union was also awarded for its significant contribution to promoting patriotism and citizenship.

By Vasily Kharitonov

The important role of the staff

t the end of last year, Alexander Lukashenko made a drastic management reshuffle within the Government, the Presidential Administration and the National Bank. Andrei Kobyakov was appointed as the new Prime Minister while Alexander Kosinets now heads the Presidential Administration and Pavel Kallaur becomes the Chairman of the National Bank’s Board. Major staff changes have occurred across these three structures.

Loan of trust as a good stimulus President of Belarus expects innovative new ideas to enhance economic efficiency

If the economy works well, we’ll have finances and currencies and, correspondingly, social stability

resenting newly appointed Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov, the President noted, “Decisive, experienced, pragmatic, well-informed and sensible people are appointed to work in the Government. Therefore, I expect you to suggest constructive, innovative ideas, to raise the efficiency of our economy. You are the think tank needed to develop methods to ensure sustainable and balanced economic growth and to improve people’s living standards.” The President noted that, apart from addressing current tasks, the Government should start working on mid-term plans: primarily, Belarus’ socio-economic development draft program for 2016-2020 (to be defended at the next All-Belarus People’s Congress). Alexander Lukashenko believes that the authorities face a serious test in 2015, saying, “Much depends on you, and on your ability to mobilize all resources, to achieve the goals set. Everyone should work with public responsibility in mind, so that people cannot blame us for failure. We need to roll up our sleeves and get down to work.”

The Head of State notes that there is nothing extraordinary in new appointments, explaining, “This is a constant process. Life is ever changing, with alterations to staff appointments at all levels, as is traditional — especially in the year of Presidential elections. We did the same last time. The major core of the Government and other leaders of the country was formed before the Presidential elections.” He adds that the new appointments will be conducted before the elections and afterwards, in three stages. “We’ve implemented the first stage, so the Government, other officials and governors will have time to assess, and launch the new year, from January 1st, in a new way, if necessary.” Mr. Lukashenko underlines that, before the elections, he plans to see how ministers and top ranking officials are working, using this to take decisions. “According to our Constitution, if everything is fine, people will trust us and support us at the elections, when the Government resigns. I will have a chance to appoint new governors and other officials,” the President emphasizes, noting that he’d like everyone to take up their new jobs before the New Year, so that they can begin solving complex tasks for the country. “I attach great importance to current staff decisions, aiming to reinforce the economic bloc,” comments Mr. Lukashenko. Over half of the composition of the Council of Ministers has been revamped. The Head of State states, “If the economy works well, we’ll have finances and currencies and, correspondingly, social stability, so that people won’t make excessive claims against us.” By Mikhail Veremeev

2015 беларусь.belarus

The important role of the staff

Priorities of responsible work Presidential Administration is the country’s political headquarters, with tasks proceeding from this

“T

he position of the Head of the Presidential Administration is one of the key positions in our system of government. We have repeated many times that the Presidential Administration is the think tank of the Head of State. Much will depend on the person who will lead this think tank,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. He described Alexander Kosinets as a skilful and determined leader with many years of managerial experience. Alexander Kosinets used to be the rec-

tor of one of the country’s leading universities and the Deputy Prime Minister while also being responsible for social security, healthcare and culture. For many years he was the Governor of Vitebsk Region. The President of Belarus believes that Alexander Kosinets will be able to handle new challenges due to his proactive stance, energy, determination and acumen. The Head of State is convinced that Mr. Kosinets will give a new and powerful impetus to the work of the Presidential Administration. The Head of State emphasized that personnel management is the main responsibility of the Presidential Administration. “You know my requirements: professionalism, full commitment to work, and, the main thing, result. I would also add selfless service to the people,” said the President. He also stressed that arrogance on the part of public servants and state officials is unacceptable. According to Mr. Lukashenko, it will be necessary to work seriously

Ability to stay ahead

ntroducing the Chairman of the National Bank’s Board, Pavel Kallaur, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko named the Bank’s priorities, including ensuring the stability of the national currency. “You are facing the strategic task of strengthening public trust, as well as that of enterprises, in the national monetary unit: the Belarusian Rouble,” said the President. The economy’s reliance on ‘dollarisation’ needs to be reduced, but not by artificial restrictions. Mr. Lukashenko believes that real and effective measures are crucial in order to raise the volume of deposits and loans in the national currency. He stresses that people should

беларусь.belarus 2015

Belta

The National Bank’s strategic task: to strengthen trust in the Belarusian Rouble

not be afraid to keep savings in local currency and is eager that people refrain from ‘rushing to exchange offices upon receiving their paycheck, to get rid of their Roubles’. Mr. Lukashenko notes that retail deposits are protected by the state, as ‘has always been the case and will remain so’ and that the National Bank has stabilized the situation for the time being. However, he wishes to see a long-term plan of proactive effort, especially in matters of exchange rate policy.

with the database listing gifted young Belarusians. “It is the major treasure that we should work with. Yes, not all of them but many of them will become executives. We just have to come up with a system,” believes the Head of State. The Head of State noted that the improvement of the personnel discipline is the main priority. “The requirements for senior executives will be toughened as the situation around the state is dramatically changing,” announced the Belarusian President. By Vladimir Khromov

Pavel Kallaur isn’t new to his colleagues, having spent his whole career with the banking system, first as a non-management employee at the district level, to his current position as the First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank’s Board, where he has worked for 17 years. His accumulated experience enables him to immediately see to the heart of problems and take prompt decisions. The Head of State has tasked the National Bank with increasing the efficiency of the banking system and attracting additional financial resources into the system, to provide loans to the real economic sector. He underlines, “Banks should expand their operations on the international market and tap the debt market, no matter how impossible it might seem. He adds that banks should look for money in the same way that exporters seek out new sales markets. By Veniamin Mikheev

THE REAL PERSPECTIVE

The outline of the many-sided reality 2015 to test innovations Existing reality It’s a historical fact that the Eurasian Economic Union launched operations on January 1st, 2015, with Belarus becoming the first country to preside over this integration association. The agreement to establish the EAEU was signed on May 29th, 2014, in Astana. In line with the document, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia are united, with Kyrgyzstan to join later. According to experts, the Union is set to become the world’s sixth larg-

est economy, enjoying GDP of almost $3 trillion. Another $1 trillion is to be added by 2030, as a result of integration. With the market of over 170 million people, the EAEU with the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour is sure to generate revenue for businesses and investors. The EAEU agreement aims to enhance citizens’ welfare across member states and to promote a co-ordinated economic policy. Transition periods are in place for a range of products, running until 2025.

Living with family capital From January 2015, additional measures of state support have been introduced for families in Belarus, aiming to encourage the birth of the second and further children. The law ‘On Additional Measures of State Support for Families with Children’ primarily envisages family capital and a new children’s allowance. The 2015 budget allocates Br1.8 trillion to the creation of family capital, and Br1.6 trillion to pay out a new monthly allowance. The decree also sets the inter-

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE REAL PERSPECTIVE

Income tax slightly rising In line with the amended Tax Code, income tax has risen by 1 percent, reaching 13 percent. Funds will be used to support families with children. More working contributions bring larger pensions. On January 1st, 2015, decree #570 came into law, envisaging measures to raise the level of pension for those reaching the set age and having worked for a stipulated period of time. Such measures will, primarily, enhance motivation to work for more years, legally, while deterring a mentality of ‘idle’ reliance on welfare. The decree sets a minimum

беларусь.belarus 2015

170

With the market of over million people, the EAEU with the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour is sure to generate revenue for businesses and investors service record for claiming retirement pension (from 10 to 15 years) and states that pensions will be awarded only to those who have paid mandatory insurance contributions into the state extra-budgetary social security fund. However, even where employment has been for less than 15 years (5 years for certain cate-

gories) pensions will become payable to men once they reach the age of 65, and women — of 60. Existing welfare regulations will remain in place for vulnerable groups of people: those with disabilities (including citizens disabled from childhood) and for children who have lost their family providers. From January, pension levels rose for those reaching retirement age who had completed a designated long period of work, while having received only a low income: over 35 years for men and over 30 years for women.

Merits differ

Belta

est rate on privileged loans at 5 percent per annum (for construction or reconstruction of accommodation, provided in line with the law, by Belarusbank Savings Bank JSC) for families with two children aged under 18 (as of the date of list making). Family capital is worth $10,000 and may be used to improve living conditions, gain education, receive social and healthcare services, and generate interest-bearing (additional) pensions for mothers (including stepmothers and single parent families). The innovation is available to Belarusian citizens permanently residing in the Republic: to mothers (stepmothers) in ‘full’ families, to single parents, and to any parents from the birth or adoption of a third child (from the period of January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2019) where at least three children are aged under 18, including one or more adopted children. A family may only claim family capital once.

Decree #5 (also in force from January 1st) strengthens requirements for top managers and company employees, aiming to improve honesty and management efficiency and to strengthen production-technological, labour and executive standards. Heads of state and private companies will bear personal responsibility for correct discipline and must ensure that buildings, premises and equipment are well managed, while workers enjoy well-established conditions.

Belta

THE REAL PERSPECTIVE

Top managers are being given additional rights to enforce disciplinary measures, such as removing bonuses for up to 12 months, and can allocate additional rewards to those who work well, regardless of ‘profits’. According to the decree, reasonable circumstances for dismissal are clearly specified, allowing contracts to be terminated early as needed. Reasons for dismissal may not be kept secret, on pain of disciplinary action (including dismissal) for those in management positions. Those who have been dismissed under discrediting circumstances may be prevented from being appointed to other top positions (with state or private companies) for five years — upon the agreement of a district or a city executive committee or the local administration.

Exclusively upon results of auctions From January 1st, land lots in Minsk suburbs and regional centres used as collective gardening sites, or for housing, may not be resold until five years

1.8

The 2015 budget allocates Br trillion to the creation of family capital, and Br1.6 trillion to pay out a new monthly allowance have passed from initial state registration. This aims to encourage horticultural co-operatives near Minsk and for unoccupied land lots to be distributed via auction.

Virtual space responsibility New amendments to the law ‘On Mass Media’ came into force on January 1st, 2015. Among the major provisions are changes to the regulation of the Internet media, making them subject to the same code as print, radio and TV media. Circumstances are outlined for possible restriction of access to the Internet media and the law specifies limits to foreign influence: virtual media cannot be edited by any legal

entity of which 20 percent or more of the statutory fund belongs to a foreign state or individuals, or persons without citizenship. The Information Ministry is introducing state registers for distributors of printed, radio and TV media. In addition, a package of TV programs is being introduced for which access will be open to all, as defined by the Information Ministry’s special decree.

Drugs beyond the law Criminal responsibility for illegal drug trade and administrative sanctions for drug consumption are being toughened in Belarus, in line with decree #6 ‘On Prompt Measures to Counteract Illegal Drug Trade’ which came into

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE REAL PERSPECTIVE

force on January 1st, 2015. The document specifies measures to promptly ban the sale of new psychedelic substances (smoking blends and spices) in Belarus, while bringing their distributors to justice. As drugs now often rely on the Internet to aid distribution, a mechanism is being applied to restrict access to websites used to promote the illegal drug trade. In addition, on March 1st, 2015, a single system will come into force for registration of those known to be used (or to have been used) drugs, or psychotropic substances, or similar.

Banknotes complete their mission As of January 1st, 2015, 50 Rouble banknotes are gradually being taken out of circulation (printed in 2000 and 2010) — in line with the National Bank’s resolution of September 5th, 2014. It is no longer economically feasible to produce the small notes but they will remain legal tender until July 1st, 2015 — for use in cash payments, including by banks. It will be possible to exchange

беларусь.belarus 2015

From January, pension levels rose for those reaching retirement age who had completed a designated long period of work, while having received only a low income Br50 banknotes (for amounts divisible by 100 Roubles) without limitation. From July 1st, through until December 21st, 2015, exchange operations will be provided at the National Bank and other banks and, from January 1st to June 31st, 2016 — at the National Bank only. From July 1st, 2016, Br50 banknotes will be withdrawn from circulation and will be viewed as invalid.

Exclusively protecting consumers’ rights The operation of microfinance organizations is being streamlined in Belarus, following President Lukashenko’s decree of June 30th, 2014. The document envisages improved procedures regarding loan provision, supporting entrepreneurship and business initiatives by introducing additional financial instruments, while protecting consumers of services provided by microfinance organizations. From January 1st, 2015, such services are to be provided exclusively by microfinance organizations: pawnshops, and consumer co-operative societies for financial assistance to small and mediumsized businesses and funds. Consumer microloans to physical bodies are provided exclusively by pawnshops and are secured by movable property (for personal, family or home use). 2015 has brought these novelties but only time will tell whether they’ll prove efficient and useful. We have the coming year to assess them. By Veniamin Mikheev

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR

Economy as safety guarantee President approves plan for country defence for coming five years

A sustainable economy is an important factor of security. We are open to the world, we depend on the foreign markets, and it creates additional challenges for us

he provision of national security remains of major significance, although views on military affairs have changed radically, as conflicts have emerged and developed so unpredictably. “We must react to these,” stressed the Belarusian President, speaking at the meeting of the Security Council. The aim is simple: to ensure military security and social stability. Non-governmental radical organizations (and others of the kind) play a key role in disseminating information — made use of by fifth columns. In shaping negative public opinion, they strengthen their role, including using the Internet. Events in Ukraine — leading to civil war and economic chaos — provide a lesson for any sovereign state. We cannot remain indifferent to events in neighbouring countries and the presence of NATO forces along our western borders is alarming. The conclusion is evident, as the President notes: the West purposefully

continues using military force to ensure its geopolitical interests, making it essential for Belarus to develop and strengthen its defence capabilities. “Nobody should be allowed to talk to our country from a military perspective. We do not wish to live under a whip, or to be daily and hourly domineered. With this in mind, we’ll take care of our land, our state and sovereignty,” Mr. Lukashenko noted. A sustainable economy is an important factor of security. Belarus is open to the world and dependent on foreign markets — which create additional challenges for the country, including from Russia. Mr. Lukashenko openly asserts, “The behaviour of our eastern brother cannot but disturb us. However, we won’t draw any conclusions until we talk with the Russian President. We aren’t dramatizing the situation. We simply want to make it clear.” During the meeting, the President listened to officials’ reports and, finally, signed a directive for state defence. By Vasily Kharitonov

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE STATISTICS ILLUSTRATES

egarding purchasing power parity, our coun- almost by two thirds and was approximately 13 percent. In try is streets ahead of most of our neighbours, 2010, the figure was 5.2 percent and in 2013 rose slightly to and remains strong on a global comparison. 5.5 percent. The economically difficult 2011 was an exception A recent research by the International La- when the number of disadvantaged slightly increased before bour Organization has shown that in the downward trend resumed. most countries people spend Belarus is one of the few countries in the the greater part of their world where there is a positive policy to earnings, up to 70 percent, on food. In prevent the significant division of soour country, consumer spending ciety according to the income level. on food is 39.9 percent. Over the The ratio of incomes of 10 percent last ten years however, a clear of the richest and 10 percent downward trend can be seen. of the poorest groups of the On purchasing non-grocery population has remained ungoods, the average housechanged in Belarus for more hold in Belarus spends 38.9 than ten years. The average percent of its income, and on differentiation index here is Once again we turn to money, as we all know, services — 18.6 percent. If you between 5.6 and 5.9, one of the compare these numbers with lowest worldwide. In Russia, for there is never too much but is there enough? statistics from previous years, example, the income gap between And what yardstick should we apply? the logical conclusion is that the rich and poor is 16.7. In the USA the A comparative measurement prosperity of our people is growing. difference is 16 times greater, in Moldois the best way. Certainly, there are also disadvanva more than 12 times. Estonia, Latvia and taged sections of the population. The ‘poverty Lithuania has a differential of approximately line’ concept has its own criterion in all countries. In our 10. Poland and France measure 9 on the same scale case, people officially belong to this disadvantaged population and Germany 7. In Norway, which has been recently named when their incomes are below the minimum living wage. Since the best country for standards of living by the UN, according November 1st, this sum has been set at 1,396,000 Belarusian to its Human Development Index rating, the ratio of income Roubles. It has been calculated as the minimum amount necgap between rich and essary to satisfy basic needs. Over the last decade and a poor is 6. half, the number of Belarusians in this disadvantaged group has dropped significantly. In 2000, almost 42 percent of the population belonged to it, and then in 2005 the share decreased by

Poland 2011

The level of the disadvantaged population in different countries (%)

21,4 Latvia

to the end of 2013

5,5 Belarus

Great Britain

2013

2011

8,4 Ukraine 2013

4 Germany 2011

11 Russia 5,3 Kazakhstan 2013 г.

2011

7,6 Azerbaijan 2011 г.

20,9 Spain

беларусь.belarus 2015

to the end of 2013

23, 7 Greece

to the end of 2013

Nadezhda Ponkratova

How to measure wealth

GEOPOLITICS

PRODI thinks…

President of the Foundation for Worldwide Cooperation Romano Prodi recently delivered a lecture at the Belarusian State University. The top level politician, who has twice been Italy’s Prime Minister, met President Lukashenko at his Minsk lecture, which was rich in vital issues relating to international relations. Mr. Prodi shared his views on the modern world, demonstrating considered opinions concisely put.

aturally, the situation in Europe is Mr. Prodi’s main area of political interest; unsurprisingly, half of his lecture was devoted to European affairs and the EU. The other half was focused on the global situation — primarily, the economic sphere: few know better than the former PM of the third largest EU economy that state policy and prospects are guided by economic interests. Fa l ling oi l pr ices and re cent events are a blow to Russian economy but Mr. Prodi believes that sanctions are at the heart of its problems, with all parties losing as a result. Both the EU and Russia would do better to enjoy neighbourly relations and benefit from co-operation. At the moment, the two parties are experiencing serious disagreements, necessitating negotiations. Ukraine — which is a bone of contention — could become a bridge between Russia and the EU rather than a battlefield. However unpleasant the situation is, a reasonable solution can and should be found. Speaking of the European Union, Mr. Prodi stated that its geopolitical security is a major advantage. Three generations of member states have

now been living in peace: the longest period to date. However, from an economic point of view, such stability is far from steady. When the global financial crisis broke out, EU leaders failed to develop a single strategy to sustain economic security, which resulted in the crisis affecting EU states variously, breaking the previous balance of forces. The EU grew from the union of France and Germany, at the heart of the European Union. Meanwhile, during the crisis, only Germany maintained a sustainable economy, with other EU members asking for help. As a result, Berlin gained the advantage of imposing its own conditions on the EU economic policy: sometimes severe not only for small economies but also for France. Naturally, such economic influence is now transforming into political, with Germany setting the direction for the EU politics. In the past, the American President called the British PM; now, he calls the German Chancellor. Mr. Prodi remains optimistic about the EU, believing that it allows European states to take into account each other’s interests and to reach agreement, through common interests. In his view, the EU system is worthy of emulation as a replacement for unipolar or multi-polar world powers. The structure aims

2015 беларусь.belarus

GEOPOLITICS to ensure that all countries boast equal rights — irrespective of size or culture — and that discrepancies are solved jointly. This might seem optimistic but Mr. Prodi’s message brilliantly reflects Belarus’ desire to respect historical identity, equalrighted dialogue and co-operation, as grounds for stability and wellbeing in international policy. While staying in Minsk, Mr. Prodi agreed to answer the questions from SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper: What challenges and possibilities exist for the European Union in our modern times? The EU needs to ensure its economic growth. In recent years, such states as Spain and Italy have witnessed weakening of their economies, bringing economic tension. The main task of European policy is to empower their economies. Opinions within the EU vary but, in my opinion, investment projects are vital. Leaving economics aside, the Ukrainian conflict is vital for Europe. What is the EU’s role in this situation? Has it made any mistakes during the conflict or could it have acted better? Mistakes are unavoidable when such a large-scale conflict emerges as the one in Ukraine. The EU has made errors — especially, lack of dialogue in the first days of the conflict. As events progressed, I realized that we need to join efforts to develop a plan of assistance to Ukraine — to help the count r y cop e with the crisis. The EU, the USA and Rus sia should

We need to sit down to talk, settling our differences. I’m convinced that no side is strong enough to survive alone. We need each other and only need to agree now

have begun talks and financial assistance should have been generated. I still consider that such dialogue should take place, to develop a single scenario for conflict resolution. The achievement of peace in Ukraine is also important for Belarus. Ukraine is our neighbour with whom we wish to remain on friendly terms. With this in mind, the Belarusian Government is endeavouring to promote dialogue. How does the EU accept this position of our country? Although Belarus is not an EU member, it enjoys active trade relations with the European Union. It also has close ties with Russia and Kazakhstan. I see no obstacles to enhanced co-operation. We have purely political discrepancies and, I think, these could be settled step by step. Accordingly, my proposal is to create a friendly space in the region, where business co-operation (advantageous for all sides) could be encouraged. To realize this, we need to achieve good, equal-righted relations between Russia and the EU. Does this mean that you see good prospects for co-operation between the EU and the Eurasian Union? Yes, I do. However, time is needed to build them. We enjoy many directions for co-operation; each needs development — while signing necessary agreements and creating necessary institutions. It’s better not to hurry, advancing steadily towards our goal. First, we need to sit down to talk, settling our differences. I’m convinced that no side is strong enough to survive alone. We need each other and only need to agree now.

Belta

By Roman Dubovets

беларусь.belarus 2015

region

At crossroads of paths and interests Brest has a history of welcoming foreign guests, having long been the ‘gateway’ to the USSR and, these days, to Belarus and the Customs Union. In recent times, Brest has aroused interest among investors for its production, construction, tourism and trade possibilities, attracting a delegation of 28 from Slovakia in late December 2014, keen to establish co-operation and exchange experience

he Chairman of Brest City Executive Committee, Alexander Rogachuk, notes that they came ‘of their own initiative’: businessmen, entrepreneurs, deputies, teachers and school directors. The group was led by the Deputy Chairman of the Presov Regional Administration’s Commission on Issues of Education, Youth, Physical Culture and Sports, Ivan Hopta, who has visited several times previously. The Slovakian guests visited sports facilities, Brest’s Secondary School #1, production enterprises, museums, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Brest Fortress. Last November, a delegation from

Brest’s twin-city, Dutch Coevorden, came, led by Mayor Berend Johannes Bouwmeester. The foreign guests visited Brest’s branch of Belarusian Railways and met representatives of the Brest Fortress Development Fund, whose Brest-2019 project is of major interest to the Dutch (envisaging the creation of an historical-cultural complex on the abandoned territories surrounding the fortress). Coevorden also has its own fortress, in the city’s historical centre, so Dutch experience may be used in solving practical issues. Brest has over 30 twin-cities: in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany and France. Cultural ties usually entail economic collaboration and, at present, over 300 companies with foreign and joint capital are registered in the city — representing 30 countries. Most (74) of the companies come from Poland; Brest’s neighbours have established several facilities in the city, while opening trading and transport companies.

2015 беларусь.belarus

region

Signing a cooperative agreement between Brest FEZ and the city of Varazdin became the main result of the Belarusian-Croatian economic forum. Administrations of both FEZs will manage to efficiently assist foreign trade of their countries Investors are also taking part in construction in Brest; the Didas-Persia trade-and-office centre is among the brightest in the sphere. The firm (with Iranian capital) has settled a long-term construction-related issue, transforming a hotel on Sovetskaya Street. It’s no longer an empty brick eyesore with broken windows but a beautiful building. “We wish to contribute beauty to the city,” explains NMT President and founder, Dr. Jamshid Aminazad. Russian, German, Italian and Czech businessmen have established dozens of companies in Brest. Firms with Austrian, Swiss, Canadian, British, Latvian and Lithuanian capital work in the city and Gibraltar and Lichtenstein also have representations. In 2015, Indonesia may join the list as, not long ago, an official Indonesian delegation visited Brest. In 2014, turnover between this country and Belarusian region stood at $178,000; purely imports — of fabric, thread and sewing hardware. The Chairman of West Sumatra’s Regional Investment Council, Masrul Zein, believes the situation needs alteration. Speaking to Brest Regional Executive Committee, he invited Brest businessmen and constructors to Indonesia to build a hanging bridge, noting Belarus’ advanced technologies. As a result of talks, a protocol of intention was signed between Brest Region and West Sumatra. In addition, in late 2014, Brest hosted a BelarusianCroatian Economic Forum, with foreign guests learning about business conditions at the Brest FEZ. A cooperative agreement was signed between Brest FEZ and the city of Varazdin; the two free economic zones plan to enhance their collaboration, efficiently assisting companies and organizations towards foreign trade. Overall, 2014 was fruitful for Brest’s economy: exports of milk and dairy products rose, as did sales of fish, sea products, fruits and vegetables. The EU exports rose, with new sales markets mastered. Meanwhile, for the first time, sales of clothing were registered to South Africa and Montenegro, and sales of toys to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Equipment was sold to Panama and Thailand, and cosmetics to Lebanon: all firsts for the region.

беларусь.belarus 2015

This year, modernization of industrial enterprises will continue and new facilities are to open. In particular, it’s planned to develop resource and import efficient productions (including with the participation of foreign investors) at Brest’s Plant of Electric Lamps. In 2015, up to $195m of investments are forecast for Brest Region but only time will tell. Attracting business to Brest and other cities is among diplomats’ tasks; consulates from Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Mongolia are already operational in Brest, as are those of Iceland and the Czech Republic. In 2014, the number of such consulates rose, with representations of France and Hungary opening. The Consul of France to Belarus, Cristoph Bramulle, tells us of Brest’s important role in developing bilateral relations. “The city’s geographical position and status (situated on the major highway connecting Paris and Moscow) are grounds for constant exchanges. Although not many French live in the region, we hope our representation will contribute to the diaspora’s development. Dozens of thousands of French citizens visit Belarus for tourist or business purposes and most come to Brest,” he underlines. Last December, Hungary’s Honourable Consulate opened in Brest; according to H.E. Vilmos Siklavari, the Ambassador of Hungary to Belarus, it is the result of expanding co-operation. In recent years, our turnover has risen by 20 percent and, in 2015, Hungarian enterprises will take part in the Belagro International Exhibition and the Brest: Commonwealth International Fair. New, profitable contracts are likely to be concluded. He also notes Belavia Airline’s three direct flights a week as a ‘great impetus’ for development (another is to be added this spring). He tells us, “We’d love to see charter flights to Lake Balaton, a pearl of European recreation, introduced this summer from Brest’s airport.” All the honourable consuls are known as famous businessmen outside Belarus, being experienced in promoting economic and cultural interests far and wide. By Valentina Kozlovich

SOCIETY

In order to receive at least a social pension, one year ago, it was necessary to have labor experience of just five years. However, last year, the minimum period of labor experience was raised to ten years and, from January 1st, it was raised to 15 years.

Reasonable care for the respectable age

hose failing to meet the deadline will be assigned a pension equal to half the living wage: slightly less than Br700,000. Moreover, they will receive it just five years behind the schedule: men at 65 and women at 60. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus explains that the act intends to motivate everyone to work for as long as possible, to ‘pay their way’. It was once the case that, for every 3 or 4 working citizens there were two pensioners; however, the situation has radically changed, with nearly 25 percent of the population comprising pensioners (2.5 million people). In the last year alone, their number rose by more than by 37,000; the trend seems likely to continue, while the number of those employed will fall. Lyudmila Shakhotko, chief research officer at the NAS’s Department of Dynamics of Socio-Economic Systems of the Institute of Economics, tells us, “In the 1990s and early 2000s, our country saw a low birth rate. Accord-

ingly, over the next decade, fewer people will reach working age and revenue into the Social Protection Fund will fall.” The problem of an ageing population is topical globally, with many countries having to take unpopular measures: increasing pension age and reducing the size of pensions. Over the last two months, thousands of protesters have made their voices heard across the European Union, including exclamations of dissatisfaction near the Ministry of Economics in the centre of Athens. The crowd shouted such slogans as: ‘Stop taxes!’, ‘We cannot eat only nuts!’ and ‘Hands off our pensions!’. Benefits were cut by a quarter after Greece became a rigid economy. Meanwhile, thousands of citizens frustrated by pension reform took to the streets of Sofia recently. Nevertheless, like a tank, unpopular reforms continue. The average labour pension this year in Belarus comprises at least 40 percent of the average salary, consuming the majority of the Fund for Social Protection: Br87 trillion (or 75.6 percent of all planned expenses). How far can the country continue moving in this direction? The likelihood is that the pension age will eventually have to be raised.

2015 беларусь.belarus

SOCIETY In Germany, pensions are not paid until citizens reach 67, while the age in the UK and Italy is 68. Meanwhile, average life expectancy there is approaching 80 years old, compared to 77 for Belarusian women and just 67 for men. Irina Tokareva, Head of the City Gerontological Centre, underlines, “The difference between life expectancy and retirement age should be approximately 12 years. Therefore, in our country, it is possible to increase it for women, but not for men.” The World Bank recommends that we raise the pension age of women to 60, by 2020, and extend it to 63 by 2026. It would then rise for all citizens to 65 years old by 2030. This would relieve pressure on the Pension Fund long-term, since contributions by those in employment are currently not stored as savings, but are paid directly to pensioners. An accumulative system would see payments set aside in a special account, with retirement pensions calculated accordingly. Such a move would depend on the development of the stock market and, of course, there is never a firm guarantee that shares purchased in large foreign companies will bring a return. However, on the whole, such a system is preferable and was launched in Kazakhstan back in 1998. According to economist Alexander Sinkevich, another variant would be to introduce insurance: not especially popular in our country at present but successful in Europe. In Germany, pension insurance is obligatory, via an association uniting a number of corporations insuring pensions. This choice is still being discussed in our country, with all opinions considered, looking at the global experience and how it relates to our country. Naturally, everyone wishes to have faith in the state and to believe that they will be able to live comfortably and independently in old age. To this end, we need the state to create the appropriate conditions. By Irina Sudas

 To claim a labour pension, women currently need to have labor experience of 20 years, and men — of 25. Payments are calculated as 55 percent of your monthly average earnings and, from January 1st, an extra percent will be added for each year of extra work: if a woman has worked for 21 years, she’ll receive 56 percent of her average salary.  The state will support those with long service, regardless of their having been paid a low salary (perhaps due to lack of qualifications). From the beginning of this year, women who have worked for more than 30 years, and men for more than 35 years, will receive at least 0.7 percent of the average national salary.

беларусь.belarus 2015

The specialist’s point of view Sergey Solodovnikov, Doctor of Economics: We should speak not so much of pensi on re for m a s of changes to what alre ady e x i st s . O ur country has no pressing need to rai s e t h e p e n si o n age, especially when pensioners want to work, and often work beyond retirement age. On the other hand, it makes sense to raise the pension age for those who have failed to contribute for the most part of their life: it’s a fair and economically rational decision. Meanwhile, the accumulation system is far from simple; its use in Russia, for example, has been largely negative. We need to decide how to create an accumulative pension system with real advantages. Can private trust funds dispose of ‘pension’ money more effectively than the state? The question is far from rhetorical since we have little experience to draw upon regarding patterns of ownership and their economic effectiveness.

Vladimir Nikolaevsky, Candidate of Economic Sciences, expert on the social protection system: The pension system model has long needed reforming si n c e t h e w o r ki ng p opu l at i on of our country is reducing in siz e. All S ocial Protection Fund money goes straight to paying current pensions, so where can we find additional resources to keep pensions at the current level? We have to either increase the pension age, or raise payments into the Fund: an unpopular and inefficient measure. The question of reform is very difficult, as it requires a meticulous program serving public interests, as well as considerable means. However, privatization of state owned sites could become a source of finance.

EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVENESS

Belta

No secrets on nuclear power station Grodno Region boasts a great many castles, churches and other sites attractive to tourists. Recently, it has also gained the Belarusian nuclear power station site as an ‘attraction’.

houg h still under construction, m any are c u r i ous to see it; this year alone, it was visited by about 1,300 youngsters — most spending time at the neighbouring sanatoria. Among guests were Russians, members of public organizations and journalists. Some travel agencies even specialize in organizing such tours. Meanwhile, workers at the station are glad to render assistance to visitors, displaying openness in all matters: a cornerstone of contractor Russian Rosatom’s philosophy.

Interest in the station may be due to the fact that, in a couple of years, the location will be subject to high security, becoming prohibited to the public. The grandiose nature of the site is obvious even from many kilometres outside the nearby city of Ostrovets, where the old crossroads has become a super-modern road interchange. One exit takes you to an asphalted road heading straight to the nuclear power station’s construction site: the only one of such a kind in Belarus. From above, the site is about one kilometre square, covered in foundation pits and roads, shops, hangars and storage platforms. The casings for the first and the second reactors are already in evidence.

Naturally, the level of safety at the site is of primary concern. The huge internal and external reactor shells inspire confidence, each treated to deter corrosion, as the Deputy Director General of the site, Andrey Barkun, explains. He tells us, “Site installation of protective covers considerably reduces building time and results in high quality work, since all efforts are then carried out under cover, in comfortable conditions. They need to be assembled as a single structure and under-poured with super-strong concrete. The internal cover is 120cm thick while the external is 80cm. This technology was well developed in the Soviet times and is being widely applied at Novovoronezhskaya nuclear power station,

2015 беларусь.belarus

EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVENESS

беларусь.belarus 2015

duce the volume of water required and prevent its return to the river. The forecast is for the first reactor to become operational within four years, and the second — by 2020: construction is on schedule or even ahead.” Russian suppliers are providing equipment with a long cycle of manufacturing and about 20 percent has been already delivered to the construction site. Every month, 3,200 workers and qualified professionals carry out works

power stations. We’ve also made arrangements for another 600 workers across 45 major specialities to train and retrain. We’ll benefit from youth, experience and knowledge.” Mr. Gorin adds that two modern residential micro-districts are being constructed, to house those working at the future station in Ostrovets. Soon, the new school and kindergarten will receive their first children, and a new hypermarket is to open.

Belta

where the same VVER1200 reactors are being installed.” On the construction site, workers are assembling a ‘straightjacket’ for the first nuclear reactor. It takes 5 minutes to reach the ‘lower ground level’, meaning that the surrounding territory needs to be raised later: by 20m by the end of this year, and 44m by the end of 2016. In the bowels of this steel and concrete well is the ‘melt trap’: a huge thick-walled ‘pan’ able to absorb melted nuclear fuel and other radioactive elements in case of emergency. International experts have praised it as a distinctive feature of the 2006 Russian nuclear power station (category 3+), possessing the fullest set of active and passive safety measures. Nearby are reinforcement bars for the second reactor. A Liebherr crawler-mounted crane (the largest in Belarus) is on site, able to lift 1,350 tonnes. In throwing back my head to look up at it, my hat fell off! Andrey Barkun tells me, “The height of the reactor casing will reach 76m; in all, it will be at least 90m.” The complicated reactor design includes protective covers through which pass strong steel ropes, able to compress the massive ferro-concrete construction, to ensure its endurance; even in an emergency, the nuclear reactor cannot explode. Of course, we must trust the professionals, who have the greatest experience: a well-known French company is on site. Two water-cooling towers are being constructed, each 167m tall: probably, the tallest constructions at the nuclear power station. It’s vital to be able to pass cooling water around the reactors, sourced from the nearby River Vilia, on which neighbouring Lithuania’s capital Vilnius stands. Mr. Barkun stresses that local residents will be safe, as Belarus’ Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources has investigated the matter. He notes, “Water could be taken to cool eight reactors without damaging the river, and we will have only two. Besides, the station will have a closed cycle of water circulation, to re-

Every month, 3200 workers and qualified professionals carry out works costing $60 million: unique across the whole Belarus! costing $60 million: unique across the whole Belarus! Once operational, there will be 2,300 employees at the nuclear power station, trained in using the complicated equipment. The Deputy Chief Engineer, Vladimir Gorin, underlines, “We’ve already taken on almost 400 people to the staff of the future nuclear power station. Many have experience of working at nuclear power stations in Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. Meanwhile, four leading Belarusian universities have developed training for nuclear experts. This year, we’ve employed 20 young graduates from corresponding departments, many of whom have spent time training at Russian nuclear

Mr. Gorin has wide experience of managing work at Russian nuclear power stations, while Mr. Barkun helped to construct a nuclear power station in Iranian Bushehr. The Belarusian site has many experts of such a kind. The head of Rosatom, Sergey Kirienko, has more than once called the construction of the station exemplary, thanks to this high professionalism. Moreover, highranking delegations from countries monitoring Russian VVER nuclear reactors have inspected the site. Recently, Hungary decided to begin construction of a Paks-2 nuclear power station, under Russian supervision: identical to the Belarusian nuclear power station. By Vladimir Yakovlev

MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Responsibility for the “virtual”

word

Some changes take place at the information field

eputies at the House of Representatives of the National Assembly have adopted amendments to the law on mass media over two sittings, with the draft law being confirmed by the Council of the Republic. The Minister for Information, Lilia Ananich, tells us, “Widespread Internet access has made the global network a leading source of public information, with over 5 million users in our country alone. The virtual environment is the most powerful influence on the population, for good or ill, since it does not always promote the development of society or the state.”

The Information Ministry regularly receives letters from private citizens, organizations, and state bodies, notifying a lack of accurate information online, as well as items debasing state honour or dignity. Of course, the Internet is not governed by the same laws as state media and is beyond state influence. However, the new draft law aims to apply the same codes to Internet e-resources as to printed editions. Owners of information resources will be obliged to prevent their sites distributing content against the law. They must ensure reliability, legality, and respect for individual rights and freedoms, while protecting morality and observing norms of professional journalistic ethics. The Ministry of Information will have the right to warn owners of the Internet sites of infringements to the law, ensuring that the Internet follows the same principles as printed media. The Ministry of Information will also have the right to limit access to sites seen to encourage an overthrow of the

constitutional system, or to foment social discord — as well as those which commit crimes relating to pornography, violence, cruelty and drug trafficking. Each country has its own way of regulating the Internet, with Russia’s ‘law on bloggers’ coming into force this August, governing sites with at least 3,000 daily hits. Such bloggers will be obliged to check the reliability of their information, and to refrain from encroaching on privacy or distributing extremist materials, with a penalty of up to Br500,000. In the UK, infringement of journalistic ethics brings a penalty of £1 million. Germany has its own laws relating to online media and, in 2000, France adopted its law obliging owners to register all websites; it is illegal to allow hosting which bypasses such legislation. In China, sites containing forbidden information are blocked without warning or notice. Every country has some variation on this legislation. By Yevgeny Kononovich

2015 беларусь.belarus

Panorama  Competent for the client The Chamber of Notaries gains a new body to control the work of the country’s near 900 notaries

 The hard copies are more reliable Archive documents are still stored as hard copies, since digital formats are thought unreliable

ladimir Adamushko, the Director of the Department for Archives and Records Management at the Ministry of Justice, has told journalists that hard copies of documents are still stored carefully, because archivists do not rely exclusively on digital formats. He underlines, “We know the conditions required for storage: those used since the 15th century — no lower than +15°C and with humidity of no more than 55 percent. Kodak tapes can last one hundred years in these conditions

 Appeals as a part of the international practice Belarus introduces legal opportunity to make appeals to all national courts

t its recent session, the Council on Issues of Legal and Judicial Activity under the President of Belarus (which has court representatives and scientist-lawyers) has studied a problem which has been an issue since the 1990s, the implementation of appeals proceedings in the legal practice of all courts.

беларусь.belarus 2015

but we have no idea of the lifespan of electronic carriers. Nevertheless, digitisation of archives continues.” About 100,000 new files arrive at state archives annually, with the main task being to make them accessible to the public. Mr. Adamushko emphasizes, “We must publish as much as possible, so that historians can work with materials, giving us an objective picture of the past.” The National Historical Archives, directed by Dmitry Yatsevich (in the photo) only stores existing, older documents. He explains that these date up until 1917 and would stretch 11.5km if placed end to end. They accept church books and other materials of such a kind, which can used to help the public research genealogy and historians research wider domestic history. The idea of legally being able to make appeals in this country was first voiced twenty years ago when the concept of court-legal reform was developed. However, until recently, the issue remained unresolved. In 2004, the first system of such a kind was introduced in the economic courts and has since then been successfully used. In all other cases, the only means of court appeal is to overturn the judgment. This means that a superior authority would investigate the court proceedings but fail to independently question witnesses and perform an expert examination; as a result, a case is sent for re-examination to the very same court where the complaint has been made. The introduction of an appeals process would enable these agencies to independently study a case and pass a new judgment if necessary.

decision was made at the annual meeting of the organization. The Chair of the Belarusian Chamber of Notaries, Natalia Borisenko, said that the most experienced and qualified specialists had been chosen to head the Commission on Monitoring; their colleagues will take account of their opinions. “They will observe how notaries comply with the law. They will be the eyes of the professional community,” she said. The Belarusian Chamber of Notaries was established a year ago. On November 27th, 2013, by the decree of the President, they began to run the notaries office on the principles of self-finance and selfgovernment. What has changed over the year? Irina Afanasieva, Head of a small office in Shklov District of Mogilev Region, says that the main changes are connected with changing legislation. New notarial acts have appeared, for example, there is now an interesting clause in decisions regarding disputes about child support. If a father doesn’t want to contribute, he can agree with his ex-wife that he will give her real estate or part of it in exchange for money. She notes that in Shklov district one agreement of such a kind has already been made.

Here’s a thought!

Expertise

lighter than air Belarusian and Russian experts create a unique aircraft

hysical-Technical Institute experts from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Dolgoprudnenskoe Design Bureau of Automatics JSC have created an unmanned aircraft

for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, with tests soon to begin in Balashikha, near Moscow. The device has been designed to conduct surveillance over woods and marshes, in order to discover incidences of fire or flooding, to inform control centres. Associate Professor Yuri Yatsyna, who heads Research-and-Production Centre BAK (Unmanned Aircraft Complex) and Technologies, at the Physical-Technical Institute of NAS of Belarus, and who has a PhD in Technical Sciences, tells us, “Since the first half of the last century, when there were attempts to widely apply airship tech-

nology, world science has solved two vital issues: manufacturing helium gas (lighter than air and explosion-proof — unlike hydrogen); and lighter and stronger, multi-layered materials, able to retain helium more efficiently, with high fluidity.” Such technologies are now being combined with the latest expertise accumulated by Belarusian scientists and applied to the creation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Most of the expenses involved are centred on various control systems, gauges, observation complexes and transmission of data to the mission control centre. Meanwhile, Belarusian

2015 беларусь.belarus

developments are easily a match for foreign developments in quality, while being less expensive. The new airship is almost identical to others currently on the market, but for travelling at a much slower speed, which is rather an advantage, allowing careful data collection, for transfer to a control board located perhaps hundreds of kilometres away. The second advantage is that it has very low running costs, using a small volume of engine fuel (and charging its battery). It can be ready for flight at almost a moment’s notice, needing only a cylinder of compressed helium each month. Yuri Yatsyna shows us images collected from unmanned flights over Belarus’ Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The first image lacks clarity while the second one, taken from a craft twice as low, at just 57m above the Earth, shows roe deer behind a tree. The unique stabilisation system, balancing wind turbulence and other factors, allows much greater definition to be acquired. The novelty will be useful not only in preventing fires and supervizing animals but for carrying out meticulous topography surveys, and supervising the border and other protected territories, as Mr. Yatsyna explains. Just one cubic metre of helium can lift 1kg of load into the air, covering the weight of the craft and its systems. Belarusian and Russian experts have developed two unmanned models: with a volume of 32 and 60 cubic metres. This is far from the limit, as Mr. Yatsyna underlines, saying, “In the USA, experts have estimated that transporting cargo over long distances by modern airship could be 5-6 times more efficient than traditional air transport. We are technologically and intellectually ready to start developing larger models, needing only customers, who are sure to soon be forthcoming. Belarus has already developed a training program for those operating unmanned craft, aiming to transform the country into a top-level aviation power.” By Vladimir Yakovlev

беларусь.belarus 2015

Vadim Kondrashov

NANOTECHNOLOGIES

In accordance with the modern standards Nano-industry and new materials are priority avenues for R&D efforts in Belarus from 2016 to 2020

he Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, Alexander Shumilin, announced the latest priorities at the 9th international sci-tech conference: Modern Methods and Technologies for Creating and Processing Materials. Hosted by the Physical-Technical Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the event brought together around 130 scientists and specialists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Italy and Pakistan. The conference was opened by Mr. Shumilin, who emphasized the need for clear research and development targets for the next five-year term. He believes that these should focus on cutting-edge spheres, including nano-technologies and new materials,

with practical application. Conference participants discussed ongoing programmes, expressing the need to extend some and cut back on others. Nine priority R&D avenues were approved by the Belarusian President for 2011-2015, to include: power engineering and energy saving; agroindustrial technologies and productions; industrial and construction technologies and productions; medicine, medical tools and technologies, and pharmaceuticals; chemical technologies, nanotechnologies, and bio-technologies; information, communication and aerospace technologies; new materials; rational nature management, resource saving, and protection from emergencies; and, finally, defence and national security. The State Science and Technology Committee is now busy developing a new list of priority R&D avenues. “The new avenues comply with requirements of the continuity of the innovation cycle from fundamental and applied research through development to commercial products and the practical application of R&D efforts. The new priority R&D avenues will continue the advancement secured in the current five-year term,” stressed the Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee.

THE OLD EXPERIENCE — THE NEW APPROACHES

Incredible

flax

According to historians, people began growing flax around 7000-9000 years ago, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet, in Ancient Egypt. Since then, linen has proven to be popular all over the world, owing to its incredible features. Belarus is now among those countries boasting the richest experience of flax growing and processing.

inen fabrics were only for the elite in the earliest years of flax manufacture, being used to wrap the mummies of Egyptian pharaohs. Some time later, flax spread to the territory of modern Italy and Spain and the coastal areas of the Mediterranean, being used for the tunics of Ancient Roman senators. The famous Shroud of Turin — featur-

ing Christ’s face — was also made of flax. Geniuses such as Leonardo da Vinci, who invented a special spinning wheel, became involved in processing the material. Its technical features inspired sailors to make ship’s rope from flax, while Peter I used linen cotton sail-cloth. Its anti-bacte-

rial features brought it to the attention of surgeons in the 18th-19th century, who used it to make bandages and sponges, for use during operations, as well as for hospital bed linen and underwear. Emperor Napoleon admitted that many more French soldiers would have died were it not for linen. Modern scientists h a v e proven that linen is resistant to ultraviolet emissions, protecting us f rom har mf u l UV sunlight, and that it reflects electromagnetic radiation (high voltage wires, antennas and electric transmission devices surround us). Moreover, linen is hypo-allergic, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin.

Traditional Slavonic culture Flax has been used traditionally by all Slavonic nations, as confirmed by such proverbs as: ‘plant flax and harvest gold’ and ‘if flax grows well then luxury will come, if it fails then misfortune will follow’.

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE OLD EXPERIENCE — THE NEW APPROACHES Initially, flax was planted, harvested and processed by villagers, with the gentry only becoming interested in wearing linens in the 19th century, when advanced Dutch, French and English machinery allowed it to be processed more finely, including creating ornamental jacquard fabrics. The best quality cloth was supplied to the Tsar’s palace: Alexander I and Nikolay II owned table and bed linen decorated with imperial monograms. The Russian Empire gradually became a major producer of flax fibre, which it exported to Europe: butcher’s linen and high-quality textiles and clothes. At that time, the domestic flax industry began developing, with training offered for local engineers, chemists and weavers. Large enterprises were set up, including the ones on the territory of modern Belarus. Orsha Linen Mill was among them, being established in 1930. In the 1970s, it was among the major textile companies in Europe, largely owing to its equipment. Factory #3 (which was designed and constructed under Alexey Kosygin — the Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers) used machinery from Northern Ireland’s James Mackie. Meanwhile, jacquard producing machines were installed in Orsha, making beautiful shawls, covers and napkins. The quality was so good that these were sent to the USSR leaders in Moscow, as gifts.

‘Modern’ style fabrics At present, Orsha Linen Mill is undergoing major modernization but some workshops — equipped with the most advanced machinery — are operational. Interestingly, Orsha has been liaising with Vitebsk State Technological University’s Weaving Department, to make a competitive product from beaten flax (considered previously to be suitable only for cheap packaging or sackcloth). Owing to the latest equipment, the Orsha Mill can produce innovative products, including textured linen blankets which have

беларусь.belarus 2015

Orsha Linen Mill has worked with globally known brands such as HUGO BOSS, Strellson, Zyga and Viner Brasil been praised in Frankfurt am Main, having been presented at the largest international exhibition: Germany’s Heimtextile. Vitebsk State Technological University boasts other innovations, such as shiny, reversible clothes fabrics and thin, breathable shirt fabric (cutting it reveals the hollowness inside). Orsha Linen Mill has mastered several new proposals, including working with designer Tamara Volodko, who is using digital printing — as presented at the Linen Spectacle event, during the International Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk Arts Festival. Meanwhile, famous designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev’s linen works were awarded at Reach —

the Linen Palette Festival held in Russia’s Ivanovo Region. He has praised Orsha’s new products, as has his son Yegor, who used Belarusian fabrics for his recent collection. Polotsk designer Natalia Gaidarzhi confirms that Belarusian linen is popular among Russian trendsetters, inspiring her to use only Orsha fabrics for the past seven years, for collections sold in Moscow. Various celebrities are among her clients. She explains, “We buy fabrics from Orsha, including ordinary sackcloth (used for potato sacks), which we process and then decorate with silk, fur, wool and handembroidery, to make unusual winter coats and jackets. Such celebrities as producer Bari Alibasov, actress Masha Shukshina, poet Vladimir Vishnevsky, and writer and psychotherapist Natalia Tolstaya have purchased items from my collections,” she admits proudly. One of Ms. Gaidarzhi’s collection impressed famous Pierre Cardin so much that he invited the Belarusian designer to take part in his Lacoste show.

Strength of the land The Belarusian emblem is decorated with an image of growing flax while gifts presented by Belarusian diplomats abroad, on behalf of the Head of State, are often made from Orsha linen: usually sets of bed and table linen. Not long ago, a set of table linen for 12 people was presented to the Chinese Ambassador, during his visit to Orsha Linen Mill: a 4m long tablecloth and embroidered napkins, made individually to reflect Chinese traditions. Naturally, the gift greatly pleased the diplomat. Igor Yeshchenko, the Head of the Mill’s Range and Advertising Department, notes, “It was a very expensive and, importantly, exclusive present. No other one of the same kind exists. Being hand-made, it embraces part of the human soul.” While ripening, f lax actually strengthens the soil, sharing its energy with the Earth as well as, later, those who receive it in gifts. By Sergey Golesnik

NEIGHBORLY

Beginning life with a blank sheet The situation in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions has pushed many to flee their homes. Belarus’ Gomel Region has become a new home for hundreds of families. Ukrainians have been heartily welcomed, enjoying the same opportunities as local residents: accommodation, medical care, schools and kindergartens.

igrants began coming to Gomel Region in early 2014, w it h more arriving through summer and autumn, when the conflict in East Ukraine enhanced. Every day, dozens of families arrived at the regional centre, eager to forget the war and to find a safe home: elderly people, young families with children and pregnant women were commonplace.

T h e Gomel City Centre for Family and Child Social Services was the first

to begin accepting refugees. Local staff cannot hide their emotions, saying, “We’ve never witnessed such an intense flow in all our years of work. We never thought that we’d need to help our Ukrainian neighbours.” Gomel, and other cities of Belarus, reacted promptly to the situation. In the very first months, local authorities joined the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society to establish an interdepartmental commission to co-ordinate work. Representatives of almost all services able to render assistance joined forces, as the Chairperson of the regional organisation of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, Alla Smolyak, explains. She tells us, “People abandoned their homes, arriving virtually with only the clothes they were wearing, so all help was welcome — including food and clothing. Around 5,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Gomel Region at present — including 550 children (most of school age),” she explains. “Our obligation is to help them get to know each other. We must create a true holiday for them, since they cannot celebrate at home.” The algorithm of action was clear. The local migration service assists

migrants in settling while the Regional Executive Committee’s online site offers a list of employment vacancies: most come with accommodation but are primarily in villages. Children are accepted into schools and kindergartens without problem and the educational sphere is also able to provide employment, as the Head of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee’s Education Department, Sergey Poroshin, explains. He notes that a teacher of history requested work and accepted a job at a day-care children’s centre. Other cases of such a kind have occurred. The Gomel City Centre for Family and Child Social Services notes that local residents have responded to migrants’ needs, making donations of money (to a charity account), food and clothing, as well as offering accommodation. “A family from Lugansk Region came to us and we found a job and accommodation for them in Dobrush District. The house was great but had no furniture at all so we asked people to help; it might seem incredible but they brought everything necessary: sofas, wardrobes and white goods. The whole community assisted the family,” staff note.

2015 беларусь.belarus

Віялета Дра люк

NEIGHBORLY

The Novikov family from Donetsk Region is settling in Belarus now

Between past and future Visiting the Gomel City Centre for Family and Child Social Services, we met the Novikov family, from Donetsk Region’s Khartsyzk. Yelena and Gennady arrived in Gomel with their three children: a 9 month old daughter, and sons aged 5 and 8. All were exhausted after their long journey and disheartened by vague prospects. With tears in her eyes, Yelena tells of her past life, noting, “We always dreamt of having children and our own house. Our dream came true, as we have two boys and a girl. Each had their own room and we simply lived life. When the war broke out, we exercised patience until the last minute, not wishing to leave our home: my husband was a miner (due to retire in two years) and I’m a pharmacist. We had everything: a job and a house. We’re hard working people and wished nothing from anyone. We lived as ordinary people did, looking after ourselves. Suddenly, we were deprived of everything. Leaving town, we heard the noise of tanks approaching. My parents remained and we contact each other from time to time. They tell us that they need to cover the windows with sticky tape and

беларусь.belarus 2015

barricade with sand — as was common during the war. It’s horrible. It seems that going back is impossible.” Olga Ivchenko used to work in the sphere of real estate, in Donetsk, but has moved to Gomel with four relatives, including her grandmother. “Our granny used to say that she’d never leave the city — until she saw houses being bombarded with mortar fire. We saw houses collapse, killing the whole family. As we escaped Donetsk, the train was moving slowly, its carriages shaking from explosions. We sat wondering if we’d get out alive. In Donetsk, I ran my own firm and studied at a Law Department,” she explains. Hundreds of similar stories can be told, as thousands of people have fled their homes. Life in Belarus is gradually restoring some semblance of ‘normality’ for those who have lost all they owned. The Novikov family now have a home in Rechitsa District, including employment for Mr. Novikov. Meanwhile, Olga Ivchenko and her relatives have settled in an Orthodox nunnery and jobs are available. Many enterprises in Gomel and across the district centres are offering jobs to those who have fled from Donetsk and Lugansk regions, since no legislative obstacles exist. The 8th March and Komintern sewing factories, as well as

Spartak confectionery and Gomeldrev wood processing company are all eager to offer jobs: the latter has already employed around 30 families, while providing housing. Local staff explain, “We are a major company, with open vacancies, and have our own hostel, making it possible to offer accommodation to refugees. The local authorities have assisted, providing several service flats, and refugees are being given the same access to social welfare as local residents: medical services, allowances, provision for children and the New Year gifts.

Let the new year be peaceful The Belovezhskaya Pushcha, in Brest Region, always welcomes crowds across the New Year and Christmas holidays. Home to Father Frost’s Residence, children from all over Belarus dream of coming and send thousands of letters annually. One letter, written by sisters who moved to Gomel from Donetsk, reads: ‘Dear, Father Frost! We are Violetta (15) and Masha (6) and we used to live in Donetsk. We're now staying in Gomel. For our major present, we’d like to ask that we might return home as soon as possible and enjoy peace.’ By Violetta Dralyuk

Connection of times

What remains? Archaeological Museum of National Academy of Sciences is unique not only in Belarus but across Europe

2014

is now part of histor y, so let’s look at B elarus’ past with the eyes of archaeologists, who delve into ancient times, analysing each cultural layer. Just as trees gain an additional circle each year, in their trunk, the ground gains a new layer of soil deposit, brought by wind and water, plants and people. How quickly does it grow? The NAS Archaeological Scientific-Museum Exposition of Belarus (2009) magazine, prepared by historians Yury Zayats and Olga Levko, details excavations in the ancient cities of Polotsk, Drutsk (now an agro-town in Tolochin District of Vitebsk Region) and Vitebsk. They note that, for many years, the NAS Institute of History has worked with Russian colleagues, digging as far down as 11m. Vitebsk is the most studied, with excavations over territory of more than 17,000m square. What relevance do findings have? Can objects change our view of the past? The latest Internet sensation is a publication by well-respected Israeli archaeologists Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman.

Looking at 70-year-old excavations, across the territories of Palestine and Egypt, they’ve concluded that no real evidence exists for the patriarchs, the Kingdom of Israel, or a mass exit from Egypt to ‘the promised land’. Their Bible Unearthed asks whether ‘the book of books’ is pure fantasy. About five years ago, I visited Egypt and went on an excursion to Luxor (once known as Thebes). The world centre of archaeology is divided into two: ‘the City of the Living’ on the right and ‘the City of the Dead’ on the left bank of the Nile. The latter has the Valley of the Kings, where more than 40 Pharaoh tombs are located. I learnt for the first time that the well-known Egyptian pyramids were built more than 4,000 years ago not by slaves — as earlier believed — but by civilians. Egyptian experts base their theory on items found during excavations of burial places near the Pyramid of Cheops (a place they believe was forbidden to slaves). Zahi Hawass, the Director General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities, headed excavations. Belarusian archaeologists now believe that Minsk was founded not on the modest River Svisloch but on the River Mena (Menka). An exhibition at the Institute of

2015 беларусь.belarus

Belta

Connection of times

Over 3,000 artefacts found during archaeological digs at Bykhov Castle in Mogilev Region

History shows items found in the ancient city centre, near the village of Gorodische, not far from Minsk, near to the small River Ptich. In the third display room, a photo and a plan of the ancient settlement are on show, showing the town covering an impressive 35 hectares. Ornamented sashes worn by soldiers, part of a book rivet, and an Arabian dirham from 893 are among the ancient items found there, showing the level of city culture and indicating the initial placement of Minsk on the River Mena. This third hall contains items dating from the classical Middle Ages: the 9-13th centuries. Of course, primitive men lived in the south of Belarus prior to this time. Two years ago, we printed an article entitled ‘The Scale of History’ (#12, 2012), informed by my tour of the Archaeological Museum. I was invited by the Secretary of the Department for Humanitarian Sciences and Arts at the NAS of Belarus, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Alexander Kovalenya. He was rightly proud of the exhibition, created when he was the Director of the Institute of History (from October 2004). The museum opened in 2007, during the First Congress of Scientists, based on the Institute of Belarusian Cultures, which was founded in the 1930s.

беларусь.belarus 2015

I cannot describe the thrill of being accompanied by such a knowledgable guide as Professor Andrey Voitsekhovich. The ‘Development of Archaeological Science at the NAS of Belarus’ exhibition is located at the Archaeological Museum: part of the Academy’s Institute of History. It is unique in Europe, showing items unearthed across Belarusian lands.

From dilettantism to science

Pot from the ancient Milograd settlement. Exhibit from Museum of Ancient Culture, at NAS of Belarus

The museum is divided into four sections and gives one an immediate sense of the seriousness of its task. Portraits of people, mainly archaeologists who promoted their science from the 18th century onwards, stare down from the walls. Among them is Zorian Dolenga-Khodakovsky, who was the first to receive a permit to dig. Beside him are the brothers Yevstafiy and Konstantin Tyshkevich: noble counts who founded the first private museum of antiquities in Logoisk District. There are details of the first excavation and original archaeological diaries, from which so much can be learnt. Domestic archaeology as a science was ‘legalized’ in 1927, with the Archaeological Commission of the Institute of Belarusian Culture

Cross. Copper, enamel. 16th century: found at Snyadin’s burial site, in Petrikov District (Gomel Region). Digs by Oleg Iov

Connection of times collections kept across the BSSR were taken to Germany by the Nazi invaders and many remained there after the Victory. Luckily, on show are relics discovered by Levdansky, who was the Academic Secretary of the BSSR NAS’ Institute of History from 1931 to 1937, and who headed the Department of Archaeology, as well as those unearthed by Isaak Serbov and other colleagues.

Tile depicting Radziwill family coat of arms. Clay, glaze. 1670. Glusk Castle (Mogilev Region). Digs by Irina Ganetskaya

Rarities from ‘Age of Mammoths’

Spur. 15th century. Oshmyanets burial site in Smorgon District (Grodno Region). Digs by Edvard Zaikovsky

Finger ring. Silver with gilding. Late 10th century. Izbishche burial site in Logoisk District (Minsk Region). Digs by Valentin Kazey

Iron axe from 13th century burial. Oshmyanets burial site in the Smorgon District (Grodno Region). Digs by Edvard Zaikovsky

founded to support regional ethnographers and societies. Slides and photos from the first expeditions bring us a sense of the excitement of those early days. There is also a map of the country, labelled with the major archaeological sites: some investigations are now complete while others are ongoing. “We teach students, senior and gymnasium pupils and lyceum students here,” emphasizes Alexander, indicating additional information on mobile stands. “We aim to make the exhibition educational, to teach young people about those selfless archaeologists who dedicated their lives to delving through past centuries, back to the times of mammoths. Archaeology brings understanding of how much time has passed, and how many people have lived in those centuries. It makes us appreciate what we have today all the more.” Unfortunately, many of the first finds are now held in foreign collections or have been lost. The museum’s copy of Antiquities of Belarus in the Museums of Poland (1979) by archaeologist Leonid Pobol, details some of the items removed. The repressive years of the 1930s led to many archaeologists being exiled or executed, as the exhibition details. Later, during the Great Patriotic War,

The second hall looks at the time of primitive Belarus: the Upper Paleolithic, Stone Age, and Bronze and Early Iron Age. There are unique prehistoric exhibits, accompanied by stories of how, who, what, where and when they were discovered. In particular, there is a tribute to Konstantin Polikarpovich who, in the 1920s and 1930s, collected data on a number of settlements from the Stone and Bronze Age across BSSR territory. He discovered, in 1927, a Paleolithic Age settlement near the village of Berdyzh (Chechersk District, in Gomel Region) on the bank of the small River Sozh. A second site, near the village of Yurovichi in Kalinkovichi District (near Pripyat) was discovered in 1931, it was investigated for many years. A photo dating from 2006 shows the huge skull of a mammoth: sadly, not on display in the museum. The Museum of the Paleolithic Age has now opened in Yurovichi (the only such in Belarus), overseen by archaeologist Yelena Kolechits, a Doctor of Historical Sciences. The Yurievichi site is represented via photos from various angles, and excavation results. Professor Kovalenya tells us, “If you’ve been to the Louvre, or the well-known museums of St. Petersburg, you’ll know that valuable exhibits are usually displayed upon velvet. In our country, we place them on sand, since this is where they were found. Just imagine, 24,500 years ago, people were living in Belarus; the date may be even earlier. We have the remains of a forest elephant, known to have grazed about 100,000 years ago but no tools have been found nearby to show human settlement. We can trace the history of pre-ice age people but physical evidence is lacking.”

2015 беларусь.belarus

Connection of times were carved. Skilled experts would have worked there, who knew their trade well and earned a good ‘living’. Hunting was common with flint arrowheads and fishing hooks — even some very large ones, showing the size of the fish!” Archaeologists take a global approach in their analysis. Maxim Chernyavsky has seen success on the Belarusian peatbog sites of Krivino and Osovets (Beshenkovichi District, Vitebsk Region), finding a bear’s bone and a shovel using flint, as well as the tip of a javelin or arrow. Such finds tell us so much! The sites are referred to as North-Belarusian cultures, dating from the last quarter of the 3rd century or the mid-2nd BC. “Osovets is Belarus’ most unique Neolithic / Bronze Age site,” explains Andrey Voitsekhovich. “The peat layers are perfect for preserving organic matter.” Amulets have been found, as well as various articles from amber, timber and bone. Colleagues have been digging successfully for nearly 15 years, unearthing some items now stored at the National Art Museum. There have been images of animals, including those with human faces, and a huge auroch horn (found at a primeval site in Beshenkovichi District).

Temple ring and mounts from forehead ornaments. Non-ferrous metal. Malevichi burial site in Vileika District (Minsk Region). Digs by Lyudmila Duchits

Students Maria Ivankovich and Roman Golynsky worked on archaeological digs at Bykhov Castle

Belta

In Neolithic times and the early Bronze Age, people are known to have extracted stone from near the small River Ros, not far from today’s Krasnoe Selo, in Volkovyssk District of Grodno Region. In Europe, only a handful of similar mines have been located. Vertical wells were dug to a depth of 8m, to exploit calcareous deposits of flint, found in horizontal drifts. The flint was then used to make tools, alongside horn and bone. Archaeologist Andrey Voitsekhovich explains that tools made from the horns of deer have been found nearby. The monument of the Middle Dnieper culture is an impressive site, revealing a Bronze Age settlement and burial ground. A sandy stylized tomb has brought forth ceramic pots: one with a rounded base and another with a flat bottom. Archaeologist Nikolay Krivaltsevich found them near the village of Prorva (Rogachev District, Gomel Region) and believes that they are evidence of the ancient custom of cremating the dead and placing them in funeral urns. The pots were all found ‘upside-down’, indicating the ‘end of life’. Each exhibit inspires reflection. Prof. Kovalenya tells us, “Some exhibitions have only one object, placed in its own square metre, but we take a different approach, choosing to show how objects were used and how society developed. We discovered an ancient workshop, where stone items

беларусь.belarus 2015

Connection of times When the Museum of Nature at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park developed a new concept, artist Peter Lobkovich took the horn to ‘restore’ the animal — thought to be a black auroch — with its enormous skull. Aurochs are related to bison and were driven almost to extinction by man’s hunting. Using the horn as the centrepiece, the Pushcha museum now has a whole scene depicting an ancient hunt.

Belarusian territory: the ancestral home of Slavonic people? Bear’s shoulder bone with fragments of a silicic arrow and an auroch’s horn. Asavets II settlement in Beshenkovichi District (Vitebsk Region). Late Neolithic and Bronze ages. Digs by Maxim Chernyavsky

An auroch hunting scene, ‘restored’ thanks to archaeologists’ findings. Nature Museum in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Only a few Iron Age sites have been found on our land but we have enough to learn a great deal about their way of life, customs and culture. The settlements date from the second half of the first millennium B.C. According to guides, the earliest artefacts are Scythian. Meanwhile, Milograd culture, dating from the 9th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D., is the earliest known on Belarusian territory. It expanded

across the Pripyat, as we know from finding arrowheads and earrings in the form of Scythian circles. A well-known clay figure of a horse was found during digs in Goroshkov (Rechitsa District, Gomel Region) which inspired writer Vladimir Lipsky to create his story entitled Milogarad Horse. That small horse is now stored at the Archaeological Museum of Gomel State University (named after Frantsisk Skorina). “In the north of Belarus, in the Iron age, engraved ceramics were common, made by the ancestors of modern Lithuanians: Scythians and Balts influenced the formation of Belarus,” notes Prof. Kovalenya. Foreign historians are impressed by such evidence of cultural ‘collisions’, showing how various people influenced one another, with Belarus at the centre of this interchange: a geopolitical and geo-cultural fracture between East and West, North and South. We have finds from settlements along the Rivers Dnieper and Dvina, which belonged to the ancestors of modern Latvians. Some date from the turn of the first millennia, found in the south of Belarus, where the Roman Empire had strong influence at that time. In Polesie, archaeologists have found Roman imported fibulas, beads,

2015 беларусь.belarus

Connection of times

Many volunteers took part in digs near Grodno

and high-quality ceramics (which differ from those found elsewhere). In Loev District of Dnieper Region, finds are similar to those discovered in Western Europe. The museum displays a copy of a map by historian Herodotus, who spoke about the sea in Polesie (probably referring to the flood plains of Spring). In Brest Region, archaeologists have found traces of Goths: North-German tribes moving from Scandinavia to the Northern Black Sea Coast. The Wielbark culture is also represented in the displays. Tribes migrated from the north of Poland, partially settling in Brest Region. Artefacts show the influence of Kiev, Prague and Kolochinskaya, Slavs and Early Slavs. Prof. Kovalenya notes that expert opinion now seems to agree that Slavs appeared in our territory from between the Pripyat and Ptich rivers. He adds, “Of course, hypotheses differ but we have concrete finds.” As to whether Slavs were related those of Indian origin, he answers, “We have material evidence of this but are still pondering from whence the early Slavs appeared. We’ve found solar signs used by the Slavs, with the swastika [the Hindu symbol of peace]. The territory of Belarus can be considered as an ancestral home of the Slavic people, although

беларусь.belarus 2015

this still requires scientific substantiation. Half of modern Belarus is covered by forest and, at that time, forest covered 90 percent of the land. There were no roads, so people settled on the banks of rivers and lakes. It’s vital to share research on the Latvians, the Lithuanians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Russian and Poles, combining our knowledge to better comprehend the past.” It’s impossible to enumerate every interesting exhibit at the Archaeological Museum, since each deserves its own article. New finds are still being made and students and teachers are able to learn from what has been discovered, joining curators for special lessons. Prof. Kovalenya notes that training experts is difficult without genuine artefacts and a systemic representation of history. He adds that teachers base whole cycles of lessons around museum artefacts, bringing students from higher educational institutions for practical training. In fact, the museum has the richest archaeological collection in its archives, stored carefully, to protect Belarus’ historical and cultural heritage. No doubt, those who come ahead of us will thank us for our labours. As wise people say, without the past, there is no future. By Ivan Zhdanovich

Fibula from white metal. Kiev culture, from late2nd to early-3rd century, through to the mid-5th century. Settlement near Taimanov settlement in Bykhov District (Mogilev Region, the Dnieper River area). Digs by Leonid Pobal

Coat-of-arms tile. 1580s. Zaslavl Castle (Minsk Region). Digs by Yuri Zayats

China-ware of Sverzhen’s manufacture. The 18th century. Niasvizh. Excavations by D.A.Kovalenko

COMMITTED ENTHUSIASTS

Friendship with a book from the early age What is a modern children’s regional library and how does it reflect our fast-paced computerised lifestyle? What does it offer today’s children?

ow should we be raising our children: the future of Belarus, this layer of ‘blank leaves’? We often compare a young life to a book, on which life’s experiences and knowledge are written. In this connection, what can our modern libraries offer children? In my opinion, they have a special mission: to teach life’s truths — of good and harm — and to delight and surprise those pure minds. I admit that I haven’t been to an adult library for a long time and it’s been even longer since I’ve ventured inside a children’s library. However, I happened to hear some young mothers with their prams talking about lessons offered ever y Tuesday in the reading room of children’s library #10, in Minsk’s Pervomaisky District. All interested persons are invited, free of charge (a pleasing notion).

It seemed the ideal opportunity to learn about library activities. In fact, the classes are very informal and seem to be for the benefit of mothers (making origami while sharing their thoughts on parenthood) as much as for the tireless children, who rush to play with the toys. Of course, the real aim is to engender a love of reading among children. Even those hardly able to stand point to the multi-coloured shelves, requesting a book to peruse. Moreover, they treat each edition with care, as if subconsciously respectful. The head of children’s library #10, Yulia Sermyazhko — kind and affable, with a soft, kind smile and boundless energy — organizes the lessons. During a break, she invites us to the conference hall, to admire a display of art works, telling us that the artist is soon due to arrive. In the corridor, adverts promote the ‘film mania’ project, and offer an invitation to the multimedia centre, and to a master class on scrapbooking: all ideas from the director of the library. Ms. Sermyazhko, gushing with generous creativity, was happy to share her views: What inspired you to create the ‘children’s club for fans of reading’? Nobody Кіраўнік дыпмісіі Яўген Шастакоў obliged you to do so…

2015 беларусь.belarus

COMMITTED ENTHUSIASTS

Yulia Sermyazhko, enthusiast of the library services

About 20 years ago, I had small children and loved helping them learn about the world around them. When they became teenagers, I then wanted to examine the problems associated with this difficult age, creating a circle for teenagers, at Minsk libraries where I’d earlier worked. They liked to study with us. Not so long ago, I gave birth to my third child, and began the first vital stages again. By that time, various children’s educational centres had sprung up but most weren’t interested in child development, as such. However, like libraries, they have plenty of books: we have 58,000 editions! Of course, any parent can take a book and practise with their children, but some feel more comfortable in an organized environment. Of course, by law, access to books is free of charge. Is ‘sheer enthusiasm’ enough?

беларусь.belarus 2015

Our task is not to impart knowledge but to teach youngsters how to learn from books: how to access each edition’s knowledge You can go far on an attitude of ‘sheer enthusiasm’: on what did we build the Soviet Union but ‘sheer enthusiasm’? I have it in abundance and enjoy encouraging my employees, sharing guidelines. As far as I know, you lack a wide range of equipment: do mothers bring plasticine, pencils and so on? Yes, we have only books and the desire to succeed. Last year, I brought everything necessary from home and

I still do, but we also ask parents to bring multi-coloured napkins, glue, cardboard, balls or whatever they have to hand. Can you describe the lessons? I must emphasize that we aren’t teachers or psychologists; we are librarians. Our task is not to impart knowledge but to teach youngsters how to learn from books: how to access each edition’s knowledge. There is so much information in the world that

COMMITTED ENTHUSIASTS even an adult can be overwhelmed, so we direct people according to their interests. Secondly, our lessons are adapted to suit the age of the children. If the weather is bad it’s hard to spend time outside, so our lessons are popular, allowing youngsters somewhere to ‘let off steam’. Do you remember your first pupils? Certainly! At first, we had hardly anybody come to us but we placed an advert on social networks and so on, which brought Yan and Marina to us, then increasingly more people — through ‘word of mouth’. Last year, we had just 16 people in our group; this year, we have about 60 children. We don’t need to advertise any more. What other projects have you planned? Visiting the library is an obligatory element of the school curriculum, so holidays are busy. Besides classes with families, to develop small children’s skills, we are planning art exhibitions, inviting artists to join us, alongside other interesting people. Recently, Belarusian writers Andrey Zhvalevsky, Yevgenia Pasternak and Maria Bershadskaya paid us a visit; their books flew off the library shelves afterwards! We hold morning lessons during every school holiday and organize small-scale activities, such as teaching children the days of the week. We also have a game for older children, where a particular shelf ’s books are all wrapped in white paper, creating a ‘blind date’ lottery. It encourages them to read a book they might not otherwise select. We then ask them to write their opinion of the book on a hanging paper heart. The activity informs us of youngsters’ preferences. Another activity involves knitting a scarf of friendship: anyone can take part. If you don’t know how to knit, you can turn to the ‘How to Knit’ book for advice. Our staircase bears greetings in various languages: ‘привет’, ‘прывітанне’ and ‘hello’. These visual

Spirituality continues today: life isn’t ‘black and white’ after all. Our world has many sides and we must learn to live in it; reading can help us gain Кіраўнік дыпмісіі Яўген Шастакоў wisdom to do so 2015 беларусь.belarus

COMMITTED ENTHUSIASTS pointers to the road to knowledge show that you can learn little by little. We also hope to modernize our multimedia centre and launch a new project entitled ‘Play, company!’ — including games like ‘Mafia’ and ‘Svintus’ which teach children how to communicate. Rather than ‘lecturing’ children, we encourage them to be interactive, discovering the joy and fascination of learning for themselves. Are all Minsk libraries moving in this direction? Certainly, it seems to be so. The National Library of Belarus has a children’s creche, where parents can leave their children, while they study in the reading room. There is a museum of books and an observation platform on the roof, from which you can view the whole capital. Every Saturday, the central city library (named after Yanka Kupala) holds activities for families. Adult libraries organize events for children, while Minsk also has 18 libraries oriented purely towards school and preschool age youngsters. Library #13, in Minsk’s Sosny suburb, is a unique cultural-educational centre, while libraries #14 and #17 are also running interesting ‘features’. Everyone is eager to bring in readers, to justify their existence. We have to show that we are still relevant and find our niche in this changing world, where there is a tendency to read fewer books. Surely our country is experiencing this tendency to a lesser degree? What do you think? In Soviet times, a book was the best gift, and those who failed to visit libraries were considered to be missing out. However, some like to read and some don’t; we are all different. New technologies, gadgets and the Internet don’t prevent us from reading. My daughter, now 21, reads always and everywhere. She began with paper editions but then started downloading electronic books

беларусь.belarus 2015

onto her mobile phone: then, onto her reader and tablet. My son, aged 22, did not read in childhood and still has no desire, but enjoys audiobooks. Some children read continuously while others read ‘nothing’ yet learn from other sources. Perhaps, from cartoons? Perhaps. Our project ‘film mania’ allows us to suggest watching a film based on a book, so that we can discuss it and hold a quiz. We introduce Pushkin via ‘The Golden Cockerel’, and such works as ‘Idiot’ and ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ by Dostoevsky, as well as ‘The Master and Margarita’ by Bulgakov. Demand for these books rises

Each visiter can continue knitting a scarf of friendship

rapidly once youngsters have watched a film version. This is no bad thing. All sources of information complement each other. Do you read everything on the shelves of your library? Not these days; there’s too much for the human brain to digest. Perhaps, younger minds can do so, but I cannot! As a ‘book gourmet’, I choose editions. My other librarians read, according to their interests, which prompts discussion. Every self-respecting librarian

should know the content of the books they have available and be able to answer even tricky questions. When I was younger, I had an interesting case, where a boy asked for Belkin’s stories. I looked through the catalogue, the shelves and, even, the depository but there was no such book! After some time, I understood that he wanted the story Squirrels, by Pushkin! It’s important not to dismiss any request, even if a child simply asks for a blue book with dogs. Recently, I was asked for ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (a new film based on the book is soon to be released). I hadn’t heard about it but bibliographic reviews and searches online revealed all. Can modern prose become a classic? Think of the commotion caused by Nabokov’s ‘Lolita’, which is now a classic. Meanwhile, the popularity of the ‘moomins’ series (now largely forgotten) allowed its author to buy an island: it is a classic too. Which genres and authors are most in demand these days?

Pe opl e often ask for something complex and of good quality, having become bored with ‘easy’ literature. There isn’t a big rush to read Chekhov and Dostoevsky but people are reflecting on serious literature. Do you think that the great writers of past times reflected more on the eternal and that people were more spiritual? Spirituality continues today: life isn’t ‘black and white’ after all. Our world has many sides and we must learn to live in it; reading can help us gain wisdom to do so. By Alisa Krasovska

person

Vladimir Gridyushko:

‘I love serving the Theatre’ National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus marks end of 2014 with Christmas Opera Festival and the 5th Minsk International Christmas Opera Forum, gathering 155 performers, from various countries worldwide, competing in Minsk International Christmas Contest of Vocalists

he brightest opera festival, so beloved and honoured by Minsk residents, was held once again in December days, on the eve of C hr ist mas. The Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus presented a premiere of the opera Pagliacci, by Ruggero Leoncavallo, in a brilliant setting. Directed by Mikhail Pandzhavidze, it starred People’s Artist of Georgia Teimuraz Gugushvili as Canio. Mikhail is a Knight of the Order of Honour of the Georgian Republic, a soloist with Tbilisi’s Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, and a laureate of many competitions. His fans call him ‘a golden tenor’ of world opera. Meanwhile, Queen of Spades, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, starred famous People’s Artist of the USSR Irina Bogacheva, as the Countess. Irina is an outstanding prima of the Russian Opera, from St. Petersburg. In Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, Honoured Artist of Ukraine Vladislav Goray played the Duke of Mantua. Meanwhile, the Chamber Hall (named after Larisa Alexandrovskaya) saw two premieres directed by Mikhail Pandzhavidze’s

2015 беларусь.belarus

person

The Christmas Opera Forum was opened with a premiere of the opera Pagliacci, by Ruggero Leoncavallo, directed by Mikhail Pandzhavidze. People's Artist of Georgia Teimuraz Gugushvili starred as Canio

works: La Serva Padrona, by Giovanni Pergolesi, and Maestro di Capella, by Domenico Cimarosa. After the final concert, Young Voices of the World Opera, winners were announced. The Director General of the Theatre, Vladimir Gridyushko, noted that the event had strengthened the spirit of creativity and brought the shared joy of world masterpieces and spiritual unity. The final concert ended with Prayer, by Mardzagaliy, performed by everyone present, bringing a sublime and beautiful feeling of unity, which defied description; it brought great applause and shouts of ‘bravo’. The audience was overcome with delight and gratitude to the organizers of the festival: feelings to be long remembered. Mr. Gridyushko is utterly dedicated to his vocation and recently won a prize ‘For Spiritual Revival’ for his Vitovt performance, with its nationalhistorical theme, as awarded by President Alexander Lukashenko. Vladimir, what is your impression of the ‘Christmas Forum’ and the ‘Contest of Young Performers’? Was there anything you would have changed? There was nothing I didn’t like but there is no limit to perfection; tak-

беларусь.belarus 2015

ing into account our experience, we’ll keep improving. As the chairman of the jury for the Contest of Young Vocalists and the Christmas Forum did you not become weary? Work has been incredibly stressful, as judging lasted all day and the evenings were given over to performance. However, everything went well, and we managed to finish by 6pm. In France, we began judging at 10am and ended at 10pm. The first round took a day and a half, with the number of participants almost the same as seen at the recent event: imagine the stress! Everything is relative. When did you begin to prepare and how many people have been involved? We began a year ago. A lot of theatre services participated. Shortly beforehand, we involved volunteer students from the University of Culture. I’m grateful to them and also wish to express thanks to our partner, ‘Belarusbank’. Has it been difficult to promote The First Contest of Vocalists? It has been hard, as it’s a huge responsibility. Members of the jury came from various nations since this helps encourage diverse participation. I recall one international contest that had

just 32 people in the first round, which was then reduced to 16. We used all possible means, including advertising on various online sites, and sending emails to contacts, using our memorandums of co-operation with 25 European theatres. Initially, we received applications from 280 people but not all could attend: we ended up with 155 people, which is a lot. The optimal number of participants is 100-120. The first round lasted three days, with vocalists singing one aria. The second round required two arias, and the third obliged the performance of main parts. Performers sang ‘scenes’ with our artists, accompanied by a symphony orchestra. The Minsk contest differs from others in this way. As the chairman of the jury, did you need to persuade your colleagues regarding the winner, or was the jury unanimous? I didn’t have to persuade my colleagues and there were no discussions. Every judge had a planchette, one side of which was red, prohibiting a singer from reaching the next round. The other side was green. Judges sat in a row, unable to see each other. Only 30 people could go to the second round.When surname of each participant was called, the

person judges raised their planchette, allowing two people to count: one for ‘red’, and the other for ‘green’. Everything was simple and there were only one or two cases where opinion was divided. As chairman of the jury, I used my ‘double vote’ six times. It would be a shame if talented singers didn’t pass to the next round so, in the semi-final, we increased the number of places to six. Is Belarusian Opera and its singers seeing an upsurge in popularity? We have invited and continue to invite artists from outside Belarus: Belarusians from Prague and from Bratislava come to us. Irina Gordey has sung in some of our performances and will play ‘Tosca’ soon. Her Gala Concert was held at our theatre. Ivan Shupenich has also sung. Yes, there have been a lot of Belarusians. We are open to all who want to perform at our theatre. Did your affair with opera begin during your leadership of the Bolshoi Theatre? Or did your love awaken earlier, perhaps in childhood? Yes, I’ve always loved opera. I attended a music school, where I met my wife. We learned to play the accordion in Svetlogorsk and our son and daughter have also attended music schools. My parents belonged to the rural intelligentsia: my father was a headmaster, and my mother was a teacher. Certainly, they understood that music develops the personality, so they had good reasons for sending me to a music school. After the third year, I intended to stop having music lessons, but my nowdeceased father told me to only give up if I wasn’t ‘able’. That was a ‘challenge’ which inspired me to continue and I graduated from music school, entering Gorky’s Teacher Training College. My wife studied music longer, graduating from the College of Music, then the Conservatory. My connection with music exists not only through my wife; it seemed to be destined, as I realized recently,

thinking about the coincidences in our life. The building of our theatre was opened on March 10th, 1939, and my birthday is on March 10th. I never considered that I’d become Director General of the Bolshoi Theatre. Did you crave leadership in childhood? Certainly, I did. At school, I chaired a group and then the Pioneer Brigade Board, before becoming Secretary of my school Komsomol Committee and Secretary of the Komsomol Town Committee in Svetlogorsk. I finally took the position of Secretary of the Komsomol Committee of Belarus. Can you explain Belarus’ recent love affair with opera? It’s an elite art and not simple to understand. B elar usian audiences have achieved a certain level of appreciation. In addition, we’ve created a very good basis from which to attract them, with famous names and titles. This helps us to gather a full house. Over the last 5 years, we’ve staged 45 successful premieres. You tour abroad a great deal. What do you most remember, besides stage performances? My journeys are, as a rule, connected with signing agreements and memorandums. I also try to see foreign performances, to improve my understanding and to see whether we are moving in the right direction. I didn’t meet the greatest stars abroad. Rather, I met Maria Gulegina in Belarus, and Nina Ananiashvili. Our friendship has brought about some interesting projects, including ‘Ballet Summer at the Bolshoi’ and a performance of a Georgian ballet and the ballet ‘Laurencia’. Nina is the most wonderful woman: not only talented but easy to talk to and charming.

I’m glad that I’m a friend of Andris Liepa: one of the top opera stars, whose performances have enriched our repertoire. I’ve met the Head of the Vienna Opera Dominik Meyer and we may co-operate in future. Our interests differ, as do our spheres, principles and methods, but we have something in common. I had the idea for the ‘International Christmas Contest of Vocalists’ while on the International Jur y at the C ontest of Vocalists in France, in the little town of Bordeaux. I’ve b een there twice; after my first visit, I realized that we need

Winners of the first Minsk International Christmas Contest of Vocalists: Lasha Sesitashvili (Georgia) — the third award, Valentina Fedeneva (Ukraine) — the second award

2015 беларусь.belarus

person such contests. It’s important and prestigious for our country, as well as for our people — especially our vocalists. Such contests tend to gather young performers, under the age of 30; however, ours drew successful opera singers under the age of 35-38. It’s unique. We have a lot of theatre directors on our jury: Hans-Joachim Frey from Austria; Canada’s Alen Nona; Tadey Yeder from Lviv; and Mart Mikk from Estonia. Many of them I’ve known a long time.

Ramiz Usmanov (Uzbekistan) — grand prize of the contest, next to him —Honoured Artist of Belarus Anastasia Moskvina; Maria Shabunya (Belarus) — the first award

беларусь.belarus 2015

How did you become friends with Tadey Yeder? He spoke so warmly of you at the press-conference before the Christmas Forum. Tadey and I have known each other for many years. The first time he came to Minsk was for an evening honouring Zinoviy Babiy, when I’d just become the head of the theatre. I remember Tadey going on stage and praising outstanding tenor legend Babiy. Later, we signed a memorandum of co-operation. I invited Tadey to the ‘First Christmas Forum’, then to the second and to the third. Now, he comes every year. I visited him in Lviv one year, during a holiday, and we became friends. I’m also friendly with BakhtiarYakubov, from Tashkent, with whom I’ve organised exchange trips: our soloists have gone there, and theirs to us. The history of f riendship with Azerbaijanian theatre began with the ‘Days of Culture of Belarus in Azerbaijan’, where I worked with the Ministry of Culture and headed t he B elar usian delegation. As my life is now dedicated to the Opera and Ballet Theatre, I’ve asked for a trip to Azerbaijan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre. I know Akif Tu r a n o v i c h Meli kov, t he He a d of t h e Theatre, with

whom I’m friendly. Our opera and ballet soloists have begun making exchange trips and those from Azerbaijan come to us. They brought the ballet ‘Seven Beauties’ to our stage and we then added our own choreography and sets, to make our own version. In December 2014 we took the show to Baku, being received very enthusiastically. World famous composer Arif Mirzoev told me that our performance was just as Gara Garayev, the composer, from Azerbaijan, would have intended.” I was very pleased. If you had the opportunity to sing, with whom of your soloists would you choose? So many! I once met famous tenor Peter Dvorsky, who was heading Bratislava’s Opera House. He had just retired, aged 50: quite a young age for opera singers. Operatic voices can suddenly disappear. I listened to his records and he had a voice of incredible beauty, singing with many world stars. Maria Gulegina tells me that Dvorsky is her favorite Alfred in ‘Traviata’. With whom of our artists would I like to sing? S o many : Nastya Moskvina, Oksana Volkova, Stas Trifonov, Volodya Petrov, Volodya Gromov, Nina Sharubina, Ilya Selchukov — our ‘brilliant’ baritone, and Edik Martynyuk! There are few such chic tenors with such artistry! He can do somersaults and sing at the same time! Meanwhile, Yura Gorodetsky has such a warm, rare timbre. The troupe of the Bolshoi Theatre is very strong; many must envy us. I can talk of our ballet artists for ages. Sasha Chizhik is experiencing a wonderful time: she’s a beautiful ballerina, dancing so many leading roles. Lyuda Khitrova is another wonder. You say that audiences like famous names. Is this why you invite soloists from other theatres? Yes, and for the creative interchange, which helps our own performers and those from abroad, to improve. Everything is relative. When a Belarusian audience sees that our

person

The troupe of the Bolshoi Theatre is very strong; many must envy us. I can talk of our ballet artists for ages The scene from the Pagliacci performance — soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia Segey Maskalkov and Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus Nina Sharubina (Tonia and Nada)

performers have strong, bright voices, they can be proud of them. Do opera stars have any demands when you invite them to sing? They don’t demand anything unusual, although Belarusian hospitality is well-known; we always meet guests at the airport, arrange accommodation in excellent hotels and pay for meals. During the Christmas Forum, some people were placed in the Minsk Hotel, and some in the Victoria Hotel. The judges resided in the Belarus Hotel. Our partners helped us with transport. When Maria Gulegina came, she lived in the Svisloch Hotel (now called the Grand Plaza). Foreign artists never complain about the stage or dressing rooms. When they leave Minsk, they only express gratitude. Hvorostovsky has visited us more than once, attending the ‘Slavianski Bazaar’. Is it right to promote famous names? Our hall is not large and we need funds to carry out new projects. Where did you place those who came for the contest of vocalists? They paid for their own meals, transport and accommodation — as is world practice. They also paid an

entrance fee. Those in the semi-final received meals. Happily, none were offended and, before leaving, thanked us. We provided all with entrance tickets to performances of the ‘Christmas Forum’. Members of the jury with us for the first time also expressed gratitude, saying that they hadn’t met anything like this in other countries. Which projects do you like most? Projects are like children: we love all. We had the ‘Big Ball at the Bolshoi Theatre’, ‘Evenings with the Bolshoi at the Radzivill’s Residence’, ‘Russian Seasons’, the ‘International Christmas Opera Forum’ and the recent ‘Contest of Vocalists’, which I don’t doubt will become a tradition. We also organized the ‘Ballet Summer’ at the Bolshoi, and how can you not love our ‘Parterre’ magazine or our ‘Big Encyclopedia of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus’? It’s a masterpiece! Tell us about your PR? Every project should be promoted, as should every name — with the help of advertising, television and other media. Some of our projects don’t need it: the ‘New Year Ball’ was sold out in September. We promoted the ‘Christ-

mas Forum’ and the ‘Evenings at the Radzivill’s Residence’, using every avenue to promote them just beforehand. Which premieres are due in 2015? How do you plan to impress audiences? We’ve created sensations many times. It’s important to produce quality products. As to premieres, you can expect the operas ‘Tsar’s Bride’ and ‘Carmen’, as well as Eifman’s ballet ‘Anna Karenina’. How many people are subordinate to you? Do you like heading the Bolshoi Theatre? How did you feel going on stage after the Gala Concert? You simply said: ‘That’s all!’ More than a thousand people work at the theatre. There are 150 in the symphony orchestra alone and 120 with the ballet, as well as 70 opera soloists and 70 in the chorus. Then, there are all those in the production and catering teams, and administration. I love serving the Theatre, although I’ve enjoyed all my jobs. I confess that I like going on stage, knowing that I’ve discharged my duty. I then feel huge joy, as all is complete. By Valentina and Ivan Zhdanovichi

2015 беларусь.belarus

CREATIVELY

For the marriage ceremony — to the museum

RumyantsevPaskevich Palace in Gomel often hosts joyful weddings of local residents

беларусь.belarus 2015

Belta

esides welcoming local residents to celebrate their marriage ceremony within its walls, the palace often receives requests from Russians: nearly once a month, a couple from the neighbouring Bryansk Region will choose to marry at this beautiful location. The museum has even received a Spanish couple, who became ‘Prince and Princess’ for the day, walking in the old park and having their photos taken in the majestic interiors of the palace. They found out about the opportunity online, via the museum's site. Since Spain has many castles as well, their choice was an especial honour for museum staff. The 2nd National Museums of Belarus Forum, recently held in Gomel, gathered over 90 organizations, each introducing their exhibitions and showing the diversity of Belarus’ archives. The Head Curator of Kaliningrad’s Museum of History and Arts, Irina Eidelman, praised the works on show, noting that visitors and professionals alike were intrigued. Irina and her colleagues are regular partners of some Belarusian museums, undertaking exchanges and loans, liaising with organizations in Minsk and Brest. The forum saw the Kaliningrad delegation receive an offer of co-operation from Polotsk colleagues, to which Irina responded that she will liaise with pleasure, since the city is not only ‘beautiful’ but is the ‘cradle of history for Slavs’. Among the numerous ethnographic exhibitions at the forum were those showing artefacts once owned by medieval knights, Belarusian magnates and

modest bourgeoisie merchants, and by various armies. The Great Patriotic War theme was especially widely represented: from soldiers' utensils to weaponry. It was hard not to imagine the hands which once held these objects, and the soldiers who would have sat down to rest, singing to the accompaniment of an accordion or guitar. As the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory approaches, we also recall another war which changed the world, the First World War, whose centenary of commencement was marked this year across Europe. Smorgon’s museum displayed a rare ‘morning star’ set, with bayonet, as used by the Kaiser’s soldiers for trench fighting. It was found by a local resident in his kitchen garden. Of course, many 'Soviet' artefacts were also on show: as is fashionable in the world today. By Valentina Laikova

THE FIRST STEPS

Generosity — the feature Japan attracts many with its originality: hieroglyphs and sumo, sushi and Fujiyama, ikebana and geishas. These attract people with a sense of adventure, and a yearning to understand other cultures. The lives of people in the Land of the Rising Sun are fascinating to us. For many, the fearless Japanese samurai (well-known worldwide) encapsulate much of what defines their culture: think of such films as Seven Samurai, by Akira Kurosawa, and The Last Samurai, which starred Tom Cruise. However, you don’t need to travel ‘Full contact’ but to Japan to learn about its no injuries Spochan was founded by Samurai history and the secret martial Tetsundo Tanabe, a sword master, in arts of the samurai. Chanbara, 1971, based on his childhood love of playing with wooden swords. He later which has grown from the launched his own security company and samurai tradition, is popular wanted to train his employees in fencin many countries and Belarus ing. The hollow swords used are pneumatic: pumped with air, as you would a recently hosted the First football. At first sight, they seem strange Chanbara Championship (also weapons but their advantage is that they allow contact without injury, so that the called Spochan). It gathered speed and force of each blow does not more than 100 sportsmen, in need to be limited. Even the strongest Vitebsk, at an event organized blow leaves only a bruise, while a helmet protects your eyes and head, with a by experienced Russian transparent visor. coaches, and attended by the A short, 60cm ‘Kodachi’ sword can be used, or a 1m ‘choken’ sword, world’s Spochan champions.

as well as a shield, dagger, spear or other weapons. It seems playful but martial arts require a degree of seriousness. Moscow’s Anatoly Ashkhotov, the Vice President of the International Sports Chanbara Association, assures us, “In Russia, chanbara has been developing since 2002. I came into the sport from karate in 2003 as I enjoy free single combat and striking with full force. The Russian team has been attending major tournaments, with two world champions attending the Vitebsk event as judges: Mikhail Khabirov and Maximilian Manshin. Belarusian colleagues were able to learn from their expertise, being relatively new to the sport. The pair also enjoy performing to an audience, giving demonstration fights.”

2015 беларусь.belarus

THE FIRST STEPS

of the strong people

‘Fair play’ in Japanese At the World Championships, which are held in Japan, sportsmen first fight with short swords, before moving on to long, and so on. Winners are chosen in each nomination before meeting in the final, where the absolute champion is determined (the grand-champion). In Vitebsk, I chatted with grand-champion Maximilian Manshin, a 25-year-old coach with a Moscow fitness club, who gave me a master class. He told me, “There is a nipple in the base of the handle — like the nipple of a bicycle wheel. We insert it into the pump to inflate the sword and its camera is protected by a special covering. If you take a long run or wield with strong impact, it can blow out but I haven’t experienced this myself.”

беларусь.belarus 2015

In the semi-final of the World Championship, Maximilian saw the real manifestation of the samurai spirit: bowing to his rival, to the judges and to the audience before combat, to show his respect for the place of meeting and for his opponent. All ‘mean’ techniques were prohibited and the combatants were expected to confess if they received a blow from their opponent unseen by the judges. Manshin tells us that this ‘code of honour’ is at the heart of the sport. He notes, “I witnessed such a deed, while fighting the son of the founder of Spochan: Ken Tanabe. The judges hadn’t noticed my blow connecting but Ken brought it to their attention.” You can imagine how much innercontrol is needed to ensure such honesty, especially since combat continues until the first ‘palpable hit’. Alexander Kim,

 The International Sports Chanbara Association (ISCA), whose headquarters are situated in Yokohama (Japan), includes federations and unions of more than 40 countries worldwide. There are about 4,000 officially acknowledged instructors. The last 40th World Championship was held on November 2nd, 2014, in Tokyo. The last, 8th European Championship was held in April, in Germany’s Frankfurt am Main, while Russia is scheduled to host a tournament in March 2015 and the Russian Cup is due this autumn.

THE FIRST STEPS

Andrey Kalistov, head and coach of Vitebsk’s School of Wushu

Spochan is more simple and democratic, so maintains their interest during training — and doesn’t result in injury, which is very important. Not all children can endure pain from fist blows or kicks. No such problem exists with Spochan that helps to keep fit in a rather simple way

who coaches the Russian team, believes mental attitude is the most important component. He explains, “It’s an asset if a boy or a girl has good reactions and speed, but they can learn, even if they lack experience in other martial arts. Spochan is attractive in being ‘democratic’ — irrespective of age, fitness or flexibility. It’s vital to train regularly and to have discipline; you can achieve good results within a few months and, within two years, can participate in high level tournaments. We hope to see Belarusians competing at championships in Russia soon. Currently, they are taking the first steps but are doing well. The Championship of Belarus pleasantly surprised us in its size and competent organization.”

The first steps of Belarusian Spochan Andrey Kalistov, who heads Vitebsk’s School of Wushu, also coaches in martial arts, having a certificate from Shandong University, in China. The school has existed for 12 years, raising combatants who have taken top prizes at the European Wushu Tournament. The school has a contract with China’s Henan Province University, to encourage co-operation in the spheres of sport and tourism. Kalistov learnt about Spochan on the Internet and thought it to be interesting. He tells us, “We fence a lot with sabres, sticks and swords, but Wushu relies on flexibility, so it takes 2—3 years to learn, while children wish to compete as soon as possible! Spochan is more simple and democratic, so maintains their interest during training — and doesn’t result in injury, which is very important. Not all children can endure pain from fist blows or kicks. No such problem exists with Spochan that helps to keep fit in a rather simple way.” Kalistov is the only Belarusian Spochan coach to have a certificate from the International Association in Moscow. Other Belarusian Spochan coaches are being trained in Vitebsk and official Belarusian Federation in the sport is planned. The Russians are keen to welcome new members to the International Association

and are also eager to find new hosts for the First CIS Open Sport Chanbara Championship. Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia and Poland all have enthusiastic combatants, with Belarusians soon joining them. Anatoly Ashkhotov is hopeful that Vitebsk may yet hold the CIS tournament. By Sergey Golesnik

2015 беларусь.belarus

SCENE

UZARI and MAIMUNA

will perform at Eurovision-2015 Winner of national selection round announced following final show

he audience vote accounted for one eighth of the result in the contest, combined with the votes of the seven jur y members. The Belarusian audience chose MUZZART band, MILKI band and Uzari & Maimuna duo as their top three performers in the national selection round, while the jury voted for Uzari & Maimuna (76 points), Anastasia Malashkevich (66) and Gunesh (62). Uzari has a contemporary sound, with its own ideology and energy. In the finals of the selection round, the artist sang with charming violinist Maimuna, to perform Time, which

беларусь.belarus 2015

brought them luck. Other finalists for Belarus’ entry in the Eurovision-2015 Song Contest included: Napoli band; Lis; Dariya; Gunesh; MUZZART band; Valeria Sadovskaya; Rostany band; Zhanet; Alexei Gross; MILKI band; Beatrix band; Vitaly Voronko; Anastasia Malashkevich; and Тasha ODI. The final was broadcast live on the Belarus-1 and Belarus-24 TV Channels, as well as online, on the EBC site www. eurovision.tv. The final result comprised seven votes from the professional jury and one vote from TV viewers: a system used by small European countries. The major European musical contest, hosted by Austria, is to involve representatives of 39 countries.

Uzari was a finalist in the Eurovision-2012 selection round, and sang as a backing vocalist for the Belarusian representative at Eurovision-2011, in Germany. He is also a laureate of the New Wave-2011 competition for young pop singers. Uzari also wrote an adaptation for young Belarusian singer Nadya Misyakova, who performed at Junior Eurovision-2014.

PANORAMA  Beautiful participation

 Manuscripts under protection

Belarusian businesswoman Alesya Kokoshnikova awarded Mrs. Charity title at Mrs. Europe-2014 Pageant, hosted by Sofia

lesya Kokoshnikova, 36, graduated from the Belarusian Pedagogical University (named after Maxim Tank). She heads the Prazdnik.by Internet project, and organizes large-scale city events. She dedicates much time to social projects, promoting creativity through the popularization of female beauty, harmonious family relations and the strengthening of the family institute. She is also involved in various children’s projects. This year, over 30 women competed in the Mrs. Europe2014 Pageant, which is open to all those who are married. Entrants prepared (in advance) a video-presentation on ‘Domestic Violence: Types, Causes and Proposals to Promote Prevention’. The forum envisaged charity events, involving all participants.

 Wealth of traditions Three customs have been added to the State List of Historical and Cultural Values: ‘The Driving of Kust on the Second Day of the Trinity’ — in the Lyubcha settlement in Luninets District; ‘Easter Willows’ — in Grodno Region; and ‘The Traditional Art of Painted Rugs from Vitebsk’s Lakelands’. The Ministry of Culture’s Belarusian Republican Scientific-Methodical Council for Issues of Historical-Cultural Legacy chose the customs.

very ceremony has a rich history. Grodno’s willows are the same bright sprigs seen at Vilnius’ Kaziukas Fair, as it’s a common tradition for our two countries. Until recently, many thought it to be a Lithuanian tradition but opinions have now changed. Willow branches were used on Pussy Willow (Palm) Sunday: celebrated a week before Easter. After being blessed in church, people took them home and placed them near icons — for luck. The branches were then kept the whole year. They continue, ”On St George’s Day, people used the branches to drive cattle to the fields and, at Dziady, the branches were brought to the cemetery. Catholics burned sprigs at the end of Palm Sunday, with the ashes then used to mark their forehead in church. All Grodno’s willows are flat, and about half a metre in height; they grow on three branches, with grasses, spikelets and flowers.”

The famous legend of Tristan and Isolde and the quest for the Holy Grail was first translated into Belarusian in the 16th century, with the manuscript still preserved today. It is now part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, which protects global documentary heritage, alongside several other 16th-17th century works from our lands: the tales of Tsar Gvidon and King Atilla, and the Chronicles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Jemoit. All are united in a single 344-page book — kept at Poznan’s Raczynski Library.

he manuscript joined Nesvizh Castle’s library — in the foreign 19th century collection — passing through several owners. It

was known even then as the best preserved prosaic translation of the Western European legend of Tristan into Slavonic language. Belarusian culture is twice represented in the Memory of the World Programme, as UNESCO has included the Radziwills’ archives — scattered across Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Finland — and Nesvizh Castle’s library.

2015 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  Autumn of life in bright colours Actress Regina Dombrovskaya may be over 70 but she’s incredibly active, still taking roles in films, presenting a segment of a morning show and appearing in advertisements. It seems hardly appropriate to call her an elderly woman.

 Epochal Laurencia Bolshoi Theatre premieres Laurencia, by Alexander Krein, directed by People’s Artiste of Georgia and Russia Nina Ananiashvili

lmost the whole troupe of 74 people takes part in the ballet, which features four separate casts. Vakhtang Chabukiani first staged the work in 1939 and it has been shown 12 times since that year in

 With the rarity — for the new century One of the country’s leading and oldest institutions of higher education, the Belarusian State Pedagogical University (named after Maxim Tank) receives centenary gift from National Library

he precious rarity — a facsimile edition of Frantsisk Skorina’s works in five volumes — has only a few copies, so the addition to the university’s hall of rare books is a triumph indeed, sure to raise the pulse of bibliophiles! For example, the section of historical editions is a true pearl, boasting the Academic News of 1781, and an edition entitled Ancient Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian History — dating from 1752. Moreover, wouldbe teachers are likely to be delighted with the pedagogics section, where most of the books are almost university’s peers.

беларусь.belarus 2015

Minsk, from 1955-1956, conducted by Iosif Abramis, choreographed by Semen Drechin and with sets and costumes by Mikhail Blishch. It has now reappeared on the repertoire after almost 60 years, with an entirely new interpretation, although in consultation with those who worked with Chabukiani in Tbilisi, dancing in the original performance. Additional mise en scenes have been added, while the performance has been made more dynamic and easier for the audience to follow. “The library holds over a million editions,” reveals the Rector of the BSPU, Alexander Zhuk. “Approximately 7,000 are classed as rare, the oldest dating to the mid-17th century. Moreover, we are opening a repository, enabling students and teachers to have constant access to electronic educational resources: the educationalmethodical developments of our staff, and scientific articles.” Mr. Zhuk is convinced that in this way the university can declare itself in the international rating of universities where such aspect is of crucial importance. Almost all new editions are released in e-form as well as printed. The BSPU understands that ever more students wish to read using e-devices, or to receive information online, so the electronic repository aims to meet this 21st century trend. At present, there are about 400 documents, which have taken two months to digitize.

yudmila Brazhnik from Minsk will soon be 80, but rarely finds time to sit on a bench near her home. The grandmother attends English classes, surfs the Internet in the evenings and loves skiing. Her friend, Vitaly Kokhno, also a retiree, is a snowboarder. It’s a busy autumn of life… Stanislava Lukot, from Sopotskin, has recently reached the age of 100. She jokes, “I’m in my productive prime!” Praskoviya Savolevich, from Doroshevichi, is 107. Everyone is keen to know their ‘secret’ but the answer is obvious: they all enjoy living and stay active, with a positive attitude. Why be otherwise? July data for this year shows that 557 people have reached the age of 100 or more in Belarus, with most from Grodno Region.

VERNISSAGE

A game for which we must live Kamil Kamal’s Plays at the Ends of the Earth successfully showcased at the National Art Museum of Belarus, featuring paintings, graphic arts works and sculpture from past three decades

ymbolically, the artist’s first exhibition — hosted by the National Art Museum 20 years ago — had the same name. Since then, Kamil Kamal has created many projects, becoming a bright representative of modern Belarusian art. His lithographs and etchings are executed with virtuoso skill, combining the realistic and surreal: harmonizing colour while offering tension and resistance. The artist is a master of all forms of monumental art: painting, mosaic, stained glass and sgraffito. Mr. Kamal’s speculations on the fleeting nature of life and of eternal existence are fantasies resembling

2015 беларусь.belarus

VERNISSAGE From responses to the exhibition “The exhibition is remarkable! We discovered a new world through the eyes of artist Kamil Kamal. His perceptions are consonant with our perception of life.” Yekaterina and Larisa. “Kamal, your creativity is recognizable. You are integrated, self-sufficient personality in art. Indefatigable energy, lust for life and purposefulness allow you to be in good creative form. We wish you to go on and to please us with your works!” Yours faithfully, Nudnov V.M. December, 1st, 2014 “Dear Kamal! I congratulate you on such a remarkable exhibition, it is really impressive. You have kept own style and outlook of the artist.” Tatiana Malysheva, artist December, 15th, 2014 multi-coloured children’s dreams. He is a philosopher, with a many-sided approach, as demonstrated at the Minsk show. Mr. Kamal tells us, “My first teacher at Leningrad’s Ilya Repin Art School, Yevsey Moiseenko, was born in Belarus. He loved to say that ‘monotony is worse than ugliness’ and I’ve always remembered those words. Any trend — in sculpture, graphic art or painting — should focus on human kindness: a value gradually disappearing. I’m hugely thankful to this land and this nation for allowing me to find my talent. Belarus is my favourite ‘home’, to which I devote all my artistry — with its joy, sorrow, poetry and philosophy. Our life — whatever it is — is the game… for which we must live.” Thirty years of Mr. Kamal’s life are closely connected with Minsk, where he began his path as a professional artist. Born in Georgia to an Azerbaijani family, Kamil has become a true Belarusian, enriching our national art with his brilliant works: bright and enchanting, with depth and melodiousness, Eastern accents and lightness of touch. Reality merges with invention, and new images are born, ready to touch the soul. The unique artist received a pictorial and monumental education. The recent show shows him again sharing his knowledge and experience with the coming generation at the Be-

беларусь.belarus 2015

larusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank. “The story lies in the picture,” explains the artist. “My words might be wrong but, on seeing my picture, a person can find more for himself.” Mr. Kamal’s works are full of philosophy, reflecting his original outlook and view on human relations and feelings. You can spend much time surveying a single picture, so rich is each in detail. They disclose his endless imagination and world outlook. The Minsk show features 30 of his monumental works, including Tree of Life — a sculptural composition of a fountain located on Minsk’s Traktorostroiteley Boulevard — and monuments to Belarusian liberators in Mogilev and Vileika. Mr. Kamal has decorated works by Vasil Bykov and Rygor Baradulin, with touching and delicate illustrations. Meanwhile, his unique etchings and lithography are fascinating. “Our attitude towards art has changed, with some people more interested in the frame than the picture! I have no wish to encourage such an attitude but I also want to avoid my exhibition looking out-of-date so I enlarged my Puzzle clay sketch to 5 metres, using metal wire. It stands by the museum entrance and sets the mood for the show,” notes Mr. Kamal.

VERNISSAGE

“The city of ancestors”, 2014

All his exhibitions, irrespective of venue, are organized under the Belarusian flag and Mr. Kamal has demonstrated his works in Poland, Turkey, Germany, Azerbaijan, Austria, Holland and Italy. Not long ago, he took his show to Belgium, where it was hosted by the European Parliament building. Mr. Kamal is known in many countries, being praised by foreign media not only as an accomplished master but as a representative of our country, bringing praise upon Belarus. “It is joyful and interesting for me to paint my own world. I consider art to have no limits; everyone sings their own song. Art is boundless and immense. Those who are true to themselves endure, while those who are insincere will disappear, as if they never existed. I know one thing: that I love life, my family — brothers and sisters, friends and the whole humankind. It is the secret purpose of my creativity.” Such is the creative credo of artist Kamil Kamal, born in Azerbai“Harp”, 2000 jan but now a citizen of Belarus. He attended Russian and, later, Belarusian art schools, creating canvases filled with imaginative and philosophical reflexions, childhood memories and past experiences. He balances be-

tween reality and fantasy, trying to catch the imperceptible essence of each moment, without haste. You will never confuse Kamil Kamal’s pictures with others as he is so original. Bright, sincere and joyful, his pictures present us with lifelike characters, who then inspire us to examine our inner self. What is life if not an aspiration to eternal meaning? Kamil often has personal exhibitions in Turkey and Azerbaijan and is known for his Eastern mentality and themes, from his childhood. Of course, the European art school has affected his development, becoming interwoven into his art. Kamil Kamal was born in Georgia and took his first creative steps at the Asaf Zeynally Music School in Baku. He finished three years at Leningrad’s Academy of Arts named after I. Repin and then attended Yevsey Moiseenko’s studio, learning classical principles of painting and the realistic school. Before arriving in Minsk Kamil lived for some time in Moscow, then — in Kiev. In 1984, Kamil became a student of the Painting Department at the Belaru-

2015 беларусь.belarus

VERNISSAGE

“Eternity”, 2009

sian State Theatrical-Art Institute, mastering the skill of colour separation under the direction of Professor Piotr Krokhalev. After some time, he joined the Monumental and Decorative Department, uniting his original perception of the world and principles of mastery. People’s Artist of Belarus Gavriil Vashchenko (then head of the chair for Monumental and Decorative Art) recollects, “He had an uncommon creativity and, despite being far from his native land, preserved his national traditions. I had no yearning to change him. In fact, he had his own desire to preserve his originality and to remain different from Belarusian artists.” Kamil’s independent creativity found expression through mosaic, painting, and encaustic and stained glass works, depicting the world through abstracted images. He concentrated on form and expression, using symbolism, ge ne r a l i s at i on and philosophical reflections. His monumental works have refinement of line, harmonious colours, delicate plots and natural plasticity of human form. In his early works, he gave great value to symbolism and space, ensuring that his pieces have depth. For his diploma thesis, he created a monumental painting entitled

беларусь.belarus 2015

“Pearl”, 2014

Dream Call, measuring 380m square. His multi-figured painting hangs in comprehensive secondary school #181, in one of Minsk’s micro-districts. For this, he received a scholarship from the Union of Artists of the USSR. Kamil’s paintings hang in the shop Meditsinskaya Kniga (medical book), as well as in cafe Kolobok. Meanwhile, his stained glass is on show at Astara restaurant. Some works remain unfinished, such as his stained-glass Educators of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, in the early 1990s, the economic situation prevented the development of monumental and decorative art, with most monumentalist artists turning to easel painting. They, including Kamil, brought with them a greater degree of figurative expression. Kamil’s small studio is in the Minsk art-production complex, under t he B elar usian Union of Artists. The modest wall space is covered “Inspiration”, 2000 in his most cherished pictures, which he wishes to keep always. In fact, he parts only reluctantly with his pictures and often refuses to sell them: the fact he never regrets. He is very choosy about the one who buys his paintings.

VERNISSAGE

“Games on the edge of the world”, 2014

He notes that Diogenes is his idol, having set himself above financial gain. Like his hero, Kamil does not seek out financial benefit, preferring to seek out ‘people’. His works have an element of mystery and are inspired by works of literature: by Pushkin, Omar Khayyám and Confucius. He sees himself as ‘a mediator between people and God’ and is fascinated by the image of the dervish: a Muslim mystic. Like the dervishes, his philosophy of creativity is based upon his personal relationship with

“Melody of love”, 2011

God, through silent contemplation. Among his works are Dervish Passion, and Dervish: Pipe of Life. Each depicts a lonely human figure disappearing onto the horizon. Dervishes represent wisdom and, for Kamil, even birds can be dervishes. In Dervish Bringing Light, a vague human figure arises from viscous brown-yellow space, seemingly moving forward. A bearded old man bears a candle in his hands, as if seeking truth in a sea of spiritual impoverishment. We sense that the path is difficult. The theme of spiritual searching is common through literature and art, especially works from the East, where the human condition is often viewed as a journey to wisdom. Hodja Nasreddin wrote that one person might spend his life sitting by a roadside dusty chaikhana, telling fairy tales to the dumb wind, yet the whole world might know him. Meanwhile, another might travel the world, behaving like a madman, with ‘his dusty language beating in his mouth, like a mountain river against rocks’. He asserts that ‘nobody, except the road dust knows where his good-fornothing feet walked or where his traceless wheels ran’. The artist tells fairy tales on canvas, creating a picture of the world of today and the past. One of Kamil’s most loved works is called Destiny of My Favourite City. A high rock rests against the dome of the sky and we see camels but, instead of humps, one bears the silhouette of an ancient city. His aspiration was to show the painful and difficult destiny of the Motherland. Almost all Kamil’s pictures are symbolic, with trees representing life, and birds symbolising eternity. We see lions, tigers, elephants and goats, as well as fantastic beings, angels, stones and flowers. These islands of eternity and forgotten pieces of paradise comprise children’s dreams and fairy tales. During recent years, Kamil’s talent has been revealed unexpectedly through delicate lithographics and etchings, used to illustrate books written by Ales Karlyukevich, Ganad Cherkazyan, and Timur Zulfikarov. Each has depth of meaning. For the past few years, Mr. Kamal has become fond of sculpture, casting in bronze and playing with light and shade, leaving some parts or figures unfinished. The effect is surprisingly, having refinement, sensuality and inner power. Contemplating life, he feels Azerbaijani as well as Belarusian, since so much of his learning has taken place here. He dreams of painting a picture about the East and the West: the contemplative and the pragmatic. Through his work, Kamil dreams of constructing a new Tower of Babel. Mr. Kamal’s works are kept at the Belarusians National Art Museum, the Belarusian Union of Artists, the Culture Ministry and many embassies accredited in Minsk; his works are also owned by private collectors in Austria, Azerbaijan, the UK, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, China, Russia, the USA and France. By Victor Mikhailov

2015 беларусь.belarus