Belarus (magazine #4 2016) by BELARUS Magazine

Magazine for you

No.4 (991), 2016 Беларусь. Belarus

belarus www.belarus-magazine.by

Politics, Economy, Culture

Life after Chernobyl

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. 4 (991), 2016 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

DIALOGUE when rational approaches ARE redetermineD

Editor: Viktor Kharkov Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

4 8

Rebooting relations? Why not Minsk visited by Poland’s Foreign Minister, Witold Waszczykowski, for the first time in eight years

Task for tomorrow Investments for de-

velopment of Belarusian machine building will be provided only under certain sales markets

Childhood priorities

Exit without ‘shock therapy’

Membership of free economic zone elite The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial

His Jerusalem Well-known Belarusian

poet and writer Zmitrok Byadulya, whose literary works are studied in schools, including Nightingale and the Silver Snuffbox, was also a journalist and theatre critic, though few realize it

Olga Zlotnikova. In poetry and prose

Unified by music Twice a week, pen-

sioner Alla Bashkirova travels from Baranovichi to Gantsevichi and back to teach music at Gantsevichi’s arts school. She loves to draw out young talent but is also keen to keep busy. “When people retire, they start worrying about becoming ill. Working diverts your attention!” she reasons

Iron lady

Vladimir Maslenikov’s space and time Famous Belarusian artist celebrates

Leaving good marks

High star of friendship Connection of

literature, countriesand people, as journalists visit Ashgabat

беларусь.belarus 2016

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

the 60th birthday with personal exhibition

Order No. 900 Total circulation — 1961 copies (including 790 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: belmag@sb.by

Park is yet to become the country’s calling card but there can be no doubt that the project will be realized, helping Belarus take its place as a location of global economic significance

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova

Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977

BLACK & WHITE

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

Thanks to you all!

’30

years after Chernobyl…’ Life continues. In forty or fifty years’ time, will people still recall the nuclear explosion that thundered at Chernobyl? The technogenic catastrophe, in 1986, attracted the attention of the whole world, as people suffered and radionuclides rained, mostly onto Belarusian territory. Fortunately, the Republic rode out the tense situation with honour. It’s no secret that the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had huge social consequences for Belarus. Settlements and villages close to the station were evacuated, with thousands of people removed permanently to safe havens in other regions. The catastrophe brought huge economic losses, which could run to hundreds of millions of US Dollars. For the first four years after the Chernobyl accident, the Soviet authorities decided to deal largely with the consequences at the national level. The United Nations and its partners sought ways to provide emergency aid, including assessing nuclear safety and environmental conditions within the contaminated area, and diagnosing various medical conditions resulting from the accident. The UN also focused on raising the awareness of those living within the affected zone, teaching them how to protect themselves from radionuclides remaining in the environment and found in foodstuffs. Over time, it has become clear that the task of environmental and health recovery cannot be separated from the task of development. The UN, alongside major non-governmental organizations and funds, has implemented more than 200 projects relating to research and rendering of assistance: in such areas as healthcare, nuclear security, information sharing, socio-psychological and economic rehabilitation, restoration of the environment, and the production of ‘pure’ products.

Three decades of rehabilitation activities have included sustainable social and economic development, coupled with clear information on how to live safely within affected territories. These continue to play an important role in mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, which lowered the quality of life so much in the affected regions of Belarus. Our Leaving Good Marks article explores UNBelarus co-operation in mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Undoubtedly, the major burden fell on Belarus in solving its Chernobyl problems, since the consequences of the catastrophe mostly affected the Republic. On April 26th, 1986, an accident happened at t he C her noby l power plant near the Ukrainian town of Pripyat. Explosions destroyed the casing of the reactor and the resulting fire lasted ten days, sending a radioactive cloud over most of Europe. Around 70 percent of the radioactive fallout rained down on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. According to estimates, more than 8 million people in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia were exposed to the radiation. Dry statistical figures scantily reflect the complexity of those events. However, it’s important to remember that huge work has been conducted and it should be admitted that the young Belarusian state honourably rode out the tense situation. We also remember the kind-heartedness of the world community and are grateful for the recuperative hosting of our children from the most-affected districts. We are thankful also for generous technical, financial and humanitarian assistance. Our thanks to you all! By Victor Kharkov

2016 беларусь.belarus

panorama  Denomination rules to be remembered On July 1st, 2016, a denomination of 10 000:1 will be launched in Belarus, as new banknotes and coins are introduced

 Hospitable country The Government approves Hospitable Belarus state programme for 2016-2020, with corresponding decision adopted by the Council of Ministers, aiming at developing a contemporary, competitive tourist complex, to raise tourism’s contribution to the national economy

he Sports and Tourism Ministry is a driving engine for the programme, which features two sub-programmes: ‘Staff, Scientific and Research-Methodology Provision in the Sphere of Tourism’ and ‘Marketing of Tourist Services’.

 Strategy of reform Interdepartmental co-ordination group set up to tackle reformation of state organizations and management of state assets

corresponding direction has been signed by Belarus’ Prime Minister, Andrei Kobyakov, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Vasily Matyushevsky, appointed to head the group. His deputies are the Chairman of the State Property Committee, Andrey Gaev, and Belarus’ Economy Minister, Vladimir Zinovsky.

беларусь.belarus 2016

The first envisages the development of new principles and approaches towards the formation and promotion of the national tourist product, alongside expertise promotion in staff, and researchmethodology. The second envisages the creation of a multi-level system of promoting tourist services, developing an information system to support domestic and inbound tourism and a network of tourist information centres. The state programme will be financed using national and local funds, with annual adjustment. The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus will also provide some funding, as will businesses. The group comprises heads of ministries for industry, finance, architecture and construction, transport and communications, agriculture and food, as well as the National Bank. The co-ordination group has been instructed to prepare a draft comprehensive strategy of reformation and restructuring of state organizations by September 1st. By June 1st, the work of the largest state organisations (those given state support) should be analysed, with help from specialists of Republican state management bodies, as well as other state organizations subject to the Government.

he Ministry of Trade explains that tariffs will be rounded upwards to the accepted unit of measurement (piece, dozen, metre, kilogramme or litre) and retail prices will be rounded to the nearest Kopeck, in line with arithmetic rules. As the Ministry of Trade explains, ‘If a figure

includes a fractional part of less than half a Kopeck, then it will be reduced down to the nearest Kopeck; where the part is 0.5 Kopeck or more, then the sum will be increased up to the nearest Kopeck.’ In forming retail prices for goods and public catering products (for which maximum markups are set), rounding will be made after calculating these markups and value added tax. As regards rounding prices by entrepreneurs, they must meet the maximum markups upon goods and public catering products towards which pricing regulation is applied.

FOREIGN POLICY CONTEXT

Rebooting relations? Why not Minsk visited by Poland’s Foreign Minister, Witold Waszczykowski, for the first time in eight years

Belta

elarus and Poland can play a significant role in Europe and can influence m any pro c e s s e s , noted the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, during his meeting with Poland’s Foreign Minister. He stated, “We live close to each other and share a common history; we have one and the same problems, with some having more problems and others less.” The Belarusian Head of State expressed hope that the visit of the Foreign Minister to Belarus will help our countries develop bilateral relations more intensively. The two sides had much to talk about in Minsk, with Mr. Lukashenko underlining, “Our problems aren’t difficult to assess or to solve. Where

there’s a will, there’s a way. The most important thing is to agree our criteria, which I don’t think will be a problem.” He stresses that Belarus will proceed from a desire to build relations: the

basis also of Polish foreign policy. He asserts, “We’ll protect our sovereignty and independence, as you do. There are no differences between us in this respect. Having observed you, we’ll use your example of implementing social and economic policy, but we’ll try to do so in a manner unreproachable for lack of democracy.” Mr. Lukashenko thanked Poland for accepting Belarus as a sovereign and independent country, saying, “If partners with whom we’re engaged in dialogue make us choose between the East and the West (i.e. between Russia and the European Union) we won’t accept this position. I’m absolutely convinced that such a move won’t benefit you either. I believe that Poland, more than anyone, would like Belarus to be an independent and stable state. I think that, after Ukraine, the West has no need for

2016 беларусь.belarus

FOREIGN POLICY CONTEXT another unstable state. It wouldn’t benefit Poland.” The Belarusian Head of State stressed that Poland has never made ultimatums, adding, “Being at the centre of the European continent, Belarus and Poland play an important role. We have influence over processes and can act in the best interests of Poland and Belarus, but should never do so at the expense of our neighbours.” During the meeting with the President, Witold Waszczykowski emphasized that the new Polish government intends to launch unconditional dialogue with our country. A couple of

trade turnover last year, $1.8bln of goods and services were exported and imported. Polish companies invested almost $200mln into the Belarusian economy, and over 350 enterprises with Polish capital currently operate in Belarus. Almost two-dozen representatives of large Belarusian companies work in Poland. Proposals to increase trade turnover are to be discussed this summer, at a session of the Intergovernmental Commission. This is especially acute in the context of the transit attractiveness of our states, connecting the EU with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Poland remains one of Belarus’ most important trade partners in the western direction. Despite reduced trade turnover last year, $1.8bln of goods and services were exported and imported. Polish companies invested almost $200mln into the Belarusian economy, and over 350 enterprises with Polish capital currently operate in Belarus. Almost two-dozen representatives of large Belarusian companies work in Poland years ago, it was impossible to hear such an opinion from an EU politician. Undoubtedly, it’s a pleasant situation, inspiring optimism. As far as Belarus is concerned, because of its multi-vector foreign political strategy, it is always ready to develop constructive and mutually respectful relations with all states. These principles remain unchanged for Belarusian-Polish dialogue. Mr. Lukashenko is determined to build relations which serve our national interests and the security of the state, as top priorities. Poland remains one of Belarus’ most important trade partners in the western direction. Despite reduced

беларусь.belarus 2016

Why not use this factor to expand economic partnerships and to create new joint logistics and social infrastructure projects? Such an approach is vital, since many ethnic Belarusians live in Poland, and Poles account for a considerable share of our citizens. However, Mr. Lukashenko believes that ethnic division serves little purpose. He notes, “We don’t have Belarusians, Poles, Jews, Russians or Ukrainians. We have citizens of Belarus, who enjoy the same rights and will always have equal status. Each person goes to the church they believe necessary. I have an equal attitude towards everyone, and this will continue.”

 Convincing mandate of trust Belarus makes proposals on the UN General Secretary selection

elarus has presented its proposals on securing the open and efficient selection of the candidate to the post of the UN Secretary General. The Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN, Andrei Dapkiunas, spoke at a meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalisation of Work of the General Assembly, which was devoted to the selection and appointment of the next UN Secretary General. The Security Council recommends nominees to the General Assembly. The head of Belarus' mission to the UN has proposed that the 70-year age limit be removed, alongside the necessity of UN member states only proposing one candidate. Mr. Dapkiunas wishes to see Security Council members be given more freedom in selecting a candidate (or candidates), free from excessive pressure or over-regulation. The Belarusian representative drew attention to the need to ensure the independence of the Secretary General, rising above the influence of particular states, while having full accountability to the General Assembly. By Vladislav Veremeev

By Vasily Kharitonov

Belta

TOPICAL

On meeting the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Dr. Michael Carpenter, President Lukashenko notes his hope that Belarus and the USA are entering a new stage in bilateral

DIALOGUE when rational approaches are redetermined

ccording to the President, some p osit ive t rends have been recently outlined with the western world and with the USA. “I’d like this to become a new stage in our relations,” noted Mr. Lukashenko. He added that relations between Belarus and Western countries are

highly politicized, saying, “We should pay more attention to the economy and trade-economic relations with the United States and the European Union. It would lay the foundation for building good relations across all spheres.” Belarus is ready to discuss any problems with western partners and to co-operate with the USA. “Not only because it’s a global empire and a leading state of the world with which everyone

co-operates,” said Mr. Lukashenko. He underlined that a respectful attitude has formed in Belarusian society towards America, and even past sanctions against Belarus haven’t hampered this. “Our nation is kind and educated and is well aware of the processes happening worldwide,” noted Mr. Lukashenko, who is keen to embrace the wishes of Belarusian and American citizens in building bridges.

2016 беларусь.belarus

TOPICAL in Belarus with citizens of our country, being given employment and their children being sent to Belarusian kindergartens and schools. According to Mr. Lukashenko, the threats present in Eastern Europe could ‘seriously affect the general situation in Europe, if not today, then tomorrow’. He believes, “It’s impossible to balance the situation here, I refer to Ukraine and other tendencies, without the USA.” Emphasizing that this is his solid conviction, he recalled having many times publicly declared this, even before the ‘Normandy Four’ summit in Minsk. Nevertheless, Belarus is not overenthusiastic about the activation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the socalled promotion of NATO in the East. “We cannot but respond to it because it’s happening near our borders,” said the Belarusian leader. He added that he doesn’t want to demonise or exaggerate this process and doesn’t believe that NATO will attack Russia or Belarus. “It’s impossible and unnecessary under the current conditions,” he noted. Moreover, the Belarusian Head of State is convinced that neither the USA nor Europe needs another conflict in the Eastern European region. “I believe, and it is declared in the policy of the USA, that America absolutely wants to see a peaceful and independent Belarus,” stressed Mr. Lukashenko. Belta

By Vladimir Mikhailovsky

Focus Mr. Lukashenko underlined the defensive character of Belarus’ Military Doctrine, commenting, “Our military doctrine is purely defensive. We’ll never attack anyone or use weapons against any country. Our neighbours won’t ever be able to point their fingers at us in this respect. Belarus is a CSTO member and Mr. Lukashenko asserted that the country’s position within the organization is simple. He stressed, “We won’t ever fight on other’s territory, because we’re adhering to a defensive doctrine. If someone tries to attack us, we’ll defend ourselves, as well as fulfil our obligations towards Russia as an ally. The most vital aspect for us is to protect the integrity and sovereignty of our country and to counteract any threat, wherever it comes from.” Mr. Lukashenko noted that Belarus values international opinion regarding its role in the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. The Head of State emphasizes that Belarus will always be committed to principles of peace, and seeks no war in Ukraine. “There have never been any threats to Ukraine from our land and never will be. We pursue a peace-loving policy and will do our best to normalize the situation in Ukraine,” the President highlighted. 160,000 Ukrainian citizens, who have been obliged to leave their country because of the conflict, currently reside on Belarusian territory. They have been granted equal rights

беларусь.belarus 2016

A new stage is opening up in Belarus-the USA relations, having launched via serious dialogue across a broad agenda. The President recently met Michael Carpenter, of the US Department of Defence, discussing a spectrum of issues. Belarus is receiving far more western officials, although most still from Europe rather than the USA. The guest from the Pentagon occupies a special place among these visitors, being in a position to activate contacts across so many levels. Since 2008, bilateral diplomatic interaction between the USA and Belarus has fallen significantly, with hardly any military-diplomatic liaisons. Now, we are restoring the placement of military attaches, hoping to address this omission. We must attend to mutual interests, settling challenges with the help of the USA, which remains an influential player on the world arena. In his conversation with Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Lukashenko highlighted problems of European security, especially regarding the threats faced by Western Euro pe. Tension in the East doesn’t strengthen the stability of Europe, or vice versa.

IN ESSENCE

TASK for tomorrow

Investments for development of Belarusian machine building will be provided only under certain sales market

hile visiting JSC ‘Minsk Automobile Plant’ President Alexander Lukashenko stated exactly this way, and there are grounds for it. At present, the world machine industry sphere is experiencing tough times, with demand falling across all segments. As a result, MAZ has a large volume of warehoused goods, and is owed ever more money for dispatched products. It is suffering from a deficit of floating assets. The state has been helping, aiding the passing along of warehouse stock via leasing schemes, customer subsidies and other instruments. The economy has recovered slightly and company heads are now seeking out new markets. During the President’s visit, recent measures were discussed, alongside plans for the future. An open-air exhibition of novelties produced by Belarusian machine building companies was recently organized in front the main MAZ building, while a workshop hosted a display of components. Initially, discussion of the branch’s prospects was planned to follow the ex-

hibition but the President abolished the meeting, saying that the topic is too extensive and serious to be discussed lightly. The tour, followed by reports from directors lasted for almost five hours, providing much information to analyze and study. Mr. Lukashenko has demanded that final talks will feature not only directors and members of the Government but those who sell our machinery abroad and those who operate it, to ensure a full picture. He wants to encourage open voicing of opinions, so that a more effective strategy can be devised. The event should take place soon, with some conclusions already drawn. On being asked how they feel they are performing in comparison to MAZ, heads of BelAZ, MTZ and Amkodor note that they know they need to ‘do better’. Mr. Lukashenko has said so himself, speaking with workers, who agree that they hold the plant’s fate in their hands. Quality is the essential factor in finding markets; any badly fixed nut on a conveyor line could damage the Belarusian brand’s reputation, resulting in loss of buyers and profits, leading to reduced salaries. There is a direct connection between the mechanics of production and wages, as employees appreciate. Most believe in a promising future for their com-

pany, despite tough times at present (as seen from a poll conducted on the eve of the President’s visit). However, workers also expect more decisive actions from managers. BelavtoMAZ Holding’s plans for development include serious modernization, at a cost of around $500mln. The President asked directly whether the company is confident of finding sales markets for its goods and, on receiving no clear answer, stressed, “You may find funding, possibly via Chinese loans, only when you prove that you have markets waiting. Otherwise, we won’t give you a single cent. I cannot invest hundreds of millions of Dollars in vague promises, with goods ending up being piled in warehouses or worse.” Modernization, via use of the most advanced equipment, and newly trained personnel, can produce good quality products but investment is fruitless without a firm sales strategy. It’s an obvious argument for any sphere, including Belarusian machine building. On visiting MAZ, Mr. Lukashenko pointed out that, to compete with Russian rivals, we need to offer the best terms, such as five-year warranties (as some passenger car producers do). Of course, this is only possible if manufacturers believe in their

2016 беларусь.belarus

Belta

IN ESSENCE

goods. BelAZ acts as a good example, successfully guaranteeing its machinery for up to a million kilometres of use. On approaching BelGee, the President surveyed its attractive Geely car, and then announced that all officials — including chairmen of district executive committees and ministries — should change their cars for Belarus-made automobiles. Another interesting project is agricultural machinery’s use of liquefied gas, to save fuel. At least three agricultural enterprises should be using such machinery by the start of the next agrarian season. Benefits will then be studied and a decision made on whether to apply these vehicles more widely. The President insistently recommends that funds are focused. An evident example is that MAZ desperately needs new foundry production, as do MTZ (Minsk Tractor Works) and the Minsk Motor Plant, and several other enterprises. Is it necessary to build a new foundry for each rather than a single

беларусь.belarus 2016

casthouse? This project is being developed and a similar approach is needed for other areas. The President is convinced that such companies as MAZ are a source of national pride; those brands are our history, and are part of our future, of

course, requiring modern economic approaches. MAZ heads aim to keep on staff and provide decent salaries, but long-term goals for the plant and the wider machine-building sphere are yet to be discussed. By Vladimir Khromov

On visiting Minsk Automobile Works, Mr. Lukashenko talked to workers, answering their questions:

Preserving peace and consent

Some jeer that any situation is better than war. What do we need in times of war? We need peace — which is vital. I must assure you not to worry over issues of security, war or peace. We aren’t going to war with anyone; we are experienced people. However, we’ve recently modernized our Armed Forces so that anyone encroaching on our land will face immediate attack. With this in mind, we’ve modernized our army, for our country’s protection. We’ve strengthened protection of the Ukrainian border, with the same purpose. We’re not fencing peaceful people; the latter are always welcome and we accept and help refugees. However, criminals won’t be able to enter. There’s no need for you to worry about anything war-related. Trade is our main focus and concern. Once we’ve emerged from these difficult times, and they’ll be over sooner or later, we’ll be afraid of nothing. We know we can overcome any situation, being strong people.

Integration potential

Stadler company plans to invest 4-5 mln euro in the works in Fanipol in 2016

Exit without

‘SHOCK THERAPY’

anctions, falling oil prices, the devaluation of the Russian Rouble, and poor performance across state sector enterprises by the end of last year indicate urgent need for reform in Belarus. Top-level political agreements have partially helped, and the stabilization of credit has been resolved via integration institutes, as discussed between the presidents of Belarus and Russia recently. The price for Russian gas in Dollars has fallen and other important questions for Minsk have been solved.

Without far-reaching change, the Belarusian economy won’t achieve positive results; agreements are not enough. Discussion of Belarusian economic reform must reflect various points of view: from ultraliberal to ‘military-communist’. The state position uses a combination of measures, with new approaches to support exports and the development of small and medium-sized businesses.

Relying on businessmen Structural reorganization of the economy won’t be successful without accelerated development of small and medium-sized businesses. Those launching start-ups cannot turn around the situation without state support, so concrete measures are required. Confirmed by the Council of Ministers, within the Belarusian Export programme, prepared by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, measures aim to help businesses help themselves. Despite the actions of some entrepreneurs, Belarus’ administration is yet to follow their lead. The question of certification of goods produced outside the Eurasian Economic Union remains a matter of principle, with power firmly standing its ground. Our businesses, state and privately run, should be competitive internationally, leaving the chaos of uncertified grey market goods in the past.

2016 беларусь.belarus

Entrepreneurs are currently obliged to conform with international and national legislation, so it seems only just that the state support small and medium-sized businesses in gaining export contracts, helping them promote their products. In turn, the state will gain tax revenue from sales. It’s predicted that small and medium-sized enterprises will be employing 35 percent of the workforce by 2020, and that their ‘gross value added’ will rise by 32 percent. According to Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Makei, such companies’ expanded involvement in export activity should bring considerable economic benefit. Businessmen are to be invited to the interdepartmental council on foreign trade policy and Belarusian authorities intend to improve the country’s position in the Doing Business ratings.

Vadim Kondrashov

Integration potential

In 2015, investments into real sector of economy (except for banks) of the Republic of Belarus from abroad totalled $11.3bln. Including direct foreign investments — 63.8%

MAJOR INVESTORS:

43.2%

12.2%

Russia

Social obligations will not be rejected

Others

Despite the complexity of the situation, the Belarusian administration has refused to conduct reform ‘shock therapy’; it will not allow state enterprises to ‘freewheel’ into the hands of private investors. Rather, it aims to reduce the cost of production at state enterprises by 25 percent, reducing capital expenses held in machinery, while keeping jobs. The relevant Presidential decree stipulates measures of social protection not only for those who are vulnerable (young people, large families, the elderly and disabled) but those who may lose their employment or fall on hard times. This year, Br10.8 trillion is being allocated in this direction, including the provision of accommodation allowances. Price regulation measures are also planned. The Belarusian administration is being careful and realistic in this time of global crisis, refraining from the liberal ‘road map’ some economists might expect. Time will tell of course. Success depends on whether plans can be fulfilled. As one well-known commander said: ‘It’s better to make a wrong decision, than to make no decision’.

3% China 3.1%

20.6%

Export centre of the economic union Vital to ‘anti-crisis reform’ is the use of international co-operation. Belarus is to join the WTO, taking into account the interests of the national economy, and maxi mising the advantages of Eurasian integration. Belarus aims to remove barriers to trade, especially for energy carriers, assembly manufacturing and auto-transportation, alongside other sensitive industries within the EAEU. The country is working towards equal conditions for goods and services across the EAEU countries, developing and realizing programmes of import-substitution and export stimulation. Minsk’s negotiation agenda with the EAEU partners includes a transition towards a co-or-

беларусь.belarus 2016

The UK

7.1%

10.8%

Austria

Cyprus

The Netherlands

Investments from the Republic of Belarus to foreign states totalled $5.1bln. Direct foreign investments stand at 90.4% The Republic’s organiZations sent the greatest amount of investments to businesses from:

50.9% 23.5% 12.8% Russia

The UK

Ukraine

dinated industrial policy. Belarus intends to pursue promotion as the export centre of the economic union. The Silk Road economic zone project is a key link in integration, supported by Presidential Decree #78 and a state programme of export support. The Chinese initiative aims to modernize and expand the transport-logistic system, with at least $1.5 billion of exports heading to China. Belarus will create favourable conditions for transit between China and the EU. By Victor Andreev

PROJECTS

Membership of free economic zone elite

Li Haixin, the Director General of the Industrial Park Development Company

An active campaign to promote the Great Stone Park worldwide is in full swing. Its advantageous geographical position and developing infrastructure should make it a pearl on the Great Silk Path

The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park is yet to become the country’s calling card but there can be no doubt that the project will be realized, helping Belarus take its place as a location of global economic significance

n a g re e m e nt has been signed i n Mi nsk on our future Industrial Park’s joining of the Wo r l d F r e e Zones Organization. The heads of the WFZO explain that their visit to Belarus aims to study the country’s free economic zones and investment policy. The WFZO operates as an association of free economic zones and has participants worldwide. The non-state organization registered in 2014, in line with the Geneva Can-

ton’s legislation. Its headquarters are situated not in Europe but Dubai; the Dubai Silicon Oasis is responsible for 25 percent of its country’s GDP and 75 percent of exports. Around 19,000 companies work there. At present, the WFZO brings together 155 representatives from over 40 countries. It states its major goal as ‘the support of states which could benefit from the free economic zone model and whose economies need direct foreign investments to support an intense economic climate’. WFZO Chief Executive Director Dr. Samir Hamrouni explains how Belarus will benefit from joining

2016 беларусь.belarus

COOPERATION the organization, saying, “Any free economic zone has three elements of development: infrastructure construction, quality of services and marketing. You are at the initial stage, of developing your infrastructure. Our consultations will help you enhance the quality of services. We’ll help you bring the project to global level.” The Deputy Economy Minister, Alexander Yaroshenko, speaks of the pragmatism of Belarus’ joining the WFZO. He is convinced that we should fully utilise the organization’s international experience. The preferential terms being offered to attract investors and residents into free economic zones are important but the quality of services is also vital. “The one-stop-shop principle always prevails, from the point of view of attractiveness to an investor. Moreover, to ensure a high level of expertise within free economic zones, it’s good to offer in-house training, such as at the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park. Many companies are concentrated within the WFZO, which has its own developments and investment projects. We’d benefit from making a comparative analysis of these regimes, while introducing them to the international ‘community’,” Mr. Yaroshenko adds. Li Haixin, the Director General of the Industrial Park Development Company, explains that the Great Stone project has already gone far beyond Belarusian-Chinese relations: investors from Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Singapore are showing interest. “We have eight Park residents and agreements have been signed with twenty; some residents are already constructing their sites and others plan to start work this year. An active campaign to promote the Great Stone Park worldwide is in full swing. Its advantageous geographical position and developing infrastructure should make it a pearl on the Great Silk Path,” he says. By Alexander Benkovsky

беларусь.belarus 2016

Useful credit for stable growth Council of the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development approves $2bln loan to Belarus

he money will come in seven tranches over three years, with the first tranche of $500mln already received. The Fund notes that Belarus has realized all conditions for the first tranche and that remaining sums will come as necessary conditions are met: two tranches are scheduled for 2016, three for 2017, and the last in 2018. “The loan will support a programme of reform by the Government and the National Bank, which comprises two major blocks of economic politics: the creation of macroeconomic prerequisites

for economic growth; and market reforms to ensure sustainability,” explains the Eurasian Development Bank. “The aim is to achieve macroeconomic stabilization — including regarding inflation and gross international reserves (under conditions of price liberalization).” The programme envisages strengthening control over monetary proposals, conducting a flexible foreign currency policy and achieving a deficit-free budget. Fulfilment of the programme’s monetary-credit parameters will be ensured via continued monetary targeting and

flexible foreign currency rate formation (under a mechanism of double auction). The latter has proven efficient in the fight against inflation, while helping stabilize the foreign currency market and goldand-currency reserves. Reforms will include a significant increase in public contributions towards housing utility tariffs (up from 30 percent in late 2015 to 70 percent in late 2017). It’s hoped that residents will use services more

‘rationally’ when paying more of the cost. Reduced crosssubsidisation should enhance the Belarusian economy’s competitiveness. To ensure more efficient use of commercial banks’ resources and reduced liquidity and credit risks, directive crediting is to be cut by 1 and 2 percent of GDP in 2016 and 2017. Alongside price liberalization, other measures enhancing the potential of economic growth will include the lifting of directive parameters for state enterprises, the reduction of the accumulated gap between real salary growth and labour efficiency, measures to enhance entrepreneurial initiative, the reduction of regulative expenses for businesses and the promotion of privatization. By Vyacheslav Ivanov

REVIVAL

Disaster on a sunny day The Chernobyl nuclear powers station’s catastrophe affected almost a quarter of the Belarusian territory: over 3,000 cities and villages and twenty percent of the country’s population. Around 25 percent of Belarusian forests were contaminated with radiation and the total damage in thirty years of the struggle against the disaster consequences makes $235bln for the country. In the beginning, scales of the catastrophe were not viewed as so much terrible. However, when the truth was realized, Belarus mobilized all resources to protect people in the affected zone. The General Secretary of the Trade Unions’ Confederation — Vladimir Shcherbakov — attended a special session in Gomel devoted to the problem. He said, “To liquidate consequences of the catastrophe, many material resources were attracted and a great number of people were involved. Programmes — approved in the

Life after

Vadim Kondrashov

April 26th, 1986 was a breaking moment in the history of three republics: Belarus, Ukraine and Russia; they were directly affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster. Not only millions of residents of the suffered territories realized the reality of nuclear energy: the whole world saw what scales a nuclear tragedy might produce if something goes wrong. In the first years after the accident, the affected states independently settled problems related to social and medical consequences and Belarus — despite hard times and limited possibilities — was also among those who relied only on themselves. In thirty years of after-Chernobyl life, the country has not only recovered from the catastrophe but managed to achieve an absolutely new level of development.

Chernobyl first years after the disaster — worked efficiently in the late 1980s-early 1990s. A programme aimed at establishment of radiation scientific-practical medical centres was also efficient. However, after the USSR collapse, the affected countries had to solve problems independently.” The Chernobyl catastrophe affected many Belarusian districts — mostly in Gomel and Mogilev Regions. Thousands of people had to leave their houses forever as radiation left them no choice. The state offered support to those settlers — providing them with free accommodation and a possibility to start their life at a new place. Much money was injected into medicine to help people, rehabilitation of contaminated lands and producing of ecologically friendly food. Life was going on: time, science and state investments have done their job. This decade, Belarus has at last outlined a new vector: from overcoming and rehabilitation of contaminated areas to sustainable development of regions via comfortable

business doing, establishment of new production facilities and improvement of the social sphere. To achieve this, the state is ready to provide preferences. At present, the fear, despondency and loss of the early 1990s on postChernobyl territories are no longer common. The frightening uncertainty has transformed into clear and transparent stability. Owing to rehabilitation actions, the contaminated areas of Belarus have got their second breathing. People do not longer leave them for the search of a better life. New enterprises and being built here; young families come to bring up children. Everyone knows: the black date is in the past. It is remembered but people no longer look into the past, viewing themselves as victims of the tragedy. On the contrary, everything is being done to return the life course into the previous calm mainstream when every day is open for new discoveries rather than a desire to pack up bags and go somewhere farther.

2016 беларусь.belarus

REVIVAL

Health is a priority Human health remains a priority of the Belarusian state and, with this in mind, the country injects as much as possible into the development of medical sphere — focusing on the future. In December 2002, the Republican Research Centre of Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology began its functioning in Gomel — concentrating on problems, achievements and scientific studies in the field of people’s ‘post-Chernobyl’ life. The disaster happened three decades ago and the Centre’s Deputy Director — Anzhelika Zharikova — comments on whether any changes in focuses are observed, since initially, the Centre’s mission was to medically control health of all residents of the affected territories. The official notes, “As before, the Centre is a head organization in Belarus to render medical aid to affected population. This involves over 1.5mln people who are subject to dynamic examinations and preventive observation. Several groups of the primary registration are in focus: liquidators, evacuated people, those living in the zone but leaving it, children of liquidators and residents of exclusion zones, as well population of the territories subject to regular radiation control. We pay major attention to these categories.” Ms. Zharikova explains how the scheme of action operates in connection to a certain territory. The obligatory health issue is to pass a regular preventive examination which enables doctors to trace changes in a human organism, while diagnosing a disease in its initial stage. The accumulated information is endlessly being analyzed to promptly correct the medical avenues of the sphere. Speaking of the key result in the decades of rendering ‘post-Chernobyl’ aid, the doctor notes, “We’ve succeeded to achieve sustainable indicators of disease incidence among the affected population against similar indicators of the coun-

беларусь.belarus 2016

try’s non-contaminated areas. Regarding the initial morbidity, these indicators in Gomel Region are lower than the figures on the nationwide level. No tendency for a growth is registered.” Of course, three decades is a minor period for radiation and nobody would dare to speak of the consequences of the radioactive damage to Belarusians’ health. Accordingly, scientific studies at the Centre continue, with major focus made on advancing. If there is even a small chance to forecast the appearance of disease, Gomel’s scientist-doctors take as much effort as possible. Importantly, science truly matters in this field. Belarusians use the most advanced global achievements and their own developments. Accordingly, new directions are actively developing and the Republican Research Centre of Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology focuses not exclusively on Belarus: as planned in the past, citizens of the neighboruing Russian and Ukrainian territories come. Last year, the Centre’s specialists helped patients from over 20 CIS and non-CIS states to recover their health: all of them chose the Gomel clinic instead of other destinations.

Vetka life The disaster became a true shock for Gomel Region’s Vetka District: 18,000 citizens remained in the area instead of 48,000. Most villages were resettled and forests were fenced behind an alarming sign: ‘Attention! Radiation!’ Even now, these stop blocks are found in Vetka District. However, they do not look frightening now: they rather remind us of the past — warning that rules must be met and caution is necessary. Only then anyone would feel safe. In recent years, Vetka has flourished and does no longer resemble the town it was once. New accommodation is being built and new enterprises open. The First Deputy Chairman of Vetka District Executive Committee — Valery Zholudev — tells us with pride, “The most power-

ful poultry is now being built in Gomel Region. In line with the project, 24 henhouses are to be launched, in addition to our own processing workshop. The first stage of the object will become operational later this year. Moreover, 140 new jobs are to be offered. At the moment, construction of a major milkcommodity complex and a pig farm is almost complete — providing another 140 jobs.” The district is developing — as seen from points of the economic growth. Truly, people’s wellbeing could hardly be possible without new production facilities. Each new successful company ensures citizens’ financial stability and confidence in the future. Our talk with Mr. Zholudev continues: Did you born in Vetka District? No, I came from Grodno Region. In 1988, I was sent to the horse plant in Vetka District’s Staroe Selo, as a young specialist. Did you agree? You knew of the Chernobyl disaster… I agreed but was confident that would return home after two years. However, I got used to this land. I married and my children were born here. After many years, I’ve realized: it’s probably no better place for life in the world. What about radiation? I can comment. Radiation is on closed territories, behind fences. It is reducing here as well since radionuclides are being split. As regards residential areas, life here is even better than in clear regions. I own a large house where my family feel comfortable. I have a job which brings me satisfaction and pleasure. If I would be proposed to move somewhere else — I wouldn’t go; you may either believe me or not… While walking along Vetka’s narrow streets — which little resemble city avenues, there is an impression that the town is small and homish. However, this adds a special atmosphere: anyone would love to make a stop here — breathing wonderful local air. By Violetta Dralyuk

THE UN and Belarus: 30 years after Chernobyl

Leaving good marks Facts On 26 April 1986, an accident happened at the Chernobyl power plant near the Ukrainian town of Pripyat. Explosions destroyed the casing of the nuclear power plant’s reactor and the resulting fire lasted 10 days, sending a radioactive cloud over most of Europe. Around 70 percent of the radioactive fallout rained down on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. According to official reports, 31 people died immediately and 600,000 ‘liquidators’, involved in fire fighting and clean-up operations, were exposed to the high doses of radiation. Based on the official reports, more than 8mln people in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia were exposed to the radiation. Nearly 23 percent of the Republic’s total area was contaminated, heavily affecting lifestyles and economies in 21 regions.

he Chernobyl accident has significant social consequences. A lot of small towns and villages near the station had disappeared with hundreds of thousands people evaquated in

the safe places and emigrated to permanent residence in other districts. The catastrophe had enormous economic consequences. According to some estimates, the sum necessary to overcome the consequences of the technogenic accident makes up more tham two hundred billion dollars. Missed profits and

investment opportunities are estimated at US$ 13.7 billion. During the first four years after the Chernobyl accident the Soviet authorities decided to largely deal with the consequences of the explosion at a national level. Without Soviet support, the United Nations and its partners sought ways to

2016 беларусь.belarus

THE UN and Belarus provide emergency support, which included assessing the nuclear safety and environmental conditions of the contaminated area, and diagnose the various medical conditions that resulted from the accident. The UN also focused on raising the awareness of the area’s inhabitants, teaching them how to protect themselves from radionuclides found in the environment and agricultural products. Many count the year 1990 as a crucial point in the United Nations involvement in the Chernobyl recovery. The Soviet Government acknowledged the need for international assistance. As a result, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 45/190, which called for ‘international co-operation to address and mitigate the consequences at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant’. This Resolution also entrusted one of the Under-Secretary-Generals with the task of coordinating the Chernobyl co-operation and called for the formation of an Inter-Agency Task Force. The Quadripartite Coordination Committee, which consists of ministers from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, as well as the United Nations Chernobyl Coordinator, became part of the coordination mechanism at the ministerial level. In 1992, a year after the Task Force was established, the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, which came to be called the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in 1997, began to coordinate international co-operation on Chernobyl. To expedite financial contributions towards the Chernobyl activities, the Chernobyl Trust Fund was established in 1991 under the management of the OCHA. The OCHA began to manage a range of diverse tasks and responsibilities from strategy formulation and promotion to resources mobilization, advocacy and channelling donors’ contributions. Since 1986, the United Nations organizations and major Non-Government Organizations and Foundations have launched more than 230 different research and assistance projects in the fields of: health, nuclear safety, including the construction of the Shelter, socio-psychological rehabilita-

беларусь.belarus 2016

tion, economic rehabilitation, environment and production of clean foods and information. Over time it has become clear that the task of environmental and health recovery cannot be separated from the task of development. Since 1988, the global community, led by the United Nations, launched and successfully implemented around 80 various assistance, development, and research initiatives focused to advance socio-economic development, promote safe living, and restore a sense of community self-reliance. In 2001, the UNDP, and its regional director for the three affected countries (Russia, Ukraine,

while ensuring continuous provision of primary health care, radiation monitoring and economic development. The UN designed strategy for Chernobyl affected regions is based on the assumption that local communities are in urgent need for better economic and social development, a restored sense of community self-reliance, and the information required to overcome stigma and fears, associated with radiation and ‘contaminated’ label. With the help of the UN agencies and other international partners, affected regions of Belarus managed to undertake a transformation from a humanitarian aid

The efforts of Belarus in mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe with specific local solutions responsive to needs of the Chernobylaffected communities received furthersupport within the framework of ‘Enhancing Human Security in the Chernobyl Affected Areas of Belarus’ project and Belarus), became part of the coordination mechanism for Chernobyl co-operation. In the following year, the United Nations announced a shift in strategy, with a new focus on long-term developmental approach, as opposed to emergency humanitarian assistance. After 30 years of rehabilitation activities, sustainable social and economic development coupled with sound and plain information on how to live safely on the affected territories still has an important role to play in mitigating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster that had lowered the quality of life in the affected regions of Belarus. The new approach to Chernobyl recovery was first recommended by a 2002 UN Report entitled ‘Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. A Strategy for Recovery’. The report emphasized the need to shift from traditional humanitarian assistance delivered in response to an emergency to a more long-term goal, involving developmental area-based approach to tackling problems of the affected population

recipient to a reliable partner with good potential in successfully implementing long-term local development polices in the regions, making them a more attractive environment for life. Implemented by the UNDP ‘Strengthening partnerships and resource mobilisation mechanisms to mitigate the negative consequences of the Chernobyl disaster’ project (2003-2004) was shaped to identify information needs of the population living in the Chernobyl-affected geographical area of Belarus. Sociological and interactive surveys covered more than 2,600 respondents from various social groups and local communities in the affected areas. The surveys implemented recommendations of the new Chernobyl approach focused on local people as key actors into undertaking rehabilitation and development activities. Launched in 2003, the UNDP led ‘Co-operation for Rehabilitation’ (CORE) Programme (2003-2008) was the first large-scale, multi-partnerships initiative that targeted the improvement of living conditions in four Chernobyl

THE UN and Belarus

Visit of Helen Clark, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme, the Under-Secretary General of the UN in Vetka, April 2015

affected districts by reaching out to the people themselves, helping them to contribute to formulating the specific individual and common project proposals. The initiative was designed as a coordinating instrument for the implementation of various projects in four priority areas: health monitoring and healthcare services, the social and economic development of contaminated rural areas, education and cultural heritage and radiological quality control. The CORE aimed to create sustainable livelihoods, enhance economic, social and cultural development while empowering local communities and encouraging partnerships. Under the motto ‘Together We Can!’ the CORE Programme helped to generate 191 local project proposals featuring 146 initiatives with total budget around US$9.0 million that were included into the Programme and successfully implemented. The CORE Programme was the first initiative to demonstrate benefits of active involvement of the communities in the Chernobyl affected areas in the process of rehabilitation and develop-

ment. Such a pro-active model of participation helped local people to change their attitude and behaviour to social and economic environment in the districts, and motivated to contribute efforts and resources to revive growth and development. The Programme had also influenced the emotional environment of local communities by inspiring self-confidence and belief in a positive change and resilience. As co-operation with local administrations and the scope of local communities’ involvement in the rehabilitation process expanded, an innovative for Belarus Area-Based Development (ABD) approach was applied in 60 community driven project initiatives that became a driving force for positive changes in social and economic environment in four Chernobyl-affected districts of Gomel Region. The initiatives mobilized more than 11,000 local participants and generated around US$ 3.0 million. The initiatives that are a product of ‘Combat the Negative Effects of the Chernobyl Disaster in Belarus’ project (2008-2010), financed by European Union and implemented by the UNDP, promoted social

mobilization practices and good governance among state and non-state actors in the targeted communities. The projects fuelled up pro-active participation of local communities in addressing existing challenges in education and culture, consumer societies, health, municipal services, labour and employment, sports and local tourism, emergency response. Apart from this, the project also conducted first in Belarus large-scale thyroid screening. More than 600 people, including 150 children undertook medical examination for thyroid cancer in Mozyr District of Gomel Region. In order to make good decisions, people on the affected territories needed sound information. Chernobyl/ICRIN (International Chernobyl Research and Information Network) project (20092011) designed to meet the priority information needs of affected communities in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine and aimed at translating the latest scientific information about the consequences of the Chernobyl accident into accurate, practical advice that will help people live safely on the affected territories. The project was a joint effort of the Interna-

2016 беларусь.belarus

THE UN and Belarus

Small participants of the health fair within the framework of ‘Enhancing Human Security in the Chernobyl Affected Areas’project

tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UNDP, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dissemination of scientific data and findings in plain language, accessible to non-specialists, helped dispel widespread misconceptions and fight stigma that afflicts the Chernobyl-affected regions. The ICRIN project activities featured dissemination of information through five rural information centers as well as education and training events for teachers, medical professionals, community leaders and the media. The efforts of Belarus in mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe with specific local solutions responsive to needs of the Chernobylaffected communities received further support within the framework of ‘Enhancing Human Security in the Chernobyl Affected Areas of Belarus’ project (2010-2013). The initiative targeted enhancing smallholders’ businesses, promoting healthy lifestyles among vulnerable populations, improving prevention and treatment of breast cancer, sprea ding of knowledge in radiation safety in five affected districts of Belarus.

беларусь.belarus 2016

Participants of the experiment on cultivation of ecologically clean agricultural products in Stolin District of Brest Region

Around 2,190 rural smallholdings received expect and advisory support on livestock growing, crop planting, production of radionuclide free products, product marketing. The project designed and tested mechanisms for providing small loans and micro credits to the rural residents as well as piloted a group cooperation for agriculture produce, rural market access. Thirteen monitoring and information centres for radiation control and safety helped local populations to consume clean milk and other food products, as well raised public awareness on secure living in the affected areas. More targeted efforts in the health dimension of the human security pillar went through the organized self-support groups of pregnant women and new mothers and introduced breast cancer screening system. This year, the UNDP wraps up its primary coordinating role in post-Chernobyl recovery and rehabilitation and moves to a supporting role to facilitate sustainable development in the affected areas. Nevertheless, the UNDP in Belarus will continue to be involved in further activities in line with the 2030 Sustain-

able Development Agenda and priorities on global, regional and national levels. At strategic level, the UNDP will continue to assist in formulating the Post-2016 Strategy of international co-operation on Chernobyl. It will also continue work on knowledge sharing: sharing the experience that was collectively accumulated of overcoming complex consequences of a nuclear disaster in a broader UN context, including 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction, which is crucial not only for the region, but for the entire world. At local level, the UNDP will focus on creating new partnerships for innovation and investment in the affected regions in order to highlight the utmost priority of peoples’ prosperity as a result of efforts to overcome crises and emergencies and achieve sustainable development. We will also build on our experience of successful implementation of AreaBased Development in Chernobyl-affected areas, and focus on cultivating local community initiatives in the framework of the ongoing Local Development project, funded by the EU. By Vladimir Mikhailov

Scientific environment

Free radicals reveal secrets Excessive reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in an organism — leading to generation of free radicals — damages cells and tissues, resulting in such illnesses as chronic arthritis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and liver and lung cancer.

N 20

atalia Bizunok — a Doctor of Medical Sciences and the Head of the B elarusian State Medical University’s Phar ma c ol o g y

Department — has spent years seeking treatments and believes she has succeeded. A new range of drugs has been developed and it’s even possible to calculate the effect of raising drug dosage. Her publication in the Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics has led to Ms. Bizunok being awarded a

Yuriy Mozolevskiy

Our studies have proven that the process is much more complicated, relying on interaction with several targets. As the dosage increases, more targets are added. So, the pharmacological effect depends on interaction and inter-influence Presidential scholarship for talented scientists and a position as the magazine’s editor-in-chief. It was previously believed that ROI formation was a negative process, needing suppression. However, Ms. Bizunok explains, “It’s been conclusively established that ROIs play a major role in our body, ensuring normal inter-cell and in-cell signalling and communication. Levels vary across tissues and these need to be sustained. When an excess of ROIs is registered, the situation can change for the worse, resulting in various pathologies.” Although the human body has its own mechanism of protection, it is yet to evolve to new environmental conditions, such as polluted air. Also, unhealthy foods and bad habits worsen the situation and our anti-oxidant protection (with which we are born) fails to cope. Scientists at the Belarusian State Medical University believe that ROI production is purposeful in the body, and takes place with the participation

2016 беларусь.belarus

Scientific environment of Nox2. Ms. Bizunok tells us, “Our task has been to learn how to manage its activity — increasing or decreasing levels as necessary. We now know how to achieve this, having discovered substances and approaches to change fermenting activity. Our research is being used to develop new drugs which go beyond regulating ROI.” Groceprol boasts analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, while Neiramin is a neuro-modulator used for treating depression and neurosis. Tetracard and Inocardin are auxiliary aids for treating atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, while Valicar enhances physical strength, and Leiargunal boosts immunity. All over the world, drug combinations are being developed, with pharmaceutical companies realizing that combinations of two or three substances may not only enhance their effect but achieve a new result. In Belarus, drug cocktails have been developed by chemists, bio-chemists, pharmacologists, toxicologists and doctors, through a state programme aimed at developing new drugs. The globally acknowledged theory is that increasing the dose of a medicine can strengthen results at great speed. Scientists from the Belarusian State Medical University have been forging new paths, as Ms. Bizunok explains. She tells us, “In the past, it was thought that a biologically active combination of drugs would influence only one target (a receptor or a ferment) to generate a certain effect. Our studies have proven that the process is much more complicated, relying on interaction with several targets. As the dosage increases, more targets are added. So, the pharmacological effect depends on interaction and inter-influence.” This knowledge is helping develop new drugs, assessing their efficiency and safety, and finding the best combinations. Research is being applied with bright results. By Yulia Vasilevskaya

беларусь.belarus 2016

Genes to explain A recent seminar at the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Genetics and Cytology brought to attention the fact that our individual features rely 75-90 percent on DNA, while the rest is the result of our lifestyle, environment and other factors. Development of disease is mostly dependent on geno-type, as is sensibility to drugs. Already, DNA diagnosing is the basis for four medical avenues at the Genetics and Cytology Institute: personalized, predictive, prophylactical and envisaging patients’ involvement.

he medicine of the future aims not to treat disease but the patient; with drugs prescribed to suit geno-type. Our country already applies this approach in oncology and in hepatitis C treatment, using genetic testing to detect whether a drug is likely to be efficient for a particular patient. The Centre of Genome Biotechnologies, at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology, has been studying patient sensitivity to cardio-vascular drugs — in particular, Varfarin. Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Irma Mosse, tells us, “This is a very good drug, efficient for continuous arrhythmia treatment and use after valve replacement; however, results vary. Three genes help determine dosage by up to ten-fold.” Most people have normal sensitivity to Varfarin but some are extremely sensitive, with fatal consequences if even a standard

dose is given. In turn, some patients can be treated with increased doses. A similar situation is observed with Klopidogrel, which is also widely used for treating cardio-vascular diseases. Geneticists are predicting risk of certain diseases emerging, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis and stroke, using DNA data. The most impressive results are connected with genetic predisposition to thrombosis, which can lead to miscarriage. It’s impossible to detect without genetic analysis but twenty percent of pregnancies fail without explanation. The Institute of Genetics has tested 14 genes in over a thousand women who have suffered from unexplained miscarriage, and found that over 90 percent had 1-4 factors for thrombosis risk; some even had 6 or 7 unfavourable variants. After special therapy, around 80 have given birth successfully. By Olga Korneeva

Yuriy Mozolevskiy

SOCIAL MEDIUM

Childhood priorities Belarus is unique in having room to accommodate all kindergarten children, even in crowded Minsk

he country has continued to construct kindergartens, even w he n f u nds have been scarce, with around 15 new buildings unveiled an nu a l ly. A l l are modern, boasting large playgrounds, swimming pools and gyms. Of course, new residential districts suffer from poor social-educa-

tional structure initially, with parents sometimes obliged to take their children to neighbouring kindergartens. “Last educational year, kindergartens were 122 percent overburdened, as construction in large cities didn’t quite keep pace with need,” explains Yelena Mararevich, from the Educational Committee’s Department for Pre-school, General Secondary and Special Education at Minsk City Executive Committee.

Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister, Natalia Kochanova, is convinced that the statistics indicate a favourable demographic situation. “Our country has registered increasing birth rates for over a decade,” she underlines. The situation is not so good in villages. Where kindergartens and schools are under attended, they often merge, obliging families to travel to the more populated location.

2016 беларусь.belarus

SOCIAL MEDIUM an educational curriculum launched for 6 year olds. At that time, the daytime schedule for first grade pupils (aged 6 years) differed little from their kindergarten life. Where schools were overcrowded, first grades operated at pre-school establishments. Truly, history is cyclical. The most quickly developing Minsk districts — Moskovsky and Frunzensky — have launched ‘family groups’ to solve the problem of overcrowding. Mothers with three or more children receive part-time employment as kindergarten managers, working at home, looking after up to seven children. As well as offering music classes and physical activities, they organize kindergarten parties, and each has access to an open-air playground. In Minsk, there are eight private kindergartens and more are needed. They tend to run in the better-developed districts and mostly differ from state establishments in asking higher prices, and in having smaller groups of children. All classes follow the unified state programme: Praleska [translated from Belarusian as ‘snowdrop’].

Guarantees for toddlers The scheme of allocation to kindergartens is transparent and equal, with applications via a ‘one-stopshop’ principle, on the day after a child’s birth. The state guarantees each child a kindergarten place, although it cannot promise that the place will be close to home. A ‘Malyshok’ (Baby) bus now operates in Minsk, taking children and their parents to their kindergarten if it’s situated in a different residential district. Brothers and sisters always attend one establishment so, where a senior child already attends, their siblings are guaranteed a place. Even a few years ago, this wasn’t the case.

Reference There are around half a million pre-school children in the country and 75 percent attend kindergartens: 30 percent are under 2 years old and almost all 5 year olds attend, to ensure they are ready for school entry. Since 2014, parents have been asked only to pay for meals, with the state covering other expenses. Disabled children attend kindergartens totally free of charge, while foster families and families with three or more children pay half the meal fees. Families with two children at kindergarten pay 30 percent less than the full amount.

There are around half a million pre-school children in the country and 75 percent attend kindergartens: 30 percent are under 2 years old and almost all 5 year olds attend, to ensure they are ready for school entry

By German Moskalenko

Minsk is now implementing new forms of pre-school education and, as an experiment, several groups have b e en for me d at s e condar y schools in the capital’s Pervomaisky District, equipped with play rooms and bedrooms. Children can play, study and become familiar with school routines. According to parents and specialists, the novelty is a success. Something of the kind was applied in Belarusian schools in the mid-1980s, with

беларусь.belarus 2016

Tatiana Stolyarova

Motherkindergarteners

FRIENDS OF BELARUS

High star of friendship

The TV and Radio Broadcasting Centre of Turkmenistan opened in 2011, with its 211m tower being the country’s tallest. Its decorative octagonal ‘Star of Oguz Khan’, is registered by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest architectural image of a star. It is visible allover the city by day or night.

tomkad.livejournal.com

Connection of literature, countries and people, as journalists visit Ashgabat

s h g a b at’s s k i e s seem endless, especially in winter, w hen t he sun’s warmth is delicate and tender rather than blazing, and roses bloom in the mild month. Arriving in the city, we had time to admire the sky, setting aside our computers. Each morning, we awoke to the Kopet Dag mountains, visible from our hotel window, and from the city streets. All through the day, we felt our eyes drawn to them, and to the sky they grazed majestically.

The city’s white-marble skyscrapers, palaces and domed buildings also draw the eye, as do the mosques with minarets. Architecture feeds the soul as much as any art form; poor architecture is oppressive, while harmonious and graceful buildings lend spirituality to our environment. Where a place draws our eye to the heavens, we feel the light enter our body. The construction on the slopes of Kopet Dag inspired us to ‘heavenly’ reflections. In the dark hours, it was illuminated by a giant star. In fact, the high-rise Yyldyz (‘Star’) Hotel was near our own. The architecture of Ashgabat combines many elements of the ‘heavenly’.

In 2015, Turkmenistan joined the club of space countries, having launched its first communication satellite from American Cape Canaveral on April 28th. A French company, Thales Alenia Space, constructed the device for Turkmenistan, and it was sent into orbit by the Falcon 9 rocket. Back in Minsk, we found an article in ‘Turkmenistan’ magazine, with the title ‘Space as Presentiment’, written by Ruslan Muradov. It states: ‘Turkmenistan’s joining of the club of space countries is a natural progression, as is evinced by the architecture of its modern capital. The city is imbued with a

2016 беларусь.belarus

FRIENDS OF BELARUS feeling of open spaces being subjugated to the Universe. In this age of might and happiness enjoyed in Turkmenistan by our Turkmen friends, there has grown a skyline of unique, original silhouettes, which fit global trends in third millennium world architecture.’ Ashgabat has married the sky... We saw that mysterious star in the mountains (and even managed to visit it!) thanks to Ales Karlyukevich, director of Zvyazda Publishing House. He also organized a round table conversation between writers of Belarus and of Turkmenistan. If our countries are on friendly terms, then our literature should be too. Writer Ales Badak had been intending to attend but had to drop out, so we took his place. Last year, we received the ‘Golden Feather’ award from the Belarusian Union of Journalists: our sketches may be considered a literary genre. One of us has written hundreds of poems (some printed in major media editions), as well as dozens of songs and stories. Another wrote ‘Titmouse Knocked at the Window’, alongside dozens of essays and stories, and a candidate's dissertation on the creativity of Belarusian author Zmitrok Byadulya. We took a minibus from near the Palace of Exhibitions, driving just under an hour to the television studio, in the mountains. In Minsk, STV studio is five minutes’ walk from Pobedy Square. Among our number was the Editorin-Chief of ‘Dünya Edebiyaty’ (World Literature) magazine, Meretmämmet Hanmämmedow, as well as editorial office employees Maksat Bäşimow and Annamuhammet Kerşe. The anchor was journalist and writer Batyr. On the Belarusian side, besides Karlyukevich and ourselves, was Victoria Kalistratova, the Director of Narodnaya Asveta Publishing House and Vladimir Andrievich, the Director of Petrus Brovka Belarusian Encyclopaedia Publishing House. Our Turkmen friends supplied us with bottled water for the journey through the beautiful landscape, along wide, smooth roads, into the mountains. Our colleagues told us that modern

беларусь.belarus 2016

building technologies allow Turkmenistan’s road surfaces to remain as flat as glass, defying the heat. We wondered about the materials used… In new Ashgabat, we saw that even shops, pharmacies and kindergartens are built with columns and domed roofs, its public buildings and high-rise blocks faced in pale marble. Later, we saw the 185m Monument of Constitution and the 95m Monument of Neutrality (built in 2011), as well as the 91m tall Monument of Independence, marking one of the nation’s significant dates. It’s a trend observed through the country. Turkmenia was celebrating its 20th anniversary of neutrality, with honoured guests from around the world in attendance. Presenting anniversary medals to people who have made significant contributions to the country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined, “Independence and neutrality are two wings of our native Fatherland, the greatest riches of our courageous people. The centuriesold dream of our ancestors has come true, guaranteeing the confident advancement of our sovereign Fatherland, well-co-ordinated work, and a peaceful, safe and happy life for our people.” Ashgabat boasts so many interesting monuments, including one to ‘well-being’, and one immortalising the famous and magnificent AkhalTeke racehor-ses. We must tell you about the palaces we saw outside of the capital, on our way to the ruins of Nisa. Our new acquaintances from Ashgabat took us to the ancient city, founded at the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains, in the 3rd century BC. The site is one of three listed by UNESCO World Heritage in Turkmenistan. Our guide, Alanur, pointed out two beautiful mansions as we drove; he noted that they now house kindergartens, the properties having been confiscated by the state. Once owned by an influential person, he had been proven to engage in illegal activities. Even the richest are not immune from the law.

A reconstructed part of Atamurat Nyazov avenue in Ashgabat. On the right in the photo is a 12-storey building of modern, stylish design — it is the State Development Bank of Turkmenistan. This building, like other new buildings in the avenue, was commissioned on October 1, 2014

Turkmenistan’s Monument of Neutrality (95m high) was installed in Ashgabat in 1996, then moved to a new site in 2011: on Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue

FRIENDS OF BELARUS

Monuments to famous AkhalTeke horses stand in various cities across Turkmenistan, and decorate the state coat of arms. Ashgabat boasts the greatest number of sculptures. In the photo: Monument to Akhal-Teke horses

24-storey, five star Yyldyz Hotel (Star), shaped like a rocket, is the tallest in Turkmenistan, at 107m

The slopes of the mountains were covered in pines, thujas, junipers, and other greenery, despite the dry climate. Our Turkmen companions smiled at our surprise, then explained that underground pumps bring water from streams originating in the mountains. Turkmenistan is ranked fourth globally for its stocks of natural gas, the export of which provides the lion’s share of state income. Each tree receives water via a thin plastic tube beneath the stony ground: an economical and reliable system of irrigation. Belarusian geologists helped the country locate its water sources, enabling Turkmenistan to take advantage of its forestry potential. Other joint projects with Belarus include the Garlyk ore-dressing foundry and a potash processing enterprise. Construction at Garlyk cost about $1 billion, making it the largest Belarusian export transaction in the sphere of industrial construction. Such Belarusian-Turkmen co-operation is founded in our Soviet roots. Wishing to know more about the geologists from Belarus who worked in Turkmenistan, we asked Belarusian hydrogeologist Vladimir Shimanovich. In the 1970s, he visited Soviet Turkmenia, explaining that one his acquaintances from those days is now a corresponding

member of the NAS of Belarus, Doctor of Sciences, Professor Anatoly Kudelsky. “We worked together for a long time, in a shared laboratory,” he notes. In 2014, a book entitled ‘Anatoly Viktorovich Kudelsky’ was published, to mark his 80th birthday. Born in Ukraine, he graduated in 1958 from Dnepropetrovsk Mining Institute, as an engineerhydrogeologist, and worked for ten years in Turkmenia, for the South Karakum hydro-geological expedition. In the book, he states: ‘I studied underground waters in the mountain-desert territories of Kopet Dag and in the adjoining regions of Karakum.’ The groundwater survey was a major project. The book notes: ‘The marine charts of Western Kopet Dag made by Anatoly Kudelsky played an important role in the study and economic development of Eastern Transcaspia.’ In parallel, the geologist also worked on the geochemistry of natural waters and gases, and studied conditions for the formation of mineral and thermal waters. He researched meliorative hydrogeology, and the agricultural and municipal water supply, looking at the role of underground waters in forming oil and gas, ore and non-metallic minerals. Those geological prospecting works led Mr. Kudelsky to discover major deposits

2016 беларусь.belarus

of fresh underground water, which have since been brought into use. He also discovered unique, little-mineralized underground waters with the highest (up to 460 mg/l) concentrations of iodine, in Western Kopet Dag. Commercial exploitation of those waters began in 1999: almost 30 years after discovery. Now, more than half of all extractions of crystalline iodine in Turkmenistan derive from this source. From 1968, Kudelsky began to work at the Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Meanwhile, he has a tale entitled ‘A Day Without Water’ (published in the book which was releazed to mark the author’s 80th anniversary), based on his time in Turkmenia and inspired by a poem entitled ‘Eastern’. We drive higher and higher, strenuously honking, ascending the slopes, until the TV tower looms in front of us, 211m tall. Close up, its star shape cannot be examined. Known as the 8-sided star of Oguz Khan (a national legend) it’s a symbol of the Turkmen state visible from all over Ashgabat. Our friends proudly tell us that the Turkmenistan TV and Radio Broadcasting Centre launched on October 17th, 2011, when the country celebrated its 20th anniversary of independence. It’s the tallest building in the country, its star of Oguz Khan listed by the Guinness World Records as the globe’s tallest image of a star within an architectural site. By night, its bright illumination soars over the capital. Our ears are blocking, due to our elevation. Snow dusts the road, which is hewn from the rock. You can read more online about the TV centre, which has restricted access. Our minibus delivers us to a white-marble corridor, where we walk to the studio, sitting on a sofa. Head-scarfed women look attentively at Valentina, deciding how best to attach her microphone. Then, we’re chatting about literature, people and Ales Karlyukevich, who served in Ashgabat as a military journalist in the 1980s. We chat about books, publications by Turkmen authors in Belarus and vice versa, about

беларусь.belarus 2016

our love for our native land, and poetry. We read verses: ‘It does not matter where I am and where fate brings me / my heart bleeds, as I do not see lakes and birches… / my heart feels sad, craves and like a bird beats in my hand … / І would like to fly home — like a bird from paradise’. In 1996, we hiked through Belarus, along the state border, and wrote verse on our love for our native land, discussing how our patriotism is nurtured by love for the countryside. The anchorman agrees, telling us how Turkmen people love their land, and devote poetry and song to this theme. How interesting it would be to publish a Belarusian-Turkmen-Russian anthology of verse on patriotic love and on the poets of Belarus and Turkmenistan, to compare the motifs and patriotic thoughts of our two peoples. After tea and coffee, Victoria Kalistratova and Vladimir Andrievich discuss projects at their publishing houses. Works by Belarusian writers (classical and contemporary) are published in Turkmenia, and it appears that there is appetite for more. We’re yet to find out whether our round table was broadcast, as the station had many interviews to choose from. We hope our trip was worthwhile. Driving back that evening, we marvelled at the sparkling city sitting below us. Recently, Maksat Bäşimow wrote to us from Ashgabat, asking us to send ‘Titmouse Knocked at the Window’. Perhaps, the Minsk mouse will soon knock at the window of Turkmen readers. By Ivan and Valentina Zhdanovich, Ashgabat-Minsk

Ivan Zhdanovich

FRIENDS OF BELARUS

Ales Karlyukevich gives an interview to Miras (Heritage) TV Channel. The journalist, writer and director of Zvyazda Publishing House served in Ashgabat in the 1980s. He instigated round table discussion and bringing together writers of Belarus and Turkmenistan

‘Oguz Khan and His Sons’ fountain is a beautiful and magnificent construction, reflecting ancient legends on the origin of the Turkmen nation

NAME IN LITERATURE AND PUBLICISM

His Jerusalem Well-known Belarusian poet and writer Zmitrok Byadulya, whose literary works are studied in schools, including Nightingale and the Silver Snuffbox, was also a journalist and theatre critic, though few realize it

his April, we celebrate 130 years since the birth of Z. Byadulya (originally Samuil Yefimovich Plavnik). His family home can still be seen in the village of Posadets, near Zarechie, in Logoisk District of Minsk Region (formerly Vilnya District of Vilnya Province). The five walls stand yet, and are well known locally. The Jewish Plavnik family was modest, and none could have guessed that Samuil would become a famous writer, as well as a friend and colleague of such Belarusian writers as Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas, Tsetka (Aloiza Pashkevich) and Maxim Goretsky. He was the ‘sworn brother’ and ‘close friend’ of Maxim Bogdanovich, who dedicated his life to Belarus and creativity.

Byadulya viewed all human life as having infinite creativity. He saw us as creators, capable of expanding our horizons constantly, and he believed in the spiritual progress of mankind. For Byadulya, living meant the creation of beauty, which exists in all things: in our lives, our work, our relationships, in nature and in art

Seeking light and pleasure Zmitrok Byadulya began his ‘creative career’ in Vilnya, with ‘Nasha Niva’: the newspaper of the common people. At the beginning of the 20th century, this edition led the Belarusian Renaissance, attracting the lucid minds of poets, educators, artists, scientists, and all who were patriotic. Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas, Maxim Bogdanovich, Bronislav EpimakhShipilo, Maxim Goretsky, Yadvigin Sh. (Anton Levitsky) and Tsetka each told Belarusians about their inner world, expressing kindness and patience, humanity and beauty, as well as showing their talent: qualities of tolerance. The voice of ‘Nasha Niva’ resounded in distant corners of Belarus, helping shape the consciousness not only of lower strata workers but of upper hierarchies, destroying

2016 беларусь.belarus

NAME IN LITERATURE AND PUBLICISM

беларусь.belarus 2016

that impact; in 1996, my husband and I hiked for four months around the border of Belarus, and can hardly describe the mystical feelings of that time, and the way that Belarusian language streamed from us. Here is how Byadulya writes about it: ‘Local scenery has such great power, influencing other cultures to move in the opposite direction. The people of our region who wrote in Russian or Polish and gained literary fame did not diminish the spirit of Belarusian lands, which continued to live in their hearts. These writers were known as Belarusians. The laws of BelarusianLithuanian princedom were written in Belarusian, and the court language of Lithuanian princes was Belarusian. The Lithuanians still complain that many Lithuanian farmers are similar to Belarusians, showing the impact of Belarusian cul-

nadya ponkratova

the view of people as pure labour. both were responsible for writing, Through the newspaper, thoughts proofreading, and issuing the newstook shape, encouraging people to paper, bearing responsibility for its be ‘free’, to express individuality and survival. Though they tried to write embrace culture and spiritual con- carefully, changing pseudonyms, milcepts. Such thoughts rang through to itary censorship always found somethe soul of young poet Byadulya, who thing to complain about, obliging albegan subscribing to ‘Nasha Niva’ in most every issue to be published with 1909. He was especially drawn to the blanked out spaces. work of Yanka Kupala, and wrote to The power of land the editorial office, requesting the address of the poet. Byadulya perByadulya continued to hold dear haps had a sixth sense that his des- his Jewish ancestry, explaining in tiny would be closely connected with 1918, via his newspaper articles, that ‘Nasha Niva’. Belarus had given shel- Jewish people had just as much ‘love’ ter to his soul, making it impossible for their homeland as any other ethto turn away from disturbing events nicity or nationality. He noted that in cultural and public life. anything else would be ‘against the Ver y soon after acquaintance laws of nature’. Byadulya researched with the newspaper, Byadulya began the assimilation of Jewish people in writing verse and articles in Belaru- Belarus, and the inter-influence of sian language, sketching the life of Belarusian and Jewish cultures. His Belarusian village peasants, whom ‘Jews in Belarus’ pamphlet has some he’d met in Posadets. He wrote about interesting arguments on the impact their unhappy lot, and lack of school- of a land on a person born there, ing opportunities. The editorial of- exploring how our soul vibrates fice chose to continue co-operating in harmony with the enwith the young author, who wrote ergy of a place. Bein journalistic style, focusing on the i ng U k r ai n i an hardship of peasant life. myself, I’ve The editorial office advised him more than to ‘write reports that are interesting o n c e and have value for us’. There followed f e l t an invitation to work with Belarusian cultural organizations and, in 1912, Byadulya began working with ‘Nasha Niva’ as a secretary, hired by Yanka Kupala, who was working with the newspaper as an editor. Byadulya gained fame among Belarusian writers. As the wife of Kupala, Vladislava Lutsevich, recollects, Yadvigin and Tsetka showed interest in his work, while Yanka Kupala respected Byadulya for his talent and work ethic. The two became close during the harsh war years of 1914-1915, and did their best to keep the star of Belarusian renaissance blazing. According to Vladislava Frantsevna,

NAME IN LITERATURE AND PUBLICISM

Yakub Kolas, Yanka Kupala, Petrus Brovka and Zmitrok Byadulya,1939

Zmitrok Byadulya and Yakub Kolas among the students of the BSU worker's' faculty, 1922

ture. It’s no wonder that Jews living in their adoptive country of Belarus, took more from local culture than local culture adopted from them. The powerful force of Belarusian lands inspired Belarusian Jewish families spiritually and in other ways’.

Living, and creating beauty Every creator has something special marking them out from others. Byadulya was not only joyful but had an outlook that was ethereal, seeking rays of light in each person he met. Vladislava Lutsevich wrote: ‘More than once, in personal conversation, Byadulya complained of social injustice making people harsh. Everywhere, he looked for a gleam of light, for that which was joyful’. Later, in his theatrical and critical speeches, Byadulya noted art’s enormous influence. I must highlight articles by Byadulya from ‘Nasha Niva’: ‘Not by

House in Rabkorovskaya street in Minsk, where Zmitrok Byadulya lived

Bread Alone’, ‘To Life’, and ‘The Light’. I can see his cosmic vision, which incorporated the philosophical and religious thought of the East, as well as world culture references, and those from the Bible. His articles indicate his belief that the world is unified, and inter-dependent. He saw the value of life ‘not in the chosen one’ and not in ‘supreme man’, but in those who aspire to cultural creativity. Byadulya tried to convey his dreams, wanting others to understand. How do we awaken creativity? Byadulya was excited to explore this question, believing that simple language should be used to awaken people’s sensibilities, so that they would recognize their own unique individualism, and realize that every one of us has equal ‘value’. For Byadulya, words had power. He wrote: ‘Words are the soul of living people and of those who have fallen into oblivion. They explore the human condition… imbibed with

mother’s milk, which is dear to us. Words soothed us in the lullabies of our mothers, while laughter and tears permeated the souls of past generations... Centuries-old words, like the sacred Gospel, are handed down, as legends are, gradually perfected, until they harden like Damascus steel, becoming both sharp and flexible. They adhere to us and are reflected in our mentality; they become part of our soul, inspiring creativity for our whole life’. Byadulya viewed all human life as having infinite creativity. He saw us as creators, capable of expanding our horizons constantly, and he believed in the spiritual progress of mankind. For Byadulya, living meant the creation of beauty, which exists in all things: in our lives, our work, our relationships, in nature and in art. He urged us to pass down our unique fairy tales and songs, to study customs, and folklore. He felt the power of national culture to help us understand our inner world, and our soul.

2016 беларусь.belarus

NAME IN LITERATURE AND PUBLICISM Like other creative people, such as Kupala, Kolas and Goretsky, he wished to voice his mission and beliefs publically. Byadulya strengthened his own understanding of Belarusian concepts through his writing: including history, national ideals, culture and spiritual-educational activity. Writing for ‘Nasha Niva’, he encouraged a national renaissance, promoting poetic thought and expression. Working at the Institute of Belarusian Culture, in the 1920s, as secretary of the Humanitarian Department, he was able to tour the country, collecting ethnographic and folklore materials, to inform his articles. Writing of national improvisation, he stated: ‘Volumes and collections of Belarusian folklore written by various ethnographers and scientists do not have a hundredth part of all that is on people’s lips’. Byadulya preferred to chat directly with people, capturing ideas from the sea of people’s thoughts: the essence of the soul of the Belarusiangrain-grower, so ‘distinctive’ and ‘mysterious’. He studied the soul of Belarusian woodcutters, craftsmen, and peasant-farmers, listening rapt, remembering and committing to paper oral verse and folklore, including proverbs, witty fairy tales and fables, lyrical songs and epic ballads. Folk motifs appear throughout his verse, and tales, as well as in his articles. In the 1920s, he wrote on the history of Belarusian theatre, including on a puppet show of the nativity. He wrote critically, as well as poetically and philosophically. While his emotional articles are easy to read, you can detect a layer of undeclared thought, deep and mystical, as is usually beyond the power of language. Following the Congress of Peasants, in 1917, he wrote: ‘Where there is a ray of hope, there is always enough bread. There should be culture, so that no land goes to waste. Culture and peace are what peasants aspire to.’

беларусь.belarus 2016

Apostle of language and enlightenment Byadulya sought to make sense of life. During Soviet times, as writer Victor Kovalenko wrote in his book ‘Search and Fulfilment’, Byadulya aspired to reveal artistic truths. He aspired also to be an apostle of language and culture, which he called ‘rays of hope’. For him, culture allowed education, opening our eyes, leading us to comprehension of national identity and cultural fulfilment. In this way, he was interested in all spheres of cultural activity, including theatre. From 1921 until 1924, he headed the literary department of ‘Savetskaya Belarus’ newspaper, and edited the children’s magazine ‘Zorki’. He worked then at the Institute of Culture of Belarus, and edited the regional magazine ‘Nash Krai’. He made progress in his own understanding but continued to strive to bring knowledge to others. Byadulya found the eternal and universal human condition well explored through drama and theatrical works, believing it to encapsulate national culture. During Soviet times, he promoted Belarusian folklore concepts on stage, believing them to be at the heart of true beauty, which he always admired. Most of his articles on theatre recommended the exploration of folk motifs, urging a return to spiritual roots. He wanted Belarusian culture to take its place within world culture with dignity. His knowledge of the age-old folk mythologies of Belarusians allowed Byadulya to explain his studies clearly, arguing Belarusian folklore to be among the richest not only of Slavonic people, but of Indo-European people. He embraced the inner world of simple people, and its theatrical expression, believing the latter capable of conveying beauty and spirituality, modelling the virtues, as in the traditions of oral story-telling and ballad performance.

Byadulya reviewed performances and wrote articles on the history of Belarusian theatre. He was a founder of Belarusian professional theatre criticism, considering all matters connected with dramatic art, direction and acting, as well as the use of sets and special effects: all that makes a play a performance. His cultural background, and knowledge of literature, and several languages, allowed him to set the bar high for fellow critics. He wrote that, in order to be a critic, you must have no only ‘artistic talent’ but be ‘an artist’. He stated: ‘Sometimes, it’s necessary to understand the author from a halfword, or guess at what the author intended. A critic should understand the inclinations of the author, his strengths and weaknesses’. It was this professional understanding that he aspired to all his life. The early 1920s saw much change, as the new Belarusian theatre came under the direction of Vladislav Golubok, opening on August 10th, 1920. On September 14th, the Belarusian State Theatre launched. These professional theatres encouraged criticism to grow, developing its own terminology and criteria. Byadulya’s articles on ‘Our Theatre’, and ‘Theatre and Education of the Masses’ are works of art in themselves, showing Byadulya as an historian, theatre critic and publicist. His passion is evident.

In conclusion Byadulya had two hearts beating in his breast: two muses calling him. One was dark-haired, looking from tearful eyes, her face mournful, whispering remembrances of his Jewish blood. The second had hair pale as linen. She held a psaltery and sang of Belarusian lands, calling: ‘My land raised you, my crop-growers reared you... Your Jerusalem is here, in these woods and valleys that gave you physical and spiritual strength’. By Valentina Zhdanovich

BOOKSHELF

Olga Zlotnikova.

In poetry and prose Eurasian ‘Megalit’ magazine’s online site publishes poetry by Belarusian Olga Zlotnikova — ‘Only for Insiders’ (as part of ‘Congregate’ series)

he young poetess’ online poems are already proving popular, drawing a huge number of hits. While many of us write poetry as a casual hobby, some feel it so deeply that it is engraved upon their bones. They pursue it at all costs, regardless of material benefit. Olga Zlotnikova is one such. Her father had a career on TV, and her mother and grandfather were artists. “Until I was about 11, I used to draw,” she recollects. “I gave up but, at the age of 25, began making abstract compositions and portraits — most-

ly for my own relaxation. Creating poetry is an emotional process, taking a great deal of energy, while drawing with pencil, charcoal or crayons brings relaxation. All artistic pursuits are restful until you pursue them professionally,” Olga comments. For family reasons, Olga became independent early in life, finding her own path. She entered the Belarusian State University’s Historical Department but, a year later, realized that her interest lay elsewhere. She chose then to try Philosophy and Librarianship at the Culture University. “I studied hard and received an increased scholarship but failed to graduate, as I married and gave birth to a son. Later, my second son was born,” she smiles. After Mikhail (her elder son) was born, Olga realized that she had matured. She was working as a copywriter, a catalogue compiler and courier and had her work cut out caring for her children. They needed more than just to be fed. “I have no social ambition. I just need enough money to live on, peace of mind and the chance to indulge what I love: writing and reading. I appreciate quiet, and having my children close by. I also love to travel. This is the only

2016 беларусь.belarus

DEMOGRAPHY thing that does require extra money — apart from buying books. I’ve been collecting a library since childhood: books on philosophy, poetry and art. We have a small living room, but it has three large bookcases, each full of books, from floor to ceiling. My family are angry sometimes when I bring home something new. I hide books — in my clothes or behind the children’s sledges in the corridor. When my husband discovers them, I have to lie, saying that they’ve been there for a long time,” Olga admits. After Daniil was born, Olga’s work increased so much that she only had a couple of hours a day — when the children were asleep — to spend on her own pursuits. She sometimes neglects housework in favour of poetry. If she didn’t, her book would never have been published! “I recently read that you need more than talent to ensure artistic success. You need determination to achieve your goals. I’ve always lacked this, and have missed out on opportunities to send my poems to magazines for publication. However, on compiling my poetry collection, a miracle happened: the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Novaya Realnost’ (New Reality) magazine, Alexander Petrushkin, offered to publish my book on Megalit portal,” the poetess tells us. Ms. Zlotnikova devoted her second book — ‘Dandelion Honey’ — to her sons. The first — ‘Sound Birth’ — was published in Minsk in 2011, and the third has been co-authored. “Sometimes, I spend a day on a single word. However, the required words come when I ask God to help. Moreover, they are then so wonderful that I feel as if they’ve been written by someone else, with myself only as a mouthpiece,” she adds. She resembles her poems in her beauty, with large amber eyes and a charming smile. Reading her works, you can learn so much about her. Ms. Zlotnikova’s poems are published in ‘Nash Sovremennik’ (Our Contemporary), ‘Neman’, and ‘Novaya Nemiga Literaturnaya’ (New Literary Nemiga) magazines, as well as online, across several Internet editions. Her ‘Congregation’ collection is soon to be published but isn’t being released commercially. By Yelena Davydova

Men may envy Popular Belarusian online site prepares ‘average portrait’ of Belarusian women

he ‘average’ Belarusian woman is 42 and married. She lives in a city, is well educated and has two children. She is almost five years older than the average man and lives around 10.6 years longer. Twenty percent of Belarusian women have higher education and 80 percent work in the spheres of trade, education or healthcare. Just over half (52 percent) are married and the average age of first marriage is 25 years, with birth of the first child at 26. In the past, city residents had only one child but, in 2015, the figure rose to two, matching that of village residents. According to the Deputy Head of the Population, Gender and Family Policy Department, of the Ministry for Labour and Social Protection, Marina Artemenko, the average Belarusian woman spends twice as much time as the average man dealing with child care and housework (around five hours a day). Fathers spend less time with children as they grow older. In families with children aged over 10 years, fathers spend just 38 minutes per day with their offspring, on average. Of women aged 20-44 years, 80 percent work. According to the Belarusian Union of Women, they seek out employment more actively, and more women than ever are pursuing a career, with 48 percent occupying top posts. Women’s salaries are also catching up with those of men (77 percent against the previous 74 percent). By Olga Valerieva

беларусь.belarus 2016

IN THE FOREFRONT OF KINDNESS

Unified by music Twice a week, pensioner Alla Bashkirova travels from Baranovichi to Gantsevichi and back to teach music at Gantsevichi’s arts school. She loves to draw out young talent but is also keen to keep busy. “When people retire, they start worrying about becoming ill. Working diverts your attention!” she reasons.

lla has been travelling between Baranovichi and Gantsevichi for the past seven years, and it’s not the first commute of her life either. She tells us, “As a 4th year student at Minsk’s Glinka College, I began teaching in Minsk and then took a job in Uzda, for solfeggio and accordion. I was only 19 years old but was also asked to head the choir.” She made time to do everything and that passion remains. Alla believes that a good teacher can interest anyone in music, even those who don’t like to

2016 беларусь.belarus

IN THE FOREFRONT OF KINDNESS sing. She explains, “I teach not only the piano and singing, but the foundations of music culture. Children learn the names of world composers, including such Belarusians as Churkin, Aladov, Smolski, Pomozov, Dorokhin, Gorelova, and Murashko. I want young people to know how music was created at different times. To remind them of Soviet history, I bring a turn-table from home and play records on it.” Talking about ancient times, and such personalities as Stanisław Moniuszko and Michał Kleofas Ogiński, do you perceive them as domestic or foreign? Music has no nationality, it has style — baroque, classicism, romanticism, impressionism, jazz, and so on. Of course, we should be proud of Michal Kleofas Oginski, who composed the immortal polonaise ‘Farewell to Homeland’. He is our compatriot. Last year, we

Never. Do you know why? We’ve always played across various city platforms, at other schools and for military units. I even have a badge ‘For cultural patronage of the Armed Forces’. However, this was from the days when performances were given free of charge. It’s different now: we are learning to earn. We still perform a great deal, giving concerts and musical evenings, but we charge a modest fee. People still come, to Gantsevichi, Liakhovichi and Baranovichi. A backwater would be a place without culture. We have culture, because we ourselves create it. Alla has been lucky in working with the director of Gantsevichi school, Valery Martinkevich, who plays the accordion, heads a folk group, and composes music. Working with a creative and friendly team helps motivate her to continue making the journey to work.

Music has no nationality, it has style — baroque, classicism, romanticism, impressionism, jazz, and so on. Of course, we should be proud of Michal KleofasOginski, who composed the immortal polonaise ‘Farewell to Homeland’. He is our compatriot held a conference devoted to our countryman, where he was called a ‘Belarusian, Polish and Lithuanian composer’. Ms. Bashkirova views People’s Artiste Lyudmila Yefimova as her mentor. The outstanding representative of the Leningrad School of Choral Conducting worked for more than 20 years as a teacher at Minsk Glinka Musical College. In 1987, she took over as head of the State Shirma Academic Choir. Alla never aspired to high career achievements, wishing to return to Baranovichi and her father, a veteran of World War II, who gave so much to ensure that she received her education. Do you ever feel that you live in a cultural backwater?

беларусь.belarus 2016

How important is the salary for a pensioner? Ms. Bashkirova doesn’t hide the fact that her salary from school makes a useful addition to her household budget but she insists that her main motivation is ‘inspiration’ rather than money. She’s see king a permanent home in a village in Minsk Region, and plans to find teaching work wherever she ends up. She cannot sit and do nothing. She notes, “If there’s no employment at the nearby school, I’ll organize a music salon at home. I already know what it will look like: beautiful chairs, a piano, and a portrait of Ogiński on the wall.”

From the mouth of a child “My friends ask whether I find it interesting to go to music school, and always ask me to play something for them,” says one of the children at the art school in Gantsevichi. Here are comments from other pupils of Alla.

1st form

Natasha Solodkova: “When I’m ill, I play piano, and I feel better at once.”

2nd form

Kristina Blinkovskaya: “I live far away from school, on the outskirts of Gantsevichi, but I’m learning for myself and am happy to attend classes. Most of all, I like to write the beautiful G clef and notes.”

3rd form

Alisa Vlasova: “Once, on television, I saw a performance by pianists, which made me want to learn. In music lessons, I like that, instead of traditional tests and examinations, we give concerts. Recently, I began guitar lessons, as my father plays well. I want to learn to play even better.” Nastya Melekhovets: “Solfeggio is my favorite subject. Music helps me to develop my memory. I also like mathematics.” Zhenya Baranets: “In the 2nd form, the teacher came to select children for music school. I decided to take violin lessons, not knowing that it is the most difficult instrument, but I like it very much.”

5th form

Sasha Rylko: “My mother brought me to music school, as she studied at a similar establishment. My grandfather plays accordion; our favourite piece is a waltz for the accordion called On the Hills of Manchuria.” Alesya Polyachok: “I decided to connect my life with music and become a teacher of piano, teaching others to play.”

By Viktar Korbut

Iron lady

Blacksmith Oksana Kirilyuk’s Molodechno forge keeps her warm even in temperatures of minus 20 degrees

ksana enters the forge and connects her phone to high capacity loudspeakers, hidden from the dust under polyethylene film; Chopin fills the

room. Her 8-tonne pneumatic hammer is like a metronome, shaping the redhot iron in time to the composer’s waltz. The unexpected melody is a wonderful complement to the industrial noise of the forge, just as Oksana is the feminine creativity in this ‘manly’ environment.

Vladimir Shlapak

VOCATION

Oksana is, of course, dispelling ste-reotypes in her choice of profession, but she has nothing to prove, simply telling us that she enjoys her vocation, and is devoted to its pursuit. She is ‘the iron lady’, dexterously handling her hammer, ‘growing’ a rose from a metal rod or forging a vine. For several years, Oksana worked as an economist, at a joint Belarusian-Dutch sewing enterprise, and was then engaged in foreign trade for ‘Elektromodul’, at Belkoopsoyuz. She notes, “I realized that I didn’t want to live a life thought up by others, so I took another path. Now, I’m eager to work every day, not just to earn money but to take pleasure in

2016 беларусь.belarus

VOCATION

беларусь.belarus 2016

that it’s malleable. Her male colleagues tend to use hammers of 2.5kg. Oksana offers me an iron rod, inviting me to try my hand, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Without hesitating, I take the reinforcement rods and copy her demonstration of heating the iron before making a double hit to flatten it a little and sharpen it. Next, we bend it, so that iron begins to take on the form of a plant stalk. She offers me a small hammer, striped yellow, which is her favourite. She admits, “I don’t care about the appearance of tools, as long as they do the job. An artist can paint in watercolours,

charcoal or gouache. The important thing is the result. When this part becomes hot you see a small fracture but it will disappear if you hit here.” The iron rod yields, and a small curl appears under the hammer. It’s an iron fairy tale! Working in the forge is improbably fascinating! “The result is only one small part; the process should bring pleasure,” Oksana reflects. There’s always a path of understanding and adventure. I want to create a park of sculptures, in exchange for someone paying for a stable for horses. Horses are so clever. In fact, they took me on the path to becoming a blacksmith. Fifteen years ago, I saved a pregnant mare on her way to the meat-packing plant. I rented a stable for her, which I filled with hay. Stables often need repair, so I decided to master the business of welding, training at the railway depot. I went to the forge and understood then that it was my calling: one I’d never want to leave.” By Inna Kabysheva

By the way

Are there any other women blacksmiths?

Paul Chuyko

having contact with the elements of fire and metal.” Oksana strikes a match and fire flashes in the forge; you can hear air being sucked in and there is the smell of smoke, as Oksana throws on coals. “It’s always possible to retrain. I used to worry that the full burden of the household would fall upon my husband but that doesn’t have to be the case. You just need to be well prepared, setting aside funds to last six months. Then you cease doing what no longer interests you and learn something new. In general, it doesn’t take long to decide, and put aside worries. If you prepare, then you plan for success. Make your plan, commit it to paper and then eradicate all that’s superfluous.” Oksana takes her pincers, clutches a piece of iron, and tongues of flame start to dance around the metal, heating it up to red. Then she switches to a hammer and places her heated piece of iron between the firing-pins. The huge hooting mechanism now takes a solo position in her composition. She presses the pedal with one foot and, with abrupt staccato, the hammer hits, shaping the iron into a thin petal. Now it needs manual manipulation, using small-sized ‘70s’ hammers. The automatic hammer is twice as heavy. “It’s a large tool,” she admits, saying that it provides 80 percent of the work. You might think that such a heavy hammer would be incapable of fine work, but it’s all in the setting and the skill of the blacksmith. She also notes, “When I began working, I walked on the razor’s edge in terms of safety.” During her training, she had her hair pulled by a drill and realized that safety needed to be a priority. Now she has the experience and skill necessary and chooses to work with a relatively light 1kg or 800g hammer, heating her iron up to a higher temperature to ensure

New forging technologies mean that ‘metal artists’ don’t need the muscles once required. Nevertheless, women blacksmiths are still rare. In Tula, 37year-old Natalia Zabelina forges weapons for men, while Masha Arkhangelskaya is well-known in Korolev. Since the age of 16, she’s participated in blacksmith-armourer exhibitions, which are held twice a year in Moscow. Meanwhile, Siberia’s Anna Melgizina heads the noncommercial organization of artist-smiths in Altai Krai.

ONE-MAN BAND

Pipe

Tatiana Stolyarova

opens doors to the past

Most Europeans view the bagpipes as an exclusively Scottish musical instrument, played by a man in a tartan kilt. However, the traditions of the bagpipe — or duda, as it’s known in Belarus — existed in Eastern Europe long before the Scots adopted them as their own. Slovakia is applying to include its tradition of bagpipe playing on UNESCO’s World List of Intangible Cultural Heritage next year, currently collecting the necessary documents. Not long ago, Slovak activists addressed Belarus for support and proposed joint application, which we are considering, since the duda has been used in Belarus for centuries. Outside the University of Culture, you may hear one being played. Below is our report on visiting a unique musical homestead in Volozhin District. 2016 беларусь.belarus

ONE-MAN BAND

Instruments with character Alex Los is a one-man band: a selftaught musician with a professional artistic education. He is an ethnographer and restorer and directs batleika shows. Ales runs Khutar Dudara (a Pipe Player’s Farmstead) and is a lea ding Belarusian restorer of ancient folk instruments, as well as a researcher of piping traditions. Being charmed by Belarusian bagpipes in the late 1970s, Mr. Los has devoted almost half his life to this in-

in Belgium: in 1993, a famous Brussels museum of musical instruments bought a set for its collection. Mr. Los also makes mandolins, liras, zhaleikas and gudoks: the ‘great-grandparents’ of modern violins. Ales finds an original solution for each instrument so there are no two made identically. He tells us, “They’re all different, just like people: each needs its own approach. Sometimes, when I’m making a pipe, I’ll discover that its sound doesn’t resonate properly, so I change something. Each one is made to order, so they must suit their future owners.”

In the past, the pipe was the most popular instrument across our lands. No folk holidays were celebrated without it. Belarusian pipers represented our culture everywhere, even attending a Parisian agricultural exhibition strument. He now offers musical master classes, while making pipes himself. His first instrument will celebrate its 30th birthday this year! “In the past, I was still learning techniques, and had to spend a lot of time on this aspect. However, when a set of pipes was eventually ready, I felt such joy! Now I make two sets of pipes annually and could probably make more, but don’t want to feel like I’m a production line in a factory. It’s more important for me to open a door to the past for our young people, connecting generations through folk music,” he says. The Belarusian master’s works are now touring all over the world, played in Ukraine, Poland and Germany. One of his sets of pipes is being used

беларусь.belarus 2016

Karelia birch — known as chachotka in Belarus — is the primary wood used in making pipes, while the bellows are usually produced from goatskin. “This is one of the most popular animals in our folklore. Pipes formerly had ritual significance; every year, a goat was sacrificed on Kolyady Night, its skin used for making bellows. Later, traditions became neglected and musicians played a single instrument all their lives,” Mr. Los notes. Ales learnt how to make instruments from old masters, touring towns and villages to accumulate knowledge. He comments, “Among my friends was a cabinet maker using only hand tools. I have a small studio, including all the necessary tools and saws, but sometimes lack enough time to work.”

Knowledgeably Magda Pospiskova, MinisterCouncillor, Slovak Embassy: As in Belarus, pipes were popular in Slovakia, traditions being passed from one generation to the next. Our country is proud of its musical past and it’s important for us to preserve it. We’re pleased that Belarus has supported our decision to join the Pipe Culture multinational file. We’re ready to render all possible assistance in establishing ties between artistes and masters — all who contribute to preserving our intangible heritage. I hope our application will be granted and that the world list will receive another element next year.

Transforming wood into sound Mr. Los’ studio is under the same roof as his home. He moved to Borok in 2009, having bought the land in the late 1990s. It formerly belonged to the family of teacher Mikhail Tishkevich. Yakub Kolas came to visit Mikhail in his Borok home, which is placed so beautifully beside the forest, away from prying eyes. It’s also near the River Yershovka, and is only 2km from the Minsk-Volozhin road. “I dreamt of this house for many years and have now created my own paradise. I’ve lived in Poland, Germany and America, spending almost ten years abroad, earning good money. However, my soul yearned for my native Belarus, so I returned to Minsk and, some time later, moved from

Tatiana Stolyarova

ONE-MAN BAND

Facts  The Kolyady Tsars ceremony — held in the village of Semezhevo in Minsk Region’s Kopyl District — is the only intangible element of Belarusian culture to be included on the UNESCO’s list so far. In 2009, it joined the List of Intangible Heritage, denoting practices requiring urgent protection. At the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, hosted by Ethiopian Addis-Ababa from November 28th to December 2nd, our Budslav’s Mother of God icon (Budslav Fest) will be submitted for inclusion on the List.

the noisy city to this farmstead. It’s been a long journey,” he admits. Several years ago, Mr. Los turned to eco-tourism, registering his Pipe Player’s Farmstead to welcome guests, and opening a museum of folk instruments. Every weekend, the house transforms into an ancient medieval musical salon, where his pupils join professional musicians in playing. Ales’ collection numbers over 50 folk instruments, with some kept at home and others in Minsk. Among them are five varieties of cembalo, in addition to violas, gudoks and pandoras, several saxophones and Portuguese and Florentine mandolins. All are original and hand made. The master takes a violin, commenting, “It’s hardly possible to find such a beauty now. Only a few people make such instruments with their own hands. In the past, people were eager to handcraft items, and there were many masters. I often see tourists attempting to record everything with their tablet devices and I always ask them to put these aside, so that they can

concentrate on watching and listening. They reply that they’d rather record and then listen later. I have no idea how to fight such an attitude.” Mr. Los believes it’s vital to support Belarusian musical traditions and national culture, so is keen to join Slovak colleagues in applying for piping to be included on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Heritage. “In the past, the pipe was the most popular instrument across our lands. No folk holidays were celebrated without it. Belarusian pipers represented our culture everywhere, even attending a Parisian agricultural exhibition. Later, the pipe was excluded from the list of basic folk instruments and was forgotten for many years. These days, pipes and most other folk instruments are little known, even to students at musical colleges and universities. The number of masters and musicians is falling but I hope that musicians from all over the globe will demonstrate interest in Belarusian piping traditions with the help of UNESCO,” Mr. Los underlines. By Yuliana Leonovich

2016 беларусь.belarus

PREMIERE

беларусь.belarus 2016

Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus successfully hosts premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ opera, making us think, emphasise and admire the music of the great Italian composer, as it echoes the human soul

‘М

acbeth’ is one of Verdi’s most mystical operas, exploring the path of ‘choosing’ evil, by which we lose o u r hu m a n i t y ; why light prevails in one soul while the darker side dominates another. 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, upon whose play the opera is based. Critics call Macbeth one of the most powerful and philosophical works in our literary canon, so it’s little wonder that it inspired Verdi to write such expressive music, filled with emotion and contemplation. The Bolshoi Theatre and its production group deserve praise for this performance. Meanwhile, it is not the first time the theatre has staged this opera. The premiere of concert versions of ‘Macbeth’ took place on the stage of the Yakub Kolas National Academic Dram a

Theatre in Vitebsk in 2008 and on the stage of the renewed Opera and Ballet Theatre in 2010. ‘Macbeth’ is the theatre’s six opera staged on Giuseppe Verdi’s music, alongside ‘Aida’, ‘A Masked Ball’, ‘Rigoletto’, ‘La Traviata’ and ‘Nabucco’. According to Victor Ploskina, the director and stage manager of the new opera, there’s nothing better in operatic art than Verdi’s music. It took me a long time to understand why this Shakespeare’s work, whose plot was borrowed from the Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, was Verdi’s most favourite. Why did such a bloody drama so deeply impress the composer and why does his ‘Macbeth’ have so many melodies of love, tenderness and other soulelevating feelings, despite having so much dark and cruelty?.. When I heard the overture during the premiere and passionate, breath-taking s ounds were replaced with a m e l o d y, full of deep s orrow and compassion, I wondered where does Lady Macbeth’s fur coat with a fox head weighs around 6kg. ‘Macbeth’ this composplayed by Vladimir Petrov and Lady er’s s or row Macbeth — by Nina Sharubina (penetratBelta

B l a c k & w h h t e

Belta

PREMIERE

‘Macbeth’ opera involves a great deal of artistes; 260 costumes were necessary to dress all

ing directly into human hearts) come from? During the act-wait I’ve made a discovery for myself: we are powerless before the mystery of existence. I think I won’t be mistaken if I make a suggestion that Verdi, following Shakespeare, clearly wrestled with the question of why we struggle to understand our motivations: of why we choose ill-deeds, of what circumstances inspire ‘black holes’ in the soul, and whether evil exists as a force in itself. Such musings can make us feel helpless, as if ‘crushed’ by the unexplainable. However, Verdi’s opera offers not just darkness, but light, and a sense of humility in the face of the ‘eternal’. If we look on the final of the opera we see that the justice has as if been met: Macbeth, Duncan’s assassinator, is defeated and an heir is set on a throne, while witches, embodying evil powers in the performance, are close to the king’s son and his courtiers. Soloists and ballet artistes are always on the stage and should constantly ‘fit’ the actions on the stage. During the premiere these roles were played by Igor Matskevich, Ivan Savenkov and Dmitry Shemet. However, are witches really so malicious? They rather represent a neutral power which people turn either into the evil or into the good. That’s why witches don’t look demonic and awesome in the performance. They are rather spirits of the earth or some substances, playing either in good or in evil. The opera’s

expressive means are subject to this idea and it’s not accidentally that either black, or white, or red blankets appear on the stage while illustrating the internal world of restless characters, and even their purity… Items, stage and people transform in ‘Macbeth’. Costumes are also well designed which is an indispensable merit of costume designers Vyacheslav Okunev and Maria Moroz. Of course, the major image of the performance ‘works’ well — the web that falls in the form of a holed curtain and as if swallows up the space. The production focuses on our free will, since Macbeth shapes his own path and choices, as we all do. Director Mr. Pandzhavidze explains that Shakespeare has Queen Hecate call Macbeth ‘a wayward son, spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do, loves for his own ends’. Yet, the mystery remains as to what inspires this side of our nature. ‘Macbeth’ is a big success of the theatre. It couldn’t be otherwise, since our Bolshoi Theatre is highly professional, able to solve complex artistic tasks. The opera is large-scale, psychological and deeply dramatic, with focus placed on actors’ performance and dialogues between the characters. I like Mr. Pandzhavidze’s opinion that everything with ‘Macbeth’ has been invented before him and it was very difficult to invent something new. However, the opera does have the fresh view and director’s interpretation. Mr. Pandzhavidze admit-

2016 беларусь.belarus

Vitaliy Gil Vitaliy Gil

ted that that he has seen many performances and doesn’t remember that any of them had three witches rather than the choir, like in Shakespeare’s work. Mr. Pandzhavidze has staged many performances at the Bolshoi Theatre proving his advantages as a production director and he enjoys positive opinion (as a master) among fans of operatic art and music experts. Moreover, he has received several awards. Last year, e.g., the Bolshoi Theatre was awarded an annual Special Presidential Award ‘For Spiritual Revival’ for their ‘Tsar’s Bride’, staged by Pandzhavidze. Mr. Pandzhavidze’s strong directorial hand and ability to work in tandem with talented set designer Alexander Kostyuchenko has resulted in a well-planned stage space, where voices resound and everything appears professional. Like in the work over other operas, in ‘Macbeth’ Mr. Pandzhavidze liaises with choirmaster Nina Lomanovich.

беларусь.belarus 2016

Belta

PREMIERE

We are well aware that live, expressive and mobile choir at Bolshoi is its zest. I won’t be mistaken if I remind the readers that it has already taken part in Mr. Pandzhavidze’s performances. Personally I listen to the Bolshoi Theatre choir ecstatically watching how each of its singers lives his own ‘small life’. The same happened at the premiere of ‘Macbeth’, with the female choir performing while seating, lying and moving along the stage. It’s very pleasant when Mr. Pandzhavidze delightedly speaks about his artistes. They are experienced, intellectual, plastic and open for training. Three singers were rehearsing the role of Macbeth: Vladimir Petrov, Stanislav Trifonov and Vladimir Gromov. The most complex arias of Lady Macbeth are performed by Nina Sharubina, Tatiana Petrova, Tatiana Tretyak and Yekaterina Golovleva. According to Mr. Pandzhavidze, the director’s idea was grasped by the actors on the fly and his focus on the intelligible dramatic performance was understood and accepted which was once very important for Giuseppe Verdi — the creator of music, full of senses and historical revelations. On the premiere day the primary arias — very complex from the acting and musical points of view — were brilliantly performed by Vladimir Petrov and Nina Sharubina.

Mikhail Pandzhavidze during the rehearsal of ‘Macbeth’

By Valentina Zhdanovich

EXPERIMENT IS WELCOME

Belta

Encore, another encore Performances on Vasily Shukshin’s stories were presented at М@rt.Contact forum by Moscow drama theatre “Sphera”

his year, around 4,500 tickets were sold to the Mogilev forum, while the first event attracted just 2,500 visitors. Every year, M@rtContact is gaining momentum, strengthening its position. Culture Minister Boris Svetlov noted at the opening ceremony, “The Mogilev forum has become a key venue for young and talented theatrical figures of Belarus and foreign states. The most modern and original shows are staged here.” The number of participants is also growing annually. Six performances were presented at the first festival and there were 20 this year, from theatres across Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Bulgaria,

The 11th International Youth M@rtContact Theatrical Forum demonstrates its artistic essence

Culture Minister Boris Svetlov: The Mogilev forum has become a key venue for young and talented theatrical figures of Belarus and foreign states. The most modern and original shows are staged here.

Armenia and Belarus. Most presented classical pieces but actors and directors continue to surprise audiences. The youth event is always full of fresh interpretations, and experimentation. Poland’s ‘Master and Margarita’ (based on Bulgakov’s work) was no mere presentation of plot, while the Warsaw theatre also used elements of the novel.

M@rtContact invites the new and unusual. With this in mind, famous actors, directors and art critics come to Mogilev from various cities and countries. Andrey Moskvin, from Poland, is already a permanent participant. He comments, “I come, knowing that I’m guaranteed pleasure. Almost every show brings a burst of emotions. M@ rtContact is of special interest, as most of the performances are new to me. I have a wonderful surprise, as do the other visitors.” Mr. Moskvin’s colleague, a famous theatrical critic from Hannover, Nina Mazur, is also willing to travel many kilometres to attend. “I can hardly imagine my spring without M@rtContact. I hurry to Mogilev, and love seeing everyone. We live across various countries but this forum unites us. Unlike some

2016 беларусь.belarus

EXPERIMENT IS WELCOME other international festivals, it teaches you to appreciate beauty, kindness and humanity,” she says. Theatrical critics came to regional centre despite the absence of a professional jury this year. Organizers decided not to award a Grand Prix, first prizes, or awards for the best director or male or female actor (unlike in previous

The main advantage of the forum is that not only young but also venerable critics, actors and directors can learn much here

By Olga Kislitskaya

Belta

years). Instead, the event was held as a celebration of theatre, and ticket prices remained unchanged. The main advantage of the forum is that not only young but also venerable

critics, actors and directors can learn much here, notes famous Belarusian theatre critic Tatiana Orlova. She tells us, “M@rtContact enjoys a very good reputation in the Belarusian theatrical sphere. We don’t just present performances; we offer something new, inspiring the development of Mogilev theatre and theatrical art in general. This is an artistic laboratory, testing new means, methods and forms.” Critics and audiences particularly enjoyed ‘Dreams of Love, or Balzaminov’s Marriage’, staged by St. Petersburg’s Masterskaya. Director Grigory Kozlov, who has Belarusian roots, participated in the forum some years ago and returned this time, noting that he wishes to become ‘acquainted with the artistry of colleagues’. “This is important. I’m interested in young Belarusian directors and, in Belarus, I attended a show by your modern playwright Dmitry Bogoslavsky, and was impressed,” he asserts. This year, the Ethnography Museum even hosted a performance.

 Students invited to show their talent Art-Vacation Youth Artistic Creativity Festival, held since 2003, remains popular

he project h a s moved with the times, retaining its appeal with the younger generation. This time, the event united 53 universities, showcasing song, dance, circus mastery, literary creativity, photography, painting, film-making, and standup comedy. Tatiana Grishkevich, of the National Centre of Child and Youth Artistic Creativity, headed the jury, noting that Art-Vacation is a unique project within the post-Soviet space. As a rule, focus is on festivals of singing or dancing in neighbouring states. She underlines, “Our forum presents all manner of creativity, as a multi-faceted event. Entrants first compete at their universities, then at the regional level and then attend finals, held at Minsk’s Sports Palace on May 14th. We now have interactive performances, including Internet voting for the best entrants, allowing colleagues from other universities to assess levels of mastery.” Students from several universities, in Minsk, Mogilev and the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy in Gorki, have already demonstrated their mastery. Now, Gomel is hosting its ArtVacation. By Olga Ponomareva

Warsaw theatre presents ‘Master and Margarita’

беларусь.belarus 2016

FASHION AND STYLE

Sincerity is vital Fashion designer Galina Meshkova is a member of the Union of Designers, a jury chairman of numerous international contests and fashion festivals, a Candidate of Art History, an associate professor at the Belarusian State Arts Academy’s Costume and Textile Department and the author of ‘History of Belarusian Fashion’, launched recently at the National History Museum.

a lina Mesh kova joined the world of fashion when she was five, wishing to decorate her straw hat. She cut its brims without adult permission, and made a bow from those brims, sewing it on with black thread. Her mother was upset but those at her kindergarten praised her innovation and, as she grew, her ideas met much approval.

After defending her diploma at the Theatre and Art Institute (now known as the Belarusian State Arts Academy) in 1976, Galina took employment at the Belarusian Republican House of Models. There were three houses of the kind in Soviet times: in Moscow, Tashkent and Minsk. She began by designing industrial clothing collections for state enterprises and admits that those were hard times. She lacked buttons in the necessary colours and zip fasteners, but had the strength and patience to prepare dozens of sketches quickly, liaising with those sewing, and travelling between factories (which she supervised). The Belarusian Republican House of Models was the centre of fashion, leading Soviet fashion design from the late 1970s. In 1988, it was renamed as the Belarusian Fashion Centre, and began using technological novelties, further promoting Belarusian fashion.

2016 беларусь.belarus

FASHION AND STYLE

Galina Meshkova with young fashion designers

By 2012, the Fashion Centre was more than a leading producer of modern clothes for women, being a true Institute of Fashion, hosting seminars, contests and master-classes, and developing textbooks for use by private and

designer projects intended to inspire Minsk tailoring, while creating her own collections. She also initiated the Minsk Fashion Theatre, inspired by the Moscow Theatre, led by Vyacheslav Zaitsev. Nothing of the kind had been

Today being fashionable involves a willingness to experiment industrial enterprises. It also organized fashion festivals, featuring collections by designers experienced and upcoming, from Belarus and abroad. In 1982, Galina was appointed chief artist at PO Progress, heading an experimental laboratory developing communal services. She headed

беларусь.belarus 2016

previously created. The synthesis of various art genres required major work from a team of specialists, who worked from sketches to create each performance’s image. During rehearsals, workshops were used to choose fabrics, and decorations were developed: embroidery, applique and beading.

Themes included ‘Hermitage’, ‘Birds’, ‘Leaves are Whirling’, and ‘The Meeting’. Expertise was shared, strict classical forms combining with romantic decoration, so that blouses and skirts featured attractive trimmings, pleats and gathers, and colours embraced a full, subtle palette: not just pink, but rose, lilac and shades of nude. Catwalks attracted specialists from all over Belarus, giving young designers the chance to show their ideas. At audiences’ request, performances were held several times a week, and the media reported the Galina Meshkova Fashion Theatre to be a great success. Fashion festivals and contests came into their own in the early 1990s, with Ms. Meshkova as their originator. Owing to participation in contests, she was aware of fashion trends and had the chance to chat with major players in the field, such as Russian fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev, and Alexander Vasiliev, an his-

FASHION AND STYLE

True style doesn’t rely on luxury but an ability to create an ensemble. There are no rules, as clothes allow freedom of expression

torian of Parisian and Russian fashion, and a popular TV host. She also met one of the most famous industrial designers of Russia, Vladimir Zubets, and the director of the first Soviet privately owned tailor shop, Mila Nadtochiy. She became friendly with Pierre Cardin, who would take off his shoes to test the catwalk in his socks, to avoid spoiling the white linen flooring. Annelise Mann, a manager of the Esmod French School of Stylists, inspired Ms. Meshkova to think more about the commercial side, including French marketing and shifting focus onto ‘real’ sizing. Galina’s works have been seen at international and Republican fashion contests and festivals, under such titles as ‘Going to Work with Pleasure’ ‘Belarusian Primadonnas’, and ‘Happiness in My Pocket’. She has been a jury member over 60 times and heads some contests still: ‘White Amphora’, ‘Blue Snowdrop’ and ‘WorldSkills Belarus-2016’. Her authoritative opinion always meets with respect.

Ms. Meshkova has lectured at the Arts Academy for over 25 years and has taught such talents as Tamara Korako, Zhanna Kapustnikova, Lyudmila Labkova, Karina Galstyan and Yekaterina Bulgakova: famous artists of our modern time. Ms. Bulgakova has made costumes for the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre for over 14 years. Not long ago, Galina received the ‘Contribution to Belarus’ Culture Development’ award. Her strength, patience, energy and positivity are incredible! In 2001, she became a founder of the Cooperation of Business and Artistic Women: a public organization headed by Natalia Khozyaeva. This move enabled Ms. Meshkova to realise her old dream of helping the artistic development and revelation of Belarus’ talented women. In 2013, the National History Museum hosted a presentation of the first Belarusian multimedia gallery, ‘History of Belarusian Fashion’: the result of Galina’s many years of work. Soon, a book of the same name will be launched.

2016 беларусь.belarus

FASHION AND STYLE Galina, what is your book about? I’d like to keep this a secret until release but I will say that it’s devoted to the development of Belarusian fashion, from the 1940s through until today. The Belarusian House of Models began its work in Minsk after the war, which was the start of the active development of our light industry. The history of our national costume has roots in the medieval times… Our national costume – like the Belarusian nationality – began its formation in the 13th century, and differed widely across various Belarusian regions. Southern women wore a belt resembling the Ukrainian plakhta, and their warmer climate dictated their clothing. Everyone wore a shirt – irrespective of age or social status, while belts acted as talismans: no house was entered without wearing your belt. Unmarried women were prohibited from appearing in public with their head uncovered, and embroidery tended to be red, symbolising life and protecting from evil. Black was also used, with geometric motifs placed on collars, sleeves and hems. Lyubov Butkevich’s History of Ornamentation tells us more. What place would a Belarusian national costume occupy in the European rating? Anna Barvenova, a Candidate of Art History, notes in her scientific paper that the Belarusian namitka (traditional headwear worn by Eastern-Slavonic women) originated in Western Europe in the 15th century (the Gothic Age). Clearly, the Belarusian costume definitely has a high rating.. Modern young people seem to like folk motifs… Yes, and not only young people I’m happy to say. Is Western Europe interested in our designers? Belarusian fashion designers are known for their innovation and are followed with interest, gaining recognition abroad. I recall a collection from the Centre of Fashion, which we took successfully to China in 1994, called ‘ladies from the country of white marshes’. Eve-

беларусь.belarus 2016

ry piece was made from our white linen. In 1997, Nina Ostapenko (‘Titanik’) and Alesya Andreyuk (‘La Scala’) joined the Dusseldorf Catalogue of European Fashion. Belarusian fashion is known for its elegant simplicity, unusual details and the focus on individuality. Our street fashion has an international feel. We live in an age of integration and globalization, so you can see similar styles in any country. People travel, bringing back clothes, which they wear in Belarus. As a European state, we wear traditional costumes, but our fondness for ‘eastern fairy-tales’ is seen in our love of Indian cashmere kerchiefs and cotton shawls. What influences your own style? When I was young, I lived in Algeria for some time, with my husband. I was a housewife and my husband worked as a translator from French. That period helped me realize how much I loved my chosen profession. I’ll never forget the north-African sun, the blue skies, colourful houses and roofs and white sandy beaches. I loved making raincoats, fur coats and summer dresses for French shops. On visiting the eastern markets, I was drawn to Arabian folk motifs on cotton wear and kerchiefs. I was happy to see how the two cultures blended and influenced each other. What creates harmony in a look? And how did you create your own image? True style doesn’t rely on luxury but an ability to create an ensemble. There are no rules, as clothes allow freedom of expression. Being fashionable involves a willingness to experiment. I’ve built my image by combining diverse elements, such as an unusual scarf or accessories. I always use belts to define my waistline and I wear bracelets. What is the secret of eternal beauty and youth? Be feminine and natural in your manners. Be sincere and charming in your communication and don’t be afraid to dream or embrace your inner child.

Galina's authors works have been seen in many countries of the West

Nowadays modern young people seem to like folk motifs

By Alisa Krasovskaya

ART і PERSON

Vladimir Maslenikov’s

space and time

Famous Belarusian artist celebrates the 60th birthday with personal exhibition

efore a vast assembly, the exhibition opened at the Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery in Minsk, with many warm words spoken in honour of the author and hero of the day: for his creativity, his teaching activity and his individuality. The exhibition features over 70 works, representing a retrospective of his works: from his 1980s portraits, through the 1990s, to his early 2000s landscapes, and many works from recent years. Landscapes dominate, showing his figurative landscape style, distinguished by his depiction of endless open spaces. Often, his panoramas are cut through by the twisting flow of rivers carrying us into unknown and enigmatic horizons: the Zapadnaya Dvina, Dnieper, Nieman or Berezina. Vladimir Maslenikov is also known as a talented portrait painter, with keen observation skills, and a delicate sense of psychology. He always depicts those whom he knows well and loves, showing his subject’s best features. His portrait galleries are constantly supplemented by wonderful new images of his contemporaries. Mr. Maslenikov’s birthday exhibition also includes his self-portraits, inserted between landscapes. In 1976, he was a student, in 1996 — an Associate Professor and in 2016 — a Professor. Mr. Maslenikov has been heading one of the leading chairs at the Arts Academy for five years, his opinion valued on what constitutes ‘good art’. As a teacher, he accepts various trends but, as a painter, he is faithful only to realism.

Vladimir Maslenikov, the Head of the Painting Chair at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts:

I think that people need to be taught. It’s up to them how they will be working when they become professionals; however, they need to receive professional school education. They should be able to do everything. One should go into other trends not because they’re able to do this but because they’ve understood that this is the way they would like to work His early works include a portrait of theatre director Valery Maslyuk, while that of Eduard Malofeev belongs to his recent pieces; both are his friends. In early childhood, he spent time on the banks of the River Dnieper with his father: classical landscape painter Pavel Maslenikov. He admits that his easel lives in the boot of his car. In Soviet days, Victor Gromyko (now the oldest People’s Artist) taught him landscape painting at the institute. Gromyko was a fellow student of People’s Art-

ist of Belarus Mikhail Savitsky, whom the gallery is named after. Meanwhile, this is the tenth personal exhibition of Vladimir Maslenikov. However, this time, the Professor first moved away from his principle to showcase only new pieces in the exposition. Prof. Maslenikov’s older works have been brought to the capital from Mogilev’s Art Museum (named after Pavel Maslenikov) — which Mogilev residents call Maslenikov’s Museum. Painter Maslenikov perceives his native nature as a source of creative inspiration. Certainly, the surname of Maslenikov is widely known both among Belarusian artists and painting fans. Certainly, it was Pavel Maslenikov who gave impetus to it. However, his son — Vladimir Maslenikov — is today a brilliant continuer of artistic traditions of his father. Vladimir boasts his own unique creative features, while his works are recognisable. Nevertheless, it is impossible to avoid ‘dynasty’, especially as the family of Maslenikov also has new successors of Pavel Maslenikov’s artistic heritage of. Meanwhile, we will continue this a bit later. Undoubtedly, Vladimir Maslenikov belongs to that generation of Belarusian artists whose creativity absorbed the best traditions of the national pictorial school. Each canvas of the artist is filled with colourful harmony, and the pictorial palette of the painter is restrained and tunes in quiet colour of native Belarusian nature. The world of beauty is present in all his works — either portraits or epic landscapes of his native nature.

2016 беларусь.belarus

ART і PERSON

Vladimir Maslenikov (on the right) with artist Nikolay Apiyok

It has been more than thirty years as Vladimir Maslenikov, using a brush and paints, has investigated Belarusian spaces: well-known and at the same time still unknown. He searches and finds all new motifs, since long ago he opened for himself the fact that native land is capable to constantly amaze an eye of an artist with its extraordinary landscapes. The painter has his own figurative style of landscape in which the image of surprisingly bright natural space dominates. This talented Belarusian artist has so many individual discoveries that new creative prospects are easily opened to him. The idea of boundless space, figuratively coded in Vladimir Maslenikov’s landscapes, obligatory envisages the introduction of high sky, which captivates by its inexhaustible space blueness. Moreover, the artist has such sym-

беларусь.belarus 2016

bolical compositions where heavenly tops are drawn by ‘giant mountains’ of dark clouds or penetrated by sun rays that break through a cloudy haze. Such figurative elements add greater importance and expressiveness to native land that corresponds to its natural beauty and cleanliness. From the conversation with Vladimir Maslenikov at his studio: What was the determining factor in your choice of profession of an artist? When did it come? The fact that my father was an artist was the determining factor for me. When did it come? When I was four years old, I didn’t paint yet, but already said that I would be an artist and a driver. As a result, it happened so: I became an inveterate driver-amateur. I have been driving a car since I was thirteen.

Vladimir Maslenikov was born in 1956 in Minsk. In 1980, he graduated from the Belarusian Theatre and Art Institute. He works in monumental painting in the genres of landscape, portrait and still-life. He has been a member of the Union of Artists since 1989. Between 1996 and 2014 he has taken part in 18 international painting plein-airs. He has conducted 9 personal exhibitions. Since 2011 he has worked as the Head of the Painting Chair at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and Professor. In 2012, he was awarded the Frantsisk Skorina Medal and his works are kept at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, collections of the Belarusian Union of Artists, Modern Fine Arts Museum, Mogilev Regional Art Museum (named after P.V. Maslenikov), the Belarusian State Museum of Great Patriotic War History, Gomel’s Regional Local History Museum, as well as in private galleries and collections throughout Russia, Belarus, Italy, Germany, the USA, Israel, France, Switzerland, the UK and China. Surely, it’s difficult to be in the light of such star, as your father — the People’s Artist of Belarus Pavel Maslenikov. At the same time, you are artist Vladimir Maslenikov. How do you manage to have own style and your own stylistics of painting? How do you manage to be an original artist? I can say that it’s very difficult, especially, when you are a young artist, who has just graduated from the institute. Almost half of my life I had to prove that I’m not only Pavel Maslenikov’s son, but also a good artist. Therefore, when I graduated from the institute, during the first years I intentionally didn’t exhibit my landscapes; I primarily exhibited portraits so that people would not compare me with my father. Then I gradually shifted to landscapes,

ART і PERSON

Impressions of the exhibition of the artist celebrating the jubilee are expressed in different ways

because it was closer to me. However, I paint portraits too. What did you admire in your father’s creative activity? I admired his working capacity. He tensely worked through all his life. When I was a child he always brought me with him to make sketches. Whether you like it or not, the love towards landscapes appeared. We travelled all over Belarus. When we went to Crimea, we obligatory took canvases with us, as well as cardboard and sketch-box easels. For example, when we were in Gurzuf, all people were on the beach while we were in the mountains, painting sketches. We painted nearly four sketches a day. I liked it so much that today I don’t go anywhere without a sketchbox easel. Even today you paint Belarusian nature, landscapes. Do you feel closeness to your land? Do you want to express these feelings in the works? Or do you write only what you like? I practically don’t leave Belarus today, because of the family, summer cottage, village. However, in Belarus there are so many beautiful and various places: plains, lakes, and hills. Each condition of Belarusian nature is beautiful in its own way: snow, rain, and the sun. I love my native land very much.

Artist Vladimir Maslenikov perceives Belarusian nature as a primary source of inexhaustible artistic inspirations where a leading dominant is the aspiration towards something elevated, harmonious feeling of the real world and feeling of live connection with prehistoric epochs, when mythological connection of all phenomena of life originated. Such paradigm of the author’s creative thinking justifies itself by constant updating of picturesque methods and approaches. The artist, for example, indefatigably underlines coloristic accord of all motifs of the native earth through their spring and summer blossoming, when bright colours revive in the gold of the sun and greenery of fields while sinking in deep blueness of the sky. Vladimir Maslenikov is one of

few contemporary Belarusian artists, who perfectly handles gradation of warm and somber colours and he can masterfully convey air space, tints of sun rays in foliage of trees, in field ‘waves’ of young ears, and live mirror of water smooth surface. Therefore, his life-asserting landscapes are always close and gentle while naturally bringing up the sense of beauty. Besides vast panoramas, the artist often appeals to more chamber motifs of silent creeks, wood footpaths and birchwoods. These plots are filled with delicate inner state. It’s possible to call them ‘islets’ of nature impressions which stay in memory since early childhood. Such picturesque motifs are popular among our contemporaries, many of whom are frequently torn off from natural environment, where they were born and grew up, while living in monotonous urban environment. The painter realizes this problem and tries to draw apart the borders of ‘concrete reality’ and return the feelings and emotions of his numerous admirers into the green kingdom of nature, due to creative talent. Do you enjoy painting big canvases or does the size of the canvas have no importance? I paint canvases of various sizes. However, for some reason My Belarus. 2008 I mostly like big canvases where

2016 беларусь.belarus

ART і PERSON I can do things in a big way. Most of my plots are epic and my landscapes are panoramic, which presupposes big format. Did your father see your works? Did you have any creative exchange of opinions or admonitions? How did it all happen? My father was never lavish with praise. He considered that if you graduated from the institute, it doesn’t mean that you became a professional artist. In any way, you should gain experience. And even when the first success came to me, my father — we worked in one studio — didn’t interfere into my creativity until I asked him something. Though he was a strongwilled person he behaved delicately. The praise consisted in any allegorical meaning. For example, he could come from the exhibition and say: ‘You know, my guys (his guys are his generation of artists) said that my son stands out against a background of his generation’. It meant the highest praise. Probably, it was pleasant for you to hear that? Certainly. I understood that it was praise, knowing the character of the father. It was acknowledgement. I’m so much respectful to the father that the highest praise for me was that from him. If he acknowledged, it meant that it was good. As well as my sons now respects my opinion. When my elder son [Pavel Maslenikov] studied at the Academy of Arts, I came on viewing and said: ‘You’ve grown’. However, he received not very high marks. He said after viewing: ‘It was the first time I heard your praise. After all, I received high marks at the art school while you criticised me all the time’. You said that your son follows your way too. It means, the dynasty of Maslenikov as artists continues. However, how do you think: why did your son also become an artist? Moreover, my younger son Alexey now studies to be a designer while the daughter-in-law is an artist. As for Pa-

беларусь.belarus 2016

vel, so when he was five years old, I could not pull him out of a studio. Probably, everything had been already predetermined. There is another moment: I can give him advice in this work. After all, when I was a child I said that I would be an artist though I didn’t understand what this was. At that time the father worked at the theatre as an art director, so I grew up, as it’s possible to say, at the opera theatre. When the example is before your eyes, it greatly influences the motifs of your behaviour. There was time when your father was writing while now the time is different. Is the creative process also changing?

Fortunately, this coincides in my creativity. What I want to write is liked by other people. This is happiness. What is painter Vladimir Maslenikov’s creative credo? Truth of life? Undoubtedly, you are a painter mostly devoted towards realistic painting. What is its essence? I write from nature. I have written hundreds of etudes in various corners of Belarus. Like small streams gather in one big river my etudes are the basis for the work over a big compositional landscape, reflecting the beauty of our native nature. The most important is that the result should be the following: a spectator looks on the picture and wants to go there, to the river bank. I once had an occurrence: I’ve written a landscape, completely composed, and called it ‘The Lepel Lakes’ [an area in Vitebsk Region]. A driver came in, who carries pictures to exhibitions, and asks: ‘What is it?’ I responded to him that this is Lepel lakes. ‘Exactly. I was fishing there,’ he said. However, this was an imaginary place. Work should have recogIndian summer. 2015 Maybe. If we take the last thirty years nisable state, resulting in the desire to we can see that more trends have been walk along the imaginary field. I always revealed. I’m a realist but I think it’s good try to reflect my personal feelings and when there’re many trends in creativity. emotional perception of nature through It’s good that we aren’t the same. my works to my spectators. Is the current time favourable for Is it easy to do? creativity? In different ways. Sometimes work is State orders existed during the Soviet done quickly and sometimes I readjust times and someone liked this. Now, eve- and rearrange everything several times. rything is very individually, with some Moreover, one can take great pains over enjoying popularity and others not. This a picture but fails to achieve the result time is favourable for my creative activity, — this also happens yet rarely. with the state providing support and the Don’t you think that realistic manworks being purchased. This is good that ner of painting is currently losing its art is in demand. grounds? Painting in Europe is known Do you take into account the situ- to having more abstract forms. Should ation? When you’re writing a picture we be proud that we have a worthy do you want it be liked by people? Or school of realistic painting and that do you write only what you wants to there’re painters who work in this express? sphere highly professionally?

ART і PERSON I think we can be proud of this though, frankly speaking, the realistic painting is slightly losing its grounds. Young people master this art less and less; even if someone practices it he does it at a weak level. Meanwhile, I’m not a supporter of the division: realism — not realism. The most vital is that everything should be done professionally regardless of the genre and trend you’re working in. Italians once came to me. They once had a brilliant painting school in Italy! Now there’s nothing there while we do have it and the Academy of Arts has very good preparatory school. It’s easier for you to assess since you have been involved in pedagogic work for so many years, isn’t it? You see the successes of the new generation. What will we have tomorrow in the pictorial arts? I think that people need to be taught. It’s up to them how they will be working when they become professionals; however, they need to receive professional school education. They should be able to do everything. One should go into other trends not because they’re able to do this but because they’ve understood that this is the way they would like to work. What is your attitude towards participation in exhibitions? After graduating from the Art Institute I took part almost in all Republican exhibitions: both group and personal. I constantly exhibit my works and I think it’s necessary to show one’s creativity in order to see oneself among others. Sometimes the work seems to be good but appears to be little interesting at the exhibition or vice versa. Exhibitions are necessary in order to assess oneself realistically and objectively. Taking into account how the fine arts sphere develops, how do you see its tomorrow? Will this process continue? I think everything will be good. The senior generation says that they were not such as today’s youth. Well, youth

is the same as ours was earlier. I am an optimist. Are you self-critical? I’m very self-critical. It even disturbs me sometimes. What do you consider the main thing in your creativity? The main thing is improvement in the direction in which I work. My father used to say that here is no limit to perfection. I want to work both with landscapes and portraits, and, probably, with still-life paintings. I try to work in different genres. I like to paint portraits: different images, different characters. Are you able to paint a portrait of any person?

Certainly, sometimes failures happen, but they are relative. I can consider one work unsuccessful while a spectator won’t notice this, and vice versa. It is just necessary to work, that’s all. As the father said, if you will wait for inspiration, it may never come. Come, take a brush in hands — and inspiration will come. There is a museum named after your father in Mogilev. Is it popular? Do the works give a chance to people to learn more about artist Pavel Maslenikov? It’s a Regional Art Museum named after Maslenikov. The museum has a lot of my father’s works. There is a whole wing where there is a personal gallery of People’s Artist of Belarus, Pavel Masle-nikov. There are three halls and a memorial room. There are big funds. After all, the father himself gave a lot of his works to this museum. After his death I gave more than forty pictorial works, sketches of scenery and costumes. I consider that his best works are in this museum. After all, he gave the museum almost his entire exhibition, dedicated to his 80th anniversary. Undoubtedly, these are his major works. He exhibited these works Spring flood. 2005 in Minsk, and then went to Yes. However, I usually paint those Mogilev and presented them to the city. who are interesting to me. Most of all I At first, a gallery was opened, and then painted relatives — father, mother, chil- the museum got the name, when the fadren, sister. If a person is interesting not ther died. I go there every year. The inonly spiritually, but also outwardly then, ternational painting plain-airs are held of course, it’s more interesting to paint. there, bringing artists from the CIS and Vladimir Maslenikov approved him- non-CIS states: France, Austria, Serbia, self as an observant and very shrewd psy- Bulgaria, Poland and elsewhere. Puchologist in a portrait genre. He depicts pils come for excursions, and off-site people whom he knows well. First of all, exhibitions with lectures are also held. these are very warm portraits of his father, The work is in full swing! The museum mother, and sister. The artist always finds building is very interesting, being built the best human qualities in his models. His in the previous century. Good restoraportrait gallery is being constantly reple- tion was made there, and it already has nished with new images of contemporaries more than forty works of mine. who wish to see picturesque transformaPicturesque searches enable him to tion, trusting the talent of the artist. find possible answers to acute philoAre you familiar with creative fai- sophical issues, connected with criteria lure? of creativity. It won’t be exaggeration to

2016 беларусь.belarus

ART і PERSON

Chinese admirers of the art of Vladimir Maslenikov have been able to visit the exhibition as well

say that today Vladimir Maslenikov is one of the most prominent masters of contemporary landscape. The author of such significant compositions as Belarusian Spaces, Polotsk Distances and The Lake Land deliberately develops an epic cycle, dedicated to Belarusian nature. He is in the plenitude of his creative powers and each new work brings in new pages into his artistic luggage. Can painters nowadays earn money for their pictures? As you’ve said there were state orders previously and now there’re not. Is it worse or better for painters? When there were state orders few pictures were purchased. At present, there’re no orders but, e.g., I now sell more pictures than previously to organisations and ordinary citizens in galleries. If a painter doesn’t sell their works they won’t have money to provide their family and to buy the necessary materials to create a new picture and to pay for their studio. Do you monitor the creative process in other countries?

беларусь.belarus 2016

I can judge about this only proceeding from plein airs that are held in our country. Painters from different states work in various genres of contemporary painting but traditions of realistic school are still very strong in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Belarusian painters worthily represent the realistic school while demonstrating their high professional level. The landscapes, created by him in the past and those written nowadays, are masterfully written poetic novels about his native land, boasting unexceptional artistic taste. Especially good are

those which glorify the image of the native land delicately, thoroughly and with amazingly sharp feeling of nature’s life. His landscapes are true and are filled with restrained lyricism. The author can be recognized immediately even without signature judging by his special pictorial manner, which harmoniously combines the accuracy of life reconstruction and deep poetry, the accuracy of the drawing and colourful beauty. Moreover, his special national colour scheme evidently stands out and penetrates his creativity; this was also peculiar for his father — Pa vel Maslenikov. The painter has well studied his native nature and sees so much beautiful in it that he doesn’t even need to go far away. He opens up inexhaustible riches of motifs, conditions, delicate and pictorial relations near Minsk and in Mogilev Region. Each time this is something new and enriching which makes spectators (even if they aren’t painters) to look narrowly on the surrounding world and to love it more. Don’t you impose your Family. 2016 manner to someone?

ART і PERSON No, in no way. I don’t want that everyone write in such a way. My principle is also not to repeat the creative manner of my father. Over the last decade, I’ve seen many copies of my works in various places. Why to impose upon your own? Vice versa, painters need to find their own niche. The more various painters are the better. It often happens that there’s more interesting in the painter’s early pieces than in their later creative activity. How was this with you? Did you perceive world in a different way when you were young?

form dominate there. Vladimir Maslenikov’s sketches are different, producing greater picturesque culture of the master and faultless sharpness of eyes. He thoroughly selects everything that is typical for our nature, which inspires excitement in souls and charms with blue distances and free rivers… Aren’t you tired of writing? I receive pleasure from this and I think that I’m a happy person, as are many painters who are involved in their favourite occupation. They enjoy this and also earn money. This is happiness. When

Do your works have a generalized image? Yes, of course. I think that there can’t be nature work in such large formats as I have. This is a compositional picture, for example, this one which is called ‘My Belarus’ [he points to a picture hanging in the studio]. This is a generalized image, encompassing our spaces and lakes. One can notice that water is present almost everywhere in my works. Lakes, forests and great spaces — all these are Belarus. Don’t you schedule your personal exhibition for the nearest time?

The exhibition opening has been attended by many

Everything was perceived differently in student years. There was time when I enjoyed Renato Guttuso and I even created composition — similar to his stylistics. I was making everything then less consciously, and there were hesitations. Once I liked Čiurlionis and made pieces — similar to his. This was my search. However, I’ve finally come to what I do now and I improve as years come. If we take my works, created 25 years ago, they seem slightly weaker compared to what I currently do. I think that I follow the right road: without any jumps and gradually — higher and higher. There’re different sketches. Some don’t say anything to either spectators’ heads or their hearts; it’s seen that randomness in motifs and deliberate carelessness of

Vladimir Maslenikov is a Belarusian painter who really appreciates the history, culture and nature of one’s own country I work too much I go to my summer cottage where I also have a studio. There’re also breaks when I don’t take the brush for a week. I’m not a fisherman or a hunter. I have only one hobby — automobiles — my fingers itch if I don’t drive for a week.

There’s no need to make a personal exhibition spontaneously. Usually I develop its concept a year in advance. I should know where it will be held, what the exposition will be and which works I need. Works that harmonise with each other are needed. In one word, a personal exhibition is a very complex process and it should be viewed creatively. The way to reflect space in Vladimir Maslenikov’s landscapes is very interesting, with the forefront always reinforcing its positions, followed by great spaces. Spacious mind is felt in his pieces, combined with the poet’s staring glaze. The painter is able to listen to the nature’s voices while searching its unique features and national character. By Veniamin Mikheev

2016 беларусь.belarus

'Staryna' Village. 2005