Belarus (magazine #5 2014) by BELARUS Magazine

Soyuz

Belarus — Russia

pp. 35—42

No.5 (968), 2014

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Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

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60 years

with UNESCO

Events in Belarus and abroad

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contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 5 (968), 2014 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

Mechanism of integration requires adjustment

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

Design and Layout by

Made strong by Great Victory

Worthy vehicle Belarus has got its own

16 10

people’s car — contemporary, reliable and affordable

Under reliable protection Future is the link between the past and the present

Vladimir Makei: ‘Belarus in UNESCO: na-

Launching bridges

Diplomat, scientist, orientalist…

tional development and global peace via humanism, culture and education’

Club life Twenty-five years ago UNESCO Clubs

were created. They did not appear spontaneously like the very first clubs within the limits of this new world movement, but were based on a strong international base of friendship, good neighbourhood and mutual understanding

How did Belarusian Iosif Goshkevich compile the first Russian-Japanese dictionary, and teach citizens of Japan how to use a camera and to sew European clothes?

беларусь.belarus 2014

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.

Breath-taking travel

Sign of soldier’s valour Belarusian enthusiasts intend to immortalise the memory of Cavaliers of WWI Cross of St. George

The magazine does not bear responsibility for the contents of advertisements.

Spring in new Vilcha After the catastrophe

Publisher: “SB” editorial office

at Chernobyl nuclear power station, thousands of people resettled from the dangerous territories. How did they endure that trouble and how do our fellow citizens, and those who arrived from outside Belarus, live today?

This magazine has been printed at State Entertainment “Publishers “Belarus Printing House”. 79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No. 1353 Total circulation — 1936 copies (including 731 in English).

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

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Iosif Gosh-kevich is being celebrated worldwide, having been included on the List of Memorable Dates for 2014-2015 by the UNESCO General Conference

Memory lingers on ‘fair-haired consul’

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova

Subscription index in Belpochta catalogue — 74977

Viktor Alshevsky’s philosophy of impressions

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

This festive May

he bright spring month, embodying the awakening of nature, has lots of holidays, like no other month of the year. Everything begins with May 1st — the day of working solidarity. There are also many professional holidays — the Day of Printing, the Day of Radio, Television and Communication Workers, the Border Guards Day. However, the major holiday of May is, of course, Victory Day — the holiday which has been celebrated since May 1945 — when we were victorious in the struggle against fascism. This holiday is honoured more than other. Naturally, there are veterans of that cruel war, as well as their descendants, who are thankful for their freedom and life. During the Great Patriotic War, each third resident of Belarus died — this is the price of independence. Meanwhile, after World War II, Belarus became one of the founders of the United Nations Organisation — not each state is given such a right. Such a choice (in favour of Belarus — at that time one of the republics of the Soviet Union) was made for its great contribution in the defeat of fascism. Yes, there are events which can’t be depreciated by time. Undoubtedly, Victory Day belongs to them. Whatever happens in the contemporary world, the importance of this date isn’t subject to any devaluation. Usually many films about the war are broadcast on television on these May days, with the most successful of these enabling us to feel the tragedies and heroic deeds of that severe time. These films, stories, books and meetings with veterans are the necessary connection with our heroic and tragic past.

Actually, have many of contemporary teenagers met live veterans — the heroes of that war? Of course not. However, we can bring many examples when very young people conduct searches of the soldiers who died during the war and restored the names of the missing. They remember the war and are proud of its winners. This year, the most revered holiday coincided with the start of the Ice Hockey World Championship, held in Minsk. Many guests have arrived and seen at first hand how Belarus honours its veterans and welcomes its friends. Moreover, this year is jubilee for Belarus’ membership of UNESCO. On May 12th, 2014, our country celebrated the 60th anniversary of its participation in the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture. A vast programme of events has been developed to mark this significant event, which will be conducted throughout the year, including by the National Commission for UNESCO. An official visit to Minsk by UNESCO General Director, Irina Bokova, was also timed to coincide with the jubilee date. ‘60 Years with UNESCO’ is the topic of this issue. Diplomat, Scientist, Orientalist… This article is dedicated to the whole world’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of our fellow countryman. UNESCO General Conference added the jubilee of Iosif Goshkevich to its 2014-2015 Calendar of Memorable Dates. That this unique person united Belarus and Japan can be seen by visiting an exhibition, entitled Iosif Goshkevich — A Diplomat and Oriental Scientist, hosted by the National Historical Museum. Recently, the famous Belarusian painter, Viktor Alshevsky received a letter from the Spanish King’s chancellery expressing gratitude for his picture — Mystery of Old Gates. This was presented to the Spanish King by the Belarusian Ambassador to France, Spain, Portugal, Permanent Representative of Belarus to UNESCO, Pavel Latushko, at the presentation of credentials ceremony. The artistic peculiarities of the work were highly appreciated, as well as its figurativeness and the author’s ability to reveal the historical past. Such a response adds creative powers and confirms the decision of the occupation to which one has devoted their whole life. It’s important to ‘hit the nail on the head’ while choosing the topic which should be close to you, while engaging the viewer. The State Award laureate, Viktor Alshevsky, manages to do this perfectly. Four years ago, he was inspired by the forthcoming Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and created two impressive (2x3m each) picturesque works dedicated to sport and the power of the human spirit. Of course, one needs to see these pictures and the impressions are very strong. Meanwhile, it’s impossible to do without the author’s explanations, since Viktor Alshevsky is more than simply a painter. He is a painter-philosopher, and this largely explains his creative thinking. Therefore, the works requested author’s comments which are presented in our publication — Viktor Alshevsky’s Philosophy of Impressions. By Viktor Kharkov

2014 беларусь.belarus

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CELEBRATION

Made strong by Great Victory Each year, on May 9th, at the same place and at the same time, many thousands of people gather in Minsk’s Nezavisimosti Avenue to welcome the solemn parade honouring Victory Day. This time, there were lots of guests from various countries in Minsk as our most revered holiday coincided with the beginning of the Ice Hockey World Championship. Tourists with flags from their countries attentively looked into the faces of the hosts of the celebration — veterans of the Great Patriotic War, who broke the Nazi backbone 69 years ago. Age is taking its toll, yet the spirit hasn’t faded in the eyes of the Victory soldiers, and foreigners could see with their own eyes the nobleness and simplicity of those Soviet soldiers.

he parade was headed by the President, who laid a wreath at the Victory Monument. The ceremony was also attended by senior government officials, representatives of diplomatic missions, public organisations, and major religious confessions. беларусь.belarus 2014

Dear veterans! Dear fellow countrymen and foreign guests! I heartily congratulate you on Victory Day — one of most honourable holidays on the Belarusian land. For millions of people it has become an eternal testimony to the courage of the nations that overcame the world’s greatest evil, which is fascism.

Sixty nine years separate us from that spring but the memory about the Great Patriotic War doesn’t fade. It lives in each city and village, is transferred from generation to generation; it comes from heart to heart while connecting all us together via a live thread of love towards Fatherland. In those severe years the destiny of the mankind was decided in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. It was the Soviet-German front that decimated the Wehrmacht. After trespassing upon Soviet Union borders the Nazi faced fiercest resistance. Young and old ones alike, the Soviet people rose up to defend their Homeland. Nobody else in the world was as selfless as they were in fighting the ‘brown plague’. It was in the land watered with the blood of Soviet people that the key battles were fought. Since the very first days of the war the true second front appeared in the occupied Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian lands. Over one million partisans rose up against the Nazi — a great people’s army, whose actions were of strategic importance and were an important factor in destroying the enemy. In the Soviet land in most difficult con- page

CELEBRATION

Alexander Ruzhechka

ditions ordinary people working on the home front secured the economic supremacy over the aggressor. During the war the Soviet Union produced two times as much combat hardware and weaponry that Hitler’s Germany did. Meanwhile, the moral durability of our nation was the key USSR advantage in its fight against powerful and destructive military machine of the Third Reich. The Soviet Union countered the man-hateful ideology of Nazism with the ideology of humanism and internationalism. Over 100 nations and nationalities of the USSR rose up together to defend the common Fatherland. Our Republic paid a dreadful price for the Great Victory — we lost every third resident of our Homeland. Soviet Belarus has made an invaluable contribution to the enemy’s downfall. It was a partisan republic. Over 500,000 people were in the ranks of the underground resistance movement; 88 of these were awarded the high title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. The heroic fight of the nation against fascism began in the Brest Fortress, as well as in battles near Grodno, Minsk, Polotsk, Lepel, Vitebsk, Borisov, Mogilev, and Gomel to continue till the last invader was ejected. We’ll always remember those who fell in battles and were killed by the atrocity of fascists. Grateful Belarus remembers you and honours your deed. We’ll do everything so that your great sacrifice for the sake of the Fatherland would not be in vain. The dreadful fire of wars, destructions and death must never again be lit in the Belarusian land. I suggest honouring the memory of all the heroes and victims of the Great Patriotic War with a minute of silence. (Minute of silence.) Dear friends! This year marks two milestone events in the history. In July, we’ll celebrate 70th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the Nazis, while August will mark 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

page

These memorable dates give much food for thought. Why do we see a new worldwide fire flaring up just following three decades since WWI? How could a cave ideology of the Nazism gain momentum in the civilised Europe? Will the present political elite have enough wisdom and conscience to prevent new destructive conflicts? Unfortunately, some politicians today bury the lessons of history in oblivion and try to downgrade the role of the Soviet people in the Victory over the Nazis while also encouraging the rebirth of Nazism.

Purposeful steps are aimed at destabilisation of the political situation in sovereign states in order to please some political and geostrategic ambitions. We can see such examples in the Middle East, North Africa and other hotspots of the planet. It is a pity to see that Ukraine has become one of such hotspots. Our brotherly Slavic country is facing a civil war, where brothers fight each other. We should stop it whatever it takes. We’re concerned about the fact that these events are used as a pretext for the 2014 беларусь.belarus

CELEBRATION thinking about your Homeland and then about yourself. Your spiritual legacy will always be a priceless moral basis for us. Dear fellow countrymen! We are the heirs of the great nation of victors to whom Europe owes its freedom and prosperity. The understanding of this fact serves as a source of our strength and self-confidence. On this festive day I’d like to wish you all, as well as your close and dear people, health, success, happiness and well-being. Happy Victory Day, dear friends!

Belta

The President talked to journalists in Pobedy Square, particularly about:

Mobilisation of internal reserves I simply say that we have to struggle and compete on our own domestic markets with the produce that was manufactured in other countries from our resources… Why can’t we mobilise our internal resources? We need to make our enterprises work at full capacity, manufacture the necessary produce and sell it on the home market… Therefore, we should understand that, first of all, we have to get our people to work and pay a decent price for it. Then no one will be able to say anything about economic sanctions because we will be a self-supporting wealthy nation.

Values NATO to intensify their military activity directly at our Belarusian borders. This fact requires special security awareness and the unity of our nation. We’ve learnt priceless lessons from the tragic events of the 20th century. We know the value of peace and concord and we will stay committed to our ideals. Our Armed Forces are ready to defend the sovereignty of Belarus, the civil peace and concord from any invasion. It is a duty of honour for every citizen to defend the Fatherland and strengthen it. беларусь.belarus 2014

Dear veterans! The victory in May 1945 is your greatest contribution to the rescue and development of the human civilisation, to our common peaceful present and future. Your generation has saved the country, restoring it from ash and ruins. Your generation has created strong industry and well-developed agriculture, alongside advanced science and rich culture. You’ve managed to move forward and support each other, overcoming all difficulties. You weren’t chasing personal welfare and prosperity. At first you were

My task is to ensure peace and quiet for you and your children. The greatest happiness for me is when you tell me that you sit your son or daughter into the pram and walk along the street in the evening under the light of street lamps. Very many people don’t have this happiness in very many places. Unfortunately, many people in Belarus don’t value this since we haven’t seen the misfortune. Of course, we don’t need this misfortune in any way. May it be the same in the country, as it’s now, after some other president replaces the current president. This will be the greatest pride for me.

ACTUALITY

Mechanism of integration requires adjustment Details of the draft treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union discussed in Minsk

n line with protocol, such sessions are conducted in two formats: narrow and extended. This time, the presidents added a third format — improvised. At the meeting in the Winter Garden of the Independence Palace they talked for more than two hours. Journalists could only guess at the content of their conversation, although everyone understood its sense — the details which haven’t been settled at the expert level. Probably, the shape of the summit’s final decisions has been outlined during this conversation. Meanwhile, by the beginning of the session in the narrow format the Heads of State were in no haste to make conclusions. Alexander Lukashenko enumerated the most sensitive moments, with major of these being exemptions and withdrawals during the

trade in goods. Even during the stage of formulation of the idea of the Eurasian Economic Union it was voiced that it should rely on 4 freedoms: free movement of goods, services, capital and the labour force along the territory of the integration structure. However, a month before the signing of the treaty, it was proposed to set up a 10-year transition period for the trade in energy carriers. Without this, there won’t be a fully-fledged Customs Union which is designed to mark the beginning of the existence of a higher form of union integration — economic. At present, this step is vital because of one more reason. The Customs Union of the three states is almost 4 years old and the organisation brings tangible benefits to its participants yet is stopped in its development at this time. The demonstration of the dynamics of the con-

tinuation of this process is also an issue of image and authority of the Eurasian integration. Mr. Lukashenko expressed his opinion regarding the motivation of delay, “They say we may have economic and budgetary difficulties. Don’t we understand this? Then let’s speak about the Eurasian Economic Union in a decade, if we’re not ready for it today.” Conditions of organisation of automobile cargo traffic were also high on the agenda. There’re fears that after the union treaty is signed the carriers of the third countries may receive competitive advantages over the ‘troika’ subjects. The reasons for such absurd situation should be eliminated in advance. The adoption of new members into the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space and would-be Eurasian Economic Union is another topic. Evidently, the process should be ‘packet-mode’, i.e. a candidate country should accept all agreements (without exceptions) which exist between the states of the ‘troika’ without any delays and special regimes. Nursultan Nazarbayev and Vladimir Putin agreed that the set issues are really important and acute. They were also unanimous in the opinion that there’s an opportunity to find compromises and settle them in the remaining time… The work in the narrow format was rather prompt while the session in an extended format lasted longer than the scheduled time. Viktor Khristenko, the Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission, was charged by the presidents to inform journalists about its results. According to him, major disagreements regarding the draft treaty have been settled. Now, only those remain which tackle the bilateral cooperation of the participants. The work on them will continue while the commission was charged to improve the draft treaty till the end of May, taking into account the decisions of the Minsk summit and submit the document to the Heads of state for singing in the previously fixed time. By Dmitry Kryat

2014 беларусь.belarus

BRAND

Worthy vehicle Belarus has got its own people’s car — contemporary, reliable and affordable

hese are the peculiarities the people’s car this. According to representatives of the company, they haven’t should possess, and the President spoke received serious claims from buyers over the time of sales and many times about the necessity of its manu- repeating defects haven’t been revealed. facture in Belarus. Recently, In order to make the vehicle truly people’s during his working trip the President instructed the Government to come up with a system to encourage Geely along the Minsk Region, With the car sales on the domestic market. Ways can be Alexander Lukashenko has personally tested new Geely different: loans or payment by instalment. The construction vehicles in order to receive how joint Belarumost important is that a person with an average of the new plant sian-Chinese BelGee enterprise has managed income was able to buy a new car. Meanwhile, manufacturing to bring a good idea into life. Mr. Lukashenko was also speaking about this passenger cars in The President has tested all three models when he communicated with the company’s the Borisov District workers in production workshops, where Geely which are assembled at production facilities of cars are assembled. Borisov-based Avtogidrousilitel Plant OJSC: it’s planned to “We will think over how to support the Belcompact hatchback Geely LC Cross, spacious annually enter arusians who buy cars here. At first the support Geely SC7 sedan and crossover Geely EX7 the market with — irreplaceable under off road conditions. Mr. will aim Belarusians. We will also think about others because it does not matter who buys Lukashenko tested the first two vehicles in the town and drove in the third auto on the test area cars,” noted the Head of State. which has sand with holes instead of smooth However, this doesn’t mean that the staff of asphalt. During the President’s text-drive it was the enterprise can rest of their laurels. At prethousand vehicles seen how Dmitry Batrakov, Director of BelGee sent, Geely’s guarantee is three years or 100,000 CJSC, is nervous. The exam at the top level is operational kilometres. Anyway, it’s necessary the first for a young enterprise and this is the to constantly work over their competitiveness. assessment of the President, “Small cars are very good for rookie The domestic market will consume around 50,000 cars annually drivers. They aren’t as speedy as more ‘adult’, large cars. This while the enterprise’s plans are far more large-scale. With the small vehicle will also find its buyers while large automobiles construction of the new plant manufacturing passenger cars — crossovers — are very good and decent vehicles.” in the Borisov District it’s planned to annually enter the marNow, the major task is to conquer buyers. High quality of ket with 120,000 vehicles. The Eurasian Economic Union can automobiles and affordable price is the first what is necessary for become a sales market. Speaking to BelGee staff, the President stressed that since Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan set out to create a union, everyone should operate in equal conditions and there should be no hindrances. The partner countries should settle all problematic issues in the nearest time. Mr. Lukashenko also took part in the ceremony of solemn opening of a new sport stadium — Borisov-Arena. The President underlined that the most contemporary football stadium in the country has opened on the eve of the great holiday — Victory Day — and this is a wonderful present for fans, residents of Borisov and of the whole Minsk Region.

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By Lilia Khlystun

беларусь.belarus 2014

PANORAMA  Earth in focus from above Belarusian-Russian microsatellite to be launched into orbit in 2015

 Striking moments of Bagration operation

Belarusian-Russian microsatellite is to be launched into orbit as part of the Monitoring-SG Union State programme, notes Sergey Korenyako, the Departmental Head of the United Institute of Informatics

Problems at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Knowledge accumulated from the programme will be used in the further design of microsatellites. Several small spacecraft (microsatellites) can be placed into orbit in clusters via a booster rocket, laden with optical and electronic equipment, which is able to ensure high quality, reliable space data collection.

Land of Courage and Glory exhibition of archive documents and photos marking 70th anniversary of liberation of Belarus from Nazis opens in foyer of convention hall of the Council of the Republic he focus of the exhibition is the biggest offensive operation by the Red Army, which liberated all Belarus, as well as part of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. The photos turn our attention on Red Army men, partisans and civilians — including the role of women, who receive their own section. Their works included helping the air force, some became snipers and many were medical workers: more than 800,000 women played an active role and every tenth woman given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was Belarusian or a native of Belarus. The exhibition features documents showing how the economy of Belarus recovered in the post-war years and there is a map of Belarus from 1944, showing dates of the liberation of settlements. Some partisan ‘newspapers’ and publications are on show, as are coded telegrams and orders. Members of the Council of the Republic have received a preview of the Land of Courage and Glory exhibition, which opens to the public at the end of April. It is also being presented at two international conferences in Minsk — in April and June, before going to Berlin and Vienna.

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 Attractive and

comfortable inside and outside

Revamped arrival lounge opens at Minsk National Airport

assengers flying from Moscow have become the first to experience the new arrival lounge at Minsk National Airport. The existing area has been enlarged and revamped inside

and outside, with an open-plan environment and several convenient escalators and lifts, including an attractive panoramic lift. Belarus’ Minister of Architecture and Construction, Anatoly Cherny, had given builders the target of completing the first stage of reconstruction by March 1st: well in time for the World Ice Hockey Championship. He admits that the airport lacks ‘certain facilities’ and aims to see it transformed into ‘a more attractive and comfortable’ venue. 2014 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  Incomes definitely rising Highest growth rate of real salaries within Customs Union registered in Belarus

T  Mobile phone tourism The most attractive tourist areas of Grodno, the city which has been announced the cultural capital of Belarus for 2014, will be designated their own QR-codes

rodno realised the whole complex set of actions required to meet its obligation. During 2014, commemorative plaques will be placed at temples, and sculpture compositions, made at the international plein-air of sculptors, will be established in the central city of the region. In February, the first thematic billboards were established in the city. Portraits of famous cultural workers like Yanka Kupala, Vladimir Korotkevich, Vladimir Mulyavin, as well as

 Lyceum student on first-name basis with intelligent dacha Vladimir Shekunov, a lyceum student at the Belarusian and Russian University, ‘communicates’ with his parents’ vegetable garden by computer

n spite of his young age, Vladimir — who is studying at the BRU Ly-

беларусь.belarus 2014

of the most significant historical sites of the city, are depicted there. New banners — ‘The Cultural Capital of Belarus Welcomes Guests’ and ‘Welcome to the Cultural Capital of Belarus’ — were also erected. The city also plans to place 30 fixed decorative and information tablets with signs in Belarusian and English. These will be placed near the most significant objects as the sightseeing tour unfolds. They will also contain special QRcodes which, when scanned with a mobile phone, will take tourists to information and tourist resources online, where further information about the location or artefact can be obtained. This information will also be available in a range of languages. ceum — is a keen inventor. He has received a diploma at Sakharov’s readings, in St. Petersburg, and a prize from the Belarusian Scientific and Engineering Contest. His ‘Intelligent Dacha’ is now being entered for an international contest of energy-conserving projects, in Norway. The electronic control system for a summer cottage includes automatic watering of plants and controls a burglar alarm through an Internet connection.

he Eurasian Economic Commission recorded an increase in nominal and real wages in all member states of the Customs Union in 2013. The nominal average wage in Belarus rose by 37 percent (against 2012), by 7.5 percent in Kazakhstan and by 12.4 percent in Russia. The average monthly salary was $573 in Belarus (January-December 2013), $714 in Kazakhstan, and $942 in Russia. In 2013, the growth rate of real wages (taking into account the growth of consumer prices for goods and services) stood at almost 16 percent in Belarus: the highest among Customs Union states. The real salary in Russia rose by about 5 percent, while that in Kazakhstan increased by just 1 percent.

 One hundred thousand .BY domains registered Bynet has passed a milestone of registering 100,000.BY domains, with lrbel.by being the latest, according to BELTA in hoster.by

ver the past year, .BY domains have been among the top five for growth rates among European domains (within CENTR). Only .IR Iranian domains surpass those of .BY. “This year began very optimistically, with over 9,000 registrations. We may see ourselves in first place in the next quarter,” notes hoster.by.

TOPIC

60 years with UNESCO

Belarus and UNESCO continue active cooperation in culture, science and education

NESCO is an organisation whose activity isn’t laden with political implications. Probably, this is the reason why interaction with Belarus is very rich. This year is the jubilee of our membership of the organization — 60 years — but this also refers to all former republics of the USSR. UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, timed her trip in order to mark this anniversary in the jubilee-countries, starting with Minsk. During her meeting with the President, the guests discussed the prospect of further co-operation between our country and UNESCO. Irina Bokova comes from Bulgaria, and at the beginning of the meeting the President paid special attention to this fact.  Since we joined UNESCO, Belarus was elected four times as a member of its Executive Committee and many times as a member to its auxiliary bodies. At present, our country is a member of the Co-ordinating Council of the UNESCO Programme — Man and the Biosphere, as well as of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication.

Belta

Future is the link between the past and the present

Belarus and Bulgaria have been connected by warm friendly relations since the Soviet time. Of course, the guest, as a contemporary European functionary, may have her own attitude towards these pages of history but they definitely were present. Moreover, in the present days, Belarusians are keen to visit the Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, Nessebar and Sozopol. Therefore, communication with representatives of Bulgaria brings only pleasure, and we understand each other well. UNESCO’s major statutory tasks include collaboration between the states aiming to ensure security via science, education and culture. Mr. Lukashenko noted the importance of these goals, stating that this is what can promote harmony but not on the contrary. Of course, it would be interesting and useful to the head of the organisation to attend the country which spends 5 percent of its GDP on education. Moreover, our country also attaches a great significance to science. As far as cultural heritage is concerned, it’s a pity Ms. Bokova didn’t arrive in our country earlier, when the President saw the recreated production of Slutsk belts. Meanwhile, anyone wishing can come here at any moment, as well as in any other place. UNESCO Director General It is important for BelaruIrina Bokova sians to keep the memory of our history. In total, we see good prospects in further Belarus-UNESCO interaction. “You will always be able to count on us in the organisation — we will always support your initiatives. Moreover, these initiatives are essential and advantageous not only for Belarus, but for the all mankind,” the President assured his guest. Ms. Bokova welcomed these words, and during the conversation shared her impressions from the meeting with our students. She noted that they aren’t only aware but take an active interest in the issues of the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage. The guest made the conclusion, “If young people know their history and are confident about their national identity, they will be more tolerant towards other nations. They will feel more secure and will be better able to address contemporary challenges.” This is an outside point of view which confirms the correctness of the landmarks which we have put before us while restoring the relics, and explaining why we need this to the younger generation. It’s seen that these seeds have fallen on fertile soil. By Denis Krymov

2014 беларусь.belarus

 Parade of unique rarities 30 billboards on Gomel’s streets portray Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace exhibits

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 Restoration of legend National Library receives wonderful edition from the Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Pavel: a copy of Polotsk’s 12th century Gospel

he Exarchate presented the edition to the library on the Day of Orthodox Books. The unique character of the manuscript is that the text is written on block lettering in Old Slavonic -- the oldest form of the Cyrillic alphabet. In the margins are notes made by residents of ancient Polotsk. The original

 In the footsteps of Bonaparte “In France all people have heard of Berezina, but nobody imagines where it is situated.” This phrase of Charles Napoleon, direct descendant of the great French emperor, has been heard many times at the Belarusian and French meeting in Borisov on the Roads of Napoleon project.

беларусь.belarus 2014

of the famous Slavic literary work is housed at the Russian Library in St. Petersburg. For over a year, Belarusian and Russian experts have been restoring the book and creating its high quality copy. Andrey Smetanin, a writer and a member of the Review Collegium, of the Publishing Council of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, tells us, “In the reproduction copy, experts have not only reunited all parts to an organic whole but have returned it to the cultural area of the country, making it a national asset.”

mid a swarm of photographers, a Memorandum of Joining of Borisov to the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities was signed, where our country became the 9th member state. This is a project of global scale. For 10 years more than 60 cities of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Spain have joined the Federation. Pavel Latushko,

he depictions of museum rarities from Gomel’s Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace decorate a large number of billboards recently installed on the streets of the regional centre. The advertising-exhibition project — Parade of Rarities from the Gomel Palace — aims to reach the widest possible audience, familiarising the public with our historical and cultural treasures and encouraging a visit to the museum. In total, 30 billboards are being installed across the city, which has a population of half a million. These will remain visible for the rest of the year, showing the unique treasures accumulated at the Gomel museum. Some artefacts date back more than 20,000 years, and there is a beautiful collection of religious and folk art (200 years old), alongside rare clocks created by the royal workshops of European monarchs. Ambassador of Belarus to France, noted that the participation of Borisov expands the partnership between our country and France and consolidates contact between non-governmental organisations and local authorities. It also offers one more opportunity to talk about Belarus to a wider world, about our common, though problematic and tragic, history, and, certainly, to attract more tourists.

TOPIC

60 years with UNESCO

‘Belarus in UNESCO: national development and global peace via humanism, culture and education’

n May 12th, 2014, Belarus celebrated its 60th anniversary of UNESCO membership, with a large programme of events, including some by the National Commission for UNESCO Affairs, which would take place countrywide throughout the year. As part of the jubilee celebrations, UNESCO General Director, Irina Bokova, paid an official visit to Minsk. The Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO Affairs, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Makei, tells the BelTA reporter about the origins of UNESCO membership, the most promising avenues of co-operation with this organisation and the interest shown by the global community in Mir Castle, Nesvizh and national customs. Mr. Makei, in 2010, UNESCO celebrated its 65th anniversary. What was the purpose of its establishment and what results have been achieved so far? Like the UN, UNESCO was founded in 1945 — after WWII, whose horrors inspired humanity to find ways to establish a truly global culture. Its founding charter reads: ‘Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed’. These actually define the core purpose of the organisation; via co-operation in the fields of education, science and culture, with the latter promoting the strengthening of peace and security. In the years since its existence, UNESCO has done much. It has contributed greatly to the fight against racial discrimination. Under the UNECO aegis, a group of scientists from all over the

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Vladimir Makei:

world have collected arguments to dispel the pseudo-scientific basis of racial discrimination. As a result, the word ‘race’ received a new meaning, and the scientists’ efforts were used to prepare a Convention Against Discrimination in Education — adopted by UNESCO in 1960, and this remains topical in our modern time. Education has always been UNESCO’s priority: thanks to its efforts, the international community has acknowledged that it’s impossible to overcome poverty, hunger and disease without qualitative and affordable education. In line with the statistics, 16 percent of modern adults (around 776m people) are illiterate, while 75m children have no elementary education. In this respect, Africa and gender equity remain UNESCO’s global priorities. Its specialists aid poor countries in developing and conducting education policy, while spreading examples of advanced practices and study materials and assisting the development of technical and professional education programmes. UNESCO is the only global organisation which oversees international cultural co-operation. In the years of its operation, a complex of regulatory documents has been prepared. These aim at the preservation of cultural heritage, the formation of global culture and the development of tolerance and respect for different forms of cultural identification. I think I won’t be mistaken in assuming that all UNESCO member-states proceed from these agreements in building up their state culture-related policies. In 1952, the Universal Copyright Convention was adopted by UNESCO to protect the results of artistic activity. As a result, the well-known copyright sign — © — was introduced, while laying the foundation of the international system of intellectual property protection. 2014 беларусь.belarus

UNESCO was among the first to sound the alarm in connection to a non-control use of natural resources. In 1968, an international conference took place under its aegis, with the above problem high on the agenda for international co-operation. Several international scientific programmes are run as part of the organisation; these aim at the improvement of the assessment of the Earth’s resources and their management. These comprise a share of UNESCO results. In the course of time, the organisation has turned into a laboratory of ideas and a norm-creating forum. It acts as a centre for information exchange and catalyses wide international humanitarian collaboration. UNESCO unites 195 states (two more than the UN’s 193) which is the best proof of the organisation’s importance. Belarus stood at the origins of the establishment of the UN. Why were Belarusians not among the first UNESCO members? Belarus joined UNESCO on May 12th, 1954 — almost simultaneously with the USSR and Ukraine. Political confrontation of the cold war played its role in the protraction of talks (of the Soviet republics’ joining UNESCO) for almost a decade. Despite its humanitarian mandate, UNESCO — like many other UN organisations — was involved in the conflict of two opposite ideologies: socialist and capitalist. These blocks had different approaches to the solution of international co-operation problems. Indicatively, in the mid-1980s, the USA and the UK, unhappy with the strengthening of socialistic and some developing states within UNESCO, ceased their membership. Many years passed until they re-joined in 2003. What role does Belarus’ National Commission for UNESCO play? In line with the UNESCO Charter, national commissions for UNESCO affairs are to be set up in all its member states — to ensure domestic interaction of all parties interested in co-operation over the organisation’s activities. Following a governmental decision, these national commissions include representatives of state management bodies, educational, scientific and cultural establishments, in addition to non-state organisations and scientific and cultural figures. Commissions primarily aim to attract a state’s intellectual and scientific potential to fulfil UNESCO’s key mission: the strengthening of peace and security through collaboration in the field of education, culture and science. Belarus’ first Commission for UNESCO Affairs was established in 1956 — following the decision of the BSSR Council of Ministers. It contributes to the realisation of UNESCO projects in the country, while attracting Belarusian state establishments and non-state organisations to participation into its programmes. In addition, the Commission helps establish contacts domestically and with foreign partners, through co-operation with foreign national commissions. In 2014, owing to liaisons between Russian and Japanese national commissions, our Commission and the Belarusian scientific and educational society has celebrated the 200th jubilee беларусь.belarus 2014

(which is included into the UNESCO List of Memorable Dates) of Belarus-born Iosif Goshkevich — a diplomat, an expert in the East and a truly talented personality. Next year, Belarus will join the international community in celebrating the 250th birthday of Michal Kleofas Oginski. Belarusian, Lithuanian and Polish national commissions are working jointly to ensure a worthy response to this forthcoming jubilee. In late 2013, the Belarus’ National Commission made a decision to structure its activity; it established thematic committees along UNESCO’s major activities. At the moment, our Commission has committees on education, culture, information, science, natural education, youth and UNESCO Clubs. We hope that the committees’ activities will enable us to greater expand possibilities in our work with the public. All members of the Commission are open to co-operation with everyone interested in promoting UNESCO values and expanding Belarus’ contribution into the organisation’s activity. What are the most exemplary examples of Belarus-UNESCO co-operation? I’d note that fruitful and practical co-operation has been observed during the whole period of Belarus’ membership. Not many know that UNESCO was the first international organisation to render Belarus international technical assistance to minimise the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. A range of projects were undertaken in our country with UNESCO’s aid; those attracted international attention to Belarus’ problems and provided real help in their solution. Three social-rehabilitation centres for those affected by the disaster and immigrants were set up. In addition, special programmes were developed to teach schoolchildren in the contaminated areas. Another programme tackled the preservation and deactivation of state archives from the affected regions. Data was provided on the movement of radioactive particles across the country, which was of practical significance for the agricultural field. Their tracking is possible due to the established Chernobyl Research Ecological Network. Interestingly, in 1983, Belarus hosted the 1st World Congress on Biosphere Reserves (as part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme); this became recognition of our country’s contribution to the establishment and development of this programme. In the 1980s, Belarusian higher educational establishments developed learning and teaching aids for schoolchildren, dealing with the role of biosphere reserves in nature production education, on the foundation of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Belarusian specialists prepared scientific studies on ecological problems and the planning of river-based Belarusian cities. Scientists from the BSSR Academy of Sciences joined UNESCO experts in investigating the change of Belarusian flora under human influence, while studying the degree of people’s impact on the natural biosphere processes. During the times of collaboration, Belarusian scientists compiled a page Red Book on rare and declining breeds.

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60 years with UNESCO

In our times, the Man and the Biosphere is among the top UNESCO programmes. It aims to establish well-balanced relations between humankind and nature, and Belarus remains its active member. Our country was elected into the programme’s International Coordination Council (which oversees the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of 621 objects in 117 countries) for the period from 2011-2015. I’d love to specially note that three nature protective territories in our Republic enjoy the status of ‘an international biosphere reserve’ and are a part of the world network: the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (a UNESCO World Heritage object), the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and the Zapadnoe (Western) Polesie Transborder Reserve (a unique project realised jointly with Poland and

We’ve accumulated huge experience in this area, and numerous events have been realised jointly with UNESCO, enabling Belarusian specialists to get acquainted with the best Belarusian educational experience. Owing to liaisons with UNESCO, Belarus, jointly with Germany and China, is among the leaders in the field of professional-technical education and training. UNESCO specialists confirm the correctness of Belarus’ chosen path regarding the support of professional training establishments; this has helped us preserve and develop this vital educational activity. At present, all economically developed countries admit that efficient professional-technical education is an important element of economic growth and employment. In April 2013, Minsk hosted a major international conference: Professional Education Under Global Challenge Conditions. It gathered teachers and scientists from all over the globe to develop recommendations on further progress of this educational branch. Three nature protective territories in our Republic enjoy Use of IT in education is another the status of ‘an international biosphere reserve’ and are a part sphere of co-operation. The UNESCO of the world network: the Belovezhskaya Pushcha (a UNESCO Institute of Information Technologies World Heritage object), the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve in Education (headquartered in Moscow) is the major partner of Belarusian and the Zapadnoe (Western) Polesie Trans-border Reserve establishments in this aspect. Belarusian (a unique project realised jointly with Poland and Ukraine). schools — in particular UNESCO assoOnly twelve trans-border reserves exist in the world ciated schools (there are over ten of them in Belarus now and the number continues to grow) — take part in the Institute’s Ukraine). Only twelve trans-border reserves exist in the world. Smart School of the Future project. The latter makes it possible to Recognition of Belarus’ nature protective territories as internatio- get a practical acquaintance with the work of foreign schools, and nal biosphere reserves indicates that our country progresses along to learn more of their approach to the educational process (which the correct path, that of ensuring a well-balanced neighbourhood uses advanced IT). between people and nature. UNESCO also pays special attention to inclusive education In the field of humanitarian and social sciences, Belarus takes which is very topical for Belarus as well. Educational approaches an active part in the work of UNESCO’s Bioethics programme are being developed to train disabled children. In addition, condi— set up in 1993. Since 2006, the National Bioethical Committee tions are created for them to receive fully fledged and qualitative was established at the Ministry of Health; jointly with the Interna- education. As part of Belarus-UNESCO co-operation, a project tional Sakharov Ecological University and the UNESCO Chair on has been realised in our country to develop special software for Environment and Management, it is actively promoting bioethical sound recording of text documents. Thanks to this programme, education among children and youth. people with vision disorders can get acquainted with e-texts in In my view, not only biology and medicine should meet ethi- Belarusian, Russian and English, which would significantly excal principles. Science on the whole must not contradict morals. pand their educational possibilities. An e-collection of school curUNESCO is an international venue for discussion of ethical aspects riculum materials is now ready, which covers Belarusian literature in the spheres of ecology, climate change and nanotechnologies. In courses (for 9th-11th grade). The University Twinning and Network Programme (a UNNovember 2013, the 37th UNESCO General Conference session made a decision to conduct research regarding Internet ethics. ESCO chair) is also well developed in Belarus; it promotes the The organisation does not put aside the most topical problems of strengthening of inter-university co-operation across the globe our modern times, while Belarusian experts take an active part in and, consequently, science development. Seven UNESCO chairs discussions and the development of approaches to their solution. are operational in Belarus, covering such topical issues as renewed How does Belarus interact with UNESCO in the field of edu- energy sources, IT, law, environment, natural sciences, world culcation? ture, tolerance, human rights and democracy. A chair of profes-

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sional education in the field of IT for disabled people is now being set up in the country. Are Belarus’ contacts with UNESCO in the field of culture fruitful? Co-operation in the issues of culture has been purposefully developing during the whole period of Belarus’ UNESCO membership. In the 1970s, the country raised a point on the importance of the study of Slavonic cultures all over the world. The Slavonic topic received international acknowledgement via the UNESCO publications: Belarusian scientists’ monograph on Frantsisk Skorina was published in English and French (as part of the Outstanding Figures of Slavonic Cultures series). Belarusian ethnographers and art experts took part in preparations of the Ancient Architecture and Sculpture of Slavonic Nations album. In 1983, the Anthology of Belarusian Poetry was published in English and French and in 1982 Minsk hosted the Slavonic Cultures and Global Cultural Process scientific conference which gathered over 200 scientists from 23 countries. At present, Belarus is an active participant of the international co-operation of Slavs, attracting over six hundred participants from 35 countries. Irina Bokova sent her address to that event. Four Belarusian objects are included into the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the first of them joining in 1992. The Belarusian section of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha received this prestigious status after re-joining the Polish part (which was included into the List in 1979). Belarus and Poland jointly proposed to expand the Belovezhskaya Pushcha which is a world heritage object. This indicates that we successfully cope with the task of dealing with the preservation of this oldest European forest. Another trans-border object of world legacy is the Geodetic Struve Arc: a network of basic geodetic observation points which was laid in the 19th century and passes along the territory of ten states, spreading from Norway to the Ukrainian Black Sea. In 2000 and 2005, Mir Castle joined the List, in addition to the Radziwills’ Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex in Nesvizh. The status of a world heritage object embodies the recognition of its exclusiveness and significance for humanity. Experts thoroughly study state proposals, but not all of them receive support. On having an object joining the List, a state and its citizens take on the responsibilities of its preservation for future generations. Moreover, preservation does not mean conservation and insulation from public. Preservation is reasonable and careful use and, primarily, the opportunity to get acquainted with past legacy, while apprehending its role and meaning for the country’s history and culture. As many researchers note, the status of a world heritage legacy object automatically brings 30 percent more tourists, which creates additional economic possibilities for the area where a monument is situated. Despite all the difficulties related to legacy preservation issues, this activity remains among the UNESCO priorities and the World Heritage List is ever expanding. беларусь.belarus 2014

Several years ago, Belarusian ‘Kolyady Tsars’ custom was included into UNESCO’s List of Intangible Heritage. Tell us more please. UNESCO pays a lot of attention to the protection of nonmaterial legacy which embraces national cultural traditions, crafts and artistry. Although an international agreement in this field was signed in 2003, it has become actually universal — like the World Legacy Convention. Our country boasts a unique intangible heritage and joining the UNESCO Convention on Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (adopted in 2003) has enabled us to organise work on its preservation. The fund — operational as part of the Convention — has allocated money to realise a project dealing with the creation of a national stock of the Belarusian intangible heritage. Anyone can get acquainted with its results at www.livingheritage.by. So far, Belarus has added one element into the UNESCO List: the ‘Kolyady Tsars’ Christmas custom of the village of Semezhevo of the Minsk District. However, our experts join keepers of national traditions in preparing proposals to expand Belarus’ representation in the List. Our fruitful collaboration with UNESCO in the field of documentary heritage is also worth mentioning. Thanks to this co-operation, Oginski’s archive has been returned to the country in an electronic form. In addition, much work has been done to virtually reconstruct the documentary heritage of the Sapegi, Khreptovichs and Radziwills. This year, an e-library of Yuzef Krashevsky has been created; his unique legacy is included into the Guinness Book of Records. Anyone can get acquainted with the results of this activity at the National Library and other cultural establishments of the Republic. Collection and restoration of our countrymen’s documentary heritage is also vital for the international community. In 2009, the Radziwills’ archives and the Nesvizh library were included into UNESCO’s Memory of the World register — following Belarus’ initiative. What are, in your mind, the prospects of BelarusUNESCO interaction? At present, UNESCO is an important partner of Belarus in solving socio-cultural tasks. It’s a unique platform in which to promote achievements in the fields of culture, science, education, IT and foreign political initiatives, as well as to develop mutually beneficial bilateral contacts. Our country’s intellectual potential enables us to significantly contribute to the formation of UNESCO’s policy and agenda, as well as to the development of standardised documents and initiation of new activities. Our collaboration has good prospects and the National Commission for UNESCO Affairs will make everything possible to bring concrete and mutually beneficial projects to this co-operation. By Alina Grishkevich

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60 years with UNESCO

Bicycle tourist are frequent guests of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Under reliable protection Many Belarusian architectural monuments and cultural figures are acknowledged global treasures

ixty years ago, Belarus joined UNESCO and, owing to co-operation with this organisation, people from all over the world are aware of our cultural monuments and outstanding personalities. At the moment, UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List includes the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (which is shared with Poland as a natural trans-border object), the Mir Castle Complex (in Mir, of the Grodno Region’s Korelichi District), an architectural-cultural complex of the Radziwills’ former residence in Nesvizh (Minsk Region), and the Struve Arc (a trans-border object which topographic points are located all over Belarus). As a result, all these architectural and natural monuments are known far beyond Belarus. In addition, staying under UNESCO protection guarantees them safe-keeping and integrity for many years. Moreover, they are likely to attract tourists and scientists from different countries. Symbolically, the castles of Nesvizh and Mir are depicted

on Belarusian 100- and 50-thousand banknotes, correspondingly. The National Bank has also produced coins, while the Belarusian Post (Belpochta) issued stamps devoted the above mentioned sights. Let’s make a virtual tour to get close acquaintance with these unique places.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha: royal hunting, aurochs and Father Frost In the past, Polish King Jagailo and Russian Tsar Nikolay II often hunted in the Pushcha. Moreover, here, Jagailo met the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Vytautas, on the eve of the Battle of Grunewald in 1410 (when German crusaders were defeated in their attempt to occupy Poland, Lithuania and Belarus). The King also set the first restrictions on hunting in this forest; accordingly, the ‘reserve regime’ exists since his decree — making it over 600 years by now. The oak reminds us of Jagailo now — named after the famous monarch. This tree is situated on the Polish side of the Pushcha now and is already ‘dead’: it failed in 1974. Meanwhile, five century old oaks and pine trees are still found on the Pushcha’s Belarusian territory. 2014 беларусь.belarus

Facade of the Mir Castle

In the 18th century, the Pushcha witnessed a unique duel between Belarusian-Polish King August and a bear: for an obvious reason, the King was called Motsny (Strong) by his countrymen from then on, as he beat the animal. The Pushcha’s modern history began in 1929 when bison were brought here from German and Swiss zoos to replenish the local population. In their early 20th century reports, scientists wrote: ‘In the past and now, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha is among the most valuable of European places regarding its flora and fauna’. At present, it’s widely acknowledged that the Pushcha is the largest section of the primeval relic lowland forest which grew on the European territory in prehistoric times. It was gradually cut out but a relatively integral large section remained in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha area. In 1992, UNESCO included the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park into its World Heritage List. In 1993, it became a biosphere reserve and, in 1997, was awarded the Council of Europe diploma. The Belarusian Father Frost has his residence in Pushcha.

Mir Castle: built for centuries The Gothic-style Mir Castle is among the most important tourist sights. It was built in the 16th century but later, passed on to the Radziwills who turned it into a Renaissance building. A three-storey palace was constructed along the castle’s eastern and northern walls, surrounded by earthworks with bastions (on corners) and a moat. An Italian-style garden was planted in the northern part. The castle was seriously damaged during numerous wars but, in the 19th century, it was bought by the Svyatopolk-Mirskie dukes who began its reconstruction. The work finished беларусь.belarus 2014

Nesvizh. History in contemporaries’ notion

in December 2010, and the architectural monument opened for public. The ceremony was attended by the Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, who stressed, “While looking at the castle, my heart feels the succession of many generations.” At the moment, Italian and English style parks are being restored near the castle, in addition to a pond.

Radziwills’ residence in Nesvizh worthily rivals Versailles and Kremlin In the late 16th century, a palace was built in Nesvizh (under the Italian, Giovanni Maria Bernardoni’s designs) for the Radziwills family. It was reconstructed many times in the past, but still preserves its initial architecture. In 2012, the residence opened its doors to the public, with the President becoming its first guest. Since the beginning of restoration work in 2004, some previously unknown vaults and plaster-covered frescoes were discovered. Museum employees have been searching for articles which could have remained at state treasure houses since their moving from the nationalised Radziwills’ residence in 1939. As a result, they discovered mirrors at the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre and portraits (which decorated its halls) were found at the National Art Museum. Apart from this, staff of the Nesvizh National Historical-Cultural Museum-Reserve have been actively searching for rarities in private collections and Director Sergey Klimov is now pleased to demonstrate some unique artefacts — which were once owned by the Radziwills (and kept at the museum at present); among them are dishware, documents and books. In addition, furniture has been assembled to fully recreate the century old atmosphere. The country has significantly contributed to the restoration page

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60 years with UNESCO

Next in line Several other Belarusian objects all have the chance to be included on the UNESCO List Kamenets Tower

30m high donjon-type tower was built in the 13th + This century on the border of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Its walls are 2.5m thick and the tower aimed to protect Ukrainian lands from the Yotvingians’ and Lithuanians’ invasion in times when the Lithuanian and Galitso-Volyn principalities competed for Western-Belarusian lands. At present, it’s one of the oldest monuments of the Roman-Gothic style in Belarus.

Churches in Synkovichi and Murovanka Gothic-style churches were built in the Grodno , These Region during the early 16th century and were typical constructions of those times. However, they were truly unusual for the Orthodox architecture: churches of the kind were built only in Belarus and Lithuanian Vilnius.

Nesvizh’s Farny Roman Catholic Church Belta

was built in the late 16th century and was similar to −ItRome’ s Church of the Gesu. It was the first Baroque-

style building on Belarusian territory and was the Radziwills’ family burial-vault. To this day, sarcophagi with the important peoples’ bodies are kept there.

Struve Arc allowed to define size and shape of Earth

of the old castle’s beauty and luxury with over $2m having been spent on the project. No doubt, Paris’s Versailles, Moscow’s Kremlin, Krakow’s Wawel and Radziwills’ Mir and Nesvizh are links of a single chain: these cultural centres embody culture and nationhood of different nationalities.

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Struve Arc

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Vadim Kondrashov

Vasily Struve, from the Tartu and Pulkovo observatories, laid his arc jointly with colleague Karl Tenner in the early 19th century. It passed along western borders of the Russian Empire which now belong to different countries — spreading from Norwegian banks to the Dunai outflow in Ukraine. Belarus is situated half-way. A military geodesist and a General-Lieutenant of the Russian Army’s Joint Staff, Belarus-born, Iosif Khodzko was among the creators of this unique object. The arc consists of points which make a single line on a map. In reality, these points represent boulders or bricks. This seemingly simple system enabled Struve and Tenner to define the size and form of our planet — doing this for the first time in history. The arc connects 258 points across ten countries. 34 of them passed along Belarus but only 20 have been preserved to date. Five points are marked with special signs and are included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Gomel’s Palace-and-Park Complex

one of the few Belarusian palaces and parks which . It’s have preserved their original 19th century form and architecture. This is the best example of the Classicism style in Eastern Europe.

Avgustovsky Canal canal is a hydro-technical construction laid betwe/ The en Belarus and Poland during the 19th century. In the

early 20th century, its Belarusian section was cleaned out and revamped — with help from the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. Canoeists are boating on its Polish territory and agromansions are being built. In turn, Belarus has constructed several summerhouses and a steamboat cruise was launched. The 2012-2015 Avgustovsky Canal programme is presently being realised.

Brest Fortress

 UNESCO has named famous Belarusians ‘persons of the year’ several times, with global celebrations devoted to them. This year, it’s the Belarus-born Iosif Goshkevich, the first Russian Consul in Japan.

Kolozha Church in Grodno church was built in the 12th century and is known for ; The its unusual walls — laid from bricks and large boulders.

In addition, it is decorated with ceramic tiles — both inside and outside. The church is located on the Nieman River’s steep bank and, in the 19th century, it partially collapsed. The issue of its saving is an active one at present, and an idea was proposed to build the lost walls anew.

Saint Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya’s legacy in Polotsk

fortress was built in the early 19th century on the At over 1000 year old Polotsk, is Belarus’ oldest city. Its : The site of Brest’s historical centre. People have settled the- < Holy Saviour Church was built under the order of the re since the 10th century and, in 2019, the city will celebrate its 1000th birthday. The fortress — known for its heroic defence from the Nazis in 1941 — is the centre of solemn events. Already, a memorial complex and a museum have been established here.

Polotsk duchess, Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, who took vows and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and has been preserved since the 12th century. Yevfrosiniya became the first woman canonised by the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe. The local Sophia Cathedral also ‘recollects’ the nun who re-wrote books there. By Viktar Korbut

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60 years with UNESCO

Dudariki in Paris This year figures from different kinds of art from Belarus actively work in France. The well-known children’s amateur group from Minsk, under the direction of Dmitry Rovensky, performed in the headquarters of UNESCO.

he large scale Days of Belarusian Culture is held in France from the middle of March till September. Not just in Paris, but also about 30 other cities of this country are connected to the project: theatrical, choreographic, musical art, fine arts, cinematographic art and literature of Belarus are represented in various different celebrations here. More than 200 figures of domestic culture have shown and are going to show their skills to the people of France. The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre performed Swan Lake in the largest cities of France, while the premiere of Pan Tadeusz by the Kupala Theatre is expected in Paris. Belarusfilm

National Film Studio opened a pavilion of Belarusian cinema at the 67th Cannes International Film Festival. Publishing houses Khudozhestvennaya Literatura, Vysshee Obrazovanie, and Belkniga society with support of the Ministry of Information of Belarus participated for the first time in the Parisian book exhibition. France also has a city of Brest and the Days of Belarusian Brest were held there: with the screening of the film Brest Fortress and performances of Belarusian artistes. The UNESCO Headquarters was home to the Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) exhibition of archival materials about the history of the membership of Belarus in this organisation. In the same place, with assistance of the National Historical Museum of Belarus, they opened the exhibition devoted to the 200th anniversary of Iosif Goshkevich — this ‘Belarusian line’ is in the list of memorable dates of UNESCO for 2014. The trip to Paris became an original gift for young artistes of well-known group Dudariki from Minsk. They were there with full the complement including Dmitry Rovensky, who is the head of the group. “When rumours reached us that we may be invited to Paris, we at first thought it was a joke!” Dmitry Dmitrievich said. “After the New Year, the Ambassador of Belarus to France, Pavel Latushko, visited our gymnasium #14, and it became clear that it was necessary to prepare for a performance!” According to Rovensky, over 700 spectators were at the concert hall, and the Minsk gymnasium students displayed Belarusian national musical art in their thirty minute performance. They sang, danced, and played accordions, pipes, reed-pipes and ocarinas, as well as playing household things: railways, a cash register, a saw... At first, the Minister of Culture, Boris Svetlov, briefly told about the achievements of Belarus in the field of culture and then presented this original collective to the audience. How did Paris receive Dudariki? “It was a great success. We performed our program perfectly, there was much applause and a long ovation,” Dmitry Rovensky is happy with his students. “By the way, we carried our national musical instruments to France from the museum of the gymnasium, the exhibits for which we have been collecting for many decades. The exhibition of 50 instruments with more than 30 names was organised in the foyer before the beginning of the concert, and people showed great interest in it.” The Dudariki concert was organised by the Permanent Representation of Belarus under UNESCO with support of the Minsk City Executive Committee. The artistes received new scenic costumes. After their performance, they were invited to perform there again in May. The head of the group said that the artistes stayed in a hotel located in the very centre of the city. Parisian impressions will stay in the memory of the Minsk gymnasium students for a long time. By Ivan Zhdanovich

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Launching bridges Traditions of various cultures and beliefs in Belarus are connected into unique mosaic

les Susha, the Deputy Director of the National Library for Scientific Work and Publishing Activities, is not only an ‘official’ who should take care of the preservation of funds of the main book storehouse of the country, he is also a researcher, an expert on the history of Christianity, cultural heritage of Orthodox and Uniate Church and is the author of more than 200 scientific works. In the course of his duties he devotes the majority of his work to the affairs of the library. However, he finds the time to research the past of our people. The results of his researches can be read in many scientific collections, as well as in encyclopaedias. But one should not call him ‘armchair scientist’. He is also interested in global cultural processes and how they are reflected inside Belarus. After all our country traditionally was a link between Western and Eastern Europe. It is no accident that the Belarusian Frantsisk Skorina founded book-printing in the Eastern Europe. And it is the book, which during the past centuries was a symbol, around which were united беларусь.belarus 2014

various traditions of different peoples who found home in Belarus: Belarusians, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Tatars, Russians and Ukrainians. Now, during the days when the 60th anniversary of Belarus’ becoming a member of UNESCO is being celebrated, the problem of preservation of multicultural, multiconfessional heritage is again raised at an international level. I enquired of Ales Susha what were the bases of traditions of consent and cultural dialogue which was formed in the country throughout the many centuries. But firstly, I asked how his interest in books appeared. I’ve been interested in books since childhood. My parents created a big home library. Being a pupil, I constantly tried to somehow organise that library, to write a separate catalogue of the library in a big notebook, which would make it easier to find the necessary book. Since my childhood, I visited Minsk libraries: the library named after Yanka Kupala and the Alexander Pushkin library, where in the reading halls there were good conditions for work. In the 9th form I signed up to the National Library (at that time it was possible to sign up when you were a page

 Ales Susha was born in Minsk. In 2005, he graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, specialising in culturology and in 2007 from the Republican Institute of Higher School of BSU (culturology). In 2009, he defended the dissertation for the degree of candidate of culturology. Since 2005 he has worked at the National Library of Belarus, firstly in the department of manuscripts, old printed and rare editions. In 2009 he became academic secretary. Since 2012 he has been the Deputy Director on Scientific Work and Publishing Activities. He is a participant and initiator of a whole number of scientific projects, the author of 2 monographs and more than 200 scientific articles and the author of a number of printed and electronic editions on the culture of Belarus. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the International Association of Specialists in the Belarusian language.

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60 years with UNESCO

dox Church. The list comprises several hundred volumes. The most significant old printing, first and rare editions of key works of national literature, the first scientific and educational editions, monuments of religious book learning. The library issued the first facsimile copy in 2009 using our own printing equipment. It was ‘Topographical Note about the Most Distinguished Places of Travels of Her Imperial Majesty into Belarusian Vicariate’ (St. Petersburg, 1780). This book describes in detail, for the first time, the history and the condition of eastern Belarusian lands attached to the Russian Empire in 1772, which Empress Catherine II visited at that time. The joint project of the National Library, the National Academy of Sciences, the Belarusian Republican Fund of Fundamental Researches and the Publishing house of Belarusian Exarchate on studying and publishing of a facsimile edition of the Slutsk Gospel was also completed in 2009. In 2012-2013, together with the National Academy of Sciences and the Publishing House of Belarusian Exarchate, we prepared and published the following facsimile editions: ‘Biography of Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya’ and Polotsk Gospel, Vilnius’ ‘ABC Book of 1767’, ‘Christmas Pisanka’ of 1913 with works of young Kolas, Kupala, Bogdanovich, Goretsky. Another three facsimile editions were released as the result of cooperation with the Khudozhestvennaya Literatura Publishing House. ‘History of Belarusian (Krivichi) Book’ by Vatslav Lastovsky, ‘Symon, the Musician’ by Yakub Kolas and ‘Along the Path of Life’ by Yanka Kupala. The facsimile of Barkulabovskaya Chronicles, from the 16th-17th centuries, was issued last year. It is well-known and included in the school curriculum but very few people have seen the original manuscript, which is stored as part of big book in collections of the Moscow State Historical Museum.

Annually, the National Library publishes the enlightener’s calendar in a series called We Remember the Past Moving to the Future. How long has been the tradition of issuing calendars in our country? The first book milestones which are known in our country are directly relevant to calendar. These are Menaia — liturgical texts for each month of the year and evangelical gospel texts built in order of divine services according to the days of the calendar year. The 10th century Cyrillic Codex Suprasliensis is Menaion for March while the Polotsk Gospel is evangelical. In the ‘Small Traveller Book’ by Skorina, there is a section ‘description of church collection’, including ‘svyattsy’ — church calendar (a calendar of fixed holidays) and paschal cycles (a technique of calculating the dates of the Easter celebrations). Only by checking this section was it possible to find out the date of issue of the ‘Small Traveller

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third-year student at an institution of higher education) and I had no need to search for literature any more. Eh, school days! Now it is hard to imagine that I had time to study, to play sports (3-4 hours of trainings daily), to visit rehearsals of the folklore collective with which we constantly went on tours with concerts across all Belarus and even abroad, to visit the choreographic circle, to go hiking during the holidays, to help my parents to work in the country and to read books. Now, probably, I could not do all that. What place does a book occupy in your life? I read books connected with work, but reading books just for pleasure, I have time after work, and that’s normal. A book is a possibility to reflect about something important, to mentally argue with the author and at last to have rest. I always read slowly, but thoughtfully, therefore I read books when I have free time. But the great competition to reading is provided by desire to go with the wife and my little son to an interesting exhibition in particular museum or gallery, to go with friends to the theatre or cinema, to go to a sports event or simply to have a rest in the country. Thanks God that the cultural life of Minsk is rich, but it is often necessary to make an uneasy choice. The National Library has been republishing rare old books lately. Does it mean that all written materials not only remain, but also demand repeat readings? The National Library developed a list of rare book monuments which are available in small quantities or which are not present in the country. They are unavailable to the general public, therefore they should be returned to public use, including through facsimile editions. During the creation of this list, we carried out consultations with researchers, workers at educational and scientific institutions, publishers and representatives of the Belarusian Ortho-

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Book’ and to determine that it was the first printed edition in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The so-called Polish and Russian calendars which were printed by Belarusian and Polish printing houses, and contained data of both the Gregorian and Julian calendar, were very popular in the 18th century. Some interesting calendars were prepared by separate monastic orders. For example, during the 18th century the Jesuits issued their own calendars every year. Household calendars, church, comic, teacher’s calendars, calendar-directories, information-encyclopaedic calendars, calendars of certain dioceses, regions and even separate settlements became very popular in the 19th century. The late 19th-early 20th century became a period of calendars which were prepared by editorial offices of separate periodicals: for example calendar of North-western

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Land which was published by Mitrofan Dovnar-Zapolsky and the Belarusian calendar of ‘Nasha Niva’. As we know, Belarus changed to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. Why are the traditions of the Julian calendar still strongly felt, for example in the Orthodox Church? Coexistence in Belarus of various calendars is an old reality that people have got used to. The source of current calendars lies in the events of thousandyear old prescription, when Christianity offered our ancestors a different system of chronology. The most ancient of them developed from the traditions of the Jewish calendar and rose from the year of creation of the world by God — 5508 B.C. In 45 B.C. Julius Caesar defined the first day of year as January, 1st, and the year was divided into 365.25 days, which were distributed between 12 months. This calendar received the name of Julian. It was accepted by the Byzantine Empire and it came to Belarus in a modified form together with Christianity. Until the 15th century, the year began on March 1st. After that, according to the Byzantine tradition, the beginning of year was replaced with September 1st. This date was the first day of the year, and it was the beginning of recalculation of church services in literature of that time. It is necessary to note that the chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania willingly used not only the ‘January’, but also the ‘September’ year. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced new, more exact calendar which we use today the Gregorian (it is often called the ‘new style’). At that time they corrected an error of 10 days of difference

with real time. Naturally, such a fundamental reform could not help but shock society. It was not clear for all people, and not all of them accepted it at once. As the author of the Barkulabovskaya Chronicles recollects, ‘a new calendar was issued in 1583. At that time there was a great panic among the gentry and ecclesiastical people, as well as among simple people. There were scares, complaints, praises, quarrels, murders, robberies and spells because people saw how new holidays were introduced while the old were cancelled. Merchant sales or fairs were cancelled. It was like the beginning of the coming of Antichrist’. The Orthodox, and subsequently the Uniate Church continued to use the old calendar, but secular power, the Catholic Church and the state passed to the Gregorian calendar, whilst officially, it was permitted to celebrate basic holidays of the country using both Julian and Gregorian calendars. Therefore, by the 16th century in Belarus, there was a situation which still exists in our country today. It is important that the country as a whole, being a secular structure, passed to the new style. And it happened even earlier than in some European countries. In Protestant and Orthodox, jurisdictions, the people did not want anything to do with the Catholic states. Chronologically, the Gregorian calendar was accepted in Lutheran Denmark and Norway in 1700, 1751 in England, 1753 in Sweden and Finland, at the end of the 19th century in Japan and Korea and only in the 20th century in Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Russia, Turkey and Egypt. After the annexation of Belarusian land to the Russian Empire in the 18th century, they introduced the Julian calendar as the state calendar. And only in 1918 did Belarus return to, and Russia convert to the Gregorian calendar. It happened during the time of the Soviet power, but the Orthodox Church did not want to accept this, therefore, the Orthodox Church, at least in Russia, still page

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60 years with UNESCO

does not accept the transition to the style created in honour of the Pope. One specific thing about Belarus is its position at the crossroads between the East and the West. How did it happen? It is first of all connected with the expansion of Christianity in two ways — eastern and western. During the 913th centuries, as it seems at first sight, the Byzantine tradition dominated in Belarus, while western influence was insignificant. However latest research shows that eastern and western Christian missionaries arrived in Belarus simultaneously and created monasteries here. At almost the same time the first bishops appeared, who were subordinate to Constantinople in Polotsk (not earlier than in 992) and to Rome in Turov (nearly 1009). Christianity started to spread across the Belarusian lands even before its official split into western and eastern in 1054. This split was less notable in Belarus, as opposed to neighbours. But first of all Byzantine culture predetermined the orientation of our society at that time, did it not? It is necessary to recognise that Byzantine-Orthodox values were one of the basic sources of development of domestic culture at the beginning of the second millennium. Church

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ceremonialism, terminology, communion of saints, calendar of holidays, monastic practices and the principle of dependence of the church power from secular — all these had Eastern Christian roots. The samples for the first generations of Christians were the Byzantine prayer books, collections of church psalms, monuments of canon law, eastern theological and philosophical works. However, the samples taken from other cultures went through a process of adaptation to local conditions and national traditions, supplementing with new elements (local saints, the Church Slavonic language and new works of sacred art). As a result the Byzantine sample of Christianity was strongly processed and in the consciousness of people it was perceived as local. On the other hand, eastern Christian tradition on Belarusian lands interacted with western tradition. Merchants and other strangers had the right to practice their own faiths. In western centres of the Kievan Rus (Polotsk, Smolensk, Kiev and Veliky Novgorod) Catholic churches existed. It is interesting that western (Scandinavian) princes, soldiers and monks were often bearers of ideas of eastern Christianity, and this is proved by archaeological data. Besides, Christianity which came to us from the East, already bore many western adoptions. So, Belarusian Christi-

an thought made references not only to works of founders of the Eastern Church, but also to philosophical thought of Greek-Roman antiquity. In secular cultural life, eastern and western influences merged into an inseparable accord. Active and versatile contacts with Poland, Germany, Scandinavia and other western regions made an essential impact on Belarusian lands. Researchers have found a number of western adoptions in the state and legal system of the Polotsk principality, as well as in trading systems concerning weight and volume. Some churches were built by western masters and according to western technology and therefore they had no similarity with other monuments of Kievan Rus (for example, the church of early 12th century in Minsk). How constructive or destructive was the introduction church union in 1596? The occurrence of considerable quantity of attempts to conclude a union between various faiths in the history of Belarusian-Ukrainian region is impressive. Probably, nowhere in the world was such an intensive attempt at union made. It is interesting that the idea of church union did not in come from the Catholic environment nor at the end of 16th century, as some researchers consider, but much earlier and under the Orthodox priesthood. The degree of importance and the urgency of the idea of church union in Belarus during the 15th century is visible in the fact that almost all

Church of Holy Trinity in Glubokoe

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Belarusian-Ukrainian Orthodox metropolitans of that time had a very positive attitude to this idea and even undertook measures to unify the churches. The idea of a reunion of eastern and western Christianity was close to many laypeople and was actively discussed in Belarusian society. Two outstanding examples of this are Frantsisk Skorina and Lev Sapega. Thus, the Brest church union of 1596 became only the next, though also the most successful attempt at reconciliation of churches. Following the results of this union, the overwhelming majority of hierarchs of Orthodox Church of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania entered into alliance with western church. Part of the eastern priesthood and laymen did not support this idea and decided to break off relations with metropolitan and their adherents and, over several decades created their own church hierarchy. As a result, the single Eastern Church was divided into two parts, and representatives of each of them continued to call themselves Orthodox or representatives of the eastern church. Therefore, it is not absolutely correct to say that at the Brest council in 1596 they created the Greek-Catholic church (this is the way the researchers call these events). A referendum was held in the Eastern Church of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which according to its results can be compared to those of patriarch Nikon in Russia. The same metropolitan continued to govern the church, the same bishops were in the same dioceses, the same priests in the same churches conducted services and they chanted the same eastern liturgy, while the same believers visited these services. The church preserved almost all riches of cultural heritage of its predecessors and continued to use them for the same purposes. Some of the priests and believers did not support this reform and, as a result there was a split in the church. Therefore, the Brest union represented not an abrupt and unexpected revolution in religious life, but a difficult reform which, throughout беларусь.belarus 2014

the centuries was thought over and developed by our compatriots. The essence of the reform consisted in change of subordination — from one primate (Constantinople’s primate who, after the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and its invasion by Turkey, lost his authority) to another (the Roman primate who, at that time had the greatest authority in Europe). However, western elements gradually started to dominate in our culture. Could there have been a full reorientation of church and all Belarusian society of that time towards the West? The most intensive reorientation occurred not during the time of the Polish—Lithuanian Commonwealth, but at the beginning of the 20th century. We know that, at the end of the 18th century, Belarus was annexed to the Russian Empire. It is often said that the culture of Belarus during that ‘Russian’ period had an eastern character, and an eastern tradition dominating it. However, a number of facts contradict this. Yes, strangely enough, after annexation to the Russian Empire, Belarusian lands underwent greater Polonisation and, to a great degree stepped aside from eastern tradition. At that time, most of the Uniate Church moved to Catholicism. At the end of 18th-early 19th century, Belarus became an area of the most vigorous activity of order of the Jesuits in the world. The process of Russification and the reorientation of Belarus towards eastern vector of development became stronger in the 1830s. The increase of Russian influence on the culture of Belarus, the spread of the Russian language and the stimulation of Orthodox life promoted the preservation of balance in Belarusian culture between the West and the East. After all, strong western influence, increase of tendencies of Polonisation and the conversion of Belarus to the Catholic faith at the end of 18th-early 19th century might take Belarusian culture out of the state of balance and incline them to the side of the West. The policy of the

Russian Empire concerning newly converted territories could not completely clear Belarusian culture from ‘harmful’ western influence and eliminate its differences from Russian culture, but it managed to balance western and eastern influences. And despite the state policy, orientated towards the East, the culture of Belarus continued to be enriched with western influences. Does religion define the cultural orientation of modern Belarusians? During the 20th century the partition of Belarus into spheres of influence of the German and Russian empires (during the First World War) and the Soviet Union and Poland (1920-1930) people strongly felt the border status of Belarus and its culture. If the Soviet Union reacted against all Christian confessions and this ‘equalised’ them, so in Poland (Western Belarus was part of it) the support of Catholicism and the activation of Protestantism essentially strengthened western influence and almost equalised the influence of Orthodoxy. Modern Belarus has equally favourable conditions for the coexistence of various Christian traditions — both western, and eastern. It is natural that the Belarusian Orthodox Church is closely connected with the spiritual life of Russia (eastern canons in icon painting, music and spiritual literature published in Russia and the Russian communion of saints). The Catholic Church experiences a cultural influence from the Western Europe. Belarusian Catholics traditionally keep in touch with Poland. Spiritual literature and use of church objects are delivered from Poland and Polish priests often visit Belarus. Despite the orientation of the Orthodox Church in Belarus towards the East and the Catholic Church towards the West, in both these churches, in my opinion, there is a tendency towards interaction and they are disposed to toleration. And that is a big achievement of our society. By Viktar Korbut

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60 years with UNESCO

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Iosif Goshkevich is being celebrated worldwide, having been included on the List of Memorable Dates for 2014-2015 by the UNESCO General Conference

Diplomat, scientist,

hat this unique person united Belarus and Japan, can be seen by visiting an exhibition, entitled Iosif Goshkevich — A Diplomat and Oriental Scientist, hosted by the National Historical Museum in Minsk. “Meanwhile, its module part will soon go on display at the Rumyantsev Mansion in St. Petersburg,” notes museum’s Deputy Director, Nina Kolymaga. “Then it will move to the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from where it will travel to Japanese Hakodate in September.” The stands of the Minsk museum provide information about Mr. Goshkevich in Belarusian, Russian and Japanese, with English booklets also available at the entrance. I came across a metric book, saying that Goshkevich was born on March 16th, 1814, in the Minsk Province’s Rechitsa District (now the Gomel Region). His father and brother were priests and initially, Goshkevich himself chose service to God and studied at the Minsk Theological Seminary and St. Petersburg Theological Academy. After his studies the young boy could speak six foreign languages and was enrolled to the Russian theological mission in China, where he spent a decade. There he studied culture, history and religion

and practiced photography. “Iosif was taking perfect pictures of the flora and fauna of all countries where he was, while also collecting herbariums, insects and mammals and donating them to the Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg,” continues Ms. Kolymaga. “According to documents which we’ve recently found, Goshkevich donated a collection of Chinese butterflies, as well as several samples of mammals and fish from Hakodate to the Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg.” Then Goshkevich (as an interpreter and advisor) was sent to Japan, together with a team of the Russian admiral and diplomat Yevfimiy Putyatin. Their mission was to negotiate on co-operation. At that time, Japan was closed from the external world and the world wasn’t that much interested in it either. They managed to sign the first Russian-Japanese treaty and the isolated country opened its harbours to Russian ships. Goshkevich knew Chinese and used it for negotiations. However, he soon mastered the basics of the Japanese language and with the help of Japanese, Tachibana Kōsai he compiled a unique Japanese-Russian dictionary, which contained the translation of the word, as well as its explanation — what it meant in both languages. Goshkevich was awarded the Demidov Prize for this work, and the only 2014 беларусь.belarus

You can find out a lot about famous countryman Iosif Goshkevich during visit to the National Historical Museum in Minsk

orientalist… manuscript containing his remarks is kept at the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg in the Eastern Manuscript Department. Putyatin recommended appointing Goshkevich (a tactful, cultural and educated person) as the first Russian Consul to Japan. Goshkevich worked seven years in a large political centre, in the city of Hakodate. “Japanese called Goshkevich the ‘fairhaired consul’ and his wife Yelizaveta — ‘a saint’,” continues Ms. Kolymaga. He definitely deserved this love and respect. A school was opened at the consulate where Japanese boys mastered the basics of ship building, astronomy and the Russian language, while several samurais were sent to Russia to study. Over a hundred Japanese were cured there annually on a free basis. It was from Goshkevich whom the residents of the country first learnt about the Orthodox faith, and a church was constructed. He also taught local tailor, Kidzu Kakiti, to take photos, and the latter opened the first photo studio. Then he opened a workshop where he sewed European clothes. After returning to his homeland, Goshkevich bought an estate of Mali near Ostrovets, at the Lithuanian border, where he practiced Eastern philology. His last book, which was released after his death — About the Roots of the Japanese Language — is also showcased at the exhibition. Unfortunately, the museum doesn’t have items which were used by the consul, but the exposition enables us to feel the беларусь.belarus 2014

atmosphere in which Goshkevich lived, both in Belarus and in Japan. The exhibition presents wonderful Japanese porcelain from the mid-19th century, alongside fans and kimonos. The reproduction costumes of Goshkevich, when he was a theological seminary student and a consul, are also worth seeing. Moreover, one can also sit in the ‘cabinet’ of Iosif Goshkevich. The bust, created by sculptor Valerian Yanushkevich, adds some mystery to the exposition, and it seems that Goshkevich himself is present. The same bust has been installed in Ostrovets, while a memorial plaque was unveiled in the Mali estate. In Minsk, a street is named to honour Goshkevich. “We hope that, after the exhibition, more people will learn about Iosif Goshkevich,” adds Ms. Kolymaga. “It’s interesting for visitors here. For example, recently schoolchildren came and the boys immediately began to look at the 18th century map, describing how travellers sailed from Russia to Japan and where the Land of the Rising Sun is situated directly. Foreign guests have also visited us — museum workers from the Baltic States.” Researchers have only recently discovered where the consul was buried. I read a copy of the unique document which confirms that the remains of Iosif Goshkevich rest peacefully at the parochial cemetery in Ostrovets. However, it’s not known where exactly. Let’s hope that historians will soon reveal this fact. By Yulia Bukel

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60 years with UNESCO

Memory lingers on ‘fair-haired consul’ How did Belarusian Iosif Goshkevich compile the first Russian-Japanese dictionary, and teach citizens of Japan how to use a camera and to sew European clothes?

he 200th anniversary of the birth of our contryman is being celebrated worldwide. Iosif Goshekevich's jubilee has been included on the List of Memorable Dates for 2014-2015 by the UNESCO General Conference. The amazing traveller was a diplomat, being among the first to explore East Africa and rural China. He was an entomologist, an orientalist and a linguist, and collected his own amazing collection of flora and fauna from Indochina, Japan, the Philippines and Korea. He became the first Russian consul to Japan after rising from reasonably modest beginnings in the Minsk Province.

Exile to Beijing Goshkevich was from a family of priests and was destined to follow in their footsteps, finishing his studies at the Minsk Theological Seminary in Slutsk. As the best graduate, he was sent to St. Petersburg’s Theological Academy, where he showed ability in learning foreign languages and became enthusiastic about translating the Old Testament of the Bible

Iosif Goshkevich with his wife Katerina

from Hebrew into Russian. The Holy Synod viewed such an initiative as ‘criminal’; Iosif ’s similarly-minded friend was punished, while he was sent into exile for ten years — to a Russian theological mission in Beijing. Goshkevich began to study Chinese culture and its natural landscapes, writing articles about rice and potato growing, and silkworm breeding. He even wrote a book on Chinese Application of Mascara, Ceruse [skin whitener] and Rouge. His interests were wide-ranging, covering astronomy and meteorology, as well as various cultural aspects. Japan. Orthodox church in Hakodate, where I. Goshkevich’s mission took place

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tenderly the ‘fair-haired consul’. His popularity was, in some part, likely to have Goshkevich’s ties with the East originated in his having organising the continued when he was sent to accom- opening of a Russian school for Japanese pany Russian admiral and diplomat children in Hakodate and free medical Yevfimiy Putyatin to Japan, acting as aid for local people. He also organised his translator and adviser, in 1855. lessons in navigation and shipbuilding As an expert in Eastern traditions, for the Japanese and sent six Samurais to he helped negotiate the signing of the study in Russia. Those Japanese who studied seafirst Russian-Japanese contract. Japan, had forbidden foreigners to approach manship received a lighthouse lantern, its coast for centuries, living in self- barometre and other equipment in long imposed isolation. Now, it opened its time use in Europe. Under his direction, Hakodate tailor Kidzu Kakiti mastered harbours to Russian ships. Goshkevich made friends with Ja- photography and opened the first phopanese priest Tachibana Kōsai, who was tographer’s studio in Japan — later, also, a workshop for tailoring later to help him publish European clothes. the first Russian-Japanese dictionary, initiated After returning Those Japanese from Japan, Goshkeduring his time in the vich served in the AsiAsian Department of who studied an Department of the the Ministry of Foreign seamanship Ministr y of Foreign Affairs of Russia — and received a continued while he Affairs of Russia for selighthouse lantern, veral years. In 1867, he taught at St. Petersburg’s finally decided to reUniversity. As an impebarometer and rial citizen, Tachibana other equipment turn to his native home however, in Belarus, could have been cruelly in long time use buying a small house punished for speaking to in Europe in Mali, in the Ostroa foreigner. vets District. There, he Iosif hid away on began studying eastern a Russian ship headed back to Russia and had the misfortune philology and wrote a book on The Roto be taken captive on coming across a ots of Japanese Language — published British vessel. It was the time of the Cri- after his death. Goshkevich is buried in the Ostrovets mean War and the sailors didn't care for Iosif ’s protestations of being a civilian. District and a commemorative plaque is He was sent to Hong Kong and only replaced in Mali; in Ostrovets, near the turned to his homeland after the signing office of the regional newspaper, a bust of a peace treaty between Great Britain stands in his honour. A Minsk street is and Russia. Goshkevich returned to named after Goshkevich and his memory Russia only briefly, being recommended is respected abroad. A gulf in Korea and by Putyatin for appointment as the first some kinds of rare insects (discovered consul to Japan — where he served from by Iosif) are named after him. His bust 1858 until 1865. is also found in Hakodate. Even after death, the ‘fair-haired consul’ is rememWith love to the East bered by those for whom he cared. No At that time, the Japanese were wary doubt, he would have been delighted to of foreigners so even consuls were for- see how the Japanese people have made bidden to travel upcountry. However, their mark in the civilised world. By Lyudmila Minakova they liked Goshkevich and called him

Japanese travel

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 Polesie’s sainthood Unique private collection of country icons from the 19th century presented at Easter Bell Ringing exhibition in Gomel’s Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy in Pokolyubichi

icons were fou n d in villages of the Belarusian and Ukrainian Polesie region. They had been made in simple rough techniques using oil paints on a panel without primer or varnish. Gomel’s collector, Valery Grimashevich, found these icons and says that local people had posed for the icon painters. “Christ was usually copied from old icons, and local models sometimes helped to create representations of the Holy Mother, Nicholas the Wonderworker and other holy people. The most pious locals with regular features were chosen. At home I have an icon from the beginning of the 20th century where Nicholas the Wonderworker had been copied from my grandfather.” A collection of crosses worn next to the skin dating from the 10th century onwards was also presented at the exhibition. Tin and copper Turov’s crosses, which are more than 1,000 years old, are especially interesting. There are ancient cross-encolpions, or reliquaries. Such a cross is hollow inside and contains part of a relic. Some still have these relics inside. Valery Grimashevich has collected ancient things for more than 50 years. He is a member of the International Union of Collectors and Yunona Gomel’s City Club of Collectors. He is a participant of various one-man and collective exhibitions of antiques.

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60 years with UNESCO

Club life

Twenty-five years ago UNESCO Clubs were created. They did not appear spontaneously like the very first clubs within the limits of this new world movement, but were based on a strong international base of friendship, good neighbourhood and mutual understanding.

or quarter of a century of their activity in the republican public organisation there developed an accurate structure: the Secretary was created, the system of communications with European clubs of UNESCO was arranged and branches in Minsk and country regions were formed. The Belarusian association, adhering to the general traditions and aspirations of the world movement, put its emphasis in its work on youth, in order that the young men and women, who had passed through the numerous actions of BelAU (Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs), would receive maximum advantage for themselves. Almost every year, Belarusian experts create new, often unique projects which react to the actual requirements of modern youth. Increasing attention is given to information technology. Educational projects occupy a central place. This is the individual training of members of the club, and volunteers, carrying out of seminars, training, meetings with foreign friends and many other things. The most interesting youth projects are the international actions ‘Winter University’, ‘Summer University’, ‘Volunteer Camps in Belarus and Abroad’, ‘Model of UN’, ‘Linguistic Camps’, ‘Healing Magic’, ‘Academy of Clubs’, the ‘Alive Water of Friendship’ international festival, spring and autumn festivals. 50 UNESCO Clubs currently work in Belarus. The busiest regional branch is in the Grodno Region. Its head, Yuri Grutsa,

held this public position 15 years ago, “The favourable geographical position of Grodno, several dozen kilometres from the borders of Poland and Lithuania encouraged us to create the UNESCO Clubs. Where, if not here, to rally young people under the aegis of this authoritative organisation? We started with several clubs. Now they cover more than 300 active young men and women aged from 16 to 20 years old. These purposeful guys study at schools, colleges and universities. The regional representation has considerably extended: clubs are open also in such cities as Mosty and Skidel.” They have different names: Avenir, City of Life, Goroden, Kronon, Omega, Orion, Klyub… We will tell more about them later. Yuri explained about it in more detail: “The club was created in 1999 at the site of the Grodno State College of Machinery, Technology and Design. For almost 30 years, this educational institution has been headed by the experienced teacher, Vyacheslav Khmelnitsky. Thanks to the support of the administration of the college, we can regularly carry out mass activities among the youth. Our basic projects are ‘Culture of the World’, ‘Healthy Way of Life’, ‘Information and Communication’.” This year we have big plans: participation in carrying out of the Day of Peace, training and work with volunteers and students devoted to a healthy lifestyle. The new action is ‘Heart to Heart’. For this purpose, we will visit children in the regional city of Shchuchin, where we will try simply to explain them the role of mercy in life. We will also organise a trip to the Malaya Berestovitsa settlement, where we will render real help to lonely old people. One more action is conversations with patients of the Grodno rehabilitation centre. 2014 беларусь.belarus

Spring festival of the UNESCO Clubs in Grodno was dedicated to peacekeeping ideals of UNESCO. There’re participants of one of the clubs on the stage

Since 2000, the college club has actively participated in festivals which are traditionally held in Grodno during spring and autumn. Representatives of 15 UNESCO Clubs of the Grodno Region, along with guests from other cities of Belarus, performed at the last youth forum. Young men and women received training on educational master classes, became participants of interactive games at which they discussed youth values. Fairs, the presentation of new projects were held, platforms for exchange of experience worked there. And, of course, there was also a fascinating concert program and excursions to historical places of Grodno. The main task of the festival — to give new information in an interactive form which was interesting and acceptable to further practical work in clubs — was successfully executed. It is possible to give the same estimation to the recent republican youth marathon ‘Open the House’. Its route began in Lida of the Grodno Region. Then members of clubs visited Pinsk, Minsk, and also Novopolotsk and Vitebsk. These cities received more than 700 young men and women who gathered there to learn more about health, to study the infrastructure of possibilities for treatment in places of residence. Moreover, the participants of marathon could take an HIV-test. The same vital topic of health protection, the struggle against HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia was at the centre of the 4th International conference which took place at the beginning of May in Moscow. This large forum was attended by representatives from 50 countries — scientific and medical беларусь.belarus 2014

workers, organisers of public health services, experts in the field of assistance to international development, politicians and leaders of public opinion. The Republican Association of UNESCO Clubs was a partner of the conference. Belarusian experience in Moscow was introduced in several presentations. So, the Deputy Chairman of the Republican Public Organisation BelAU, Vitaly Nikonovich using concrete examples, showed methods of prevention of HIV among youth, including vulnerable groups. The co-ordinator of the program of Representation of Children’s Fund of the United Nations (UNICEF) in Belarus, Viktoria Lozyuk, told about the use of interactive computer technology among the young for the expansion of access and use of services in testing of this terrible disease. The presentation of projects from Belarus became possible thanks to the financial and expert support of UNICEF and the European Union. The international co-operation of the BalAU Organisation extends to a regional level. The Grodno regional branch also prepares new projects. Yuri Grutsa has noted that a tripartite agreement on border co-operation of UNESCO Clubs of Belarus, Poland and Lithuania has been recently signed. The main directions in forthcoming work of youth of the three neighbouring countries are peacekeeping, prevention of human trafficking and the spread of drugs. The international seminars, meetings and practical training are being planned. By Iosif Popko

TOPIC

60 years with UNESCO

Breath-taking travel The participants of UNESCO Clubs from Belarus, Armenia, Romania and Latvia took part in the children’s international project Preservation of Non-material Cultural Heritage which was organised by the Belarusian Association according to the program of the European commission — Youth in Operation

he youth camp at Zubrenok, and then the children’s rehabilitation-health-improving centre in Zhdanovichi which is located near Minsk, suddenly became multi-national. Participants of the forum studied and lived here. Five participants from each country aged from 15 to 17 came here. Guys were mixed, and then divided into teams, they thought up their mottos and names, and every day, participants were learning the culture of an unfamiliar country. “It is great that the project was started in the Belarusian style,” said the co-ordinator of the project, Dmitry Vaskovich, joyfully. Traditional Belarusian music rang through the corridors, while doors and walls were covered with various slogans in the Belarusian language with transcriptions and translations into English. Friends from Latvia, Armenia and Romania were met with bread

and salt before breakfast. After that visitors drew pictures. They were asked to put to paper their associations with Belarus. So they did it, depicting storks, aurochs, potatoes… There were also huge stoves, and draniki. In the evening, the holiday continued. The girls and boys tried on Belarusian national costumes and told fortunes. Emotional guys from Armenia stirred up the participants with

active, outdoor and cheerful games. And they also organised a ‘sweet’ photo-presentation of their country. In the photos we saw, not only fruits growing in Armenia, but also traditional sweets. All participants regaled themselves with some of these sweets at breakfast. While during mini-lessons they willingly practised the pronunciation of Armenian words.

2014 беларусь.belarus

Master-class in straw plaiting

Team from Romania prepared a game called Quest! Participants searched for treasures. Maps were hidden on the Zubrenok territory and these maps led each team to ‘treasures’. On Latvia’s they sang national songs, danced, tried traditional Latvian dishes and played different Latvian games. “At the end of each day we summed up,” Dmitry tells. “We worked in such a way that each participant could change the program. If there was an idea to hold an additional master-class, to teach something to their colleagues, we always welcomed it and changed the plan of actions.” The meeting of representatives of the UNESCO Clubs ended with the youth international scientifically-practical conference Live Heritage which was held in Minsk’s National Centre of Creative Art. беларусь.belarus 2014

“Not only delegations from countries of the projects took part in it, but also pupils of upper schools from Belarus,” says the administrator of conference, Alexander Alexeev. “There were two forms of participation: internal and correspondence. In total we received about thirty reports. All of them will be published in the conference collection.” Representatives of the countries of the project came to welcome the participants of the forum and this communication was in English. Customs, ceremonies and holidays, knowledge and customs concerning nature and the Universe, skills connected with traditional crafts were all discussed in sections of the conference. Special colour was added by national costumes worn by the youth. Belarusian pupils told about holidays, wedding ceremonies and symbols

of Belarus life, while guests shared the peculiarities of their own cultures. Master-classes were held after the ‘oral’ part. Belarusians taught guests straw plaiting. Romania taught to how to paint Easter eggs and to make dolls from spoons and pieces of cloth. And all the participants danced national dances. At the end of the conference each participants received a certificate. The following next day a quest-excursion across Minsk was held for the delegations. It consisted of ten tasks. Each group had to find certain objects and to make creative photos. Nobody wished to leave. Everyone enjoyed this project, thanks to which guys travelled across several fields of the non-material culture of Belarus, Armenia, Romania and Latvia. By Yulia Bukel

PANORAMA  More mobile phones than residents

Vitaliy Gil

Mobile communication penetration across Belarus matches that of the most developed countries worldwide

 Variants for ‘how to become…?’ Belarusians would like to become actors, taxi drivers and programmers

ccording to Yandex search engine, actors, taxi drivers and programmers are the most popular professions on which information is sought by Belarusians: linked to ‘how to become’. The creative professions are often the subject of searches, with people keen to learn how to become a writer, actor, photographer or radio DJ. People also wonder how to join subcultures such as hipsters

 Life lasts more than a century 546 Belarusian residents are more than a hundred years old

ccording to the Department for Veteran and Disabled Affairs at the Ministry of Labour and Social

and hackers. Among the most extravagant requests are those asking ‘how to become a ninja’ or how to transform into fairy tale characters (a fairy, mermaid or magician). Others simply want to know how to be an optimist or how to become kinder, happier, more beautiful or wealthier. According to Yandex, women have asked how to become anorexic or ‘vanilla’, as well as how to become a ‘good wife’. Some more serious requests include ‘how to become a deputy’ or ‘how to become a better person’. Protection, as of April 1st, 2014, there were eight Belarusians aged 110 years or older. Three of them live in the Grodno Region, two reside in the Minsk Region and one can be found in each of the Brest, Vitebsk and Mogilev regions. Women are in the lead among domestic long-livers, with 478 women already having celebrated their 100th anniversary against just 68 men.

or every 100 citizens, there are 117 mobile users: an index which places Belarus high among CIS countries and among other European states, notes Dmitry Shvedko. “In the richest countries, there is an average of 128 mobile users per 100 residents; in developing countries, this index is 89 people, giving a worldwide average of 96 people.” Currently 98.4 percent of Belarus has mobile network coverage, giving access to 99.9 percent of people. Belarusian operators are following global trends, with various novelties introduced in Belarus earlier than in other CIS countries, according to Mr. Shvedko. The Grodno Region is the flagship of the number of centenarians. As of April 1st, 2014, there were 135 domiciled here. The second place is occupied by the Minsk Region (97), followed by the Brest Region (80). The Vitebsk Region is ranked fourth (68) while the Gomel Region and in Minsk itself each have 58 people who have marked their 100th birthday, with a further 50 residing in the Mogilev Region.

2014 беларусь.belarus

Vladimir Shlapak

Soyuz United by a word United mass media go with the times

united information space of Belarus and Russia became a reality and is actively developing, using modern media technologies. This fact was confirmed at the 18th Mass Media in Belarus International exhibition, which was carried out in Minsk which was home to more than 30 exhibitors from 6 countries who took part in the mass media event. беларусь.belarus 2014

One of the most interesting and informative stands was devoted to united mass media. The greeting to participants of the exhibition was directed by the President of Belarus, the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, Alexander Lukashenko. He noted that active advancement of innovative technologies into the media field is the base of its success. The work of united mass-media confirms this. The inter-governmental agreement about co-operation in the press field was concluded in 1998. This fact became a basis for covering the integration of themes by the dozens of Belarusian and Russian mass media, such as newspapers SOYUZ. Belarus-Rossiya (UNION. Belarus-Russia) and Soyuznoe Veche (United Veche), magazines Soyuznoe Gosudarstvo (Union State), Neman and Nash Sovremennik (Our Contemporary), the Television and Radio Broadcasting Organisation of the Union State and the newspaper for young people, Perekhodny Vozrast (An Awkward Age). Numerous book projects are also being realised, including an

Belarus — Russia

almanac of the works of young writers, which was published under the aegis of the Union State Standing Committee. The audience of united Internet resources is constantly growing. Today, the information policy of the Union State is directed first of all at the increase of efficiency of media projects and their actuality. And this was also shown by the exhibition in Minsk, where there were excellent possibilities to share creative plans and to discuss professional problems. Seminars were held and master-classes devoted to modern trends in the media field, digital technologies in journalism, psychology of the modern journalist and the role of printing massmedia during the epoch of Internet revolution, which included representatives of well-known Russian mass media participated in them. As the Director General of the St. Petersburg State TV Channel, Sergey Boyarsky noted, participation in the exhibition is the acknowledgement of the fact that we live and work in single information space. By Vladimir Fiodorov

1 5

years ago, along with the Treaty on Creation of the Union State, the presidents of Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on equal rights of citizens. They received the opportunity to freely open business, to get education, to exchange and buy accommodation, to search for work in the huge territory with a population of 250 thousand. However, to recreate the ties which were destroyed after the collapse of the USSR was a very hard task and there were many problems. In order to solve the thorniest of them, on January 24th, 2006 in St. Petersburg, an international treaty was concluded on cooperation in the field of social security, and then package of agreements which concerned payments of pensions, rendering of medical services and rules of stay of citizens in the territory of the Union State. A number of years have passed since those times. What progress has been made in this important sphere? Does the legislation need improvement? All these issues were

Real equality of rights of citizens is the social priority of the Union State  According to the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in 2013 the number of people who came to Belarus for work was 9,400 more than in 2012 (18,200 in total), while the number of people who left the country was 800 less. 6,500 people worked outside the country in 2012 against 5,700 people in 2013. More often, our citizens bring up the question of the unification of approach to visa issues and, in particular, to the implementation of unified visas. Here is the point of view of the State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota concerning this question, “We have made serious steps in this direction, like, for example, a uniform migration card. And at border crossing points, as well as at the airports there are separate passes for just citizens of the Union State. However, it is difficult to say whether it will turn into a uniform visa of the Union State. But anything is possible.”

Vitaliy Gil

Everyone has rights discussed in an interview with the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Belarus, Marianna Shchetkina. With our colleagues from the Russian Federation, we have gone a long way on ensuring the equal rights of our citizens to freedom of movement, choice of place of stay, residence and work. A common labour-market is being formed in the Union State. We have equal requirements to health insurance and safe conditions on manufacture. Citizens are subject to obligatory social insurance from accidents and occupational disease and they receive benefits on maternity, temporary disability and child care. Our general-state bank of vacancies, where data appears in real-time, was visited by more than 575 thousand users. It is almost 1.5-fold more than in 2012 and exceeds the activity of 2011 almost 4-fold. Emergency and first aid is rendered free of charge in the Union State. There are no problems at the establishment of degrees of disability, group and reason of physical disability, provision of needy people with technical means of social rehabilitation. More than 150 contracts and agreements at various 2014 беларусь.belarus

levels (governmental, departmental and high school) regulate a common market of educational services. In the near future, we will come to mutual recognition of documents on additional education and the results of entrance tests to institutes of higher education — the Russian unified state exam and the Belarusian centralised testing. As for the improvement of legislation, here we have a single purpose, the provision of a good level of life to citizens in the Union State. Today there are many discussions about the growth of labour migration of citizens of Belarus to Russia. What is your attitude to these processes? On the one hand, citizens temporarily going off in search of a living beyond the borders of the country soften the problems of superfluous employment. Employers get the opportunity to increase the efficiency of manufacture, labour productivity and salary. Migrants get new professional skills and knowledge that they will then bring home. On the other hand, Belarus, as well as any state, is not interested in an outflow of qualified personnel. And for this purpose we have a standard base, allowing employers to implement flexible systems of payment. It can be stimulating and social payments, guarantees during hiring and dismissal, granting of additional holidays, training at the expense of employers (including abroad), additional health services and health-improvement, land and loans for construction and purchase of accommodation. Everything is in the hands of concrete enterprises. Are there plans on the convergence of the pension systems of Russia and Belarus? Will Belarus introduce the so-called ‘accumulative’ pension system? In the current financial and demographic situation, many states have raised, and continue to raise the pension age. Belarus, as well as Russia, has kept it, but have introduced a stimulus for its voluntary increase. We have ‘bonuses’ for long work after the attainment of the generally established pension age without the reception of pension. This practice is planned to be realised in Russia. Russia announced plans on the introduction of a new procedure of pension calculation from 2015, and this will depend on experience and earnings. Such dependence in our country has been already realised. Russians and Belarusians have identical intentions on the increase of the minimal insurance length of service for the fixing of pensions according to age. It was increased from January — up to 10 years. It is necessary to note that in 2009, we introduced professional pension insurance for workers occupied in harmful working conditions, and we formed an autonomous source of financing of preschedule pensions at the expense of additional payments of employers. Russia also followed such ways of reforming of preferential pensions. Concerning the introduction of the obligatory accumulative part into the general pension system, here, in my opinion, it is беларусь.belarus 2014

 The monitoring of the Standing Committee of the Union State concerning the insurance of rights of citizens showed that from 86 Russian regions, only 36 gave a positive conclusion about the situation concerning the medical services of Russians and Belarusians. For example, working Belarusians and Russians who move into the Union State receive right to have medical aid. However, those who are temporary residents do not have such rights. There is a reason for further improvement of legislation. necessary to be careful. Experience testifies that the first result of the realisation of such measures is the deficiency of the pension fund, and consequently, a decrease in pensions, if they, as for example in our country, are subsidised from the republican budget. Thus, the instability of financial markets and the lagging of profitableness of funds from inflation can lead to the depreciation of pension means. The optimal solution is the development of voluntary participation of workers and employers in the formation of additional pensions. In connection with the creation of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, with the participation of Kazakhstan, is the solving of social problems actual at the given stage? Certainly, we are interested in an agreement with Kazakhstan on co-operation in the field of pension provision. Today, during the solving of questions concerning pension provision to citizens moving from Kazakhstan for permanent residence to Belarus, we apply provisions of the agreement on ensuring of rights of citizens of states-participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the field of pension provision from March 13th, 1992 which is based on ‘territorial’ principle. A pension is fixed and paid under legislation and at the expense of means of state where a citizen lives. Meanwhile, now the countries started to include into their national legislation norms about the inclusion into the career pattern of only those periods of work, which were accompanied by the payment of contributions into their own pension fund. As a result, during the fixing of pensions in Belarus, career patterns gained in Kazakhstan till January 1st, 1998 are taken into account. The similar norm is applied in Kazakhstan. It does not allow resettled citizens to fully realise their pension rights. We have suggested our colleagues in Kazakhstan consider the question on the preparation of an interstate contract based on the principle of ‘proportionality’ when the pension is paid by the state on the territory of which pension rights were formed, since it is already successfully realised in practice with the Russian Federation. Interviewed by Aelita Syulzhina

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

New Union State programme aimed at overcoming Chernobyl disaster consequences

n 2016, it will have been three decades since the Chernobyl catastrophe and, by then, joint Russian and Belarusian specialists plan to implement several major projects. Among them are the equipment of children’s rehabilitation-recuperation centres, the creation of a single standard base on radiation protection and a new approach to the management of exclusion zones. These all are envisaged by the fourth joint programme aimed to overcome the Chernobyl catastrophe consequences, launched in 2014. The experience of our previous three Union State programmes has proven the efficiency of joint action: over 2.5bn Russian Roubles — injected into medical, protective and information projects — have yielded concrete results. Unique medical establishments have received the most advanced equipment to render qualified aid to residents of the contaminated areas and liquidators. In addition, tens of thousands hectares of Belarusian and Russian agricultural fields and forests are now suitable again for economic use, without any radiation-related restrictions. The Deputy Head of the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Department on the Liquidation of Chernobyl Disaster Consequences, Nikolay Tsybulko, stresses that consistency was ensured while developing the fourth programme (approved by the Union State’s Council of Ministers in December 2013). “521 million Russian Roubles (out of total 1.3bn Russian Roubles allocated by the Union State budget to realise the fourth programme) are being provided by Belarus. Like in previous years, the balance of this sum will be spent on the realisation of medical projects. Special attention will be paid to children’s rehabilitation-recuperation centres; 13 such establishments operate in the country, accepting around 100,000 children annually. In recent years, their material base has not been renewed and we plan to launch major modernisation this year — to complete the task in three years,” the official notes.

Alexander Ruzhechka

Zone of special attention According to Mr. Tsybulko, the second avenue of the programme tackles radiation protection issues. Our scientists, hygienists and agrarians will join efforts to prepare a package of documents to harmonise the standard base in the field of radiation protection, the standard share of radionuclides in food, as well as agricultural and forest economies. In Russia, national norms on the content of radionuclides meet the single sanitary requirements of the Customs Union, while in Belarus control over food is exercised along tougher national regulations. The new programme envisages co-ordination of our two states’ standardised bases. The third avenue of the programme focuses on the most contaminated territories in Belarus and Russia. Exclusion zones and evacuation need rehabilitation and new approaches and the Belarusian section of the programme envisages the allocation of a major sum of money for the needs of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (set up on the exclusion zone). Some projects will tackle the evacuation zones which cover around 240,000 hectares in Belarus. “Russian and Belarusian scientists plan to jointly develop a new strategy of use and management of these zones. Their lands would be radiologically studied, and the areas deemed suitable for use would be included into the economic activity,” explains Mr. Tsybulko. The fourth avenue will tackle information, with a major focus on children and youngsters. The latter would be informed on how to live safely in the contaminated territories. This year, Belarus is supposed to muster 270m Russian Roubles, as part of the programme. The Staff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Department note that all programme actions would receive financing — without exclusion. Specialists are convinced that our joint Belarusian-Russian projects will continue after 2016 as, by then, only a half of all radionuclides would have decayed. By Lilia Khlystun

2014 беларусь.belarus

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

New guidelines appeared in the field of education to enter the philology department of any Belarusian institute of higher education without exams. Now the doors of the philological departments of the Russian institutes and universities are open to Sasha. The girl has not chosen an institution yet, but says that she would like to study in St. Petersburg. Alexandra can already consider herself a student, but thousands of her peers are just preparing for the entrance examinations. As usual, many Russian pupils pack their suitcases in order to study in Belarus. They enter on equal terms with the Belarusian entrants, although from this year it will be easier for Russians to become students of Belarusian institutions беларусь.belarus 2014

G rishkevich

Whose knowledge is better?

of higher education. In March, the Belarusian Ministry of Education announced new rules of admission for citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Now citizens of any region of the EurAsEC can become a paid student following the results of their interview. Along with this, Russians can become students of both paid and budgetary departments on equal terms with Belarusians, once passing the centralised testing, which will be held on various subjects from June, 12th till July, 15th for everyone expressing a desire to participate in the competition to get a higher education. The results of the Russian EGE (Unified State Exam) will not be considered when entering the Belarusian institutions of higher education. As Lyudmila Khukhlyndina, the Head of Chief Directorate of Educational and Scientific-Methodical Work of the Belarusian State University noted, it is rather difficult to co-ordinate centralised testing and uniform state exams as they are differently constructed. However, having good knowledge, it is not so difficult to pass the centralised testing, and this does not frighten off the Russian entrants. According to statistics, last academic year, 1,658 Russians who studied in 54 Belarusian institutions of higher education successfully passed their examinations. Experts assert that a Belarusian higher education is valued for its high quality and that demand for Belarusian graduates is growing in Russia. Technical specialities are especially required. The site of the Permanent Committee of the Union State tells us that new specialities are constantly opened based on the opinion of the Belarusian State University (BSU), which is based on five years’ forecasts for the labour market. Graduates of the university work worldwide, with mathematicians, programmers, chemists and physicists in great demand. Specialities on the field of space are already running at the BSU’s Institute of Aerospace Education. The University is currently carrying out negotiations with Russian Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) about the creation of its own satellite. The cost of Belarusian education remains quite democratic. For example, entry into the most prestigious courses at the Belarusian State University — the departments of International Relations and International Law — will cost $3,900 for foreign citizens, while for Russians and citizens of EurAsEC states the cost is reduced by 15 percent. Since this new academic year, institutions of higher education of Belarus are all ready to accept Crimean students. For this purpose they need to have education documents and documents confirming Russian citizenship. In these cases, the rules of admission will also extend to citizens of Crimea. S ergey

n Brest recently, the teachers have summed up the results of the republican tournament on the Russian language and literature, where the award for a winner was a certificate for education in any Russian institute of higher education. Representation of Rossotrudnichestvo (the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Co-operation) in Belarus initiated its presentation. The certificate was presented to Alexandra Kosikova, the eleventh grade student from Baranovichi. It was the third year that the girl had participated in the linguistic event. In 2013, she received a diploma of the first degree in the tournament of pupils of the Union State — Russia and Belarus: Historical and Spiritual Community. This certificate granted her the right

By Alexander Mityukov

Jurij Mazolevskiy

People in charge of the sky Air borders are reliably protected by integrated Belarusian and Russian anti-aircraft defence system

he creation of an integrated anti-aircraft defence system facing west was one of the first and major decisions during the creation of the Union State. Its strategic value becomes especially apparent today. The USA and their military-political partners redeploy combat aircraft and ground forces and carry out full-scale exercises close to our western borders. Before that, there were no Russian fighting units and sub-units on Belarus territory, except for two communication points and a distant radar observation station. However these new conditions have required the placing of the Russian chase planes here. And this was made by agreement with the Belarusian side. Several Su-27 aircrafts landed in Baranovichi, Bobruisk and at once joined the active service on the air border of the Union State in close co-operation with their Belarusian colleagues. Joint flight tests of the automatic control system of air environment, developed in Belarus, have taken place recently. The mighty Il-76 speeds along the runway of the Machulishchi airdrome, located near Minsk, and lifts into the air. Monitoring of the automatic control system are established into its cargo bay. On the station’s screen, among ten dark blue circles, against a background of the map of Belarus and adjacent countries, designating foreign aircrafts, a red circle

appeared. It is the improvised staff on-board of our liner. The Head of the Department of Application and Development of Control Systems of the Air Force and Air Defence General Staff of Belarus, Colonel Valery Svirido, explains, “The information about the air environment is transferred here from land radar observation posts. It is received and processed here by special equipment and displayed immediately on the monitor at our air-command post. It allows us to operatively make a decision and to transfer it to aviation, rocket or radio-radar units.” A message arrived from on-board that required checking. The navigation equipment had failed and help was urgently needed. And in just a few minutes on the monitor of the automatic control system near the Baranovichi airdrome another red circle appeared — a fighter on duty deployed to intercept the Il-76, check the situation and take measures. Soon it was possible to observe it from the window. The Su27, as the training mission required, brought the aircraft, which had lost orientation, back to the airdrome. The additional numbers of Russian Su-27 fighters moved to Baranovichi where they are close to the Belarusian MiG-29 aircraft, located on aerodrome ground. It is obvious that preparation for departure is in progress. The pilot, in a ‘drying’ cabin, attentively peers at instrument readings, while technicians bu2014 беларусь.belarus

беларусь.belarus 2014

— a bright example of Belarusian-Russian defensive co-operation. A small screen, dozens of various handles and buttons, a joystick, like a computer game console — its simplicity is deceptive, but in order to skilfully operate this modern equipment, commanders of the crew and sub-units received retraining in the military academy. They confirmed their high class on shooting exercises with the Tor-M2, which were held, for the first time at Belarusian firing ranges. All targets were hit perfectly. Distant approaches to Minsk and to other big cities are protected by battalions, which have at their disposal the well-known S-300 missile complex. They are capable of hitting almost all air targets. The Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence of Belarus, Major General Oleg Dvigalev, comments on the situation, “It is already 19 years since the creation of the integrated anti-aircraft defence system of the Union State. Even at the early stages there were defined basic directions and aims. Now we go forward, improving on what we’ve already achieved. In order to further provide reliable protection of the air borders of the Union State, Belarus intends to continue purchasing the Russian Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems, and negotiations for the delivery of new С-300s are already complete. Around the end of the year, Belarus will receive Russian combat-capable Yak-130 trainer aircraft. Meanwhile, visits of missile-firing exercises on the Russian Ashuluk and Telemba firing-ranges will continue.” In both Belarus and Russia, the anti-aircraft defence troops are on fighting duty even during peace time. Another checking of the efficiency of the joint grouping was the air cover of Minsk during the Ice Hockey World Championship, which has just come to end in the Belarusian capital. The sky was patrolled by Belarusian and Russian combat helicopters and aircraft, including the А-50 distant radar detection aircraft. Everything necessary was done to prevent emergency situations in the air, and whilst this may be considered a special event, it is comforting to know that the troops of the integrated anti-aircraft defence of Belarus and Russia carry out the same task every day — protecting the air borders of the Union State. By Vladimir Bibikov

Belta

stle around the landing gear. At some distance is a huge А-50, an aircraft for distant radar detection, which also has Russian identification marks. How is the joint fighting working? Is it disturbing that Russians and Belarusians have different aircraft? The Commander of the 61st Air Force Fighter and Air Defence Base, Colonel Alexander Potekhin, asserts that there are no problems, “Our forces on duty carry out flights for the patrolling of our air space and together with our Russian colleagues they solve training missions. Fighters of neighbouring countries do not allow us to relax. In order that the latter do not fly into our airspace, where they are not allowed, we rise into the air and react, accompanying them along the border. There are absolutely no problems that the Russians have more powerful aircraft. Earlier, the Su-27 was based here, and part of our flight personnel piloted them. What is more, both aircrafts are similar in aerodynamic configuration.” However, the calculation of radio-radar troops of anti-aircraft defence are the first to find out about a potential infringer of the air borders of the Union State. One such sub-unit is located in the backwoods near the state border. Its head, Major Vitaly Krivetsky in a military style states the essence of service, “Our task is the protection of the state borders airspace. We carry it out using radar. During a 24-hour period we may observe up to several hundred air targets.” Basically these are civil aircrafts flying officially on international and national routes, and such aircrafts do not cause the military any fear. But there is no time to relax. We are convinced of that on the command post. On the monitor there is a ‘picture’ consisting of signals, received by radar — several flares, the aircraft which are dozens of kilometres from here. Thus the information about the air environment is gathered, and this information should be transferred as soon as possible to the higher command post. The life of millions of people can depend on it in the case of a real emergency situation. So we cannot do without modern equipment. The Head of Radio Engineering Troops of the Air Force and Air Defence of Belarus, Colonel Igor Nasibyants is sure, “Modern developments allowed us to rearm radio-radar troops by 90 percent with new automation. What does it give? The information transfer to higher command posts has accelerated from 2 minutes to 10 seconds. We know everything about every air object which is located over the territory of Belarus.” Many of these newest developments are Belarusian. While the anti-aircraft missile systems, called to hit targets which were found out by radio-radar units, are basically of Russian manufacture, like the powerful Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile system. The first such launchers appeared at the end of 2013, and several battalions of them are already formed. The landing gear for these vehicles, by the way were made by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

Day of the Union State will be one of the main events of the Slavianski Bazaar Festival

Alexander Stadub

Holiday of Slavic soul ast year, the International Festival of Arts, Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, changed its format. Its official part was reduced to five days. According to experts, it helped the forum to become more spectacular and informative. These organisational innovations did not influence its traditional activities. The visitors of the 23rd festival in Vitebsk, which will be held from July 10th till July 14th, will see concerts of pop-stars, ‘city of masters’, works of artists, Theatrical Meetings, film screenings and Chanson-TV show... It is symbolic that the opening concert will include numbers where actors from different countries will perform together. The Russian composer, Kim Breitburg heading the jury of adult competition of variety performers Vitebsk-2014, has written a special song — Slavic Soul. Traditionally, one of the brightest and significant festival events will be the Day of the Union State. It will be held on July 11th. Iosif Kobzon, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Zara, the Pesnyary ensemble, the Khoroshki choreographic ensemble and many other well-known collectives and performers will participate in the big concert program. Another good tradition is the presentation of awards of the Union State in the field of literature and art. Belarusian sculptor, Ivan Misko and the doctor of architecture from Russia, Inessa Slyunkova were its winners for 2013-2014. They will receive this high award from hands of the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Another owner of the award, the 99-year-old People’s Artiste of the USSR, Vladimir Zeldin, received it in Moscow on the Day of Unity of the People of Belarus and Russia, from hands of the State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota. While a special award of the President of Belarus ‘Through Art — to Peace and Mutual Understanding’ this year will be given to Latvian composer, People’s Artiste of the USSR, Raimonds Pauls.

Certainly, there will be innovations. According to Alexander Sidorenko, who is the director of the international festival, Slavianski Bazaar, the main of these innovations will involve an adult international competition of performers of variety song, “The number of countries participating in the festival, remains at the same level of the last years — nearly 30. While there were a lot of applications for participation in the contest in Vitebsk-2014, it caused a more rigid selection and the introduction of semi-final concerts. 21 singers will take part in them, with just 15 participating in the final. Those who were unsuccessful could perform in our contest in the future.” It has also been possible to increase the awards for this adult contest. The winner of the Slavianski Bazaar will receive $20,000. The first award will win $15,000, the second, $10,000 and the third, $5,000. There are no major changes expected in the international children’s musical contest during Vitebsk-2014, the jury of which is headed by singer, the Honoured Artiste of Belarus, Irina Dorofeeva. Vitebsk also will host Art Session, during which the students of creative institutions of higher education and adherents of canons of modern art, will show their skills. While fans of the world famous Vitebsk IFMC Festival could plunge into its atmosphere in an evening of modern choreography. Perhaps, from the variety of festival programs it is necessary to note the concert devoted to the 100th anniversary of Mark Fradkin, and also the novelty programme TV-Assortment with the participation of stars of popular TV-shows Voice and Exactly. The ‘Jazz Marathon’ will return to festival platform, and here it will be possible to hear the compositions of the best Russian, American, Israeli and British musicians. By Sergey Golesnik

2014 беларусь.belarus

EXPERTS’ OPINION

High class studies

ew data demolishes the view that the level of higher education has dropped. In total, according to assessments of the polled specialists, it’s rather high. The thing is that problematic students, as with any negative trend, are noticed more. This conclusion is one of the many discoveries made as a result of a large-scale study of the state of education in the country. “For example, the data about the increased gap between leading students and average students enables us to correct the approach towards education,” notes Director of the NAS’ Sociology Institute and Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Prof. Igor Kotlyarov. “This is already happening in some universities, where students are divided; with the stronger gathered in one group and those weaker in another group. This allows them to raise the level of the former even higher, while putting specific focus on those lagging behind through targeted work. They say that it would be easier to send the latter down, however, at present, many professions require higher education and even struggling students should have the chance to catch up and find a place in life which corresponds to their capabilities.” Alongside experts, respondents have also highly praised the level of higher education in the country, with almost 60 percent of those surveyed being completely satisfied with it. It means that neither they, nor their employers, have any doubts regarding professional qualification. Moreover, almost all segments of the population believe that they need higher education. Being asked about the level of education they would like to give to their children, over 76 percent of those polled selected higher education. It means that the attraction for education is seen across all social groups and isn’t a tribute to fashion, but a belief that this is the right way to achieve success. Being asked which level of беларусь.belarus 2014

Artur Prupas

The most successful students (in studies) now appear more educated, prepared and motivated compared to their most successful peers of two decades ago. This conclusion has been made by scientists from the Sociology Institute at the National Academy of Sciences based on the results of interviews with two hundred experts in the field of higher education.

education is enough nowadays in order to feel comfortable in life, 44 percent of respondents chose higher education. Interesting data has also been received regarding paid educational services, with over 70 percent being against the increase of their number. The application of tests to control knowledge was supported by 46 percent of those polled (with 33.5 percent against). 46.3 percent of respondents believe that education terms in universities should be decreased and 34.1 percent have the opposite opinion. The application of the centralised testing system during entrance to universities was supported by 45.2 percent (with 33.7 percent being against it). “Many figures turned out to be unexpected,” admits Mr. Kotlyarov. “For example, I’ve been a deputy in the parliament for thirteen years and have always spoken out in favour of a separate competition for urban and rural alumni when entering the university, being convinced that most people felt the same. However, it turned out that this opinion is supported by only a third of the population.” The results of the scientific work were transferred to the Ministry of Education, where they aroused definite interest. The scientists have already agreed to conduct more detailed surveys dealing with correspondence and distance education, alongside the teachers’ burden at school. Of course, all these and other problems will be studied by the ministry’s specialists, but we are also interested in the independent assessment. By Dmitry Pimenov

HISTORY

Sign of soldier’s valour Belarusian enthusiasts intend to immortalise the memory of Cavaliers of WWI Cross of St. George

ilot Donat Makienok was a solder of Belarus, Russia and Poland. He was born in 1890, in the territory of Belarus, and served in the Russian Army — where he was awarded three Crosses of St. George: the highest award in the Russian Empire. Makienok also won the Serbian Order of the White Eagle. After the October Revolution of 1917, he joined the Polish Army, bringing him the Polish Order of Virtuti Militari, the Cross for Valour (Krzyż Walecznych) and a medal for victory (Médaille de la Victorie). Belarusians are seriously interested in learning about the lives of their fellow countrymen who became Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George during the First World War. 2014 sees the 100th anniversary of the beginning of that war, which lasted from 1914 until 1918, literally overthrowing Europe. Over 10 million soldiers lost their lives and Belarus was the site of many battles. The city of Smorgon in the Grodno Region endured the Russian-

German front for two and a half years; after 810 days of defence, it was completely ruined. Belarusian historians agree that we shouldn’t forget the heroes of those years, continuing to learn about their feats. Vitebsk resident Boris Matveev is among the 58 Belarusians awarded the Cross of St. George in all four classes.

Dreaming about the sky In the past, Boris Matveev was an engineer and deputy of Vitebsk Regional Council, retiring 20 years ago. Since then, he has been examining directories, encyclopaedias and library archives in Vitebsk, Minsk and Moscow. He and his companions have been researching Donat Makienok, who was born at Dambovka homestead, to a family of peasant-Catholics (today, in the Verkhnedvinsk District of the Vitebsk Region). He served in the Russian Army, in the infantry regiment, but always dreamt of the sky and, later, became a mechanical engineer for the 3rd flight squadron. At that time, aviation schools in Russia would only accept officers but the young soldier attracted their attention with his outstanding abilities and

Donat Makienok (second from the left)

acute brain: an exception was made and he was accepted into the aviation school in Sevastopol. He graduated in 1914 and, as the First World War began, he flew in East Prussia. He received his decoration, a 4th class Cross of St. George, for having located General Khan Nakhchivanski and passing him his orders. While returning, his plane came under fire yet, with a hole in his petrol tank, he glided down, managing to reach the nearest command post to report on his mission. Makienok shot down nine enemy planes and participated in bombardments, as well as dropping leaflets, and pursuing enemy planes. Some historians consider him to be the first pilot to escape capture by plane! In September 1917, Makienok fell ill with tuberculosis and spent time in Sevastopol hospital, returning to the Front in November, although the Germans had begun retreating. Thanks to his peasant origins, the soldiers and officers elected him onto the revolutionary-military committee. Then, in 1918, he joined the Polish Army, being appointed executive officer of the 1st Polish Squadron. In 1925, he became a commandant at the flight school in Bydgoszcz, finally retiring with the rank of major. During the Second World War, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where he died in June 1941. 2014 беларусь.belarus

HISTORY

Fame of military glory Many of the Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George who hailed from Belarus led outstanding lives. One such was Grigory Demidovich, who claimed five crosses during the First World War! Historians note that he was commended for his fifth award before the documents had been signed to authorise his fourth. Two Belarusians who each received three Crosses of St. George went on to become Heroes of the Soviet Union: Alexey Tereshkov from the Gomel Region, and legendary partisan commander Minai Shmyrev, from the Vitebsk Region. General Ivan Lazarenko, from the Krasnodar Krai (Russia) defended Brest Fortress during the Great Patriotic War, and died during the liberation of the Mogilev Region. He was subject to repression during Soviet times, having been awarded by the Imperial Russian Army. A similar fate overtook many Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George: some were executed by firing squad, or sent to Solovki — as Boris Matveev tells us. To avoid trouble, many threw away their awards; after the October Revolution, golden and silver crosses were donated to the fund for the Povolzhie famine — or sold during hard times. Yefim Ageichenko from the Vitebsk Region, who had three crosses, was arrested in the 1930s and spent five years imprisoned. His grandson, retired captain Gennady Agnishchenko, remembers, “My grandfather told us that Nikolay II had presented him with the Cross of St. George in front of the ranks; at that time, gold coins were also given, which allowed my grandfather to buy land. However, when commanders of the Committee of Poor Peasants came, he was denounced as a kulak (wealthy peasant) and imprisoned. His relatives managed to release him but he always hid his crosses, only showing them to me once.

How Cavaliers became outcasts According to Mr. Matveev, there are other reasons explaining why we lack information on the Cavaliers of the беларусь.belarus 2014

Cross of St. George. He tells us, “After the October Revolution, many of them fought on the side of the White Guards, making them enemies of the USSR. It was dangerous to remember imperial awards, even for those who sided loyally with the Soviet authorities.” This perhaps explains why the Vitebsk Regional Museum lacks any of the Crosses of St. George given to Hero of the Soviet Union M.F. Shmyrev — or documents relating to their presentation. It does have two Crosses of St.

their memory alive. Pavel Zubel, a pupil at secondary school #3, in Svisloch, in the Grodno Region, worked with his history teacher, Alexander Pesetsky, in researching the Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George from the Grodno Region. He found 20 such people, many of whom belonged to the Life Guards of the Grodno Hussar Regiment (located in Poland, but comprising natives of Grodno Province). Pupils of secondary school #1, in Lepel, in the Vitebsk Region, have learnt much about their countryman Dominik Konopko. This Cavalier of the Cross of St. George was born in 1886, on Kalaur homestead, to a family of foresters. He received his fourth class award early in the First World War, while fighting in East Prussia. His next was awarded in 1916 near Grodno, when he saved intelligence agents under his command, after being surrounded in Augustów’s Forests. History teacher Lyudmila Strizhonok, from Liozno, worked with her pupils to have a commemorative plaque placed on Dominik Konopko’s house in 2011, in Lepel.

Restoring historical justice Dominik Konopko, Cavalier of the Cross of St. George

George but neither have numbers, and their owners are unknown. The biographies of the Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George would make a breath-taking novel or thriller! During the First World War, Karp Gotovsky-Bykhovets, from the Vitebsk Region, received two Crosses of St. George and was four times wounded. He came over to the side of the Soviets and, in February 1918, gathered a partisan group, which stopped an attack by Germans on Drissa. He became a military commissioner in Polotsk and lived until 1947, dying in Moscow. Other Belarusians who received three Crosses of St. George include a nurse from the Mogilev Region, Yevdokia Belskaya; she survived three wars. Young fans of history continue to study their heroic countrymen, keeping

Smorgon is keen to unveil a monument in honour of its First World War heroes. Meanwhile, the village of Zabrodie in the Minsk Region, which has its Museum of First World War History, plans to launch a cultural-education centre, to promote knowledge of events from WWI. Mr. Matveev is glad to see so much interest from historians, noting, “My fellow researchers and I have located 58 Belarusian Cavaliers of the Cross of St. George, and 22 with three such awards. Information about them can be found in various books, directories and newspapers, but it takes a lot of collating. If anyone wants to write a book, we’ll happily share our research, which fills several big notebooks. How wonderful it would be if an international organisation offered its help, alongside historians from abroad. By Sergey Golesnik

EARTHLY FATES

Head of the Vilcha settlement council Nikolay Lirsky

ear Volchansk town, which is located in the Kharkov Region, at the end of 80s, in the open fields where wheat had been recently reaped, they started rapid construction of the Vilcha settlement. This was for the people of Chernobyl. But who are they? Where are they from? Journalistic curiosity led us there, when we had learnt that the Chernobyl wind had brought dozens of Belarusian families from the south of Ukraine. During our last year’s trip to our brotherly country there were no flaming tyres on the Maidan, there was no bloodshed, and military hardware did not travel towards the Russian border. The spring blossomed, tractors worked in the fields. We travelled by car, without any hindrances, blockades or checkpoints from Kiev to Kharkov and beyond, visiting our relatives. Further along our way, towards the Russian city of Belgorod and to Volchansk in the area called Slobozhanshchina by those who live there. The Ambassador of Belarus, Valentin Velichko reminded us of that during a conversation in Kiev. 70 kilometres from Kharkov, we found the right turn to Vilcha.

Spring in new Vilcha After the catastrophe at Chernobyl nuclear power station, thousands of people resettled from the dangerous territories. How did they endure that trouble and how do our fellow citizens, and those who arrived from outside Belarus, live today? Rublevka near Volchansk A strong concrete road leads to the settlement with beautiful cottages and wide lawns along the streets. Near each house is a front garden, part of the 20 hundred square metre plots. Cherries, apricots and plums blossom... It is real heavenly spot, if you don’t consider the problems of the settlement and its residents. Not casually someone placed on the Internet a picture where the signboard at the entrance to Vilcha is covered by an inscription: ‘Rublevka’. If someone sells a house in Vilcha, he or she writes in the advertisement: cottage settlement. We drove up to the local administration building. At the entrance there is a monument ‘Chernobyl Ringing’ — as if this mention of a ‘reference point’ for the settlement acted as a sign of pain in destinies of all of Vilcha’s residents. In the hall are stands with photos of veterans of the war, Afghan war veterans, firemen and liquidators of the consequences of Chernobyl nuclear power station catastrophe — among them, the Hero of Ukraine, Nikolay Titenok. Vilcha residents can courageously and heroically carry out a civic duty when it is necessary. While the former great power under the name of USSR did not have time to put in order everything that was promised to settlers — Cher-

nobyl people moved to in Moscow, Kiev and Kharkov. With collapse of the USSR they cancelled such exotic projects as the trolleybus (or tram — now it is not important...) line from Vilcha to Kharkov. The main problem is that in a settlement of 800 houses, there is no manufacture and few workplaces.

About ‘those Vilcha’ and ‘those days’ Firstly, Vilcha is a city type settlement surrounded by forest and pines, with a railway station, big school, kindergartens and manufactures in Polesie district of the Kiev region, 40 kilometres from Chernobyl. And it was close to Belarus. Then, there were not any borders between republics and Ukrainians studied, worked, lived in Belarusian villages and cities, and vice versa. The head of the Vilcha settlement council, Nikolay Lirsky, remembers how he arrived to ‘those Vilcha’ after finishing at forestry engineering college in April 1978. He worked in Polesie’s state forestry enterprise as a foreman and then occupied other posts. He married and graduated from forestry engineering institute. “I remember how during, Saturday night in April of 1986, someone saw a glow, and rumours reached us of a reactor, catastrophe...,” Nikolay Ivanovich recollects. “From Vilcha to Pripyat is a distance of 2014 беларусь.belarus

Ivan Zhdanovich

EARTHLY FATES

Monument “Chernobyl Ringing” in new Vilcha

nearly 40 kilometres: military black helicopters flew there and back. It meant something serious, but at first it was not declared. Then, the former chairman of the settlement council gathered us and confirmed that trouble happened there. Empty passenger trains were already going through Vilcha towards Chernobyl, with their curtains all closed, in order to evacuate people.” Women with children were taken out to rest houses and spent nearly three months there, while the men lived and worked in Vilcha despite the radiation. A great quantity of radioactive ash fell on the settlement; people washed and replaced roofs, carried out deactivation, removed the upper layer of soil. A lot of different machinery was brought to help. And manufacture continued. From 1989 till 1994, Lirsky was the director of woodworking plant which produced parquet and furniture. “And when the whole settlement moved to the Kharkov Region, he also moved with fellow countrymen. Now ‘those Vilcha’ is empty, becomes ruins and is overgrown with forest and grass. “All is neglected, now it is a closed zone with admittance to pass-holders only,” Nikolay Ivanovich states. “Though I didn’t live there long, I got accustomed to that land. I travel there almost each year, and my wife also comes from here. беларусь.belarus 2014

My mother-in-law is buried there, while parents, from other district, live in the Ternopol Region.”

Ashes of Chernobyl One of the streets in new Vilcha is named in honour of the Hero of Ukraine, Nikolay Titenok. “Nikolay Ivanovich, my namesake, worked, before the accident as a machine-tool operator in our forestry enterprise shop,” recollects Lirsky. “He was a diligent guy, was born in Vilcha, to a large family. Then Nikolay was drafted into the army, appeared in Chernobyl, served as a fireman and just in the night from 25 to 26th April took over duty. The senior sergeant of internal service, Nikolay Titenok went to the fire, extinguished the reactor of the fourth power generating unit among the first liquidators. Practically all of them received deadly doses of radiation. He was 23 years old when he died in Moscow hospital, less than a month after the accident and was buried in the Mitinskoye cemetery in Moscow. At first he was awarded posthumously with the order of the Red Banner, then the Ukrainian cross ‘For courage’. In 2006, Nikolay Titenok was given the rank of the Hero of Ukraine ‘for heroic feat for the sake of life of present and future generations, personal courage and selflessness, shown during the liquida-

tion of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station’.” Do the ashes of Chernobyl beat in their hearts? “Of course. This tragedy affected all of us,” Nikolay Lirsky answers. “Almost all here have problems with their health. Imagine: It was only in 1992 that people from Vilcha began to settle here. Before that they lived and worked there for 4-5 years. Usually before the anniversary of the catastrophe people remember about us. Doctors from Kharkov come and examine and check us free of charge. We have a lot of Chernobyl invalids as well as participants of the Great Patriotic War and 121 liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster from Vilcha, among which were Belarusians.” The talker did not focus on the fact that settlers from around Chernobyl have a lot of questions for the authorities, or on how we can help them? However, from the Internet it is obvious to see — they are ill. In particular, there is a publication about a meeting of Vilcha residents with the former deputy of the district, Stepan Gavrish. Once he helped settlers to grow roots in the new place. At the meeting there was mention of plans to construct 1,200 houses (currently 800) and a socially-cultural complex (still not present), to provide people with work. And Stepan Gavrish, the president of charitable foundation ‘Bank of Hope’, ascertained that two-thirds of able-bodied Vilcha residents do not have any work and live at the expense of reduced social assistance. He cited the calculations — Vilcha residents live on less than for $100 a month, Chernobyl people cannot even afford medicine. “While the sickness rate of thyroid carcinoma in Vilcha is 12 times higher than in the whole region,” noted Gavrish. And he said that the government’s attempt to cancel benefits is a crime. He reminded that the fund gives Vilcha hospital necessary medicines and wants to achieve continuation of works on the frozen construction sites and to create workplaces in the settlement. However, in connection with the latest developments in Ukraine, it is hard to believe that it will be page possible.

EARTHLY FATES

page

Ivan Zhdanovich

From Polesie’s Vilcha — to Sloboda’s Volchia

At the estate of Valery and Tamara Semenchuk

However, why were Vilcha residents were taken out so far — from Polesie’s forests to the Sloboda steppe? There exists one possible version. The city of Volchansk, as it is known, stands on the river Volchia. Perhaps accord of Vilcha with Volchia attracted the attention of those who searched for a cheap work force from the near-Chernobyl regions? “At the end of the 1980s the delegation from the Kharkov Region pushed for resettlement,” recollects Lirsky. “And our settlement delegation was in this place. Vilcha residents say that together, with the local people they chose this place, and saw even a design. And it was beautiful place! All agreed. People constructed the new Vilcha quickly because of huge financing — the Union was still alive. They built 800 houses, a school and a kindergarten and by 1992 our people started to settle and in 1993 they moved in large quantities.” As Nikolay Lirsky said, there are 1,832 people living in the town, of which about one thousand are settlers. Not many for 800 houses, though ‘Polesie’s spirit’ is still alive there, despite the afterChernobyl distortions. Houses are sold and bought. Kharkov residents move to Vilcha on their pension — selling their apartments and buying cottages. In Vilcha there are few children, and the big building of kindergarten operates a regional home for old people — old and young under one roof. Georgy Razum heads an asylum for old people, he was the first head of the settlement council and he helped people move and grow food. Georgy Nikolaevich also joined our conversation, and, in his opinions about the future of the settlement, there was no great optimism. “In general, we believe that hundreds of Vilcha residents, if they had the possibility, would exchange their cottages for Polesie’s — not such comfortable houses, in the pure, before-Chernobyl Vilcha. Chernobyl, and resettlement have bro-

ken a lot of destinies and families, and it is impossible to return the past. Vilcha residents accustomed to the new place. The climate was different, nature too steppe instead of forest. The soil is different — black soil has a special character. Vilcha residents were used to sandy soils and at the beginning, ploughed black soil layers cracked and the people did not know what to do. They broke it with cudgels, had a lot of trouble until they mastered new the agricultural equipment. It happened because food grown on homestead land, for many people, is still the only stable source of income.” But why? In Vilcha they had no time during Soviet days to create any manufacture. Vilcha residents resettled, and became unemployed in large numbers. All was broken at that time, and even local people did not have enough jobs. Some people got a job in a local collective farm — Octyabr, but it was divided into shares. Someone was needed in Volchansk located 6 kilometres away. Belarusian, Valery Semenchuk from the village Lina of Narovlya District, with whose family we later stayed and warmly talked at the Easter table, worked earlier as a mechanic on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station. He worked on the well-known 4th power generating unit. In Vilcha, he finished a three-month course and became a gasman. He works in the field of gas supply systems and he has enough work. All the Vilcha homes are supplied with gas. There is a pipeline, gas boilers for heating of premises, water heaters, sewerage — city comforts. Valery and Tamara Semenchuk have a cosy, well-groomed cottage, as pretty as a picture. We will detail on the pages of Belarus Magazine about this BelarusianUkrainian family where both daughters became doctors and work in Kharkov. It came as a surprise for the Polesie’s residents that, in order to water their kitchen gardens, it was necessary, because of utility meters, to pay for water in this new place. Centralised garbage disposal, gas and electricity were also according to city tariffs. At first it was considered that the Volchansk transport 2014 беларусь.belarus

EARTHLY FATES plant would move to Vilcha, but it was not possible to make that happen. There was a planned brewery, a sausage shop, a big poultry house — the equipment was bought in Germany — but things have not moved forward one inch. “On our estate there is no land even to graze cows: only a residential sector,” said Lirsky. “Perhaps some people would like to have a cow, but there is no place to graze it. The problem is that the land around is not ours, and it is like we are on an island.” However, community facilities are huge: 270 hectares, 40 kilometres of roads, 5 artesian wells, 30 streets. Unfortunately, there are no streets with a ‘Belarusian’ name and we have asked Nikolay Lirsky to submit such an offer for consideration to the public. Why we do not single out our Belarusians from Vilcha residents? As it seemed to us, it will be an artificial activity. “We do not have distinctions: Belarusians, Ukrainians...,” said Nikolay Lirsky who speaks Russian and Ukrainian perfectly. “Our families are on friendly terms, as it was in Vilcha. There is no difference. In general I will say your compatriots are very good people. They are friendly and hospitable. Our head-mistress is Belarusian, the head of the kindergarten too. There will be the possibility to get acquainted with the Semenchuk family; Yurkovsky Valentin and Yevgeny Kurako are also Belarusians. In general, there are about 30 Belarusian or Belarusian-Ukrainian families in Vilcha. Children study at a Ukrainian school, and use the Belarus language, perhaps, only in Belarus when speaking with natives. We do not have groups studying the Belarusian language, or disputes on nationality basis. After all, all of us are Vilcha and Chernobyl people, irrespective of our nationality.”

out their friend together. Then, during his whole life, Mikhail Stepanovich was on friendly terms with people of different nationalities. After all, people christened by war knew that, as well as blood relationship, there is also front brotherhood. Later, there was Afghani brotherhood, and now Vilcha residents already have a Chernobyl brotherhood. As it is known, various metals can be alloyed in the fire into a single whole... Being a human first of all is perhaps the most important thing when ordeals occur. We have heard about it many times in Vilcha. The example of friendship, good neighbourhood for settlers is ‘that Vilcha’. “Our history is interesting to all of us,” says Ivan Ilnitsky, the director of the cultural centre from the former settlement. “Therefore, we placed materials on the Internet: old photos and video-clips which can be found by searching for the words ‘native land’. We are brothers with the Belarusians. For example after the catastrophe my This bell sometimes rings in memory of Chernobyl victims parents and other relatives lived ‘fruits’ of Nazi ideology, painfully per- for some time with relatives’ in Mozyr. ceive any attempts to divide people into My cousin lives in Gomel. Ukrainians the best and the worst according to their and Belarusians are a single whole.” nationality, beliefs and language. While leading us around the town, The father of one of the authors of Nikolay Lirsky showed us his cottage these lines, Mikhail Cherkashin, was a and treated us to his birch kvass and even military musician at the front. Not eve- gave us some to take away. He mentionryone knows this, but musicians somet- ed with some dismay about how many imes worked as the ‘funeral’ team, when birches there were in Polesie! The habit nurses and hospital attendants took out of drinking it during the spring remaisoldiers from the battlefield. They saw a ned in Kharkov Region, though there are lot of blood and deaths and played fun- many less birches here. The good things eral marches. In 1944, an aerial bomb fell are long remembered. on the staff of division. Dozens of people, While writing these notes, we hope including female radio operators died at that our brotherly Ukraine will be able that time. Mikhail Cherkashin, regained to find among the dozens languages of consciousness, being seriously injured its own citizens the main one — the lanand contused. While he — the Ukrainian guage of consent. And that ‘christened — was rescued by his friend, the Jewish by Chernobyl’ Vilcha residents, as well man, Mikhail Cherpakov. He saw a felt as thousands of other settlers will do eveCritical weight of trouble boot which jutted out of the rubble and rything possible, in order that the conDid you pay attention to those words? recognised Cherkashin’s ‘hand’ in the tradictions in society would not reach a ‘All of us are christened by that trouble.’ way the felt boot was sewn. He, along critical mass of national trouble. By Ivan and Valentina Zhdanovich And to these: ‘All of us are Vilcha and with the Armenian and the Russian, dug беларусь.belarus 2014

Chernobyl people, irrespective of our nationality’. Christening, as we know, is a cardinal change of consciousness, with reappraisal of values. The experience of veterans of the Great Patriotic War testifies how the consciousness of people changes during common ordeals. As a matter of fact, all who passed through that slaughterhouse and lost friends and relatives, was within an ace of death. And consequently the veterans, who saw the

ART | PERSONALITY

Viktor Alshevsky’s philosophy of impressions Recently, the famous Belarusian painter, Viktor Alshevsky received a letter from the Spanish King’s chancellery expressing gratitude for his picture — Mystery of Old Gates. This was presented to King Juan Carlos by the Belarusian Ambassador to France, Spain, Portugal, Permanent Representative of Belarus to UNESCO, Pavel Latushko, at the presentation of credentials ceremony. The artistic peculiarities of the work were highly appreciated, as well as its figurativeness and the author’s ability to reveal the historical past.

In the studio

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his is good news for the artist, since such a response adds creative powers and confirms the decision of the occupation to which one has devoted their whole life. It’s important to ‘hit the nail on the head’ while choosing the topic which should be close to you, while engaging the viewer. The State Award laureate, Viktor Alshevsky, manages to do this perfectly. Four years ago, he was inspired by the forthcoming Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and created two impressive (2x3m each) picturesque works dedicated to sport and the power of the human spirit. Of course, one needs to see these works, and the impressions are very strong, however, I couldn’t do without explanations from the artist himself. Viktor Alshevsky isn’t merely a painter; he is a painter-philosopher, and this easily explains his creative thinking. Therefore, his works demanded the artist’s comments and these were easily forthcoming. One of the pictures, entitled Champions League, depicts three silhouettes of players, though in knight’s garb. The беларусь.belarus 2014

“Mystery of Old Doors”, 2009.

artist explained, “The word ‘league’ determines people who have achieved some heights,” believes Mr. Alshevsky. “In this situation we figuratively take three images, three symbols. The pedestal is what embodies the peak of achievement in sports: silver, gold and bronze. These embody three categories of people who achieve perfection. The canvas’ major spot determines its background. Red always unites, and

Letter from the Spanish King’s chancellery

this is the colour of power and a powerful accent which shapes the emotional contrast of the whole work.” The picture also portrays a hockey stick and a puck — the attributes of the popular game. Meanwhile, according to Mr. Alshevsky, the symbol of the circle is the symbol of the earth. These contrast the men’s muscular backs and the iron of their knightly armour. What inspired you to create these works? For me, like for many people from my generation, I discovered hockey in the 1960s, when the first world championships of great emotional intensity took place, and when Firsov and Kharlamov were playing… We studied at art school during the day and watched the hockey battles at night. At that time, the Soviet squad took the lead. By outstripping the Canadians, Americans, and Swedes, it became a memorable event at world level. It demonstrated the strength and power of human character, showing how people can achieve great results by willpower. When I was a child, I also tried to play hockey. Figuratively speaking, these are the same as the medieval jousts on horses and with lances. This is page

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associativeness, as we remember how the helmets were flying, the hockey sticks were broken and how fans were roaring at the stables as if in the Coliseum. All these peculiarities are very impressive, and I had a desire to reflect the emotional state, which turned out to be rather difficult. In my opinion, it’s banal and not so interesting to make it realistic. I had an opportunity to show some significance and symbolism of these strong and courageous people through symbols and images. Moreover, hockey also embraces figure skating and artistic gymnastics. This game is very exact and clear and their performance is so polished in itself that we often don’t notice the nuances of the players’ hard labour. In hockey we mostly see how the puck is delivered and feel how powerful it is. Mr. Alshevsky called his second picture — Good News — where the artist’s message is a particular historical event.

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In other words, your idea relied “Just look,” Mr. Alshevsky says, paying attention to the detail, “the on the fact that Minsk has become a left hand of the horseman in the cart venue for organising the Ice Hockey is pointing, like a messenger, to the World Championship. This event definite event: 2014, Minsk, Belarus. was taken to be depicted figuratively Meanwhile, his right hand holds a through artistic means. musical instrument -- a sign of glory. Yes, I had an opportunity to reflect I took the ancient Roman and Gre- the scale, power and significance of this ek cart as a basis for this work. The event, that’s why the lumbering cart is bronze men’s figure is in the cart and apparent in the picture, as is the beautiful building of the Glavpochtamp the bronze horses start their run. All these are on the foundation of Minsk’s — a sign of our capital and one of its Glavpochtamp (Main Post Office). symbols. We also take other symbols The country’s major post office is the of the event, e.g. there’s a hockey musplace from which all the information eum in Canada and the Coliseum is, about this great event will be delive- of course, a symbol of Italy. As you red. The ‘beams’ of information — the see, all these designations determine letters — are scattered across various the image of each country — a particountries. The news about the great cipating state of the world hockey foevent — the Ice Hockey World Cham- rum. Russia is portrayed through the pionship — is flying. We see a hockey Kremlin Chimes, while old fortresses field where Glavpochtamp is standing embody Finland, Denmark, and Latand the light background of the pictu- via. Each state is presented through re implies the sunrise.” plastic images and signs.

“Good News”, 2010-2014

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How much time did you need to create these pieces? I had the original idea almost three years ago, with some ideas laid down in the subconscious mind. I wanted to reflect the image of the time. Yes, it took me almost three years to create these pictures. Of course, during this period other pieces were also created, but each work requires study and the collecting of materials. This was an attempt to reflect a largescale event, hosted by our country, through signs, images and symbols. Is this your philosophy? We’re creating the legend — the legend of the time. This is a reminder that such an event took place, and these pictures are dedicated to it. The appearance of these canvases was preceded by long and considered work over their creation. These are my milestone pictures. беларусь.belarus 2014

ndoubtedly, Vikt or A l s h e v s k y views the world philosophically; even in ordinary conversation, he tends to ‘shift’ to philosophical musings, explaining the essence of things and the logic of their origin. He may be an artist by profession but he is a philosopher in life; the two are complementary, aiding and supporting each other and helping him generate original ideas for his new endeavour. We often meet in his studio, among his canvases, which hang on the walls. Some are large scale, radiating symbolism, while others are more cosy and intimate. In fact, he is more of a monumental artist, keen on large shapes and symbolism — such as his knight in armour and his lady with a white

“Champions League”, 2010-2014

lily. He tends to segment each painting, adding Roman streets, Egyptian pyramids, Norwegian fiords and Belarusian churches. This is the philosophy of artist Alshevsky. The search for his own figurative expressiveness has become the basis of Viktor Alshevsky’s art. He feels free in interpreting themes and can masterfully combine different methods in a single work — from classical traditions to contemporary aesthetics. He is not afraid to experiment and easily transforms works by using both means in combination. Alshevsky strives to disclose the essence of humanity, exploring fate and the future. He unveils the world’s hidden secrets, as well as his personal ‘self ’, in finding answers to eternal questions. Alshevsky’s pictures stand out for their colour and size. They boast monu- page

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mental images, with attention to symbolic detail, and push beyond the limits of the traditional. There is no doubt that they show his strong artistic personality. They testify to his individuality, his philosophical apprehension of life and the broadness of his artistic ideas and professional mastery. “Modern art always follows global aesthetic, artistic and philosophical trends; it is a form of dialogue between cultures,” Viktor asserts. “The necessity for greater creative openness is comprehended through mutual dialogue between cultures.” Undoubtedly, Viktor Alshevsky sees himself as a representative of ‘new reality’ — which includes generalised images of the world culture. The landmarks of history are not directly reflected in his works but they are the basis for his philosophical reflections — the past inspiring new images. He took his first steps in a village in the picturesque Mogilev Region. His small homeland is the Belynichi District, where a most famous painter of Belarus was born — Vitold Belynitsky-Birulya. He is one of the brightest founders of the realistic trend in the Belarusian pictorial art. Mr. Alshevsky greatly appreciates such geographical and spiritual affinity with the maitre of the domestic painting. He tried to be a good successor of his prominent fellow countryman and Alshevsky has mostly succeeded in this. Alshevsky still feels fed by rural wisdom and respect for nature and handicrafts — as his mother taught him. He recalls those childhood days fondly, often taking a pen and thick leather notebook to jot down his recollections. Alshevsky’s childhood memories are the foundation for his enduring persistence and confidence. The former is evident in his four attempts to enter the Belarusian State Theatre and Art Institute’s Monumental-Decorative Art Department. His confidence is rooted in his tenacious ambitions (unusual in a man from such a rural village).

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“Morning in City. Theatre”, 2013-2014

mes and columns, facades and portals, sphinxes and pyramids, San Pietro and the Tower of Pisa — the architecture of Belarus, Russia, Italy, France and Egypt. ‘There’s magnificence Alshevsky’s images are often unrecognisable; they are not part of the landscape in distinctiveness while but are traces of human activity, illusions philosophy is nothing of time and space. His every gesture is without personal a thread uniting him with himself and impressions’ with his own place in life. Meanwhile, he has prepared a series of shows under the symbolic title Alshevsky creates more than an — Legends of Our Civilisation — fifty artistic image. He gives us his personal picturesque canvases, created over the understanding of the world — through last several years. Mr. Alshevsky first his own experience. This enables him implemented such a large-scale project to ‘diagnose’ our age. His philosophy is several years ago. It’s no surprise that the based on personal impressions from his exhibition route of the project started travels, books he has read and thoughts at the artist’s small homeland, since it’s he has had. also a part of civilization: probably, not In the 1990s, Viktor began a new of material but of spiritual, which is even artistic stage, addressing world history more important. and creating his eye-catching Letters of In this respect, one of his recent exhiTime series. He drew historical artefacts bitions at the National Art Museum may within the context of time and their be recollected. It was a creative project, architectural situation — including do- comprising seven picturesque canvases

Viktor Alshevsky:

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ART | PERSONALITY thematically devoted to Minsk. Each had its own central motif, encouraging people to muse philosophically. In his works, Alshevsky shows how ornamental relief and geometric shapes are combined in Belarusian architecture. He notes that these uniquely symbolise our national culture, with recognisable images. “White Rus is pure and special — not due to the absence of history or culture but through its ancient origins. Belarus’ power lies in its revival; Minsk, and the

whole country, has risen from the ashes many times — like the mythological Phoenix,” he explains, speaking of the exhibition. Mr. Alshevsky’s White Spot at the Heart of Europe conveys deep philosophical ideas and looks at unusual compositions while exploring history through recognisable architectural symbols in the city of Minsk. The essence of the rather innovative White Spot at the Heart of Europe exhibition is that art and reality can be

Viktor Alshevsky: “I think that next year I will make an exhibition of works (about 20 canvases), dedicated to so called Soviet period of architecture of our major avenue in Minsk — Nezavisimosti Avenue. As far as the Tower of Babel topic is concerned, I will continue ‘building’ it further…”

viewed in the context of contemporary mythology. It’s no secret that technological progress has somehow isolated human consciousness, taking us hostage to extreme individualism. In the last century, classical pictorial art was set aside, being replaced by new concepts with mass appeal. Ordinary people became actors and co-authors, with everyday life becoming the latest form of creative self-expression. Art was no longer the exclusive domain of galleries and museums but was found on the streets and in city squares. Traditions were questioned in favour of new discoveries and philosophical musings. Now, those who feel themselves responsible for the future strive to make it richer spiritually. White Spot at the Heart of Europe comprises several of Viktor Alshevsky’s paintings, dedicated to a wonderful city at the centre of Europe — Minsk. He shows the many centuries of history belonging to our Belarusian Land, which is rich in events and cultural traditions. There is no doubt that the country is a unique state on Europe’s map. “We admire St. Petersburg and Moscow, Paris and London, Rome and Barcelona, alongside other cities big and small, with our eyes open wide. However, on returning from such trips, we can’t but discover anew the unique beauty of our Minsk, covered with white snow, autumn leaves or May greenery,” confides Mr. Alshevsky. “In creating my collection of paintings devoted to our city, I wanted people to learn about it and admire it.” This is painter Alshevsky’s philosophy and his real mission: it is a noble target, urging us to be creative.

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Viktor Alshevsky (from the recent conversation in his studio): I think that next year I will make an exhibition of works (about 20 canvases), dedicated to so called Soviet period of architecture of our major avenue in Minsk — Nezavisimosti Avenue. As far as the Tower of Babel topic is concerned, I will continue ‘building’ it further… “Morning in City. Pearl”, 2013-2014

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By Viktor Mikhailov

MOSAIC

Crown only accompanies beauty Smorgon’s Viktoria Miganovich wins Miss Belarus-2014 title

Belta

he stage of Minsk’s Sports Palace hosted the crowning ceremony of the new Miss Belarus after the results of the 9th National Beauty Pageant finals were announced under a storm of applause. The crown was presented to Viktoria by the winner of 2012, Yulia Skalkovich from Brest. The golden piece of jewellery was created by order of the National Beauty School back in 2004. The crown features five hundred cubic zirconia and topazes and weighs 120 grams. The new beauty queen will now be able to represent Belarus at the 2014 Miss World pageant, while also participating in cultural and charity events in Belarus and abroad. The organisers of the contest — the ONT TV Channel — presented a further special prize to Miss Miganovich — a trip to Paris, a

make-up workshop, consultations with a nutrition specialist, a yoga course, and a professional photo-shoot — Viktoria will now have an opportunity to learn how the fashion industry works and get some first-hand experience. Kristina Martsinkevich from Minsk was crowned First Runner Up while the Second Runner Up position went to Darya Fomina from the Belarusian capital. The young ladies will represent Belarus at international beauty forums such as Miss Europe and Miss Intercontinental. Viktoria Vasilevskaya from Minsk received the title of Miss Top Model, while Angelina Nerushkina from Mogilev was named Miss Friendship. According to Internet voting, Veronika Batvenkova from Mogilev became Miss Audience Choice. The winners of these categories will also receive money prizes. Yana Zhdanovich from Bobruisk became Miss Photo, and Anastasia Kuznetsova from Vetka was recognised by the jury for having the most beautiful evening dress.

 Singer won jury Belarusian State Philharmonic soloist wins 21st Century Art international singing contest, hosted by Italy

he artiste’s outstanding performance of arias from the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Mikhail Glinka — in the style of Spanish romance and Belarusian folk song — earned her

 Don’t leave… Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of winners take up the baton of memories of the Great Victory

n the festive day of May 9th, TV channels Belarus-1 and ONT broadcast the première of a 4-part militaryadventurous melodrama, entitled Don’t Leave Me, directed by Alexander Franskevich-Laye. One of the major characters, a front-line and intelligence soldier Mikhasev, was played by prominent actor Alexey Guskov. The film also features many actors from Belarusian theatre. The plot of the film is familiar to those who take an interest in domestic culture: Alexey Dudarev’s Don’t Leave Me performance is was successfully staged at the Belarusian Army Drama Theatre and became its calling card. Moreover, Mr. Dudarev was the first leader of the theatre. The new film, Don’t Leave Me, is a sorrowful history about a special intelligence group of four young girls, former pupils, who are preparing and taking a deadly task. the highest award of the competition. This year, the panel of experts decided not to award the Grand Prix but gave first prize to the Belarusian artiste, who competed against about 80 singers — from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Germany, Italy and China. Lyudmila Karpuk has won numerous national and international competitions, and is a scholarship holder of the Presidential Special Fund for the Support of Talented Young People.

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