Belarus (magazine #9 2013) by BELARUS Magazine

Soyuz

Belarus — Russia

pp. 21—36

No.9 (960), 2013

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Беларусь. Belarus

Politics, Economy, Culture

World

premiere at Bolshoi

Theatre

INTERNATIONAL

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Contents

Беларусь.Belarus Monthly magazine No. 9 (960), 2013 Published since 1930 State Registration Certificate of mass medium No.8 dated March 2nd, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus

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

Main tasks

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich

Design and Layout by

Strategy specified, with tactics needs to be developed President of Bolivia Evo Morales pays

Banknotes with a secret A dozen

means of public protection are used on Belarusian banknotes

Беларусь.Belarus is published in Belarusian, English, Spanish and Polish.

Shared Motherland Kinship of home-

Future of Kmita Castle Mysterious con-

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.

official visit to Minsk

Trustworthy dialogue Belarus is ready for close co-operation with Sri Lanka, as Alexander Lukashenko underlined at the meeting with the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Minsk

Knocking on heaven's door

Voice of Cape of Good Hope

In single cradle of European culture Ambassador

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France, H.E. Mr. Pavel Latushko, tells us about the development of bilateral relations of the two countries in history and modern time

Consonance of hearts born by word 20th an-

niversary of Day of Belarusian Written Language held in Mogilev Region’s ancient city of Bykhov, welcoming several thousand guests, alongside writers from eight countries

Vadim Kondrashov Nadezhda Ponkratova

land and its people heartens those born in Belarus but living far away

struction from times of Grand Duchy of Lithuania to become interesting tourist site

46 Recipe for culinary holiday Tasty Blog 50

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

Festival held in Minsk

Publisher: “SB” editorial office

From Paris — to home Boris Zaborov

This magazine has been printed at “Belarusian House of Press” Publishing Office” UE.

has been living in France for the last 30 years, having relocated in pursuit of his career as an artist. Beforehand, Mr. Zaborov had already established himself as a book illustrator, having studied in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, Minsk is his birth place and it was there that he took his first creative steps

79 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, Belarus, 220013 Order No.2981 Total circulation — 1938 copies (including 734 in English).

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

Ten kilos of ...a cartoon

E-mail: info@periodicals.ru Telephone in Minsk: +375 (17) 227-09-10.

2013 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  New prospects for co-operation Belarus and Mongolia sign intergovernmental agreement on visa abolition

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Special place among priorities Belarus and China actively developing comprehensive economic partnership

he President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, recently met Secretariat of t h e C P C C e nt r a l Committee member Liu Yunshan, of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Of course, China holds a special place in Belarus’ foreign policy, with Minsk and Beijing having signed several joint decisions to enhance liaisons. China is financing various major projects

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in Belarus, with Mr. Lukashenko noting that the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park now being created is expected to attract top level global manufacturers using the latest high technologies. President Lukashenko emphasised, “We’d like China to create here, at the centre of Europe, a powerful media holding, supporting work in Europe and post-Soviet countries. We are eager to see this media holding, whether joint or Chinese, actively promoting our relations and showing Chinese people more about our intentions, about Belarus and about our joint initiatives and projects.” This project, as others, is likely to be reflected in a plan of further action for Belarusian-Chinese co-operation: agreed with Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, during a recent visit by the Belarusian President to the People's Republic of China. This is the seventh visit by Belarus to China and saw Mr. Lukashenko suggesting that a road map to be signed during the forthcoming visit of the Belarusian Prime Minister to China. Liu Yunshan conveyed greetings from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, to President Lukashenko, and assured that China intends to realise top-level plans to strengthen co-operation with Belarus.

he document was signed during an official visit by a Belarusian governmental delegation, headed by P r i m e M i n i s t e r M i k h a i l Myasnikovich, to Mongolia. In addition, the heads of government of the two countries have signed a joint communiqué, alongside intergovernmental agreements on cooperation on military and technical co-operation, education, and mutual assistance regarding customs issues. The Belarusian PM also met his Mongolian counterpart, Norovyn Altankhuyag. It was the first visit by a head of government since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1992. Our PMs assert that the visit should expand horizons for bilateral interaction in all spheres, while contributing to the development of friendly relations between our two states. “Today, thanks to the efforts of the governments of our two countries, as well as commercial organisations, economic contacts and projects are developing quite successfully between Belarus and Mongolia. Moreover, our potential is much higher than the current level of trade turnover,” noted Mr. Myasnikovich. “We’d like to propose a strategy of co-operation somewhat different from the traditional, as we believe that trade collaboration should be complemented by investment. We need to ensure appropriate financing mechanisms, investment, export credit and project financing.” He believes that this will allow partners to make strides in developing tradeeconomic and investment projects.

PANORAMA  Learn and study again Belarus among four most educated countries worldwide

 Six countries to fight for purity United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to set up clean technologies centre in Belarus as part of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) Programme

uri Lukashevich, the Aide to the Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, tells us, “The programme envisages co-

 ‘Diamond’ in futuristic style US Flavorwire edition includes National Library of Belarus among ‘Top 20 Works of Architecture That Belong in a Sci-Fi Film’

e don’t have to travel to the stars to enjoy futuristic architecture, since there are plenty

operation with six countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia. The four-year project is to receive funding of around 12.5 million Euros.” Implementation will be in several stages, with the first stage envisaging training of Belarusian specialists in pure technology issues. The second will cover the development of concepts and the assessment of the efficiency of pure technologies, leading to the third stage, which will focus on the support of technology transfer.

of bold, bizarre and contemporary buildings right here on Earth. Among those which look as if they belong on the set of a sci-fi movie is the National Library of Belarus, according to Flavorwire; they’ve ranked it 11th, while noting its fantastic public observation platform and ability to seat 2,000 in its reading halls.

ccording to the National Statistical Committee, for every 10,000 residents of the Republic, 621 people achieve specialised secondary education, higher or postgraduate education. Only the Republic of Korea is ahead of us (686) alongside the USA (667) and Russia (660). The National Statistical Committee notes that the level of education of young people increases each year, with 169 young people in every thousand having higher education; 245 enjoy vocational educational training. Most young men and women are students, while many take an active part in the social life of the country. As for 1st January this year, Belarus boasted 248 youth associations.

 Clear sky between Minsk and Geneva Belavia planes to fly to Switzerland

new Minsk-Geneva-Minsk flight is to join Belavia’s schedule from 17th December. Flights to the International Airport of Geneva will be carried out using Embraer 175, CRJ-100/200 and Boeing 737-500 aircraft three times a week: on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. An economy class return ticket will cost 275 Euros, while a one-way ticket will be priced from 248 Euros. A business class return will cost upwards of 975 Euros, while a one-way ticket will be priced from 579 Euros. Air carriers expect the route to prove popular with businessmen and tourists. Anatoly Gusarov, Director General of Belavia, the national airline, notes, “In winter, flights to Geneva should be especially attractive to those wishing to go skiing or snowboarding.”

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Partnership

President of Bolivia Evo Morales pays official visit to Minsk

elarus is wellk now n in L at in America, enjoying productive dialogue with Cuba, and a chain of successful and mutually useful projects in Venezuela. We are viewed as a conscientious and obliging partner, while sharing a similar position on various global issues to most countries in this dynamically developing region. The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, recently paid an official visit to Minsk, discussing areas of potential co-operation during his meeting with Mr. Lukashenko. The Presidents of Belarus and Bolivia have met previously but this was the first such official visit and Mr. Morales’ arrival is a sure sign of ties between Minsk and La Paz strengthening. During negotiations,

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there was one touching moment, when Mr. Morales recalled a common friend, Hugo Chávez, who had introduced Mr. Lukashenko to Mr. Morales some time ago. The honoured guest mentioned the great help rendered by Belarus to Venezuela, noting that Hugo Chavez aspired to develop co-operation across the whole region. Of course, the continuation of this is the best tribute to Mr. Chávez’ memory. Certainly, President Lukashenko supports this view and assured his Bolivian colleague that Belarus is ready to develop cooperation in any sphere. The possibilities are wide-ranging and Bolivia is rich in mineral resources, although barely a tenth of them have been explored. Belarusian experts showed their ability to work on oil deposits in Venezuela, which is of interest to Bolivia. This Latin American country is also keen to improve its agricultural efficiency,

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Strategy specified, with tactics needs to be developed while Belarus boasts cutting-edge agromachinery and highly skilled experts. In Venezuela, Belarus implemented a number of joint agrarian projects. In fact, many Belarusian innovations have found embodiment in Venezuela, from mining and agriculture, to the manufacture of machinery and building materials and the construction of accommodation. Mr. Lukashenko noted that Bolivia can study the experience of its neighbour to see just what Belarus can offer. President Morales has asked Minsk to assist in training agricultural experts and expressed his gratitude to the Belarusian President in this sphere, praising the level of agricultural education in Belarus. Strategic areas of interstate cooperation were outlined by President Lukashenko and President Morales, with a joint commission on cooperation to be set up, headed by Viktor Sheiman, Chief of Belarus’ Presidential

Partnership

Property Management Directorate, and the Head of the Bolivian Presidential Administration. The commission will also include the Vice President of Bolivia and will hold its first session in Minsk in the near future. The aim is to provide Bolivian partners with as much information as possible on the potential of Belarus. The commission

will also meet in Bolivia, looking at training needs. All proposals raised by the commission will then be submitted to the heads of state. Belarus has gained entry to new markets in this way previously, with key projects acting as stimulus for further development. Mr. Lukashenko has assured his colleague that Belarus attaches great

In our complex and restless world, which is affected by financial and economic crises, external threats and political intrigues, it is vital that, nearby, there are friendly countries interested in constructive co-operation. We will build our relations based on this formula

importance to expanding relations with Bolivia and is eager to raise cooperation to a higher level as soon as possible. Belarus has watched Bolivia with an interested and friendly eye, seeing its rise in Latin America and within the international arena. Bolivia is a promising partner and a good friend, as Mr. Lukashenko emphasised, saying, “In our complex and restless world, which is affected by financial and economic crises, external threats and political intrigues, it is vital that, nearby, there are friendly countries interested in constructive co-operation. We will build our relations based on this formula.” Evo Morales completely supports this approach. Confirming interest in further development of partnership, he noted his decision to accredit the Bolivian Ambassador to Russia also in Belarus. By Victor Andreev

2013 беларусь.belarus

CO-OPERATION

elarus and Sri Lanka are eager to advance bilateral collaboration, noted Belarusian President Luka shenko and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during their meeting in Minsk. Mr. Rajapaksa arrived in Belarus on a huge A320, accompanied by a delegation of 130 people: evidence of the Asian guests’ serious expectations and intentions. Of course, Belarus is keen to develop interaction, as Mr. Lukashenko underlined, saying that Belarus is ready for closer co-operation not only with Sri Lanka but with its neighbouring states. He noted, “We’re convinced that your people and your state have a bright future. Accordingly, we seek closer ties with your state and with other countries in the region — with your help.” Mr. Lukashenko pointed out similarities in the domestic and foreign policies of Belarus and Sri Lanka, saying, “In domestic policy, you seek to stabilise the situation, securing peace. Moreover, you are developing

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a socially-oriented economy, primarily focusing on people’s needs. Your foreign policy shows that you are an absolutely peace-loving state, working towards making the world a calmer place. You are against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, war and conflict, while advocating the development of the United Nations. Here, our positions coincide.” The Belarusian Head of State praised the great successes of the President of Sri Lanka regarding prosperity and stability within the state. “After many years of conflict in Sri Lanka, you've given your people not just hope but a guarantee of a peaceful life. You’ve also

drawn the attention of other nations’ leaders and public-political figures.” Mr. Rajapaksa added that Sri Lanka would like to strengthen friendly ties with Belarus, emphasising that Belarus’ peaceful situation is a good model, since peace is the foundation for further development. At their one-on-one meeting, the two heads of state discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, confirming their mutual eagerness to advance Belarus-Sri Lanka co-operation to a new level. The extended meeting, involving the presidents and delegates from both states, also focused on ways to

At their one-on-one meeting, the two heads of state discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, confirming their mutual eagerness to advance Belarus-Sri Lanka co-operation to a new level

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CO-OPERATION

expand bilateral collaboration. Mr. Lukashenko pointed out the importance of advancing trade-economic relations, believing that the existing turnover of about $50 million can be improved upon. “We’re resolute in our desire to advance this significantly,” the Belarusian Head of State underlined. Mr. Lukashenko noted the importance of the Belarusian-Sri Lankan business forum in Minsk, expressing confidence that the visit by the President of Sri Lanka would help

in deciding some key areas of trade and investment co-operation. Mr. Lukashenko remarked that Belarus is ready to use modern trade instruments, such as leasing, export lending and insurance. Moreover, Belarus would like to see Belarusian engineering products included in Sri Lanka’s government programmes. The President of Belarus proposed a number of large bilateral projects, saying, “We’d like to use Sri Lanka as a stepping off point for trade on the huge markets of

Indonesia, South East Asia and, particularly, India — especially considering that Sri Lanka has an advantageous tax regime in its trade with these states.” Mr. Lukashenko invited Sri Lanka to set up joint ventures and increase deliveries of Belarusian technologies. “We’re ready to set up joint ventures on your land; proposals have already been worked out by our two countries’ specialists and many ventures could soon be launched,” noted the Belarusian page

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CO-OPERATION

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Sri Lanka is an island state, located to the south of India (once named Ceylon). Indonesia and Singapore are situated slightly to the south east. These states are connected with us by strong diplomatic ties and mutual economic interests. Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar are close, while Laos, Vietnam and China are slightly further. We are proud of our collaboration with powerful India and China and continue to purposefully develop mutually beneficial dialogue with other countries in the region. The President of Sri Lanka arrived in Minsk with the same intentions. This unique state has the opportunity to trade on privileged terms with all nations in the region. In recent years, Sri Lanka’s economy has grown by 7 percent: solid by contemporary standards. Joint business can and should be conducted there for the sake of bilateral interests.

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Head of State. He asserted that our two countries have great potential to develop relations in education, the military technical area, science, culture and sports. He also stressed that Belarus would continue providing assistance to Sri Lanka in training specialists across various spheres. Tourism is another promising area for development. “We know that Sri Lanka is serious about the development of the tourism industry,” said Mr. Lukashenko. “We’ve discussed the establishment of direct flights from Belarus to Sri Lanka, with tourists in mind.” Mr. Lukashenko pointed out that Belarusian-Sri Lankan relations have gained positive dynamics recently. “During talks, we’ve confirmed our mutual intention to advance BelarusianSri Lankan co-operation to the highest level. To achieve this, it’s necessary to establish direct contacts between the legislative bodies of our countries and to activate inter-parliamentary dialogue — not only at bilateral level but within the framework of international organisations,” noted the Belarusian Head of State. The Belarusian President assured his Sri Lankan colleague that the Belarusian side will do its utmost to implement the arrangements made during the talks. “There’re absolutely no closed topics in our co-operation and we’ll advance relations across all areas which are of interest to you,” said Mr. Lukashenko. “Today we’re opening a new page in our relations. The Belarusian side is committed to go forward quickly and efficiently.” The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka emphasised the importance of the visit, being the first in the history of our bilateral relations. It confirms the interest of our two states in strengthening mutually beneficial contacts. “I’ve come to Minsk as a friend of your country and I want to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s determination to promote all-round co-operation with Belarus,” said Mr. Rajapaksa. He invited Mr. Lukashenko to come to Sri Lanka

and invited Belarusian businessmen to visit in November. After the talks, Belarus and Sri Lanka signed eight international documents aiming to promote collaboration in the spheres of trade and investment, visafree travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports, double taxation and tax evasion, military-technical cooperation and the promotion of tourism. An agreement was also signed for mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and for mutual understanding between our nations’ justice ministries. Mr. Lukashenko expressed confidence that the documents would lay the foundation for a legal framework guiding bilateral relations. The two presidents also signed a joint statement affirming their commitment to expanding mutually beneficial interaction. In the statement, both sides expressed satisfaction with the constructive character of political dialogue at high and top levels and confirmed their intention to continue mutual support within the international arena, jointly acting against attempts to use the UN as an instrument of political pressure. The two heads of state expressed readiness to boost mutual trade and expand collaboration in the spheres of engineering and machine building, agriculture and food, construction and petrochemistry, alongside establishing joint ventures. The presidents stressed the importance of Sri Lanka as a logistical centre of sea transportation, and emphasised the potential of this county in facilitating the trade-economic interaction of Belarus with South and South East Asia. Belarus and Sri Lanka confirmed the necessity of establishing a joint commission on trade and economic co-operation to promote Belarus-Sri Lanka trade-economic liaisons. Moreover, Alexander Lukashenko and Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed to continue their exchange visits and stressed the positive contribution at the highest levels to the development of international relations. By Vasily Kharitonov

VISIT

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Voice of Cape of Good Hope

elarus and the Republic of South Africa have enjoyed twenty years of diplomatic relations; political dialogue between Minsk and Pretoria is quite advanced and continues to go from strength to strength. Of course, our mutual turnover in goods of just over $30 million can be improved upon, failing to reflect our full potential. We have a great deal to offer each other and interest in closer co-operation is evident at every level. R e c e n t l y, t h e R S A D e p u t y Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Maite NkoanaMashabane, paid an official visit to Minsk, in preparation for a meeting between our heads of state. Some time ago, Belarus sent an invitation to the President of the RSA to visit our country. As Ms. Nkoana Mashabane noted on meeting Mr. Lukashenko,

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, RSA Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, makes official visit to Minsk after the next elections in the Republic of South Africa, the RSA President will make their official visit. Welcoming the South African Minister, the President noted the success of contacts between Minsk and Pretoria in the field of politics and diplomacy, saying, “Our senior ministers regularly visit the RSA and our businessmen are developing successful contacts, in terms of negotiating. We’ve studied your country closely, and are now familiar with the economy of the Republic of South Africa. Hence our interest in cooperation.” Our states’ economies are not in direct competition; rather, they complement each other, to mutual benefit. Mr. Lukashenko noted that Belarus can help the RSA in mining its rich mineral deposits and in developing its agricultural sector, having great experience. Ms. NkoanaMashabane agreed, saying that Belarus has the ‘necessary experience and possesses the equipment needed’. She

emphasised, “The agricultural sector has wide horizons for co-operation. Belarus can enjoy entry to the South African market, as well as access to the markets of other countries of the region. We are here to lay the foundations of co-operation and subsequently fulfil our true potential.” President Lukashenko has promised to create all necessary conditions for the South African delegation’s work, noting, “We are very much counting on you becoming acquainted with our country more closely. We are interested in this because key people play an important role in our future co-operation.” Proposals on expansion of business interaction between our two countries are to be prepared in time for the planned visit by the President of the Republic of South Africa, to Belarus. A c c o r d i n g t o M r. L u k a s h e n k o , Belarus highly values this visit, as it will bring additional stimulus to the development of our relations. By Dmitry Sokolov

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ARMED FORCES

Main tasks Belarusian army should be ready to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity

contemporary and efficient structure of national security has been created in our country and much has been already done to develop various combat systems and territorial defence. In September, the military will have to prove their combat effectiveness during the Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2013 joint exercise. It’s important to analyse the state of the army and existing problems while determining solutions. These issues were tackled at a session, involving the President, which discussed further areas of construction and development of the Armed Forces.

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Arc of instability The major thesis is Our Armed Forces are designed to prevent warfare and should also be ready to defend the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the country in today’s world. “We need to make sure that no one dares speak to Belarus from a position of military power,” asserted Alexander Lukashenko. All nations build their Armed Forces depending on the international situation, especially in the area where they have to live and work. According to the President, the military and political situation, especially in recent decades, has revealed dramatic changes in international relations. Their essence is that ‘global powers’ still attempt to

shape the foreign and domestic policy of ‘non-allied’ countries. “Moreover, they employ a variety of instruments, including armed struggle,” added the Head of State. The President believes that, fortunately, this has never happened in Belarus and is very unlikely to happen in future. However, western countries and NATO, including the USA, use other methods to pressurise Belarus. Mr. Lukashenko underlined that the international situation has been turbulent recently and countries formerly treated as allies have become unwanted. “The situation is becoming absurd: they’ve deposed everything they could in the Arab arc, in north Africa and in the East. Now, they’re

ARMED FORCES about to start a new round of overthrows — acting like peacekeepers: especially the European Union,” emphasised the Head of State.

Financial payment Army should be able to provide an adequate response to new challenges and threats in the 21st century and this is the basis for determining principles of its financing. Mr. Lukashenko believes that items of military equipment and ammunition no longer needed should be sold, or disposed of safely, saying, “We certainly should dispose of these without breaking international commitments before such military items become outdated and as long as someone needs them; it must be done wisely.” The President has already charged the Government with scrutinising army funding, taking into account his instructions and present-day reality. “The military should understand what we can do and what we cannot,” said Mr. Lukashenko. “At the same time, it’s necessary to clearly remember that we and our nation are not going to feed foreign soldiers.”

Planes are a priority Close attention should be paid to additional targeted funding for top priority measures concerning the air force and the air defence. “Analysing recent

conflicts and wars, we’ve determined that the air force and air defence are crucial today; being the core of our Armed Forces, they’ll be given top priority,” stressed Mr. Lukashenko. The President charged the Ministry of Defence with the practical realisation of agreements reached with the Russian Federation regarding air force and air defence systems. The President also remarked that ‘the results of recent meetings with the Russian Minister of Defence and our arrangements with President of Russia Vladimir Putin’ should be taken into account. According to the Press Service of the Belarusian leader, the Government was also charged to develop issues dealing with financial provision of the Armed Forces. The Head of State reminded that the Belarusian army used to number up to 200,000, with present n u m b e r s close to

100,000. We don’t need these numbers nowadays. It is not numbers that matter today, as far as the armed forces are concerned,” said Mr. Lukashenko. According to the President we should reach the levels set several years ago but in a calm manner, without disturbing the lives of those serving in the army. Optimisation should stay on the prescribed path,” said the Head of State.

Sites of special attention Mr. Lukashenko is keen to see the terms of the state programme to develop military towns prolonged, where necessary. “We have enough of this ‘happiness’ — military towns and everything from the days of the Soviet Armed Forces,” noted the President. He believes that these sites should be ‘brought to order or transferred to those who will be responsible for them’. The session also closely tackled social protection of the military, improvement of financial allowances and the construction of housing. Minister of Defence Yuri Zhadobin reported on the completion of training for the Armed Forces of Belarus and of the Russian Federation, in readiness for the Zapad-2013 exercise, as well as our readiness to conduct CSTO Collective Rapid Response Forces training (as one of the exercise stages). The latter is to be held on Belarusian territory as part of Zapad-2013. By Yevgeny Vasiliev

2013 беларусь.belarus

PARALLELS

In single cradle of European culture Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France, H.E. Mr. Pavel Latushko, tells us about the development of bilateral relations of the two countries in history and modern time Many architectural monuments in Belarus from 15th-16th century bear the traces of influence of the French architecture. In Nesvizh, out of three palaces the larger one stands out (cour d’honneur), being built in traditions of late Renaissance. Meanwhile, it was constructed during the time of Mikolaj Krzystof Radziwill ‘Sierotka’ who was greatly influenced by Louvre and Fontainebleau

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Mr. Latushko, it’s known that cooperation between Belarus and France was launched in January 1992 when diplomatic relations were established between the two states. However, few know that Belarusian-French ties in various spheres were established many centuries ago. Actually, collaboration between the two nations is based on a powerful foundation of universal ideas of the Enlightenment which have been developed in parallel with the pan-European process, as well as on the basis of the common cultural field, including theatre, literature and architecture. Moreover, the French trace of each of these arts can be found in Belarus everywhere… Paris and Minsk are located far closer to each other, if we look on the spiritual, rather than geographical map of Europe. Let’s start our conversation with well-known historical facts of cultural mutual penetration which may become a revelation for many of our readers from other countries. The history of Belarus is a history of a European state. Although we aren’t a EU member our country is located in Europe and is a constituent part of European space. Belarus is connected with many European countries and nations through history and culture. Belarus’ geopolitical location on the border of East and West promoted the development of relations with countries of the Eastern and Western

PARALLELS Europe, including France. Actually, we can find many facts in the history of Belarusian-French relations which prove that our relationships boast a century-long history. Universal ideas of the Enlightenment which were spread all over Europe also came to the Belarusian lands. Our people admired French philosophy, theatre, literature and architecture, too. The French culture has always allured and made a great influence on the Belarusian culture, art and architecture. Many architectural monuments in Belarus from 15th-16th century bear the traces of influence of the French architecture. In Nesvizh, out of three palaces the larger one stands out (cour d’honneur), being built in traditions of late Renaissance. Meanwhile, it was constructed during the time of Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwill ‘Sierotka’ who was greatly influenced by Louvre and Fontainebleau, seen by him in 1574 when he took part in the attraction of Henry of Valois — the would-be King of France Henry IV — to the Polish throne. Nesvizh, as well as the Mir Castle, had furniture made by French masters and boasted the works by French painters. It’s not accidentally that Radziwills called Nesvizh a ‘small Paris’. Moreover, Albertin (near Slonim), Nesvizh, Bocheiko and other estates had elements of French park with décor and sculptural compositions. The palace, constructed by Anthony Tyzengauz in Grodno in the 18th century, resembles a residence of the French magnate. For the first time in Belarus, a botanical garden appeared near this palace, created by French botanist from Lyon Jean-Emmanuel Gilibert, to whom a monument was unveiled in Grodno. This Tyzengauz organised 24 royal manufactures in Grodno by inviting masters from the largest weaving centre — Lyon. The visit to Paris by Kazimierz Radziwill ‘Rybeńko’ in 1722 resulted in the creation of a courtyard theatre in 1740 which staged plays by Moliere and Voltaire, including in the French language.

In the same 18th century French choreographers Louis Dupré, who worked in Slonim and Nesvizh, and François Le Du, who worked in Grodno and Postavy, staged ballet performances on Belarusian stages. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ‘Rural Magician’ was successfully staged at the Pruzhany theatre of Polotsk Voivode Kazimierz Sapieha. Tadeusz Kościuszko studied in Paris while one of his companions-in-arms and diplomat Michal Kleofas Oginski worked in Paris. The latter wrote an opera dedicated to Louis Bonaparte whom he knew. Another our fellow countryman — a poet, composer and playwright Michal Kazimierz Oginski — knew humanitarian philosopher Denis Diderot. Prominent painter whom we discovered only in the 20th century — Napoleon Orda — left his homeland in 1831 and moved to Paris. His musical talent was noticed in the French capital and he was offered an honorary position — director of Italian opera. Another great fellow countryman used to live and created in Paris for many years — Adam Mickiewicz. It’s important to mention that Adam Mickiewicz wrote one of the greatest works — ‘Pan Tadeusz’ — in Paris in 1834 and it was first published in Paris the same year; next year we’re celebrating its 180th anniversary. We should also mention ‘artistic emigration’ from Belarus in late 19th — early 20th century. Young painters, who were born in Belarus, studied in legendary Parisian La Ruche: Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Ossip Zadkine and many others. Moreover, three painters out of four mentioned on the memorable sign, installed in Paris on the La Ruche building on behalf of the French public for significant contribution into the world art, were born in Belarus while monuments were unveiled to two of these — Chaim Soutine and Ossip Zadkine. I’d also like to mention the ties of Lev Bakst and Valenty Vankovich with France.

Of course, as part of one interview it’s impossible to remember all of whom Belarus and France can be proud of and all prominent personalities through whom we, Belarusians, are connected with the world culture. Mr. Ambassador, you’ve called the names which are well known all over the globe. These are Belarusians who’ve enriched the French and world civilised treasury. Any state of the world, boasting such stars of the world scale, undoubtedly uses them in promoting the image of their country to make it recognisable. This task is very acute for Belarus whose statehood is still very young. Tell us, please, how the Embassy manages to bring Belarus’ positive image to the French public and which means and reserves it uses for this? Despite more than twenty-year history of Belarus’ contemporary independence and active work of our diplomats in France through these years, unfortunately, French have little idea where Belarus is situated. If we want to change something we need to show that we’re a part of European family. Belarus isn’t a EU member and today it doesn’t put such foreign political task. However, the life in European family isn’t determined exclusively by political borders. In my opinion, speaking about the promotion of Belarus’ positive image in France, it’s correct to do this through the above mentioned personalities. It’s necessary to remember people who were born in Belarus and are famous all over the world. However, when we tell the French that the Belarusian land is a cradle for Chagall, Soutine and Mickiewicz, Dostoevsky family and many other outstanding people, we often face that this information isn’t almost known in France. Marc Chagall is the most recognisable personality if we speak about Belarus-France ties. However, they don’t associate him with our country. Yes, these talents belong to the world culture but they were born here, on the Belarusian land, and we have no right to page

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with French investments amounting to just several hundred thousand US Dollars last year. The peak of the trade turnover happened in 2008 when it stood at $650m. We need at least to return to the pre-crisis level of trade-economic collaboration. This is an achievable task, since last year our trade turnover increased by 30 percent and the first six months of this year saw the same growth. However, in order to reach the worthy level of trade-economic co-operation it’s necessary to take systematic steps, aiming to create instruments of bilateral interaction. Recently, a BelarusianFrench Business Club has been registered in Pars while its representative office is soon to appear in Minsk. In line with the French legislation and according to the estab-

Economic Mission — also fit this algorithm. Such branches function in 60 countries of the world. In my opinion, the work of the representative office and the club may to some extent compensate the absence of the trade advisor service of France in Minsk. The establishment of the intergovernmental commission on tradeeconomic co-operation could become in future an important step which would make a significant influence on trade activation between our countries. Similar commissions and groups have proven popular in developing our trade relations with Hungary, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and a range of other EU states. The next question continues our topic: recently Paris has hosted a presen-

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refuse from them. The next step is to show that Belarus has always been a part of European history and representatives of Belarusian nobility further formed royal dynasties while the Grand Duchy of Lithuania played an important role in Europe’s political life. To form the country’s positive image it’s vital to conduct large cultural events. We have big plans for this and next years, dealing with presentation of the Belarusian culture in France, as well as in the UNESCO Headquarters. I hope that the Days of Belarusian Culture, which are scheduled for 2014 in France, will be another step on the way towards acquaintance of the French with our state. Nevertheless, the image of the state is primarily determined by its competitiveness. It seems to me that in this context the following event is very important: the French side informed on its interest to open in autumn 2013 a representative office of the UBIFRANCE (French Agency for International Business Development). Can we assess this fact as a testimony of the growing interest towards the Belarusian economy? What caused this interest? After last year’s elections the new French Government determined economic diplomacy as a priority task. As you know, this priority was determined for our country back a decade ago. Each country is interested to sell its goods and attract investments to its territory in order to create new jobs. I’m convinced that we can find on this crossroads of interests that grain which would generate new mutually beneficial fruit of collaboration. Last year, our trade turnover with the EU totalled $27bn. Unfortunately, France is ranked only 18th here among Belarus’ trade partners, though it’s EU’s second largest economy. I believe that both sides can’t be satisfied with the current state of tradeeconomic and investment co-operation. Only 45 companies with French capital are currently operating in our country,

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During presentation of Sergey Kholodilin’s photo exhibition in Clermont-Ferrand

lished practice, a bilateral chamber of commerce and industry may be set up in future on the club premises. France has similar structures with 77 countries of the world. At least two years of active work are needed to make Belarus appear in this list. The plans to open this autumn in Minsk a representative office of the International Business Development Agency of France — UBIFRANCE

tation of Belarus’ economy and investment opportunities. Tell us, please, how successful it was and which results do you expect? Our top priorities include organisation of business presentations in France. One of such events was hosted by Paris in June at the Medef International Business Association headquarters. It involved 31 French companies whose aggregate turnover totalled 429bn Euros

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For two weeks over two dozens of students from Gomel gymnasium named after Blaise Paskal underwent training in lyceum of French city Clermont-Ferrand which also holds name of Paskal

last year. Of course, we understand that tomorrow these billions won’t flow into the Belarusian economy; however, such events should be conducted on a regular basis, allowing us to rise from the current level of several hundred thousand Euros of French injections. Negotiations of the Belarusian Minister of Economy Nikolai Snopkov and Minister of Finance Andrey Kharkovets with representatives of 14 French companies showed that French business takes interest towards our country. In total, a wide palette of investment proposals was made: from creation of a chain of public catering facilities to joint use of satellites. They’ve agreed that in the end of this year and the beginning of the next year we’ll organise a business mission to our country for more detailed negotiations. Although some French companies decided not to wait for the common trip and have already made visits to Belarus in June and July. The development of foreign trade is a priority for our country. Which are prospects of Belarusian exports on the French market? Last year, Belarusian exports to France totalled $100m, as a result

of which the foreign trade balance with France was negative (curiously, according to the French statistics, France also has a negative foreign trade balance with our country). The major task for us is to expand the range of supplies. In Soviet times, we sold to France from 2 to 3 thousand tractors annually; however, with the collapse of the USSR this market was lost. Twenty years after, we’re trying to return it. MTZ Production Association has signed a dealership agreement with French Podia, according to which French are to organise the sale of tractors in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and a range of African states. First supplies have been already made from Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units. It’s planned to open a trade centre selling Belarusian tractors and other goods 100km from Paris, as well as a service centre nearby. Since a range of largest extracting companies are working in France, we’ve initiated negotiations on possible supplies of BelAZ heavy-duty dump trucks. We think that the supplies of Belarusian MAZ buses to the French market are also promising. Let’s not forget that France traditionally boasts strong economic ties

with African countries, which means that collaboration with large French companies may open a way to this region of the planet for our goods. We also plan to establish supplies of ready-made timber houses manufactured by Shklov’s Newsprint Plant, as well as to create a whole resort settlement of these houses in future. The government of our country has developed an economic modernisation programme, which contains several proposals for foreign investors. What would you like to advise French companies, which have an interest in European East, taking into account that Belarus is a member of the Customs Union of Russia and Kazakhstan? The Belarusian Government has put an ambitious task — to conduct largescale modernisation of the real sector of the economy. However, we lack internal resources and the task can be solved through attraction of foreign investments and technologies. France can play a key role in this respect being the second largest investor from the EU member states. Last year, France invested 90bn Euros abroad. We’re interested in French investors in the spheres of automobile building, the production of spare parts for automobile industry, power engineering, transport, and agriculture. If we speak about the arrival of European investors, we need to speak about privatisation. Business wants to have control over its assets. In my opinion, privatisation will promote the creation of more efficient economy, able to ensure further GDP growth. Yes, there’re strategic areas from the point of view of profitability of the state. Nevertheless, even if we speak about industrial flagships, we can attract enough new industrial technologies only through the arrival of foreign injections, what means through corporisation and privatisation. We plan to conduct a large-scale presentation of the Single Economic Space (SES) and Belarus in this integration association in Paris and Madrid. It’s page

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necessary to widely bring to Western businessmen the thought that the establishment of enterprises in our country gives an opportunity for further unhampered sale of their goods on the large market of three member states of the SES, which counts 170m people. The solution of foreign political and foreign economic tasks, set before the Government, primarily depends on the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding, especially among the establishment of the host country. Did your meeting with Vice President of the France-Belarus parliamentary friendship group and deputy of the National Assembly of France Thierry Mariani promote this? How do you assess the reserves of inter-parliamentary interaction between Belarus and France? Undoubtedly, parliamentarians of both countries can play an important role in the development of multi-lateral relations between the states. I hope that the establishment of co-operation groups in our parliaments will promote the expansion of contacts and greater mutual understanding between our countries. The first (after a three year break) visit by the deputies from the friendship group at the National Assembly of France to Belarus is scheduled for early October. Moreover, French parliamentarians — members of the France-Belarus friendship group — actively support the creation of the French-Belarusian Business Club and the development of trade-economic interaction between the two states. I hope that parliamentarians of the two countries won’t stand back from the support dealing with realisation of cultural projects, too. How do you see the prospects of attracting tourists from France to Belarus? How can the implementation of state programmes aiming to restore cultural and historical sites of Belarus (you were involved in this activity when you were Minister of Culture) help promote this? The state policy regarding restoration of a considerable number of sites of

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historical and cultural legacy is strategically vital and is worth to be continued. As part of the ‘Castles of Belarus’ programme, much still needs to be done. However, the opening after the reconstruction of two landmark monuments — the Nesvizh Palace and the Mir Castle — aroused great interest from both Belarusians and foreign citizens. It’s expected that this year alone 500,000 tourists will visit Nesvizh and 250,000 will visit the Mir Castle, with 15 percent of these being foreigners. The restoration and conservation of 38 monuments (until 2018) will promote further increase of tourist attractiveness of our country. I’m convinced that further liberalisation of visa policy can also help attract more Western European tourists. We understand that countries are guided by the principle of mutuality in this issue — the major one in diplomacy. However, as an Ambassador in three European states, I’m confident that we need to gradually simplify visa formalities. Our Embassy has adopted a decision to accept visa application documents during the whole working week (against three days a week previously). We note a 25 percent increase in the number of those wishing to visit Belarus as tourists, though it’s currently only hundreds of tourists. However, systematic step on presentation of Belarus’ tourist opportunities in France haven’t been made yet. In order to change the situation, we plan to first open a national stand at the IFTM TOPRESA 2013 international exhibition in September in Paris, with the support from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the National Tourism Agency. Our stand will present Minsk tourist sites and Belarusian castles, as well as Marc Chagall Museum in Vitebsk. Our task is to search for tourist operators in France who are keen to develop co-operation with our companies. One of the most important issues, which undoubtedly worries our European partners, deals with the struggle against illegal migration, human trafficking and transnational organised crime. Belarus is known to

perform a role of the shield in counteracting these destructive trends on the EU eastern border. Is the legal platform for such co-operation with France sufficient and how is it developing in practical way? At present, all competent bodies of Belarus and France are working over the signing of the Convention on cooperation between the Government of Belarus and the Government of France in fighting against illegal migration, human trafficking and transnational organised crime. It should be mentioned that the approval of the Convention’s text isn’t an easy process. Nevertheless, we can state that our countries have already come to the so called ‘final stage’. In June, we received an answer from our French colleagues for the Belarusian variant of the draft Convention and it’s now being studied by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France has proven its interest in organising a working meeting in Paris with authorised representatives of the Belarusian side for the final approval of the document text. Despite the absence of adequate legal basis, the Belarusian side promptly reacts to incoming requests from the French police. Mr. Latushko, you also head the Permanent Representation of Belarus to UNESCO. Which contribution does our country make into cultural and scientific dialogue of the nations? The election of Belarus into the UNESCO Executive Board for the fourth time illustrates the authority of our country in this international organisation. Belarus-UNESCO collaboration opens up opportunities for educational, scientific and cultural institutions of our country to take part in international intellectual exchanges. These aim to attract international experience, alongside expert and technical assistance. Moreover, UNESCO normative documents are a good basis for preparation of draft legislative acts and a guiding mark during the formation of

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the national policy in corresponding spheres. At the same time, Belarus also receives an opportunity to share and spread its experience in areas of activity which are a priority for us. Continuing to speak about priorities, the expansion of presence in UNESCO’s most authoritative lists is very important for us. At present, the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List contains four Belarusian sites: Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Mir Castle, the Palace and Park Estate in Nesvizh and Struve Geodetic Arc. Belarus is presented by only one object in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List — the ‘KolyadyTsars’custom while ‘a traditional craft and the unique jargon of the Belarusian felt-makers’ is in the stage of preparation. The Memory of the World programme which is a register of documentary heritage sites — also has only one site — the Nesvizh collection of archive and librarian materials of the Radziwill family. I’mconvincedthatBelarushaspotential to expand our presence on UNESCO lists. We’ve applied the Government with a proposal to activate our work in this area in the nearest time, enabling us to officially submit our nominees into the UNESCO Secretariat within 2-3 years.

Moreover, in various years the UNESCO Memorable Dates Calendar registered the jubilees of Frantsisk Skorina, Ignaty Domeiko, Napoleon Orda, Wincenty Dunin-Marcinkiewicz, Ivan Khrutsky, and 600th anniversary of the Belarusian Pushcha, as well as 1150th anniversary of Polotsk. This also recognises the fact that Belarus is a home to personalities who are outstanding for the world culture and a place where important historical events took place. For the forthcoming two-year period, Belarus has made a proposal to attract world attention to the following jubilees: 250th years since the birth of Michal Kleofas Oginski and 200th anniversary of the birth of Iosif Goshkevich. The UNESCO Executive Board has already approved these dates for the inclusion into the agenda of the UNESCO General Conference. As far as science is concerned, seven UNESCO chairs are operating in Belarus and active work is being conducted by the Belarusian National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere UNESCO programme. In 2011, Belarus was elected into the Intergovernmental Council of the Man and the Biosphere UNESCO Programme (MAB). Serious research works are being conducted at the Berezinsky

Employees of RumyantsevPaskevich palace-museum Tatiana Burakova (on the left) and Anastasia Povarich demonstrate one of exposition rarities — aroma-vase, made of porcelain over one hundred and a half years ago at the world-famous Sevres manufactory in France. Preserved on the vase marks certify that this object once decorated castle Tuileries — Paris residency of French emperor Louis Philippe. The aroma-vase was delivered in the collection of Gomel palace-park ensemble in 2012.

Biosphere Reserve, the West Polesie and Belovezhskaya Pushcha, alongside international projects, including educational programmes in the sphere of environmental protection. In 2011, the work (covering many years) finished on the creation of the trans-boundary trilateral biosphere reserve — West Polesie — uniting Belarus, Poland and Ukraine. In 2012, West Polesie was registered onto the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and became Europe’s second and world’s third trilateral reserve, established via to the UNESCO project. Belarus is also actively developing the topic of bioethics, with the National Committee on Bioethics being set up and authoritative experts working in this area. Next year, Belarus will be celebrating 60th anniversary of its membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The jubilee will be a good reason to sum up the results of Belarus’ membership in the authoritative international organisation and determine tasks for the future. Thank you for interview! By Nina Romanova

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CELEBRATION

Consonance of hearts born by word 20th anniversary of Day of Belarusian Written Language held in Mogilev Region’s ancient city of Bykhov, welcoming several thousand guests, alongside writers from eight countries

ncient Bykhov stadium’s hosting of the 20th Day of Belarusian Written Language has entertained around 2,500 guests. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Day of Belarusian Written Language, alongside the awards ceremony for the winners of the national Best Work of

Monumental-sculpture composition Barkulabovskaya Chronicles

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Literature-2012 contest, were notable in their solemnity. For the first time, the hymn of the Day of Belarusian Written Language rang out, and the previous hosts of the event were celebrated in their own special festival. Book and press presentations were held, celebrating new publishing projects, while the Literary Portraits event gathered participants from Belarus and abroad. The local stadium hosted the Orchestra of National Instruments (name after L. Ivanov), as well as the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, ending with a grand firework display. Bykhov’s Regional Centre of Culture ceremonially opened its doors on 31st August, following major reconstruction; it now bears a bas-relief plaque honouring writer Boris Streltsov — a well-known native of the Bykhov District. The venue hosted a competition for young readers entitled Live Classics, alongside the Bykhov Readings conference and a book launch for Barkulabovskaya Chronicles. The town was buzzing with such activity that it’s impossible for anyone

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Ancient Bykhov stadium’s hosting of the 20th Day of Belarusian Written Language has entertained around 2,500 guests. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Day of Belarusian Written Language to have been bored. The Synagogue joined forces with Bykhov Castle in hosting an exhibition entitled ‘Sources of Historical Heritage’. Creative groups, national associations, and the Mogilev Regional Drama and Comedy Theatre (named after W. I. DuninMartsinkevich) helped entertain guests with a programme which included the History Wheel drama and the Knightly Festival in Bykhov Castle Festival. Recently renovated Rodina cinema, celebrating its centenary, screened Cinema of My Country for the festival,

using its new 3D equipment. It also hosted an international festival of animation: Animaevka. The area around the city’s fountain was thronged with people for displays of ancient Belarusian dancing. The Festival Mogilev Region event united visitors and ‘honoured’ grandmothers in the joyful activity of learning the dances performed by our ancestors hundreds of years ago. Meanwhile, teenagers enjoyed a modern dance-off on Bykhov’s Oktyabrskaya Square: ‘DANCE-vertep’. Children of all ages

were thrilled to take part in games and contests, including an art competition. One of the most unexpected features of the holiday was a CIS and Baltic States record-breaking parachute jump and flag jump, performed by Pavel Novitsky, of Mogilev’s Flying Club. He spread a huge 32m x 18.5m flag of Belarus over Bykhov. Mogilev specialists spent almost three days making the flag, using 450 metres of fabric, weighing 60kg. The flag has now been presented to the Hall of Olympic and Sports Glory of the Mogilev Region. Needless to say, Bykhov also hosted writers from around the globe for the wonderful festival. Writers from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Serbia recently took part in the roundtable meeting Consonance: Language and Literature in the Context of Historical and Cultural Heritage. The meeting included a presentation of the Consonance of Hearts project, which features works of art from Belarusian and CIS writers. The release coincides with the Presidency of Belarus over the Commonwealth of Independent States. By Yuri Chernyakevich

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DESIGN FOR MONEY

ost of us scarcely glance at the money we use daily, barely noticing the little details and symbols encoded on our banknotes.

‘Tangible’ money The 100,000 Belarusian Rouble banknote is considered to be one of the most interesting banknotes issued by the National Bank, including a great many public protection features. Even with closed eyes, you can tell that you’re holding a banknote: it’s crisp to the touch, ‘crackling’ against your fingers. Your can also feel that some of the details are printed in relief. It features a picture of Radziwill Castle, alongside its value and text elements. Most eye-catching is the abbreviation of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus: placed in metallographic printing. On the front bottom left corner is a boldly imprinted combination of five horizontal stripes and one dot: designed for those who are visually impaired, it denotes the value of the banknote. Each horizontal stripe represents a zero, while each dot is worth ‘one’ (placed progressively vertically to denote ‘two’ or ‘three’ and so on.

Colour solution The colour of the banknote is probably its most important feature, since we tend to recognise money by this alone. Of course, some banknotes are very similar in colour: for example, 1,000 and 50,000. In poor light, it can be easy to confuse them. The Chief Directorate of cash turnover at the National Bank of Belarus tells us, “The colour range of banknotes is determined while developing a new money series. It is important that banknotes use colour shades that cannot be copied or s c an ne d w it hout d istor t i on . Accordingly, there are technical limi-

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Front: Building of Regional Art Museum of P. Maslenikov in Mogilev

Back: Decorative collage from architectural elements of the museum building

Banknotes with a secret A dozen means of public protection are used on Belarusian banknotes tations in the choice of colours, since special paints are used with protective properties. Banknotes can appear similar in colour, so it’s important to look carefully not only at colour, but at the value. After all, no one confuses our notes with US Dollars although, until recently, they shared the same colour.”

Face to face

The front of each banknote features a monument of Belarusian architecture or an urban landmark. The 50,000 note shows Mir Castle, while the 100,000 has Radziwill Castle in Nesvizh and the 200,000 depicts the Museum of P. Maslenikov in Mogilev. A temporary working group from the National Bank

DESIGN FOR MONEY

Security features of banknotes: Watermark

Security thread

Matching images

Metallographic printing

Anti-copy mesh

Microtext Mark for people with impaired vision Blind embossing Luminescence in UV light Hidden multicolored image

selects the designs, with modern photos and older pictures provided by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, taken from the archives of the National Library of Belarus and various other Belarusian museums. Just above the picture of Nesvizh Castle, on the 100,000 note, is a fragment of the Radziwill emblem, in a golden colour. If you slightly bend the note, the emblem changes colour to green, thanks to optically variable ink. Only two Belarusian banknotes display this technology, with the ink also used to frame the denoted value of the 50,000 note. To the right of the main image, under its value, is a small picture resembling an emblem: its right side composed of gold and white stripes and an eagle on the left. A similar image is on the reverse, creating a finished picture.

Displaying national character The 100,000 note also has a security thread: metallised and with a holographic effect, it’s like a rainbow stripe. The shiny dotted line is used against the text ‘NBRB’; moving the note converts the dotted line into a solid dark line with smooth edges. Such security threads came into use in 2010-2011 but this version is even more difficult to forge.

 The first Belarusian banknotes, depicting fauna, appeared in 1992: the lowest nominal value of 50 Kopecks showed a squirrel while the highest (100 Roubles) presented an auroch. However, the same year, hyperinflation necessitated the launch of banknotes with higher values. The National Bank felt that the theme of the animal kingdom had been exhausted, although the auroch is considered to be the most powerful animal. Accordingly, politically neutral architectural images were chosen — from the capital and, then, other regions. The idea became popular and, after denomination in 2000, the theme continued.

The value of a note occurs repeatedly, using both numbers and letters; alongside the name of the issuing bank: the National Bank. These are mandatory elements present on all world currency. Belarusian money, in addition to meeting international requirements, uses its design to reflect national Belarusian colour. In fact, the 200,000 note recently won the top prize for ‘Design Reflecting National Character’ at the International Watermark Banknote Awards. Making banknotes is a long, skilled process, creating something intrinsically representing a nation and its people. There are currently ten Belarusian banknotes, ranging in value from 50 to 200,000 Roubles. The media has repeatedly raised the topic of introducing a 500,000 note but the National Bank has no plan as yet, nor to introduce any other major changes. By Valeria Gavrilova

 Belarusian banknotes are rarely faked effectively, although 939 such notes were discovered and withdrawn last year. Study showed that only 17 hailed from within Belarus. In contrast, over the first six months of this year, a record number of fake US Dollars were detected (240), followed by Russian Roubles (188) and Euros (40). Meanwhile, just 24 fake Belarusian banknotes were revealed, of which 14 had Br50,000 nominal value.  From design to circulation takes more than a year when new notes are issued, with all notes printed abroad, particularly in the Russian Federation.

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SCIENTIFIC VIEW

Skies over Belarus show us Northern lights and mysterious noctilucent clouds

ost of us know about a s t r o l o g y, horoscopes and how the planets influence our destiny but few people can find Mars in the sky. Many fail even to know that the Milky Way is our own galaxy. Venus, the planet of lovers, has a surface temperature of 500 degrees and is hidden by dense clouds of poisonous sulphuric acid, while Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune lack firm soil, being comprised of gas. Comets are assumed to hail from mysterious Oort Cloud and our nearest neighbours are the Andromeda Nebula and Triangulum galaxies. Together with our native Milky Way, and 40 other small galaxies, we are part of the Mass Merger of

Galaxies. In our galaxy alone, according to conservative estimates, there are 200-400 billion stars. We may show interest in our zodiacal sign but few of us really ponder the universe in which we live, laments astronomer Victor Malyshchits, a senior teacher with the Physical Informatics and Atomic and Molecular Physics Department of the Physical Faculty of the Belarusian State University. “Unfortunately, we’re observing a slight decline in interest in astronomy and towards the ‘occult’. It’s understandable, as mysticism is easier to internalise. There was an unprecedented surge in interest in astronomy a few years ago, with demand for factory-manufactured telescopes rocketing. People even began making their own and astronomy clubs flourished. I visited some in my native town of Glubokoe.”

Northern Lights In June and the first half of July, the sky over Belarus has not been so interesting but August brings a beautiful panorama of the Milky Way. Mr. Malyshchits tells us, “In the sky over Belarus, you can view ‘unnatural’ phenomenon for our latitude, such as the Northern Lights. These are almost unpredictable but are well visible when there are sun flares. You can orientate your position from such magnetic storms. However, our limited eyesight prevents us from seeing these in all their beauty. You can take spectacular photos though.

Noctilucent clouds — an unsolved mystery From Belarus, you can see one of the most mysterious phenomena: noctilucent, or mesospheric clouds. Unlike usual clouds, these ‘dwell’ at a fantastic height of at least 80km. They aren’t visible during the day and are not reached by probes, so scientists still dispute their nature. Most believe they comprise dust from destroyed ice meteorites. They move at high speeds of about 100m per second and take fanciful forms. They appear only in summer. “They are a mystery,” says Mr. Malyshchits. “They’ve appeared only a few times in winter and are more distinctly visible in our country than further north, where the sky is brighter at night. They’re usually seen at midnight or just before dawn, being otherwise absolutely invisible. On bright nights, they are dark or, even, black. It is surprising to realise that, above noctilucent clouds, there is only space. By a successful coincidence of circumstances, they can be observed several times over the summer.

Is there life on Mars? Mysterious Mars is visible from Belarus so how can we refrain from asking the eternal question? Mr. Malyshchits explains, “Theoretically, there may once have been life on Mars and there was certainly volcanic activity, sending considerable volumes of gas into the dense atmosphere. The air must

Knocking on 22

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SCIENTIFIC VIEW have contained carbon dioxide, creating a greenhouse effect, and warmth, as on Earth. It has already been proven that there were a great many rivers, lakes and seas on Mars but liquid water can no longer exist on the surface of this planet, due to pressure being too low: water immediately takes gas form. However, underground, there are major deposits of ice. We still don’t know whether there is life on Mars.” Each probe travelling from the Earth to Mars is equipped with devices searching for evidence of ‘life’: biological activity. Nothing has yet been discovered but our search continues, showing that many view Mars as a future colony for Earth dwellers should the necessity arise. No other planet in our Solar System is in any way suitable, while Mars offers quite comfortable temperatures — sometimes around 20 degrees Celsius above zero. It has some atmosphere, though unbreathable. Of course, spacesuits would be necessary under Mars’ pink and orange sky. Its surface resembles ours, while its rotation period and seasons are similar to those on Earth, while having a climate much colder and drier.

Astronomers and Hollywood On leaving Earth’s atmosphere, we enter complete darkness, since most stars are too distant to offer more than a pinprick of light. If an asteroid crosses

your path, there’s no time for evasion; they pass in a flash. Mr. Malyshchits admits, “There’s no point in being frustrated with how space is portrayed in Hollywood films. Most directors simply desire to make their films spectacular. I loved George Lukas’ comment, on the release of Star Wars, when he was met by silence at the press conference: ‘I know that sound doesn’t travel in space but you can now ask your questions.’ It can be fun to use popular films to talk about the realities of space though. At the children’s Brigantine summer camp, our Hollywood, Learn Astronomy! event involved showing youngsters film clips and then explaining what would have happened in real space.” The lecture proved tremendously popular, being packed to the rafters. Afterwards, the children beset the astronomers with questions. Despite everything, scientists also love films set in space. “We have to accept that, for the average spectator, it’s boring not to see explosions,” admits Mr. Malyshchits. “In fact, some films are so well executed that even serious scientists can barely pick holes. I have two such films: Apollo-13, about the US flight to the Moon (the director worked hard to make it realistic, even shooting some scenes in simulated non-gravity conditions); and Stanley Kubrick’s Space Odyssey (based on the novel by Arthur Clarke). The latter is magnificent, featuring real

shots of space. Much of the film develops slowly however, so it’s not to everyone’s taste. Even Star Wars gives some idea of what space is like and certainly inspires the younger generation. Watching such films can spark a lifelong interest in space and even influence someone’s choice of profession.”

Are we alone? “From time to time, certain radio impulses and flashes are picked up — which some take as signals from extraterrestrial civilisations,” admits Mr. Malyshchits. “Eventually, some are explained; some are not. We still don’t know much about space. Today, several remain unexplained; for example, ‘Wow’ signals. These only flash once, which is inconsistent with effective transfer of information. We are yet to find any steady or repeated signal from any star or galaxy.” By Olga Bebenina

Vadim Kondrashov

heaven's door 2013 беларусь.belarus

PANORAMA  Open to aircraft once more Reconstruction of Mogilev’s airport finished

n for mer t imes, Mog i le v’s airport lived a full life, being a hub for Soviet air transport, taking passengers between Sochi, Kaliningrad and Moscow. More than 20 aircraft could park at the airport, with the Yak-40s always enjoying full capacity. Sadly, the airport has declined in importance in recent years, being 15km from Mogilev. Engineering obstacles and few summer staff have resulted in a lack of transit flights. However, reconstruction was completed in July, allowing larger planes to land on the new runway, which conforms to all safety requirements. The whole infrastructure of the airport has been upgraded to ensure comfort and convenience.

 Art knows no borders National Library of Belarus hosts Lithuanian design contest exhibition: Geras Dizainas

he Ambassador of Lithuania to B elarus, H.E. Mr. Evaldas Ignatavicius, notes that the idea of organising an exhibition appeared a f t e r L it hu a n i a h o s t e d D e s i g n Week, featuring wonderful works by Belarusian masters. He adds that, when Belarusians and Lithuanians speak about art and new technologies, any border between our two states disappears, as is proven by the close co-operation of Lithuanian and Belarusian artists. “The Lithuanian Design Forum was held for the second year in a

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 Faces show ties of generations Exhibition of press photography from Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) — Independence Day — opens at Museum of Modern Belarusian Statehood

hotographers Natalia Ablozh naya, Victor Tolochko, Ruslan Kobyak, Leonid Shcheglov and others have works on show at the exhibition, with each of the 19 shots depicting real heroes displaying real emotions. We see the faces of those who created the Belarus of today, and

row, with support from the Ministry of Culture of Lithuania. This year, the event brought together over 80 works,” notes Design Forum Director Vytautas Gurevicius. “The Belarusian exhibition features the best pieces of the Geras Dizainas National Contest. Works were judged by an international jury before they arrived in Minsk. This

the faces of those who will enrich our land in the future. The main theme is continuity and ties between generations, explains the Acting Manager of the Museum of Modern Belarusian Statehood, Sergey Isakovich. Through shots taken on Independence Day over the years, we see the many aspects of this holiday, illustrated in various ways: with colourful parades, processions of young people and sports events. However, the exhibition focuses on the heroes who liberated the Motherland and cried for the right to control their own destiny, at the cost of their health and life.

year, the Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Designers, Dmitry Sursky, was invited onto the jury, which lacked even a single Lithuanian expert, to ensure objectivity.” Mr. Gurevicius especially noted that Lithuania plans to release production of all the winning exhibits. One is a luxurious blue chair, created for one of the central offices in Vilnius. The same design is also being made for the President of the Lithuanian Republic, Dalia Grybauskaite, and for the Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Geras Dizainas (Good Design) is an opportunity for young designers, as well as professional masters, to showcase their talent. The contest invites design across various spheres: industrial and graphic, clothes and interiors. The best 15 pieces are chosen, with prizes and diplomas awarded — all equal in importance.

Soyuz  Debut is great success

 Creativity brings unification

A guard of honour and military orchestra, from the Ministry of Defence of Belarus, recently performed in Moscow for the grand military-musical Spasskaya Tower event.

The Slavic Brotherhood exhibition of paintings has taken place in Vitebsk, gathering works by artists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia.

 From one root The 15th International Congress of Slavists was recently hosted by Minsk for the first time, welcoming scientists, teachers and social scientists from around the globe

f course, Russian and Belarusian language is taught at various Western European and American universities, while knowledge of Slavic culture goes hand in hand with knowledge of language. The Chairman of the International and Belarusian Committees of Slavists, Alexander Lukashanets, a correspondent member of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, notes that forums have a huge role to play in promoting Slavic identity and the sharing of knowledge about Slavs across non-Slavic countries. Participants of the Congress discussed major issues of Slavic studies and its history, as well as problems of teaching Slavic languages in conditions of globalisation. They held a number of ‘round tables’ on vital topics and were able to view an exhibition of Slavic literature — all editions published over the last five years. Visitors also had the chance to experience echoes of Belarusian history and culture, touring the castles of Nesvizh and Mir and the ancient cities of Zaslavl and Novogrudok.

Belarus — Russia

or a whole week from 1st September, the groups performed on Red Square and across other venues in the Russian capital. Each performance lasted just four minutes, yet was preceded by many months of intense training and rehearsal. The audience especially liked the compositions Flower and Dominoes, and seeing particular ways of handling weapons and marching formations. Only young men with at least specialised secondary education, physically fit and 185-195cm in height may serve in the guard of honour.

 Weight gain! The biggest rock handler in the world is now produced by Belarusian Automobile Works, able to carry up to 450 tonnes of ore, having been under development for several years. The enterprise is already making dump trucks with a load capacity of 320 and 360 tonnes.

total area of 20,000 square metres has been constructed and equipped with the latest equipment in readiness for production of the huge truck, which should prove extremely popular.

he artists began to co-operate in 2008, having united with allied views on life, society and art. The purpose of the present exhibition is to acquaint audiences with the regions where the artists live and work — including the Kirov Region of Russia, where artists took part in the Vasnetsov open-air workshop. This is the 5th joint exhibition for the artists and the Vitebsk event may be the most impressive yet, featuring 16 artists. The first 450-tonne giant will be heading for an open cut quarry, in Chernigovsky, run by OJSC Kuzbassrazrezugol, notes Anatoly Kalinin, the Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister. Visiting the Kemerovo Region of Russia, with which BelAZ maintains close business relations, he adds that the first Belarusian 320 and 360-tonne vehicles were launched in this region.

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In united formation Union State prioritizes military co-operation

i l it ar y i nt e r a c t i on remains a focus of Union State activity, with our BelarusianRussian integration ever developing in this sphere. Each year, our liaisons strengthen. In early 2013, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed Russia’s Minister of Defence, Sergey Shoigu, to Minsk. On the agenda were prospects for additional air defence and the positioning of fighter aviation forces in Belarus. In August, Mr. Lukashenko attended a session devoted to the Armed Forces’ development, later ordering the launch of aviation and air defence agreements signed during talks with Mr. Shoigu and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. The move continues our traditional interaction in this major sphere. Russia and Belarus are jointly defending their common air space on the Union State’s western border, while exchanging information and military experience. They regularly hold joint training sessions for air defence troops, while the Belarusian military often take part in field exercises in Russia, enabling our soldiers to gain ‘real life’ experience. This summer, Belarusian cadets from the National Military Academy joined soldiers of the 15th anti-aircraft missile team, gaining

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valuable experience in using C-300 antiaircraft missiles, at Russian Telemba field (in the Chita Region). Telemba is truly unique: worth travelling thousands of kilometres to reach. Its large territory allows equipment to be used fully, exploring the range in speed and distance. Most recently, the Belarusian military practised shooting targets imitating modern foreign aircraft — such as SRAM and Tomahawk landattack missiles (more difficult to hit than ordinary planes). Belarusian pilots truly appreciate such military co-operation — as Zygmund Valevich asserts. The military specialist in air defence is a member of the Standing Committee for National Security of the Belarusian Parliament’s House of Representatives. He stresses, “This is major, useful experience. It’s totally different pushing a real button, compared with using an electronic simulator. Cadets learn how it feels to launch a true rocket.” For obvious reasons, our Union State parliamentarians are focusing on our military liaisons in their legislation, with the Belarusian Parliament’s House of Representatives currently preparing amendments (at their second reading) on military duty and military service, while giving military status legislative force.

The military continue joint training, with Telemba followed by Belarusians going to Russian Ashuluk to practise using Buk and Top-2M anti-aircraft systems (in service in Belarus and Russia). In late September, the large scale Zapad (West)-2013 Belarusian-Russian training exercises will take place, with our Belarusian military training much in advance. Such exercises aim to prepare and polish troop readiness within the Union State. Initially, a joint BelarusianRussian troop will unfold its subdivisions to block areas of illegal detachments; they’ll then manage a supposed stabilised situation. Training at some Belarusian fields was drastically modernised before this serious exercise. Not only pilots strengthen our military collaboration. Not long ago, a Belarusian Т-72Б tank crew returned from Alabino (near Moscow) where it was placed third in a ‘tank biathlon’ — from among Kazakh, Armenian and Russian crews. Participants showed their skills in marksmanship from tanks, as well as driving skills: overcoming bridges, fords and other obstacles, at high speed. Such meetings not only strengthen military brotherhood but are a tradition showing our military preparedness. By Vladimir Fedorov

Tomorrow’s world

Innovations are at the heart of successful joint projects and programmes

nnovation is an acute topic being discussed within the Single Economic Space, since raw material trade is less profitable than high technologies; the latter are more likely to bring economic stability and competitiveness. The recent joint session of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus and the Russian Ministry of Education and Science tackled the shift towards joint sci-tech programmes and the formation of a single sci-tech space. Strategic integration of our two countries’ economies is the way forward. At present, 12 joint sci-tech programmes are being realised in the Union State, in the progressive spheres of pharmaceuticals and bio-technologies, microelectronics, space and chemical fibres. Moreover, new programmes are underway. The National Academy of

Sciences of Belarus and the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia are developing production technologies to make highly-efficient and biologically safe nutritional and medicinal products, using the latest lacto-ferrin expertise and other human proteins. Moreover, Union State experts are planning geological surveys, flax growing and eco-farming, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases, tuberculosis and cardiovascular pathologies. Additionally, a branch of the Russian Skolkovo Innovation Centre is soon to appear in Belarus. The Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee, Igor Voitov, notes that our co-operation mechanism needs to be modernised within the framework of Union State programmes. He explains, “It’s taking unnecessary long to create Union State

sci-tech programmes: 1.5 to 4 years from proposal to implementation. This applies especially to the construction of infrastructure. Where innovative goods are concerned, delays are unacceptable. Contemporary conditions mean that advanced operational benefits only arise if you realise production within six months.” Mr. Voitov is eager to set firm deadlines for preparing and approving all sci-tech programmes and wishes to attract budgetary funds, alongside venture capital, into projects, using public private partnership. Belarus is keen to see scientific budgets planned ahead by three years, rather than one, so that mid-term technological development is clear. CIS scientific centres and production associations are being encouraged to focus on innovative projects, making full potential of the talent and expertise present within the Union State. Opportunities were discussed in detail last November, at the 7th Russia-Belarus Union State Forum. Participants were unanimous in their belief that Kazakh scientists can significantly raise efficiency regarding hightech research. In January 2013, the Eurasian Economic Commission approved a draft decision from the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on the co-ordination of the national industrial policies of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Its essence is the formation of technological platforms for efficient industrial, scientific and educational co-operation across the Eurasian Economic Space. Moreover, Belarus and Kazakhstan are recommended to join existing Russian technological platforms: Medicine of the Future, Biotech-2013, Ecological Development Technology, Bioenergetics, Mechatronics, Supercomputers, LED Technology, Photonics, and Software. By Aelita Syulzhina

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delegation headed by the Vice Governor of the Kaluga Region, Nikolay Lyubimov, recently visited the Grodno Region to view road and housing construction in this western region of the Union State. Sections of note are the first class four-lane bypass towards the border with Poland and the bridge over the River Neman: constructed over 9 months. Kaluga’s Tarutinskaya Street took just one month to build. Meanwhile, the first stone was solemnly laid in the foundations of the romantically named Malinovka suburb

constructing 700,000 square metres of accommodation per year: approximately half of all that under construction in the Belarusian capital.” Mutually advantageous co-operative negotiations have been ongoing with residents of Kaluga for three years, including a protocol of intentions to construct a neighbourhood in Kaluga. City Mayor Nikolay Polezhaev is satisfied that the ancient Russian city’s residents will rise in number by around 500,000 people (almost 50 percent growth) necessitating modern and affordable accommodation. During the laying

Taking pride in our work Quality of Belarusian roads and accommodation highly praised in Kaluga Region — also being constructed by Belarusian builders. In fact, Minsk has a district of the same name. In Kaluga, Belarusian builders are to construct three 19-storey blocks of flats and two 9-storey residential buildings, covering a four hectare site. Using Belarusian materials and technologies, the 700 apartments will have a total area of 36,000 square metres. Tenants will be Russian veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the families of servicemen, who’ll move in at the beginning of 2014. “The most reliable builder in Minsk has come to Kaluga,” notes Irina Arkhipova, Belarus’ First Deputy Minister of Architecture and Construction. “MAPID enterprise is

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of the foundation stone in Malinovka suburb, the mayor noted, “We hope that this is not the last site to see the participation of Belarusian builders.” Such co-operation is favourable to both sides, especially as Belarus’ construction branch has been rapidly modernised, including engineeringtransport infrastructure; accommodation is completed to the finest specifications. “We hope that the project to build a residential neighbourhood in Kaluga will promote further mutually advantageous co-operation,” emphasises Nikolay Miloshevsky, the Director General of Minskstroy State Production Association. “The potential for building accommodation in Russia is considerable.” Anatoly Kalinin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, visited Moscow this summer to discuss co-operation in the construction sphere. Belarusian builders may take part in the Russian federal programme to build accommodation over the next 5 years, taking responsibility for about one million square metres annually. In addition, Belarusian enterprises are taking part in tenders to build such sites as a stadium seating 45,000, in Kaliningrad (in readiness for the World Football Championship-2018). The creation of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan is leading to new avenues of co-operation in the construction sphere, while construction norms and rules are being harmonised, with negotiations at governmental level. In particular, a working group is being formed, including 12 experts from each country, overseeing uniformity of building standards. Belarus intends to form a construction sub-industry, focused on exporting services, via Belstroy and Beltekhmontazh holdings, as well as the Belarusian Cement Company. By Vladimir Yakovlev

Belta

A test in labour

Joint student labour brigades working on Union construction sites

his summer was special for many students from Belarus and Russia, while opening a new page in the student labour brigade movement. Henceforth, boys and girls from both countries are to work together in joint student labour brigades. Such brigades appeared after the signing of an agreement between the Russian Student Labour Brigades Association and the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. The scope is huge, including the Bovanenkovo site, in the Yamal Peninsula, where Russia’s largest oilgas field is being explored. Last summer, almost a thousand students worked there, from Russia's Institute of Higher Education. This year, it was decided to

declare Bovanenkovo a Union construction site, with over a thousand students from 20 regions of Russia taking part, alongside two groups from Belarus — comprising 85 youngsters: working at Stroygazconsulting holding sites. Belarus’ nuclear power station, in Ostrovets, is another site at which students have been helping. The Powerman brigade was working there until mid-August, comprised of 40 students from Grodno's Institute of Higher Education and 20 from the Kaluga Region. The future atomic scientists were fascinated to be taking part, joined by students from the Obninsk Institute for Nuclear Power Engineering — a branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

Meanwhile, students from Kabardino-Balkaria have helped to construct accommodation in Minsk. Belarusian students tried on the uniform of conductors of Russian railways and Mikhail Kiselev, head of HQ for Russia's student labour brigades, feels sure that even more offers will be made next season. He recently visited Minsk and shared his impressions with a student labour group, saying, “Most of the guys from Russia said that they felt totally at home in Belarus. There were no problems and they were pleased with living conditions and their salary.” He visited construction sites in the Minsk suburb of Kamennaya Gorka, then chatted with Igor Buzovsky, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarus Republican Youth Union, discussing business matters. Life within the student labour brigades has been peaceful but some discrepancies between conditions have been noted. In Russia, employers receive tax privileges to take on students over the summer, while Belarus offers students tax exemption. Sadly, in Russia, Belarusian students pay the maximum rate of 30 percent — as non-residents. It’s been agreed that common conditions are needed for students working in both countries. Mr. Kiselev hopes to see the situation soon corrected, with employers intervening as necessary; at ‘Bovanenkovo’ construction site, the employer gave bonuses to compensate for the difference in the tax rate. He adds that students may like to work in the low-season as well as summer and other events may soon be organised, such as joint festivals. The 55th anniversary of the Russian Student Labour Brigade is being celebrated next year, with a Belarusian delegation invited to attend. The development of student labour brigade movements is soon to be discussed at a meeting by the ministries of education of Belarus and Russia. By Alexey Alexandrov

2013 беларусь.belarus

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

New friendly ties

everal years ago, the Union State’s Standing Committee decided to arrange a holiday for children where they’d be guests, hosts and attracted audiences at a single time. The plan was realised and, this year, the Artistry of the Young Festival has taken place for the eighth time, with Anapa heartily welcoming small artistes. In the sunny capital of childhood on the Black Sea shore, 7-18 age olds live as a single large family for a week. This year, the festival gathered 130 young artistes: musicians, actors, singers, dancers and acrobats — all winners of national and regional contests in Belarus and Russia. To get through to the festival, its participants had to pass a serious competitive selection in their country and then pass a huge distance to reach Anapa (some spent even several days). However, sparkling eyes and happy laughter well proved: the festival week definitely ‘paid for’ long travel hours. All seven days were toughly scheduled; numerous rehearsals, master

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classes and concerts left little time for sleeping. However, children are already got used to such life. Among the most active participants was an honoured amateur team of Belarus — Zorka (Star) choreographic ensemble, from Vitebsk. This was small dancers’ second participations in the Artistry of the Young and the team’s head — Natalia Chernyuk — recollects the beginning of this festival summer, “Summer days are truly hot for our artistes; children have little time to sleep. As soon as the Slavianski Bazaar ended in Vitebsk, we were invited to Greece. On returning home, we immediately went to Anapa. Children are trying to combine pleasant and useful aspects: they demonstrate their own dancing skills and learn from others’ experience.” This year, young Kazakh dancers came to Anapa for the first time. The Svoy Stil (Own Style) choreographic team is already popular in native Kostanay but, in Anapa, they wish to gain new experience. Dancer Anna Kosolapova explains, “It’s always interesting to

observe foreign artistes, learning from them. We do not regret of coming here — covering hundreds of kilometres.” Polina Burtseva, a soloist of the folk song Samaryanochka ensemble, adds, “We’ve become so close friends with some children and do not wish to part. I know for sure: on returning to Samara, I’ll miss my new friends.” All participants of the Artistry of the Young appreciate extreme amiability of the festival. While giving concerts and recuperating on the Black Sea coast for several days, children got acquainted and learn more of each other. They make art jointly and, according to the Deputy State Chairman of the Union State — Ivan Bambiza, this week of live communication and diverse master classes would remain in their memory for a long time. “These talented and promising children have topics for discussion and learning from each other. In this way, a fundamental of mutual understanding, trust and friendship is being laid for many years. The Artistry of the Young truly occupies an

established important place among the Union State programmes,” he says. Heads of children’s teams and their young pupils agree: it’s great that such a festival exist — making it possible to get acquainted with works of foreign bands. Master classes — offered by professional artistes — stand high; many of them were only seen on TV screens before. An Honoured Figure of Arts of Russia, Grigory Gladkov, is a Guinness Record Book record holder: he’s released the largest number of CDs with songs for children. For several years already, the composer is participating in the festival. He admits, “I’m pleased that, this year, the spirit of competitiveness was replaced to the atmosphere of a unique and never-forgettable children’s holiday — which creates an impulse for young artistes to work further and reach new summits.” Several thousand spectators came to enjoy performances by young talents whose theatrical Fire, Water and Copper Pipes show left nobody indifferent. The Anapa festivities attracted Mr. Bambiza;

young people presented him a streaming gown and a golden crown. He, in turn, congratulated young artistes, stressing that the festival’s aim to help talented children disclose their skills and artistic potential has been fully achieved. “I’m convinced that the small stars — lit in Anapa these days — would turn into large and true stars of our stage and worthily represent our Union State to the world,” he noted. This year, the festival’s staging director, Mikhail Vysotsky, has decided to change the opening ceremony format, refusing a traditional carnival march along Anapa’s central streets. In turn, before the festive concerts, young stars joined members of the Union State’s Standing Committee, Anapa’s Council of Veterans and the city administration in laying flowers to the Stella of Military Glory. Anapa residents also venerated memory of the killed soldiers. Young artistes visited the Vita sanatorium which hosts a traditional military-patriotic session of cadets from Nakhimov’s Naval Academy and

Belta

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

Artistry of the Young Festival unites cities and countries Suvorov’s Military College. This year, the system of these military educational establishments celebrates its 70th anniversary and both cadets and young artistes prepared performances. Cadets’ show was so impressive, that some festival boys decided to replace their choreographic career for the military service. Zhemchuzhina Rossii (Russia’s Pearl) Palace of Culture hosted the closing ceremony of the festival, with each participant receiving presents and diplomas from the Union State’s Standing Committee, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union and Anapa’s administration. The Artistry of the Young is not a contest for the best as all its members are winners. Their best prize is a possibility to find new friends and impressions. Actually, the festival brings all these pleasures: the Artistry of the Young Union State’s project creates hundreds of new friendship bridges between Russian and Belarusian cities. Children well demonstrate adults that any distance could be easily covered. By Yuliana Leonovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

магчымасці супрацоўніцтва

onorary diplomas were recently awarded in primarily dedicated to such topics as: 17th — Mid-19th Minsk to Belarusian nominees for the Union Century Architecture of Cities in the Upper Dnieper River State Award in Literature and Arts for 2013- Area; Monasteries of Eastern and Western Traditions. 2014. Among them are Belarusian sculptor Architectural Legacy of Belarus; and 19th Century and People’s Artist of Belarus Ivan Misko, who Churches and Monasteries of Belarus Within the Russian is well known in Belarus and Russia for his works depicting Empire — Recreation of the Legacy. While concentrating space pioneers. The last of these was devoted to Vladimir on Belarusian lands, these editions are also of interest to Novitsky — the third Belarus-born, Russian cosmonaut. Russian readers and researchers, describing the harmoOver several decades, nisation of Belarusian Mr. Misko has created and Russian architeca large-scale gallery of tural traditions. sculptural portraits of In total, 11 nominees from Belarus and heroes of Soviet and Russia are hoping to Russian cosmonautics: from Yuri Gagarin until claim the 2013-2014 Union State Award, the present day. The two other with the selection made Belarusian nominees carefully by the ministries of culture of our for the Union State two countries, reflecting Aw a r d h a v e a l s o promoted Belarusianpublic opinion. The Standing Committee Russian cultural of the Union State r e l a t i o n s : P e o p l e ’s Artist of Belarus Prof. is involved, with the Gavriil Vashchenko; Deputy Chairman of the State Secretary of and Artistic Leader the Union State, Ivan and Chief Conductor of the G.I. Tsitovich Bambiza, congratuNational Academic lating Ivan Misko, Gavriil Vashchenko, Mikhail Drinevsky and Ivan Misko Choir, People’s Artist Gavriil Vashchenko of Belarus Mikhail and Mikhail Drinevsky Drinevsky. The former on their achievehas been recognised ments. He notes, “The for his cycles of work U n i o n S t a t e Aw a r d entitled Courage, Homeland and The Eternal, while the has been bestowed since 2002. This time, the number latter’s wonderful concert programmes and active touring, of contenders and nominees is far greater, with around including across Russia, are being honoured. 30 chosen — offering over 100 works. All are worthy of Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Culture, Vladimir being recognised so it’s difficult to choose and the media Karachevsky, notes, “Culture has always been the most has been promoting awareness of the Award. The Standing powerful conductor of Union State integration. Our relations Committee is constantly receiving public opinion feedback in this sphere have never ceased; Belarus has made a strong on the activity of candidates, showing that citizens have contribution to Russia’s cultural life and vice versa. Like knowledge of the status of the Award and are eager to see Russian Vladimir Mulyavin, who established prominent it bestowed worthily. We take into account these opinions, Pesnyary band, these nominees for the Union State Award passing them to the Expert Council. In September, it will are leaving a legacy for Belarusian and Russian people. submit its proposals to the Supreme State Council of the They devote their whole life to their work.” Union State, which will decide by the end of this year.” Previously, Russian contenders for the Union State The three most worthy figures of literature and arts of Award in Moscow have included outstanding figures of Belarus and Russia will become laureates of the Union culture and arts closely connected with Belarus. One State Award. such is architect Inessa Slyunkova, whose research is By Vladimir Bibikov Belta

Best of the best

Nominees announced for Union State Award in Literature and Arts

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USEFUL EXPOSITION

Museum of Belarusians of the World soon to open in Minsk

he Belarusians of the World exhibition, hosted at Belarus’ Culture Institute, brings together artefacts from the National History Museum and works created by the With Honour Association of Belarusian Artists, in Latvia. Among the unique exhibits is a 30 year old photo of a Belarusian wedding in Australia and a 1977 poster of the Belarusian Festival in New Jersey. Caps worn by Belarusians students at Belgium’s oldest university (in Leuven) are also on show. Around a decade ago, the Republican Scientific-Educational Centre closed (named after Frantsisk Skorina and headed by Doctor of Philology, Prof. Adam Maldis). Its valuable exhibits — books, paintings and personal belongings from the Belarusian diaspora — were distributed across several agencies but Mr. Maldis has been working with the Culture Institute, where he is currently employed, to reunite the rich collection. Alexander Khromoy, the Deputy Director of the National History Museum, comments, “Our museum has preserved around 60 percent of the materials. Sadly, although the remaining artefacts are not completely lost, they are scattered in small numbers across numerous institutions. We are doing everything possible to make this exhibition part of our museum or, at least, a branch of our museum.” The project would hardly have been realised without the enterprising employees of the Culture Institute — such as Prof. Maldis and the Head of the Historical-Cultural Heritage Protection Department, Alla Stashkevich. Moreover, the Belarusian diaspora — who should primarily benefit from the project — have donated many items and continue sending books, films and personal belongings connected to their life abroad, including paintings and other artefacts created during their life beyond the Republic. Among the first exhibits donated were works by artists living in Latvia: members of the Association of Belarusian

Alexander Ruzhechka

Every little counts Artists of the Baltic States. The paintings depict Old Vilnius, Jerusalem, the Himalayas and other natural wonders seen by our countrymen. “We need shows in Belarus,” explains the Association’s Head, Vyachka Tselesh. “We’re exhibiting in Latvia and other states but feel more ‘at home’ here.” The Belarusians of the World Museum is sure to also prove popular with residents of the Republic. “Belarusians know little of their countrymen abroad, of whom they could feel proud,” notes the Head of the Belarus-Belgium Society, Tamara Antonovich. “Among such people is Laurent Klybik, who is unique. At the age of 16, he moved to Belgium to study pharmacy at Leuven University. After graduating, he bought a pharmacy and was among the first to produce homeopathic medicines (much in demand in neighbouring states). Laurent can speak Belarusian, Russian, German, English, Polish and Hebrew. To learn Chinese, he has set up a restaurant, inviting a Chinese cook. Interestingly, a map of Belarus, marking his home village, welcomes all guests at reception. He is proud of Belarus and of his Belarusian nationality.” Pride in your native land, and its people, is an obvious theme of the exhibition and will be encapsulated perfectly at the planned Belarusians of the World Museum. “I’m delighted to see you, my dear countrymen, gathered round me. I feel that we cannot be indifferent to each other,” smiles jeweller Piotr Yakubuk — a member of Ukraine’s Union of Artists and a master of decorative-applied art. “We never forget our homeland while living abroad. We speak Belarusian and arrange Belarusian parties and holidays. We’re also involved in diverse artistic activities; I make precious Crimean themed decorations for women and dream of organising a personal show in Belarus. I’d love to come to Minsk and know where my works could be housed: at the Belarusians of the World Museum.” By Lyudmila Minakovа

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CONTINENT OF NATION

Shared Motherland Kinship of homeland and its people heartens those born in Belarus but living far away Irkutsk trunk and its treasures

Ivan Zhdanovich

Belarusian, singer from Novosibirsk Anastasia Dementieva at the 6th Congress of Belarusians of the World

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n early June, we received a small press release from Alena Sipakova, who lives in Irkutsk, saying that the Irkutsk Association of Belarusian Culture (named after Yan Chersky) Regional Public Organisation had arranged an ethnographic exhibition: Treasures from Village Trunks. The venue was the Regional State Universal Scientific Library (named after I. MolchanovSibirsky), at 253 Lermontov Street, which houses an office of the local Belarusian community. Ms. Sipakova then wrote mysteriously, ‘We are all village-born and our memory keeps bright recollections of our parents’ and grandparents’ homes — with their hand-made towels, straw spiders, embroidered rugs and trunks full of fabric and tablecloths. In the past, every Belarusian village family had a trunk but, over the course of time, these have been replaced by modern furniture. These days, such trunks are kept in back rooms, with their treasures remaining inside. Interestingly, trunks used to be placed out of view, helping them to preserve their treasures until our modern days’. She explained how late 19th-early 20th century artefacts were collected in Irkutsk, during ethnographic expeditions by the Irkutsk Association of Belarusian Culture staff across the Irkutsk Region. The exhibits are primarily items from everyday life: traditional clothes and other textiles — such as hand made towels and tablecloths. Some were donated by

CONTINENT OF NATION Belarusians from Irkutsk. The exhibition opening featured performances by the bands Lenushka and Kryvichi, which truly complemented the artefacts on show. Mikhail Lomonosov once said that ‘Russia’s future will involve Siberia’. At that time, no large scale (multi-million) settlements had been made across the Urals. The trend took place only in the early 20th century, when the Stolypin land reform took villagers East. As a result, Siberia was populated mostly by people born in the Russian Empire’s Northern-Western Region. These were not only villagers but those who had escaped the 1832 Rebellion, or who had come to build the Baikal-Amur highway, or to master oil and natural gas mines in Western Siberia. Some simply sought a new home. Many of them were God-driven. Ms. Sipakova’s letter took five days to travel from Irkutsk to Minsk by train. It reads: ‘Interestingly, trunks used to be placed out of view, helping them to preserve their treasures until our modern days’. Such trunks have helped preserve folk traditions, customs, songs and dances. Belarusians who moved to remote Siberia always tried to keep hold of their original artefacts and to support old traditions while eagerly starting their new lives. Importantly and interestingly, some of our countrymen born in Siberia and spending all their lives there still view themselves as Belarusian: in their kinship and family traditions. Ms. Sipakova was inspired by these people to send her letter. In summer, she joined her friends from the Belarusian community and the Association’s former leader, Oleg Rudakov, to take part in the 6th Congress of Belarusians of the World forum. Afterwards, she wrote: ‘In spring, the community held a session and Oleg Rudakov — who founded the Irkutsk Association of Belarusian Culture (named after Yan Chersky) and headed it for many years — was replaced by Alena Sipakova’. This text can be easily found on the Internet.

Meanwhile, Ms. Sipakova stresses that the community will never change its focus, with enthusiasts continuing to promote our Belarusian culture in the Baikal area — as they’ve been doing for so many years. There are plans to organise an international festival of Belarusian culture in Baikal — ‘to add strength to

V ita

liy

Gil

those were war times… Alena notes that one of Irkutsk’s community activists took five years to join, while even seven years were needed for another lady. “In this respect, it’s a true challenge to work with Belarusians — attracting them into the community,” she explains. Alena tells us of her Belarusian roots, saying, “I was Minister of Culture of Belarus Boris Svetlov born in Irkutsk but

It’s wonderful that Belarusians abroad do not forget their roots and are not ashamed of their national culture. Pleasingly, they never lose ties with their Motherland, rather establishing cultural and business ties with Belarus’ administrative regions. In this way, our friendship is strengthening

the Belarusian movement worldwide’. Pleasingly, the community witnesses no fight for power and, speaking of its former head, Alena notes that they ‘enjoy friendly relations’. Oleg and Alena have worked together for around 10 years and ‘most of our friends are Belarusians who were awakened by Oleg’. Former military man Oleg Rudakov was born near Polotsk and began his work almost 17 years ago. Meanwhile, Alena reveals that Belarusians demonstrate little interest in joint public activity, preferring to develop their own land rather than gather for meetings. This villagestyle mentality is neither good nor bad: during the war years, it did not hamper Belarusian partisans from gathering their forces to fight the enemy. Of course,

my mother is Belarusian. Moreover, her parents were Belarusians. My grandmother’s parents moved to the Irkutsk Region from Belarus in the late 1920s. My grandmother spoke Belarusian with an accent but sang Belarusian songs with my grandfather. As a schoolgirl, I joined Lenushka folk group. After we grew up, our mother began teaching us Belarusian family songs and we, in turn, started composing stylised Belarusian folk verses. At an Irkutsk conference, Oleg Rudakov heard us. He approached our mother and invited us to join the community. I began my active participation in the organisation in my student years and now work in a hospital.” Ms. Sipakova visited the homeland of her page

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CONTINENT OF NATION

forefathers in 2001 for the first time, touring Belarusian villages and noticing no difference to villages in Siberia. During the Minsk session this year, she told all those present that it’s vital to study the life of Belarus and investigate its history, believing that this strengthens our ties with the nation, our roots and the Motherland. Really, this is true: the trunk of folk treasures unveils much of value for our souls and minds.

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Uniting matters

elarusians’ village-style attitude towards life is unusual: as an acquaintance of mine once joked, ‘we strike root either on tundra glaciers or hot desert sands’. “I feel fine everywhere, as I can work and am not afraid of working,” Belarusian Nikolay Kryskovich told me enthusiastically on visiting our editorial office. He’s an active member of Altai’s Belarusian community and is proud of his unique skill in growing apple, prunes and grapes under cold weather conditions; few succeed in this enterprise. Meanwhile, some people feel nostalgia; perhaps guided by a special gene. It can strike successful businessmen and tired housewives alike, regardless of age or status: many become eager to turn to their homeland. Sadly, not all enjoy the social status or finances to allow travel to Belarus — especially from remote corners, such as Russia’s Primorie Region or the Pacific Ocean shore (where Belarusian communities are found). The next best thing is for them to meet and talk, exchanging news and crafts. It’s questionable whether Irkutsk’s Belarusians would have been able to arrange an ethno-exhibition if they had acted alone. The establishment of Sunday schools, Belarusian housemuseums, centres and homesteads is the result of joint work. Moreover, Belarusians worldwide love to celebrate Kupalle, Dazhynki and Kolyady, while organising Belarusian festivals, exhibitions and other cultural events; hundreds take place annually — mostly through

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the efforts of Belarusian communities abroad. Really, our joint work is strong! While welcoming participants and guests of the Congress of Belarusians of the World, the Head of the Homeland Association of the Belarusians of the World, Alena Makovskaya, recalled the first meeting, which took place two decades ago. Life inspired our countrymen to gather, in protecting their interests, when the USSR split and millions of Belarusians were suddenly divided by state borders. Belarusian diasporas struck root in former USSR republics in the 1990s, notes Alena, telling us, “The first session gathered over 1,300 delegates from abroad. At that time, the issues of cultural building and national revival were acute and, to settle them, the first session took place. The organisation was then headed by Radim Goretsky, with Anna Surmach leading the Council.” The Homeland is still joined by its friends and, looking back to past years and former achievements, its activists have outlined further plans as part of the project The Belarusian Nation under Conditions of Globalisation. Former sessions have also focused on the preservation of Belarusians’ presence in the world and the strengthening of our national identity. The topic remains acute and, as Ms. Makovskaya supposes, “It’s probably impossible to solve all problems in just twenty years. We’ve probably failed to realise all our plans. National features are becoming extremely valuable as we expand our universal culture. With this in mind, more energy and strength are needed to preserve and develop Belarusian identity. The Belarusian state should join efforts with its people, as the Belarusian diaspora is an integral component.” The session gathered not merely Belarusians but all those working to preserve, strengthen and expand Belarusian presence worldwide. “We come from different countries and represent different generations, with different outlooks and conditions of work. Moreover, we share different

views on life,” says Alena. “However, we are united in being Belarusian; this is the key.” She believes that our sense of Homeland contributes to Belarusians’ consolidation within the country and abroad, sharing language, culture, history and nationhood. Belarusians from all over the globe shared their achievements at the session, focusing on acute problems of today’s world and especially those relating to the diaspora. Discussion remained polite and tolerant, with each opinion heard and valued. If we fail to reach a common understanding, then who will believe in our tolerance — so often mentioned as Belarusians’ defining feature.

Meeting of countrymen in Minsk: Arkady Krupenko (on the left) came from Komi and Nikolay Krystovich — from Altai

CONTINENT OF NATION

Strengthening concord

Ivan Zhdanovich

ultural dialogue supports mutual understanding, and helps us achieve common goals. However, misunderstandings are also possible. Po et Maxim B ogd anov ich s aid, ‘conflicts are inappropriate while we jointly travel to the stars’. However, what happens to those strive not to the stars but crawl amidst insults or ambition? Sadly, some heads of Belarusian communities (in different cities and foreign regions) lack sympathy with each other, failing to find common views. Such an approach is harmful and a waste of effort, with personal ego placed above common benefit. Minister of Culture Boris Svetlov’s speech at the Congress of Belarusians of the World was

pierced with a desire to build cultural ties and expand co-operation with communities and diaspora representatives abroad. On welcoming delegates and guests, he congratulated our foreign countrymen on their chance to ‘breathe their native air’, saying, “We view the diaspora — which unites Belarusians and their heirs — as an integral part of the Belarusian nation.” He emphasised that everyone is different — as are their fates. “Some left Belarus in difficult times and others moved away in joy. Among Belarusians of the world and our citizens are many non-ethnic Belarusians. Several communities have been actively liaising with Belarusian state organisations for a long time while some Belarusians of the world express criticism towards this. However, I’m convinced that they all love Belarus as their own Motherland; they love it through their parents, our language, traditions and culture. Our culture is truly rich!” Mr. Svetlov noted that the development of national culture is a focus of state policy, with professional artistry enjoying significant state support in Belarus. Budgetary money finances state museums, libraries and educational establishments. The state also supports theatres, parks of culture and cinemas. “In the post-Soviet space, only Belarus has preserved so many educational establishments; all receive state support,” the Minister stressed. The Culture of Belarus and Castles of Belarus state programmes aim to support our legacy, while another aims to revive the traditions of Slutsk sash production, making national souvenirs. T h e B e l a r u s i a n s Wo r l d w i d e programme is currently being prepared and a draft law ‘On Belarusians Abroad’ is ready. However, Mr. Svetlov asserts that the state never stops its work with Belarusians living abroad — even without these important projects. Activity is supervised by the especially established Republican Centre of National Cultures, which provides Belarusian communities abroad with national costumes, musical instruments,

and presentation and video materials, in addition to fiction books, guides and decorative-and-applied art pieces. Artistic teams from Belarus regularly take part in shows and, with state support, organise frequent exchanges; Belarusians in Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and the Baltic States are most active in this respect. Last year, courses were run to help the diaspora in enhancing its qualifications and to enable artistic personalities to exchange their experience. Sadly, the country fails to widely support their countrymen abroad — as is done by most foreign states. Mr. Svetlov notes, “However, we are moving towards each other and working together, which helps us to resolve numerous problems, while participating in the Homeland’s cultural life and activities. We are proud to do so.” In recent years, Belarus has been proud to unveil the reconstructed Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Mir’s Castle Complex, the Radziwills’ Palace and Estate (in Nesvizh), Mogilev’s Drama Theatre, Grodno’s Regional Puppet Theatre, Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace (in Gomel), the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre and the Children’s Philharmonic (in Minsk). The cultural establishments of several agro-towns have been revamped and a single state list of historical-cultural treasures has been compiled, with the Ministry of Culture promoting a range of new projects. “One of our priorities is the development of international cultural co-operation and the representation of national artistic achievements abroad. Days of Belarus are organised worldwide, while we accept Days of Culture from various foreign states. Moreover, our Belarusian Diaspora is actively promoting cultural projects; it’s wonderful that Belarusians abroad do not forget their roots and are not ashamed of their national culture. Pleasingly, they never lose ties with their Motherland, rather establishing cultural and business ties with Belarus’ administrative regions. In this way, our friendship is strengthening. Thank you for this!” By Ivan Zhdanovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

Theatre

Vytautas on pointes, or world premiere at Bolshoi Theatre The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre has opened the 81st theatrical season with the long-awaited national ballet Vytautas — based on the play Prince Vytautas, by Alexey Dudarev page

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In the role of Jadviga — Alexandra Chizhik, laureate of international contest

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Mikhail Nesterov

Theatre

Choosing Leda at Kupalie — extraordinarily spectacular scene in the play

Alexey Dudarev: After watching this performance, I hope that the audience feels proud of our nation and all that has happened on our land, including the deeds of heroes. Life and truth combine in art. I am interested in myth, fiction and legend, which allow us to interpret our own truths. We’ve placed events from the past on stage, since history often teaches us more than art. History should be known and remembered, whatever its outcome. The history of Belarus is as interesting and eventful as that of any other state. Our land has seen war, treachery and peace. Great people, including legends, have lived here. I desire to poeticize those glorious times, bringing heroes onto the stage.

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ur B olshoi T h e at re i s the pride of our country, delighting audiences and keeping us in anticipation of new shows. A visit to its hallowed halls is always a treat. Meanwhile, attending a premiere is an occasion worthy of lifetime remembrance. In fact, the recent premiere of Vytautas was a world premiere, arousing huge excitement. You can’t help but wonder if the professionals involved have achieved their true desire with each performance. Vytautas involved such eminent names as Alexey Dudarev, Honoured Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus

Anton Dotsenko

Theatre

Theatre Black man — Alexander Butrimovich, laureate of international contests, impresses with his plasticity and sensory filling of image

Mikhail Nesterov

and award winner of the State Prize of the USSR. He has been the main instigator of the project, first directed by Valery Raevsky, on the stage of the National Academic Drama Theatre of Yanka Kupala in 1997. Vytautas is the first experience of Dudarev’s cooperation with the Bolshoi Theatre. The libretto has been co-authored by Vladimir Rylatko, Honoured Worker of Culture of Belarus, former Deputy Minister of Culture and now Deputy Director General. Veteran director and choreographer Yuri Troyan, People’s Artist of Belarus, knows the Bolshoi Theatre from within, so it’s no surprise that he has a hand in the wonderful performance. The ballet troupe

Mikhail Nesterov

Lovers Vytautas (Igor Onoshko, laureate of international contests) and Anna (Irina Eromkina, Honoured Artist of Belarus) in scene of Kupala Night celebration

Creative Director has been in the role since 2009. Amazingly, the last national ballet performed on this stage took place in 1995: Rogneda. Mr. Troyan has been searching for a new story for several years and finally found it among the historical plays of Dudarev. From the collection which Dudarev presented to him, Prince Vytautas took his fancy and Vyacheslav Kuznetsov, the wellknown Belarusian composer, soon came on board to create the score. The author of several symphonies, ballets, operas, instrumental, vocal and choral music, he tells us that he allowed the plot to guide him. In fact, he notes that he found the process extremely inspiring and has learnt much about himself in working on this ballet (despite it not being his first). Meanwhile, the set design is the work of Ernst Heidebrecht, holder of the State Award of Belarus. Yuri tells us, “Based on historical fact, we’ve created a choreographic legend about Prince Vytautas. Of course, it’s impossible to tell the w h o l e s t o r y o f Vy t a u t a s ’ l o n g , complex and eventful life in one performance, so we’ve concentrated on his young life, when his character page

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Theatre

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Mikhail Nesterov

Happy dance of joyful Anna

Mikhail Nesterov

was being formed. I wanted to explore the role of personalities in history. Vytautas is an example of a real leader emerging to tackle a particular historical moment: strong, highly intelligent, independent and determined and able to implement his ideas. He was capable of standing up for his country and people, which seems a topical theme today.” Of course, one purpose of theatre is to help form our national c o n s c i o u s n e s s . We k n o w f r o m history that Prince Vytautas played an important role in creating the powerful independent state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During his rule, it blossomed, considerably expanding its borders. Historical chronicles testify that Vytautas was

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Vytautas’s mother Biruta (Polina Zakharenko — on the right) blesses her son Vytautas (Igor Onoshko) before his trip to the wedding of Jagailo and Jadviga

not only strong but wise, reasonable and able to predict situations. As Troyan noted on the eve of the opening night, it’s fascinating to trace the history of Vytautas’ relationship with his cousin Jagailo. According to history, Jagailo became King of Poland, founding the wellknown dynasty of Jagiellonian. The two quarrelled, then reconciled; they fought but were able to finally accept a compromise. During the Battle of Grunewald, they fought side by side. As for genre of the performance, the directors describe it as choreographic legend. Troyan notes that they have used some historical facts to embellish their ideas on how Vytautas’ personality was formed in his younger years. They perceive love as the guiding force: the motivation which dooms us to both happiness and suffering. The play is also influenced by the pastoral aesthetics of magical Kupala Night: especially evident in the sets. On this night, the most ancient pagan holiday, the world appears beautiful and exciting — full of possibili-

ties. I’ve spent the summer solstice at the Nizhniy Novgorod Region's well-known Lake Svyatoyar where, according to legend, the city of Kitezh fell into those waters rather than be conquered. Near the lake, people celebrate Kupala Night. I’ll never forget the sharp feeling of being ‘at one’ with nature and the huge pleasure of health, youth and beauty. I recall a tremendous twilight haze, the aroma of various grasses near the lake, with notes of acerose leaves and sycamore. The warmth of the huge bonfire drew us close, while people sang and danced around it in a ring. That magical night is recreated in the first scene of the ballet: gently pastoral, lofty, romantic, and filled with the particular essence of youth. We feel the primordial strength of

life awakening us and endowing us with an enthusiastic feeling of unification with the world. Kuznetsov’s music, even in that first scene, moves from the pastoral to the romantic, a s Vy t a u t a s m e e t s A n n a . N e x t , Yagailo is rejected, introducing an element of menace. Then, with each scene, emotions rise. Music and dance combine, creating tension and passion. We forget that we are watching a story, being completely absorbed by the spectacle. The tangled plot becomes clear to those who know even a little of the history of their Fatherland, although much in the performance is a fictional interpretation. For others, the programme on sale reveals all. Is Vytautas a success? Resoundingly, we can say yes. As Yuri

Mikhail Nesterov

Theatre

Jagailo (Oleg Eromkin, Honoured Artist of Belarus) recognizes Vytautas (Igor Onoshko) as a winner. In the left — high-blooded and passionate Jadviga in an outstanding performance

Vyacheslav Volich: I think that only our descendants will truly understand the real power, might and scale of Vytautas; that time is yet to come. However, we may be able to comprehend his achievements, uniting lands and people from sea to sea under one state. We share his blood and spirit. The plot reveals the scope and sincerity of his personality, his love for his country and parents, and his romantic life. This beautiful legend is brightly revealed through the libretto and music.

Mikhail Nesterov

Keistut (Dmitry Shemet) meets challenge with dignity

Troyan notes, the performance has no choreographic extravagance, being sincere in its expression. I feel that the choreography is strong, being staged in the best traditions of the classical Soviet age of ballet. Troyan undoubtedly demands high technical and artistic skills from his dancers, with three crews engaged; we cannot help but respect their efforts. Physically and mentally, they give their all, dancing to the point of exhaustion. Many already boast titles of honoured artists of Belarus and have won prizes at international competitions. Some have received the Francysk Skaryna medal while others are still young, yet to gain professional acclaim. We can only wish them, and the show, the greatest of all success! By Valentina Zhdanovich

2013 беларусь.belarus

MONUMENTS OF THE PAST

Future of Kmita Castle Mysterious construction from times of Grand Duchy of Lithuania to become interesting tourist site

team from Grodno’s HistoricalArchaeological M u s e u m — headed by Natalia Pochobut — h a s completed a study of Kmita Castle (previously known as an ancient settlement near the village of Berezovets of the Korelichi District). The dig — conducted for the first time on the site — brings to life an historical legend about the old castle.

Forgotten duke The head of Orsha and Smolensk’s Voevoda — Kmita-Chernobylsky and Semen Kmita of Vilno — are the most famous characters in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Their signatures remain on many courtrelated documents from 1528-1541. However, writer and book publisher

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Piotr Blastus Kmita could have also owned the castle in Berezovets. In Lyubcha (Novogrudok Voivodship), he set up a printing house, with support from Hetman K. Radziwill and, from 1612-1629, published 52 books on history, medicine, literature and philosophy — in Polish and Latin. Yan Kmita later continued his father’s business, publishing 23 books, but the printing house ceased operation after Lyubcha’s bankruptcy by Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich’s troops, in 1655. The site has a depth of over 2.5m, dating back to the 16th-early 17th century. This layer shows traces of three fires (the castle was built anew after each). All the discoveries relate to knowledge of local sand, clay, stones, broken bricks and lime. In addition, archaeologists have found remains of a stove (made from boulders and bricks) and of a solid brick-andstone construction (supposedly used as 16th century accommodation). Only further research will throw light on whether the castle was originally wooden or made from bricks and stone.

Valuable finds A rich collection of stove tiles has been discovered during the dig, including those decorated with botanical and

CINEMA FOR HISTORY geometric motifs and Biblical themes: Christ’s face, the Archangel Michael (Novogrudok’s divine patron, depicted on the city emblem) and the Virgin of Anguish. Other discoveries include household items (a knife and keys), weaponry (an arrow head, fragments of a harquebus and tin bullets), and dishware (fragments of clay pots and bowls). A fragment of a wine glass has been found, probably of Venetian origin, and there are numerous fragments of a stained glass window. There are also animal and bird bones, showing that our forefathers hunted and bred animals. Moreover, fragments of a bronze bell have been unearthed, leading to the conclusion that a church was once situated on the site. Five 16th century coins — including Lithuanian Grosh, a Polish-Swedish King’s Solid and a Kopeck from the days of Ivan (IV) the Terrible have been unearthed, with the latter discovered in a fire layer — probably arriving at the site as a result of the Livonian War. All the artefacts will occupy a worthy place at Grodno’s HistoricalArchaeological Museum and at Korelichi’s Museum of Local History. Specialists who have worked previously on Korelichi District digs, L. Koledinsky and V. Khartanovich, have helped, as have local authorities, the heads of the Grodno museum, volunteers from Minsk, Grodno and Korelichi and schoolchildren from the villages of Berezovets and Krynki.

Novogrudok — Kmita Castle — Mir Kmita Castle could become an interesting tourist site in the future — being situated just 3km from the NovogrudokMir highway. Like Mir Castle, it is one of Belarus’ historical-cultural treasures. Information tables are to be placed on the site, to inform tourists of the castle’s history. Next year, digs will continue, with the participation of archaeological specialists from Belarus and neighbouring states. By Tatiana Kurasheva

Eye to eye Russian film features Belarusian witnesses of 1812 War

t’s hard not to be moved at the sight of S. Zhuk (of the Vitebsk Province’s Shavelka village), aged 118, and Y. Zhernosekova (of the Mogilev Province’s Irinovka village), aged 115; they witnessed the war against Napoleon and outlived Bonaparte, being recorded in 1912 for a Russian-French silent film devoted to the events of 1812. While professional actors took the other roles, Zhuk and Zhernosekova appear at the end of

the film, showing how Belarusian villagers looked over a century ago. Poorly dressed yet their eyes still twinkling and full of wisdom, they represent our nation worthily. Of course, the 1812 Russian-French war took place on Belarusian territory, leaving its mark on all who lived here. The original film, approved by Tsar Nicholas II, is kept by the Russian State Film Fund but modern technologies are now allowing copies to be screened worldwide: via YouTube. Until recently, few Belarusians knew of it but the film is expected to attract attention from historians, ethnographers and all patriots. This film, the first featuring Belarusians, allows us to look into the eyes of our 19th century forefathers. By Viktar Korbut

2013 беларусь.belarus

TASTY TOURNAMENT

Recipe

for culinary holiday

Tasty Blog Festival held in Minsk

elarus is full of expectations in the lead up to t he Ice Hockey World Championship i n May 2 0 1 4 . Gathering thousands of foreign visitors, it will place our country in the limelight. Moreover, many of those who visit will go on to attend the winter Olympic Games in Sochi, giving them the opportunity to compare our reception and that of Sochi.

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Since some fans will be travelling hundreds, and even thousands, of kilometres, it’s important that accommodation, meals and the organisation of cultural-informative activities are excellent. It’s time for home culinary specialists to excel. Cooks, confectioners, barmen and waiters have begun to perfect their skills at professional competitions, master classes and exhibitions. One such is the Tasty Blog Festival, recently held in the capital. Irina Narkevich, the Deputy Minister of Trade, notes that this

festival provides more than entertainment, also being a trial run for next year. She tells us, “The honour of specialists in these spheres and the image of our country will depend in many respects on the work of domestic services and public catering, who should present their professional skills at the highest level. They should remember that they need to feed a huge army of participants and visitors to the championship, with not simply tasty food but food of high quality, quickly prepared and to suit every pocket.”

SERIAL

‘Golden Coat’ — to Milan! Those who love to walk the shady avenues of the capital’s Gorky Park, visiting its amusements, recently had the chance to take part in the wonderful culinary holiday. On the banks of the River Svisloch, huge kitchens operated under awnings on Saturday and Sunday, conjuring up various exclusive dishes, accompanied by exotic smells; these overwhelmed the habitual smells of popcorn, shish kebab and pancakes. The first ever national Golden Coat-2013 event saw the country’s best cooks displaying their skills individually, judged by well-known Belarusian and foreign experts. Gabriel, an independent international adviser and member of the Association of Italian Cooks, tells us, “I was a jury member at the first culinary festival, which was held last year. I like to visit your country, to share ideas with Belarusian colleagues. Apparently, this beautiful event will become a traditional fixture in your country so I hope we’ll return many times. It’s comfortable here and you can feel culture everywhere. As for Belarusian cuisine, I like all the old, traditional recipes — ‘grandmother's cooking’ as I call it — as only natural products and spices are used.” The Golden Coat-2013 competition saw chefs continue cooking until late evening, resulting in Vyacheslav Fedyuk taking the title of ‘Best Head Chef’. He usually works at one of the capital's restaurants and will soon be heading to a major culinary expo in Milan as part of his prize. He’ll also be undertaking free training at the Culinary Academy of the Kievan Association of Head Chefs.

Star kitchen Stars of Belarusian sport, pop music and media took part, having a ‘celebrity cook off’ on day two of the event. Two teams of four had the challenge of demonstrating their

culinary art within a one-hour window, for presentation to the jury. Each team was required to produce meat and fish dishes, as well as a salad and dessert. Well-known Belarusian biathlete Darya Domracheva admitted her love for cooking in her spare time. Her exotic yet easy salad — with ruccola, pear and Circassian walnut — looked delicious. When asked about her favourite local dish, she answered without hesitation, “Okroshka — also called kholodnik.” On the subject of healthy eating as a sportswoman, Darya admitted that no ‘special’ diet is necessary; she simply ensures that ingredients are fresh and simple, providing a balance diet and the necessary energy. The celebrity dishes were tasted by members of the public, as well as the jury, and all those taking part received praise: their prize was the simple pleasure of taking part in the wonderful festival and sharing their love of cooking. By Oksana Shevchenko

One more film season Belarusfilm completes shooting State Frontier. The Eleventh Film: Last Spy

he latest season’s action takes place in the early 1990s, against the background of the USSR’s collapse. Border guard Anton Pekarsky, having endured the war in Afghanistan and having served ten years on the border with Central Asia, is no longer needed, so returns to his native Belarus. Fortunately, his knowledge and loyalty to duty as a skilled border guard are in-demand in his homeland, where a new national border agency is being created. Director-producer Igor Chetverikov has brought to life the script, co-written with Valentin Zaluzhny and Ilya Tsofin. In the lead roles are Belarusian and Russian actors Pavel Kharlanchuk-Yuzhakov, Igor Denisov, Yelena Kozyreva, Rafael Mukaev, Mikhail Meskhi and Tomas Zhaibus. The leading role of Anton Pekarsky is played by Andrey Frolov, known for Three Railway Stations, Deadly Dance, Two Destinies, Russian Translation, Stronger than Fire and Mine in a Fairway. The historical-adventure series has so far shown the life of Soviet border guards from 1917 to the 1980s, across the USSR, to the border with the Far East. The latest release should reach our screens in early 2014, with the new season of Frontier comprising eight episodes, each in two parts.

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ANIMATORS

Ten kilos of ... a cartoon Plasticine animated film about Bobruisk becomes latest in series

any of us remember  The Bobruisk cartoon is the latest in a series such wonderful describing the stories behind Belarusian heraldry: The Tale of Bygone Years. It features tales about animated films as The Lelchitsy (director Ksenia Maryankova), Slutsk (Natalia Snows of Yester-Year Kostyuchenko), Pinsk (Alexander Lenkin), Lida (Mikhail Falling and The Tumelya) and Gorodok (Yevgeny Nadtochey). Over twenty Plasticine Crow : Belarusian cities and towns have been included so far. t h e i r hu m orou s characters sculpted from modelling clay. Unfortunately, modern filmmakers rarely use this technique, since it’s easier to use computer graphics than red dress. The to shape each shot by hand. Even Belarusfilm rarely uses main heroes have modelling clay and the prospect of creating a film was daunting, been being sculpted for until Ruslan Sinkevich — a graduate of the Belarusian State about a month, from ten kilos of special, Academy of Arts — came to the studio. The young director Spanish clay, brought from Moscow. The suggested an experiment, creating a short film for the popular clay doesn’t melt under bright spotlights and is easy to manipuproject Tale of Bygone Years, using clay animation. late without cracking. “One month is assigned for shooting. Then we’ll start Plasticine Empress gathering our materials in one complete unit with the help Ruslan met us at the studio entrance, already stretching of a computer. In one minute and 45 seconds, using plastia piece of clay in his hands. “Do you always have plasticine cine, we’ll tell the audience about the history of the emblem in your hands,” I asked. “Most of the time, as work on the of Bobruisk,” explains Ruslan. “The story is quite prosaic. In animated film is in full swing. It’s a good workout for the 1796, Yekaterina II gave the city the emblem to thank its inhabhands,” he smiled, leading me to the studio-workshop, where itants for their hard work.” the future cartoon is being born. I indicate the grand lady in red, with ample curves and Several ready-made characters sat on the worktop: a gull, towering hairstyle. “Yes, this is her,” he smiles. “Bobruisk beaver and man in a fur hat, as well as the Empress in an elegant used to provide mast timber to the Baltic and the Black Sea

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Hero from nowhere The plasticine figures are flat on one side, and in relief on the other, making them come alive in a certain light. “In some cases, we create different phases of movement for the hero; in other cases, we change them during shooting. This is an advantage of clay; it allows us to do what we cannot with hand-drawn animation. We treat these figures like puppets and can even make the hero appear out of nowhere. We use reverse shooting, first crushing a plasticine object and then, using a computer, restoring its image. The hero appears as if out of thin air.”

Blue dog Ruslan fell in love with the plasticine technique accidentally, discovering it while working in a hardware store. Five years ago, an opportunity arose. “When I heard the news on TV that the Academy of Art was running a course on ‘Direction of Animated Films’, at Oleg Belousov’s Studio, I was very interested. Although I had never thought of becoming a director of animated films, I’d always loved cartoons and often thought about how they were made. I drew well and those close to me gave me encouragement.” He continues, “In my fourth term of study, I entered the Russian State University of Cinematography summer school. One of our assignments was to make a small cartoon, using any technique.” Ruslan’s partner was Sonia Gorya, from the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography. She was already working i n the ‘Pilot’ studio, specialising in clay animation, and inspired Ruslan to try the medium. “In just twenty days, we created a film about Vladislav Starevich, the founder of puppet animation,” notes the young director. “I returned to Belarus and realised that I wanted to continue with clay, so I persuaded m y t h e s i s p a r t n e r, Marina Lukyanova, to try this technique. She supported the idea and our teachers, Mikhail Tumelya a n d Ye l e n a P i a t k e v i c h , approved. Blue Dog was the result, moulded by hand. Belarusfilm, of course, provided the studio, lighting and specialised equipment. They accepted the idea of clay animation at once, being keen to see it in action, having not taken that path before. Unexpectedly, I became a stage director. I’m a little timid but everything comes with experience.” Vadim Kondrashov

fleets so the emblem was given for these achievements. As the story isn’t particularly dynamic, we invented a backstory for two main characters: a beaver and a man. They tell the history of Bobruisk from its foundation.

By Lyudmila Minakova

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Art

From Paris — to home Boris Zaborov has been living in France for the last 30 years, having relocated in pursuit of his career as an artist. Beforehand, Mr. Zaborov had already established himself as a book illustrator, having studied in Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, Minsk is his birth place and it was there that he took his first creative steps.

nitially, life in Paris was hard and he was obliged to illustrate books — despite having sworn off of this in pursuit of his dream. However, his skills were in demand, allowing him to pay the bills and become independent. Experience taught him that it was vital to arouse a feeling of kinship between people and it was certainly in Paris that this idea crystallised for him. Photos from his Motherland haunted his mind: of relatives and friends. However, a photo is a fact while a picture is an image. The painful nostalgia aroused of course inspired him and helped him create unique connections in his works. In Paris he achieved great triumphs, building on his successes in Belarus, where he had already been a professional. However, Paris gave him creative freedom to realise his main theme. Three years ago, Boris Zaborov’s exhibition made a real splash in Minsk. He had collected canvases from private collectors across France, the UK, Belgium and Holland, persuading those at first reluctant in some cases. Having learnt his purpose, they could not refuse. Some works are from museum collections in France, while others are from his own archive. The exhibition at the National Art Museum of Belarus displayed his whole Parisian period of

creativity, with 37 works created over the last quarter of the century. Today, it’s easy for people to learn about Zaborov on the Internet, where images are abundant. Of course, electronic versions cannot live up to the original or even reproductions, since computer monitors have a limited ability to portray tines and shades. However, they give us a flavour of his talent. It becomes obvious to everyone

that environment without a well trained ‘voice’ and developed imagination, since the census of high professional approach functioned there more than in the related art fields. Zaborov’s early pictures are remarkable in showing those style and ideological attitudes — as taught at Leningrad’s Academy of Arts and at the Moscow Institute (honouring Surikov). He was rather remarkable for guidelines tempting

Zaborov as a true artist uses colour with economy, even avoiding it, preferring a very limited range of shades close to simple black and white

that the artist did not turn off the once selected way, being in constant search. The artist sees painting as his vocation, though it has had to take a ‘backseat’ at times. His expressive book covers and illustrations gained notice in Minsk in the 1960-1970s — despite the sphere attracting a great deal of critical opinion. It was difficult to be notable in

several young graphical artists in spite of institutional programmes. In those days, the creativity of Chagall and Jack of Diamonds artists was not fashionably ‘retro’ or post-modernistic but seen as a suspicious deviation. The artist is not inclined to recollect his works from those years but, even then, his page

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works showed confidence in technique and boasted his own style. He prefers his last, Parisian period, although there are few obvious symbols of the French capital on those canvases. Meanwhile, they are connected by invisible threads to the place of their origin. His Eden, in the Heart of Parisian Deadlock as he puts it is mysteriously present in his pictures which weren’t inspired by Paris. The works presented at that Minsk exhibition three years ago were united in theme and style, while ranging from landscapes to figured compositions and, mostly, portraits (anonymous as a rule) and nudes. Moreover, there’re also pictures, which could be hardly referred to the genre art if they were not absolutely devoid of usual interest and plot intrigue, which are principally alien to the artist. The titles are very neutral, the literature ‘is blocked’ already here — such as Old Woman near Window, Family Portrait and Girl in Space. If Entrance to the Banya were otherwise named, it might be difficult to guess that the nude man was in the dressingroom of a banya. His nakedness releases him from all distinction of social status, creating an almost abstract feel. This is simply space in which a person ‘is thrown’. In this painting we face ver y big generalisations and, consequently, with abstractness, w hile, on t he ot her hand, each picture unambiguously shows individuality of the author. Such is Zaborov’s distinctive style: deeply personal — to the point of selfportrait. Rather than viewing his characters as people from the past epoch, we see them through a prism of ‘historical’ inclination, viewing each in their universal and eternal essence. And what artistic value is able to attract more than

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the artist’s own individuality? Zaborov soundly declared his author’s ‘I’, with all searches and inevitable internal shifts which were taking him away and finally took him away from aesthetic paradigm of the Soviet Empire style. Zaborov shifted promptly from the Soviet Empire style he was taught towards his Paris phase, which distinguishes him from other artists who emigrated from native lands. He believes that this very circumstance fed his inspiration, bringing him success and panEuropean recognition. While others gained their renown from depicting the French capital in recognisable images, Zaborov’s references are more obscure. His landscapes hold an important place in his creativity yet bear no relation to French landscapes; rather, they recall images from his younger, formative years: lopsided peasant log huts and squat barns with heavy straw thatch. His Shed

pretends to that nothing has been missed, though these details are insignificant in themselves. The importance of this image is predetermined by the fact that it is not invented or copied — it is simply deeply implanted in the nature of the artist. The importance of each image is determined by the fact that those details come from Zaborov’s memory, although they may have the sheen of a far-off dream. Those landscapes retain a surreal element — a feeling of mystery — as if existing separately from mankind. Only in Horse (1983) do we see nature coexisting with a living being. A beautiful four-legged creature stands statue-like in front of inexplicable landscape. The horse’s white croup looks mysteriously and surreal in the fading light; as does the landscape background with whitish clouds and mysterious darkness of the field, appealing to the artist, as well as us, towards impressions from his distant childhood. Of course, such compositions don’t have any relation to Paris. If this city somehow participates in the painter’s creativity, so this is only as an invisible stimulator of composition creation. This great city in its all infinite diversity participates in the work for whose advancement constant spiritual balance is needed. Paris is Zaborov’s invisible inspiration, in its infinite diversity and spiritual presence. Shed and a Two-wheeled Cart. 1997 The author singles (1995), Shed and a Two-wheeled Cart out his Parisian period also because (1997) and Barn (2008) depict memories it incorporates two previous periods; of youth, with meticulous detail. These both have shaped his personality. He are impressions which engraved on his would do the same while organising memory back in his youth, were perma- the exposition in France — his ‘third nently in his mind in the first half of 1980s homeland’. Two others are certainly and are coming back even nowadays. A Belarus and Russia. His life has followed landscape image is as if a sign of time a geographical curve — from Minsk, that suddenly stopped. The image is so through Leningrad and Moscow, again evident in all details that each of them through Minsk, and, finally, to Paris.

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Personal exhibition of Boris Zaborov at the National Art Museum. Entrance to the Banya. 1989

What gives his Parisian period its rare originality? Perhaps the deliberate lack of use of traditional picturesqueness: mountain or sea landscapes, a bank of clouds in the spacious heavens or a stream in a wood. His manner is rare regarding his use of space and his particular style of brushwork. He sets aside vivid exuberance, rather using understatement. Nevertheless, his canvases are captivating. Zaborov’s picture arises on a sharp junction of painting and drawing. Any author who finds themselves in a similar situation, doesn’t have any other choice as to tirelessly struggle for finding and maintaining the balance. Zaborov balances between simple drawing and painting: a rare talent. In an age when so many artists lack true technical skills, he claims the honest talent of being able to draw well: the skill long praised by great masters. The 20th century was a time of largely putting aside the fine arts in search of abstract originality, primitivism and experimentation; proficiency in drawing was unnecessary. Our modern age is one of colour: at the cinema, on TV and, even, on our

mobile phones and computers. Our worldwide cult of colour tends to place painting above sculpture and drawing, with few artists working in monochrome. Of course, film began in black and white, only later embracing colour; there was no turning back, due to cost and efficiency. Those early films are occasionally re-mastered, adding colour artificially — but rarely with success; they tend to look inappropriate — in fact, vulgar. Zaborov as a true artist uses colour with economy, even avoiding it, preferring a very limited range of shades close to simple black and white. Some themes have no need of a vivid palette. Such is the graphic heart of his works that colour is unnecessary. His union of painting and drawing is sometimes abstract: Entrance to the Banya (1989) and Girl with Mannequins (1992). His characters’ faces are almost seen through a metaphysical fog — as if barely real. We view them from afar, like an omnipotent God — just as we do in surveying old photos, where the subjects seem to look out from their frame like people from a lost world.

It’s difficult to keep on the brink of two spheres — real and conceptually abstractive, because it is necessary to co-ordinate painting and drawing, and, that it is even more important, to constantly feel certain ‘pulse’ of the environment — not of the humdrum, but of poetry. They stand apart from reality. Those moments of captured time exist as if conjured from nothing — totally improvised. The use of shots to view a photo-finish of a race shows this well: each scene is self-contained, despite being part of continuous motion. Our modern experience of vividly coloured photography is quite different to that past, so that black and white shots cannot help but seem set apart from real human life. Century-old bleached or faded photos — the memory which lost codes of someone’s anonymous ancestors — are to a certain extent immaterial in all their specified concreteness. They do not attract people by sensual temptation, especially because contemporary spectators inevitably page

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compare them to everywhere multiplied journal and television photo fixations which are distinguished by heightened brightness and contrast, as well as exclusively high instantaneity. That is the ability to catch the moment, which is imperceptible to a human eye (for this purpose photographing is used to identify the place of an athlete on race finish). Of course, in the early days of photography, long e x p o s u re s n e c e s s it at e d subjects standing still for long periods: hardly conducive to appearing natural. Faces stiffened in tense expectation lose the individuality of expression. Unless the subject is famous, we tend to view such shots as no more than curiosities. Probably, it is necessary to be an artist of special talent in order to learn to enter into their old-fashioned life. Other painters resorting to photos are allured by other interests. They are interested not in centuries-old photo, but in something immeasurably more actual: with those tensions of form which modern photo art adopted from newest painting. For many years, Boris Zaborov has been attracted by the super-individuality of his characters, which facilitates transformations occurring with the participants of his arrangements at their bringing on the canvas, saying, “I start to fill the picture, which becomes more complicated as I work, adding texture, structure and small elements. If I bring this process to its logical end, I reach a certain ideal — an absence of image.” His moving to France coincided with an ardour for old photos, inspired not perhaps by pure nostalgia for the country left behind but by a desire to revive long forgotten ancestors. Those dry and cracked rectangles of onceglossy paper were created by proud

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popular trend. It found most expression in the United States of America, reflecting an optimistic belief in the progress of market-unified civilisation. Comparing pictures by Zaborov with his peers in the camp of American hyperrealism, they clearly differ not so much in plot as in spirit. Robert Cottingham (also born in 1935) uses glowing signs, neon advertising and extremely bright signboards, while Richard E ste s ( 1 9 3 6 ) d ispl ay s modern metallic, glossy architecture: huge mirrored windows and luxurious limousines. John Sa lt (born 1937) also features magnificent shining cars, with expensive soft seating. Boris Zaborov, of course, was not interested in such things, so we can hardly compare him with Estes or Cottingham. The hyperrealists soon formed a uniform movement, expressing the same beliefs in the same style; Zaborov remained outside of any distinct direction. Nevertheless, photography was widely influencing all art. Unlike the masters of the 19th century, modern artists can’t be constantly Girl in Space. 1993 in touch with nature — so Paris, on ‘looking through luggage, came they must be guided by something upon a folder... and so all this began’. else. Perhaps afraid of being captured Family albums or isolated photos from by academic banalities, as had ruined forgotten package suddenly appeared as thousand of his predecessors, Zaborov separate reality, in simple imprinting of sought a new path. Photographs are which, for some reason, there was not a reliable version of reality: authentic any desire to look into. and documented. Meanwhile, painting In 1986, Nicole Zand, in his article presupposes fiction. for Le Monde newspaper, called Boris In the 1980s, Zaborov sometimes Zaborov a ‘hyperrealist of past time’. reproduced the atmosphere of long The term retains its gleam of fashion. forgotten provincial photo-workshops. Zaborov never concealed his interest in His Young Man with Hat (1986) features photos, which perhaps inspired a sense a clumsy teenager standing beside a set of empathy from the journalist. Neither featuring a vase of magnificent roses. Russian nor Belarusian art ever embraced The contrast between such beauty and hyperrealism, designated quite distinctly such ‘commonplace looks’ creates a in Western Europe, although never a dark humour rarely seen in his works. photographers, bustling around their bulky equipment, casting magic spells. Their records for eternity are not ‘high art’ but are true archives of weddings, christenings and other family celebrations. Such records tend to only have interest to immediate family members, being nothing out of the ordinary and not even telling a ‘story’. Zaborov collected such photos in Minsk and, in

Art The juxtaposition of the two creates a jarring artificiality. Young Man Sitting in an Armchair (1984) features a heavy rocking chair on which sits a skinny child with big ears and a large hat. An eloquent contrast exists between the lad’s youth and the ‘maturity’ of the hat, and between his lack of substance and the chair’s solidity. The contrast is at once ridiculous and familiar. Nevertheless, the main thing to which the artist aspires in compositions of such kind, is to ‘change’ a quite concrete room caught by a studio lens, for the space of another, mental by its nature, world, which is rebuilt each time. This world is not any more identical to a standard scenic platform of studio, which is easily recognised and which is of real interest. Artist’s look at the pauses of the bygone life — the pauses which became as tips for his pictures — is unusual, and for the majority is unacceptable, probably, at least because the newest photos which we constantly use, train to other visual reactions. But for us they serve in any case as the most reliable tools of memory. These are they which are give us as a keepsake, and are made in big quantities for themselves. Neither scientific travellers, nor leisure tourists go without them. They have considerably changed the shape of our civilisation. Naturally, artists class their creativity above that of photographers. Many look at souvenir snap shots as careless moments in time, taken in abundance on holiday and at celebrations. Undoubtedly, they have helped shape our civilisation and our sense of self. Zaborov’s use of photos relies on those from the distant past — taken long before his birth. They are ‘theatre’ for him, inspiring his own plots and character portrayals. He views those shots objectively, distancing himself, while capturing the essence of each person, to inspire empathy or sympathy.

On looking at those faces from one hundred years ago, we might imagine they resemble neighbours from a far off childhood courtyard — or newcomers from another continent. The artist who constantly felt a temptation of communication with people, who were photographed a hundred years ago, got a skill to find in their commonness something lofty, but also humble and free. Some of Zaborov’s portraits are fulllength: Woman in White Hat (1984) shows a lady perhaps newly

married, wearing white; of course, at the time, the bourgeois classes favoured pale coloured clothes. Masters of Parisian salons would often skilfully flatter customers by accentuating the grace of their figure — even elongating limbs as necessary — and photographers endeavoured to follow suit. In this case, Zaborov plays a portraitist and it does not matter from what he makes a start: from painting or from a wedding photo. But he does not intend to go a long way in such games. Not burdened with care to flatter to a lady, and pursuing just creative goals, he is reliably insured against sugariness of salon art. He is interested in painting itself. In a sketch to the picture the model is standing on the floor near

a wall. In the picture this banal background gave the way to space of enveloping, which forces a figure to behave a little bit differently, than in sketches. The arrangement of as though floating or soaring figure becomes less precise. We cannot but think of Italian Renaissance frescoes. Zaborov understands the ‘magic’ which can occur simply by placing

Girl with ball. 1999

figures against different settings or backgrounds. The main thing, apparently, is in organic interrelations of backgrounds and figures, in their unalterable unification. The background, even when it does not include any details, could not remain faceless. Its format which predetermines the course of work is caused not by rationally counted geometry of proportions, but by the character of an image and intuition of the painter. The surface of a picture, structured by blows and lines of the page

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of a character into the space, when the process of picture making fetches headway and internal meaningfulness. The canvas gradually acquires its structure, and at the same time texture, in which are reflected not only physical qualities of object prompted by a photo, but even time influence. Zaborov’s juxtaposition of characters against their environment adds meaning beyond the immediately physical. His contrasts inspire much deeper contemplation, making us ponder themes universal and timeless. The longer we look, the more we see, as with poetry and the other higher art forms. Such poetic duality generates the situation of ‘a picture in the picture’, when the viewer simultaneously sees two states of a composition. The first is more likely to be guessed, as it was initial, while the second is found by us when we examine what, apparently, should not find; namely, along with a picture we see its destiny, what it will live through. The pic ture b ecame old, undergone various tests of time which acts as its main character. Painting is designed into forestalling of that should happen, and this distinguishes the already old things, decaying icons, for example. Decay and loss are common themes for him. A beetle eating a tree acts as a timekeeper, leaving traces, which show the passing of time. The stains and scratches on Zaborov’s canvases also indicate the distortions of time, impossible to resist. These echoes on the surface of each canvas are like the marks upon our skin: not that of a babe in arms, but the skin of those who have lived and suffered,

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brush, alongside colour stains, scratching and other methods, incorporates not only the energy of strokes of the brush, but also certain ‘substance’ of spatial environment. Let a real wall of a workshop or an interior in a photo be evenly painted, what else to expect from it. Let the sky behind a window be ideally clean. However, Zaborov’s pictures do not grasp and do not accept such cleanliness. The space which he creates step by step gets certain materiality, some kind of a corporality the density of which is directly proportional to a dissolved corporality of characters. Even seemingly empty backgrounds have their purpose. Brushstrokes and application of colour contain their own energy and ‘substance’ — as if alive. No background is without meaning. The more substance bestowed on the surrounding environment, the more his characters appear to lose their physical tangibility — becoming ethereal. He notes that ‘space cannot be empty’. In his painting much depends on scale, in which figures are destined to exist. He often selects the range of double demagnification. Sometimes, he prepares a ‘heroic zoom’ for his characters. They do not want to yield to their full size, and this brings additional internal tension in a picture, which a priori does not stipulate anything heroic. Double Portrait with Doll (1993) places the doll at the centre of our attention, rather than the elderly man and woman bizarrely accompanying it. Instantly, there is discord and we see his message of irrevocably lost youth. There is no sarcasm, only sadness and a sense of fragility. While working over his works, Zaborov’s space, being actively emphasised, quite often appropriates the functions which by right should belong to the character. According to the artist, he begins from bringing a figure into emptiness of a canvas or a sheet of paper, realistically revealing the features of his characters — a boring stage for the artist, but inevitable; otherwise he won’t be able pass to the ‘inclusion’

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endured and survived. A portrait without this element of ‘time’ cannot move us, since our vulnerability to time and the fleeting nature of human life is the very element which unites us with those who lived before us. They have left their legacy, via historical and museum monuments, art works and architecture, but all are empty vessels without the sense that living people created them, leaving a small piece of their soul and passion within. Zaborov chooses not to present the ‘sleek and smooth’ in any sense. His brushstrokes include clots and daubs and small defects — as life contains them. Those canvases are alive, as we are, breathing wisdom through imperfection. Zaborov admits that people are ‘the most interesting, most mysterious objects’ in his works; even his landscapes hold human presence. He gives us not perfection but the essence of humanity: that life is not perfect and can never be fully comprehended. By Victor Mikhailov