N 6, 2010
First and second wave |
 Most of us won’t remember when the economic crisis was first announced. They say that everything began with the mortgage crunch in the USA. However, it’s rather difficult to believe that this is the major reason behind the global financial pyramid. In fact, does it matter where and why the crisis began. It spread across the globe like a chain reaction, falling on some countries like a tsunami, while forcing others to build dams or other protective structures. How did Belarus behave in this situation? |
Middle East closer than we realise |
 In Hanoi, the day ends as the sun rises to noon in Minsk. The Vietnamese President’s plane lands at the National Airport after a ten hour journey. The distance is far but Vietnam seems closer, perhaps because Belarusians know well the history of this country Several years ago, I visited Indochina. I also spoke to Vietnamese businessmen who accompanied their President during his recent official visit to Belarus. Accordingly, I can assert with some authority that our ideas about Vietnam — formed over recent decades — need serious revision. It is now a modern, dynamically developing country and a promising partner for Belarus. |
New directions |
 Industrial co-operation is viewed by Belarus and Azerbaijan as promising, as confirmed by presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev in BakuThe head of the Belarusian state has been to Azerbaijan on a three day official visit — his second to date (the last taking place in May 2007). Ilham Aliyev has also visited Belarus twice: in October 2006 and November 2009. This time, negotiations in Baku primarily focused on trade-economic relations, with the two sides discussing the implementation of current projects, as well as promising new areas for colla-boration. Particular attention was drawn to the development of co-operation in science-intensive production and high technologies. |
Good friends, reliable partners |
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Belarus has active diplomatic relations with Venezuela, Ukraine, Vietnam, Brazil, Poland, Iran, Italy and Lithuania — among others. Contacts at all levels are strengthening, characterised by geographical and political diversity. Moreover, our diplomacy reaches beyond courtesy; Belarus is bound to partners in the East and West, in the Asian-Pacific Region and Latin America, undertaking major projects Sadly, rather than looking at the essence of these ties, politicos sometimes invent conspiracy theories regarding with whom (and against whom) President Lukashenko is allying himself. Sadly, some Russian media outlets seem to feel envious, haughtily stressing that Belarus cannot adhere to a multi-vector policy. They argue that it has only two vectors — Western and Russian — which is their great conceptual mistake. |
How does the new formula work? |
 A ‘raised bar for contacts’, ‘a European entrance hall’, ‘a horizontal model of co-operation’ and ‘a project for a new home’ are popular phrases used to characterise the Eastern Partnership programme. Initiated by Poland and Sweden in Prague a year ago, it envisages a new strategy of collaboration between 27 EU countries and their closest neighbours. These include Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the South Caucasian countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The programme’s strategic goals are to encourage these six states towards European values and standards in politics and in their economies, creating free trade between the EU and its partner countries, while abolishing the visa regime How have relations drawn closer over the last year? The issue was recently discussed at the Eastern Partnership Informal Summit for Foreign Ministers in Polish Sopot. |
Trusting dialogue |
 President of Belarus talks to students at Mogilev’s A. Kuleshov State University The President has continued his practice of lecturing in front of students; however, he asked them not to view him as a lecturer. “Some might think that lecturing at a university has nothing in common with delivering a speech to the United Nations,” noted Mr. Lukashenko. “But I’ve arrived in my native town. This was my first university. In preparing my talk, I’ve focused on sociological aspects — wanting to answer questions topical to young people today. I want to see how young Belarusians perceive state policy.” |
Transit with eye to the future |
 Belarusian and Latvian railways jointly raising capacity of transport corridors Many of us still remember school mathematical problems about trains travelling from point A to point B. We had to calculate at what point they would meet or how long the journey would take. In reality, railway logistics are far more complicated, especially where line capacity through a certain site is limited. Raising capacity, even to a small extent, can drastically enhance the attractiveness of the most significant transport corridors. |
Without time limits… |
 ‘On behalf of the Italian government and people, we confirm that Konstantin Kondratenko fought against the Germans, taking part in offensive operations and receiving military information…’ read the text, beautifully written on a certification card. It once belonged to a man born in the Dubrovno district of Vitebsk regionThe Italian partisans assumed that, as soon as their Soviet colleague returned home, after the defeat of fascist Germany, he’d be asked questions at the border camp. The certification card acted as a protective document for Kondratenko, yet was withdrawn in 1945, kept in the archives of the Directorate of the State Security Committee for Vitebsk Region. However, on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory, they decided to send such documents to those who originally owned them, or to their relatives. |
Silver horseshoe with golden crosses |
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Volunteers restore Lyubcha Castle, surrounded by legends Everyone agrees that action was needed. For a long time, the 16th century castle in the village of Lyubcha (in Novogrudok district) was empty. During WWII, it was largely destroyed, as Lyubcha area was the epicentre of the partisan struggle against the Nazi fascists. This picturesque place on the Nieman River has kept its memory of those old events. A tall iron obelisk with a star stands on the road leading to the castle, bearing the names of those who died liberating their Motherland. The castle itself remembers the fighting from those years. However, it has survived. People have insisted that something should be done, giving it a roof to protect it from the wind and rain. Eventually, Ivan Pechinsky said, “I’ll do it!” |
Favourable environment for ‘misfits’ |
 Ivan Akhremchik Arts Gymnasium-College (Minsk) encourages students to show their feelings in their work. The question of why they need art never arises — clearly, it’s essential for their soulsEven the youngest feel the life-giving force of art, stresses Galina Bogdanova. “This energy is reflected in their bright eyes and faces full of inspiration…” The former journalist has surely gained insight through experience. For more than twenty years, she worked for a monthly edition called Iskusstvo (Art), helping from its earliest days of foundation. She used to write a lot about folk and fine arts, cinema and theatre. She also taught Art History at the Academy of Arts, where she successfully finished her post-graduate studies. At the Journalism Institute of the Belarusian State University, her work is still in demand. However, her main area of expertise is in teaching the subject at the Arts Gymnasium-College — the Akhremchik School, as it is often called. |
Children’s world |
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Ten years ago, only incurable optimists would believe that state orphanages would close in Belarus due to lack of need. However, the incredible has happened In the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its former republics had to determine their own path of development into unchartered territory. As ‘self-awareness’ peaked and enterprises closed, leaving people without jobs or salaries, orphanages founded during the Soviet years were flooded with children whose parents felt unable to care for them. These children may have been left to the mercy of fate by their parents but became a priority of state protection. Foster carers and teachers replaced their own dear family. |
Wheel of time by Valeriana Zholtok |
 Artist’s works leave bright impression of many-faceted palette of age Talented people always retain their place in history, according to what they create. Their expressive stamp sticks in the memory. Valeriana Zholtok’s artistic geography has placed her among the rich diversity of our national fine arts. In fact, she is a true national artist and her works still attract us with unexplained force. She discloses vivid emotions of kinship. |
Stork’s nest on the roof |
 Jubilee sketchA boy about ten years old… fair-haired… with an open look… wearing a blue checked shirt… runs down a hill … early summer… July… hot… the scent of newly mown grass, honey and bread… The boy’s face shows great joy — the joy that only a small child can know. Even his inability to live in the clouds like a bird doesn’t sadden him. He remembers well what it is to fly from his dreams, and he believes in miracles… I never knew this boy at that tender age, when everybody believes in miracles. The boy running down the hill is Alexey Dudarev. The image in my memory was born of a visit to Dudarev’s home village of Zaruby in 1983, following a family trip together to the Azov Sea; we were on our way back to Minsk, where his son Maxim was just about to start school. The scene appears in my mind like the beginning of a film. Alexey showed us around his village in Dubrovno district of Vitebsk region, pointing out where he studied (now, a museum) and played with his peers. |