Multi-polar world must be built together ➔ 3

Socio-political Weekly Published since February 2003 NO. 9 (727) Thursday, MARCH 1, 2018 WWW.SB.BY

Belarusian women’s relay team wins Olympic gold in How our PyeongChang, following an incredible winning race! All the favourites finished biathletes behind our Belarusian quartet, who appeared as a coordinated surprised the team with a single heart and common whole world dream. ➔ 10–11 Partners from north Africa are sending good signals Belarus and Algeria have agreed to co-operate at higher level By Vladimir Khromov venues. Meanwhile, a working graphical location. This state Mr. Lukashenko responded, group promoting co-operation is the largest in Africa, border- “We’re ready, with your will and The President of Belarus, with the Algerian Parliament ing several countries, which assistance, to work in the spheres Alexander Lukashenko, has was established at the National opens up vast opportunities for of industry and agriculture, using met with the Minister of For- Assembly of Belarus of the Belarus in the trade-economic our technologies. We’re ready eign Affairs of Algeria, Ab- sixth convocation. sphere. not simply to supply goods but delkader Messahel, asserting, At present, Algeria is mull- The greatest prospects for to create facilities together, in “It’s evident that the existing ing over bilateral draft agree- the development of Belarusian- Algeria.” level of Belarusian-Algerian ments on the creation of a joint Algerian co-operation are in At present, Algeria imports relations is far from ideal, es- inter-governmental commis- agriculture and manufacturing, large volumes of agricultural pecially against the backdrop of sion, as well as those gov- with Belarus ready to sup- produce manufactured in Bela- the fall in trade-economic ties.” erning mutual protection ply foodstuffs (Algeria is rus. “With an eye to diversifica- His guest admitted, “The goal of of investments, military- interested in dairy prod- tion, we’re seeking our fortune in my visit is to establish more in- technical collaboration, ucts and grain) and the People’s Republic of China, tense economic ties between our and visa-free trips for Abdelkader Messahel technical equipment, Venezuela and even further. countries.” citizens with diplomatic as well as setting up as- From a logistical point of view, This is the first visit of the and service passports. Interac- government took measures to sembly facilities. Algeria is also Algeria looks rather attractive,” FOCUS Head of the Algerian Foreign tion in the spheres of science reduce imports, in view of the eager to develop military and asserted the President. Ministry to Belarus, although and technology, education, vet- economic slowdown caused technical liaisons with Belarus, The Head of State hopes that diplomatic relations between erinary science and agriculture by the fall in world oil prices. which has expertise in security. the heads of foreign political de- Belarus and Algeria were es- is also under negotiation. In 2017, bilateral trade reached According to the Algerian partments will agree on concrete tablished on October 24th, The President of Belarus just under $2 million, with Be- Minister, Belarus and Algeria steps for the development of col- 1995. The presidents of our two emphasises that bilateral trade larus’ major exports to Algeria enjoy a good level of politi- laboration. “We’ve managed to states met in 2000 at the Millen- between Belarus and Algeria being potash fertilisers and sta- cal relations, while economic agree with Egypt; why can’t we nium Summit in New York and, used to exceed $200 million tionery, while our major imports potential is largely untapped. agree with Algeria?” the Presi- in 2006, at the Non-Aligned annually, and is convinced that were medications and fruit. Our two countries have signed dent of Belarus mused. “As far Movement Summit in Havana. this level can be restored. During talks, it has been an agreement to set up a joint as industry and our automobile In various years, Algeria has The low level of Belaru- agreed to advance bilateral co- committee on development of building, tractor building and been visited by Foreign and sian-Algerian trade is attributed operation to a new, higher level, co-operation. “We’ll need a le- agricultural machine building Defence Ministers of Belarus. to Algeria’s prioritising trade drawing upon past experience gal instrument to provide the is concerned, Algeria is a huge In November 2003, Belarus with European Union coun- of interaction, with Belarusian necessary framework for our country and opportunities for our received a visit by the Alge- tries, where the state enjoys and Algerian business circles interaction,” he added. “This construction companies and oth- rian Foreign Minister, and our some zero tariff rates. In 2015, actively involved. agreement will allow our two er enterprises are considerable. Foreign Ministry heads have Belarus’ exports to Algeria fell Belarus’ interest in Algeria countries to develop all-round We’re open and ready for any met many times at international significantly, when the Algerian can be explained by its geo- economic interaction.” co-operation with your nation.” Security always comes first By Alexey Fedosov production of high-precision President attends solemn ceremony at Palace of weapons within 18 months. On the eve of February the Republic, to mark centenary of Armed Forces, Our Belarus-made ‘Polonez’ 23rd, on which Father- multiple-launch rocket system land Defenders’ Day coinciding with Fatherland Defenders’ Day, is the prototype of such weap- is marked, President commanding nationwide respect for the heroic onry. Last October, as part of Alexander Lukashenko tests, we confirmed the new deeds of past and present generations rocket’s abilities, showing that praised all whose duty it can hit targets over 300km has been to uphold the distant. safety of Belarusian A new domestic medium- society. range air defence missile sys- tem has been created, able Contemporary challenges to destroy moving, air-borne and threats targets, including pilotless Because of its geographical aircraft and winged missiles. location and openness, Belarus A range of Belarusian lightly- has felt the harsh heel of global armoured vehicles has also political events, enduring ma- been produced. Production jor re-division of the world, BELTA has launched on Belarus-made which undermines state sover- ‘Caiman’ combat vehicles and eignty. Colossal power in the work continues on the design hands of the few has increased, of armoured, unmanned air- and many fear it may result in craft systems war. The intensity of events has prompted the united armed Military spirit forces of western countries to Passing through serious multiply their presence on our tests of world wars and having borders. endured them, Belarus is ready The Minsk Times to stand its ground. We’ve no Thursday Military efficiency of Bela- desire to inflict weapons on the March 1 rusian army world, but others should know According to Military BELTA that we’re ready to defend our 2018 Continuing glorious army traditions Doctrine, Belarus adheres to a land, our families and our in- policy of peace, avoiding mili- force. Our army is equipped Modernisation of Armed help in equipping our army. dependence. We’ll continue tary conflict, and following the with all that’s necessary, being Forces Instead, our Chinese partners enhancing our state military principle of peaceful settle- compact and mobile. In train- The world has embraced came to our aid. On behalf of efficiency and will keep our ment of disputes, knowing the ing our troops, we place the high-precision weapons and the Belarusian nation, I bow powder dry. Today, we can price of war. At the same time, greatest emphasis on training rockets. Lacking such tech- deeply to the Chinese leader- confidently say that the troops we are ready to defend our soldiers and officers in modern nologies, Belarus approached ship, and to those military men of Belarus can fulfil any task 2 national interests via military techniques of fighting. its friends but they failed to who’ve assisted us in domestic they are assigned. Multi-polar world must be built via joint efforts F ocus President of Belarus meets UN Deputy Secretary- General, Amina Mohammed By Vasily Kharitonov

The guest arrived in Minsk to take part in the National Co- ordinators’ Regional Forum on Sustainable Development Goals. This major event was conducted upon the initiative of Belarus, and brought together delega- tions from over fifty countries: from across Europe and Central Asia. The task has been to share

opinions and outline common BELTA approaches towards achieving Alexander Lukashenko and Amina Mohammed share opinions on global problems global goals, as announced by sincere wishes to the UN Secre- firmly convinced that the reason ti-polar world. A time may come multilateral settlement of prob- the UN. By 2030, it’s hoped to tary-General, António Guterres. for all troubles, including the when this multi-polar world will lematic issues, which Belarus move further towards the eradi- “I’ll be glad to meet with biggest problem — terrorism — be presented by more than three raises in the international arena. cation of poverty and hunger, him once our schedules permit. is the unequal development of to five countries. Rather, by all There are too many conflicts in while achieving greater gender He’s a very kind, warm-hearted, states, primarily caused by pov- states globally, since each person the modern world, and they are equality, and economic growth. and cordial person,” stressed Mr. erty. We adhere to the formula on the planet has the right to be all very different. We categori- It’s generally agreed that Bela- Lukashenko. that those with employment will at the centre of this multi-polar cally lack tolerance for different rus is a leader in achieving these Ms. Mohammed responded never take up a gun.” world. In settling these complex situations and manifestations. targets, with experience interest- that it’s likely that such a meeting The President assured his problems, Europe should play a Therefore, I’d like to again thank ing to partners from around the will take place, and conveyed re- guest that the United Nations Or- key role,” emphasised the Presi- you for your leadership.” world. turning warm greetings from the ganisation will always find sup- dent. Answering journalists, Ms. Welcoming Amina Moham- UN Secretary-General, adding, port from Belarus. As Belarus proposed the ini- Mohammed called the meet- med, the President of Belarus “He’s told me a lot about your “I personally respect the cur- tiative to conduct the Regional ing with the President of Bela- noted that the global Sustainable personal contact, and was quite rent UN Secretary-General. The SDG Coordination Leaders Fo- rus an interesting and exciting Development Goals, as well as envious of my going to Belarus UN is a venue where we can rum in Minsk, Amina Moham- event. “As a leader, he is greatly the principles of UN activity, while he was unable to do so.” openly speak about our prob- med responded, “Your leader- inspiring. He truly believes in chime with Belarus’ own goals. Regarding major issues from lems. We’re all working to liq- ship is needed today as never what he’s doing, while his voice Mr. Lukashenko asked his guest the international agenda, the po- uidate unequal development and before: the leadership and the is heard on the international to convey his warmest and most sition of Minsk is clear. “We’re poverty, and to create a true mul- voice for multipolarity, for the arena.” Important issues of global agenda are under discussion in Belarusian capital By Vladimir Velikhov are universal but it’s impossible to achieve them alone. The development of the econ- Belarus has many times hosted omy is vital to raising incomes and stand- major international events, show- ards of living. However, investments are ing its desire for dialogue and not enough for economic development; co-operation we need innovative production, alongside The truly global agenda gathered high- science, and joint projects. This is only ranking representatives from dozens of possible in partnership. We’ve created countries, to discuss the sustainable devel- our own system of achieving the Sustain- opment of our planet, as embodied across able Development Goals — the national seventeen goals adopted by the UN in architecture of management, and we’re 2015. Last week, the Regional SDG Coor- delighted to see it arouse interest among dination Leaders Forum opened in Minsk, colleagues from other states,” noted Ms. with Belarus initiating the first such dis- Shchetkina. cussion worldwide. BELTA The slogan of the UN global agenda The Minsk Times During the work of the forum The UN Deputy Secretary-General, on achieving sustainable development Thursday Amina Mohammed, arrived from New commented. “Belarus has launched from a adopting its national strategy of sustainable through until 2030 is one of unity, embrac- March 1 York to take part, offering her support for good platform in achieving the Sustainable socio-economic development until 2030. ing every participant. Raising every global 2018 Belarus’ idea of creating a new format for Development Goals, having successfully According to the National Coordinator for citizen’s standard of living is an ambitious interaction and experience sharing in the fulfilled the Millennium Goals. I appreci- Achieving the Sustainable Development task: one that’s impossible without con- sphere of sustainable development. She ate the progress reached by Belarus in its Goals, the Deputy Chair of the Council of cord, peace and security, as Belarus’ For- thanked Belarus for this important step for development. It’s important that you share the Republic, Marianna Shchetkina, each eign Minister, Vladimir Makei, asserts. the future of our planet. your experience in the region and interna- country has its own conditions and starting Participants of discussions also shared “I’m very grateful for the organisation tionally.” position, so it’s vital to share experience their impressions of the forum and ideas of this forum. My first visit to Belarus has Belarus has actively joined in realis- and support one another. on how to achieve the goals set before the impressed me greatly,” Ms. Mohammed ing the Sustainable Development Goals, “The Sustainable Development Goals world community. 3 The Minsk TimesMinsk The Thursday 4 March 1 2018 line launched PET-packing processing Minsk’s firstandonly ecology profit and for evident Recycling By AlexeyFedosov privatisation thisyear than fortyenterprisesfor prepares listofmore State PropertyCommittee Proposals madetopotentialinvestors No place for oilormetal By OksanaNevmerzhitskaya enterprises, hasbeen ear stock companies and unitary list, featuringforty-three joint- Minsk. “Thisyear, arenewed Gaev, atapressconference in Committee of Belarus, Andrey Chairman oftheStateProperty for investors,” explainedthe enterprises inordertobeready we compileaworkinglistof planned privatisationeachyear, of labels debris, bottlecapsandfragments vibrating sieve,togetridofsand, naturally, and passing through a als hittheconveyor, spacing out bindingit. wire materi- The raw ing table,whereaworkercutsthe loader sendsthepiletoreceiv- roar of motors and a mechanical all systemsgo! water reaches80degreesandit’s cess israthernoisy. At last,the turning ontheline,sincepro- gives everyoneearmuffs before Volokha, thesectionsupervisor, necessary temperature. Denis for thewatertowarm bottles arewaitingnearthedoor, refurbishment. Pilesofpressed enterprises still smells from its shop atthewaste-processing in attendanceduringthelaunch. ECONOMY line, withourMTcorrespondent launched aPET bottleprocessing Minsk’s Ekoresenterprisehad still being light and convenient. recycled orwhich degrade, while to usematerialswhichcanbe the environment,it’s important ing phenomenally. Thinking of beer andmineralwaterisgrow- tles used for carbonated drinks, “Though wedon’t have The room is filled with the The newly-painted work- The numberofplasticbot- - Major laundry Major rified before returning to the line. ter is on a closed cycle, being pu- wa- The system. purification the and rise,whilerubbishsinks,into the centrifugal force, flakes rotate of sandandlabels.Because of flakes away rinse to water cool like awashingmachine, uses cal liquids. materials and packing for techni- thetic threads,someconstruction syn- fibres, polyester,chemical cessed, forproductionofpadding material —canbefurtherpro- flakes — anintermediary raw essary size. These polyethylene the remainderarecuttonec- the lower auger conveyor, while eter. Everythingsmallergoesto which hasholesof14mmdiam- by thegrating,installedbeneath, ments. controlledTheir sizeis grind everythingintosmallfrag- on the walls and in the spindle, ary and rotatory knives, placed conveyor belt,wherestation- grinder alonganalmostvertical with interest shown towards placed on thestockexchange, stock companies havebeen rency andStockExchange.” oping interactionwiththeCur pany. We’ve also begun devel enterprise orajointstockcom - investors need to purchase an als and to share views of what asking them to make propos- the privatesectoroverlist, with constantly innegotiations marked for privatisation. We’re keys. abunchof a demonstrationwith paper clipsorcoins;wewatch as items such catches separator the pressofabutton. A magnetic move fast,andcanbestoppedat “We addwashingdetergent,” The centrifuge,whichworks The PET bottlesgotothe Minority packages of five The conveyorbeltdoesn’t

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BELTA YURI MOZOLEVSKY Big potential needs oneoperator, three sorters Euros. Being automated, it only line hascostEkores$280,000 produce, readyforthecustomer. blowing cycle andwe havepure remaining glue.” very highrotatingspeed,toclear through the spindle’s blades at a else, asit’s a secret. Flakes rub moment; Ican’t tellyouwhat bag. “Sodiumcarbonateatthe notes Denis Volokha, takinga new packages thisyear. We legislation andplanto place Exchange, we’re developing and theCurrency andStock Bank, theFinanceMinistry leagues fromtheNational three ofthese.“With ourcol- The PET bottleprocessing One more drying, rinsing and One moredrying,rinsingand Gomselmash Associationis anattractiveasset At PET-packingprocessing line vironment. synthetic wastewillhelptheen- while thepartial processing of material into profitable goods, cle around60-70percentofraw for heatingofwater. introduced, savingtimeandcosts alternate shiftschedulewillbe planned volumesarereached,an one shift five days a week. When difficulties, with the line working 2,500 tonnesannually). to up (or hour per flakes 500kg and agenerallabourertoproduce last year, and Chinese inves- two enterprises wascompiled cerned, a pilot list of twenty- investments from Chinaiscon- Mr. Gaev. view thisaspromising,”added The enterpriseplanstorecy- The enterpriseforeseesno As far as the attraction of last year from abroad into economy Belarusian Almost $10 billioninjected By VladimirKhromov investors for foreign conditions Attractive tion forathree-yearperiod). to just$500,000(withacondi- However, thisisbeing reduced on thetermforpreferences). million (butwithoutrestrictions with a minimum injectionof$5 come aresident ofthe Park Mr. Koroteev. istrative procedures,”explains admin- fulfil to request) (upon totheParktheir employees thorities are obliged to send desire to co-operate. State au- come to usand express their or committees;it’s enoughto approach variousministries vestors tothePark. shop’ principle, is attracting in gal regime, usingthe‘onestop Undoubtedly, theimprovedle- made fromsteelandaluminium. cal technologies, and radiators ser equipment, as well as medi electronic components and la- opto-mechanical components, production ofsuper-condensers, registered atthePark,covering twenty-three companies were ed,” saidMr. Koroteev. Now, allelectricityisconnect- residents havingtousediesel. first supply,the electricity with of itskeyinfrastructure. launch official the at speaking Park Development Company, tor GeneraloftheIndustrial Koroteev, FirstDeputyDirec- in thisrespect,explainedKirill rusian IndustrialParkishelping the Great Stone Chinese-Bela ber ofinvestors. The launchof coming years,aswillthenum- capital isexpectedtogrowwith the lead,butthatotherforeign the UKandCyprusaretaking that companiesfromRussia, Committee ofBelarus notes Property Committee. explains theHeadof State ence tobebrought onboard, allowing for Chinese experi cent share to Chinese partners, ing privatised,tooffer a 60per tecture andConstruction)isbe - (part oftheMinistry Archi- under discussion.Belgosproekt naya DvinaRiver. power stationontheZapad- construction ofahydroelectric posal was also received on the agricultural machinery. A pro- sociation, whichspecialisesin Production As- Gomselmash tiations wereconductedfor according toMr. Gaev, nego- large businesses. Inparticular, acquisition options, including tors were invited to consider The NationalStatistical Previously, onecouldbe- “Investors don’t need to At thebeginningofthisyear, “Previously, we had no Several proposalsarenow - - - - - Under supervision of satellites Domestic IT companies join world market with their products

By Vladislav Kuletsky telematics. “We have proposed a ECONOMY solution almost ten times cheap- Deputy Prime Minister er: previously, monitoring of a Vladimir Semashko has recently single car was priced at around said that revenues of the High- 200 Euros, while we proposed Tech Park in late 2017 made the price of 20 Euros. In addi- almost $1bn. According to him, tion, we enabled our partners — this sum is much higher than the who sell the product to end users revenue of Belarus’ industrial — to make money and build a enterprises. “The modern HTP business: they would get 80-90 successfully operates and — in- percent of the profit (rather than dependently of the crisis — is 10 percent in the past). Finally, annually increasing in the Dollar we decreased the dependence and real equivalent,” he noted. of brands and equipment: previ- Indeed, many IT companies ously, software and equipment made their way into the market used were inseparable but we without any preferences — sim- proposed integrators to install ply improving their efficiency our software on a variety of each year. For example, the Bela- equipment for various projects.” rusian group of companies Gur- Moreover, the price of car tam has recently celebrated its monitoring has decreased to 10 15th anniversary but it managed Shipping Euros per month by now and the to join the HTP only last year — companies around developers receive only 1-2 after gaining global recognition. Euros (but still earn much). Once three guy-program- the world use Net figures remain secret. mers decided they wanted to Belarusian software The company expects work for themselves. One of the to monitor their to enjoy even more oppor- programmes they developed for vehicles tunities after adoption of the their client eventually became decree on development of the the basis for their further work. digital economy. Top manager They understood that telemat- Alexander Kuvshinov believes ics would bring in a good in- this is definitely a positive step, come. The guys developed ‘including for our company’. good software for GPS- “Technologies will come to the monitoring and car fleet country. Workforce and new owners now save on downtime, avenues of our work will de- route deviation and defueling. velop then. Actually, we could At present, the company have achieved all these with- monitors over 1.3m vehicles out this step but improve- worldwide in real time. Co- ment of conditions for the founder Alexey Shchurko ex- arrival and opening of IT plains that their start-up was companies will develop the truly unique for the market of state,” he says. Products Obviously positive tendencies headed promise to preserve worldwide for Belarus is utterly and export completely in the wake of By Oleg Bogomazov global economic trends. Latest resident of According to estimates of Minsk free economic the international agency zone constructing Bloomberg, China’s new factory economy will grow by 6.4 Minsk FEZ’s latest resident is BaFaHimBel percent in 2018, that of Ltd., producing addi- the USA — by 2.5 percent, tives for concrete, for German economy will various purposes. Turk- increase by 1.6 percent ish YAKEM Company is funding the venture, and Japanese — by 0.9 bringing innovative percent. production technolo- gies. Well-known on the By Maxim Osipov construction market, specialising in the man- The Economy Ministry sees oppor- Country in the tide of economic trends ufacture of additives for tunities for GDP growth in the first three Concern and Industry Ministry taking into partly explained by the fact that European concrete and various ad- months of 2018 by at least 2.1 percent. account the adopted decisions dealing with politicians have finally stopped throwing mixtures, BaFaHimBel Economy Minister Vladimir Zinovsky support, as well as the creation of favour- commercial interests to the altar of the Ltd. plans to become a The Minsk Times believes that such forecast is completely able conditions for population’s purchase political ambitions and focused primarily leading enterprise in Be- Thursday reasonable, “Macroeconomic situation is of domestically-produced passenger cars. on economic co-operation, towards which larus. March 1 stable and external conditions promise to “We expect to see the effect where invest- official Minsk has been calling for during The factory will 2018 be favourable. The goal-oriented matrix of ment projects have been completed. As far long years.” boast a high degree of tasks for the vertical power structure has as light industry is concerned, this is Orsha Positive effect from such behaviour is mechanisation and auto- been built. Further on everything depends Linen Mill and Kamvol while Svetlogorsk also noted by the IMF in its World Eco- mation, as well as serious on performers, their professionalism, de- Pulp and Board Mill is expected to pro- nomic Outlook: ‘Risks regarding the fore- quality control. About 90 gree of responsibility and desire to work.” duce about 30,000 tonnes of new produce cast of the world growth in the nearest percent of additives pro- Factors which can ensure higher — cellulose. I will allow myself a bold time is seen primarily balanced; however, duced by BaFaHimBel growth rates in industry include growth of assertion. Normalisation of economies they are still shifted towards reduction of will be exported to CIS production at enterprises of Belneftekhim of Belarus and of European countries is growth rates in the mid-term’. and non-CIS states. 5 Under readers’ heel In our Internet age, author-reader relations have changed drastically

By Lyudmila Ivanova say that comic books can’t provide a transformative reading experience, Some stories gain the title of ‘lit- but mass popularity is never a good erary’ while others have popular ap- yardstick by which to judge ‘quality’. peal. Bestseller status is no guarantee Just think of the rap battle between of ‘quality’, while producing an ac- Oxxxymiron and Gnoyny, both Rus- claimed literary work offers no guar- sian rappers, which earned millions of antee that readers will ‘enjoy’ your views within a few days. narrative. A few minutes browsing the It may be time to put aside literary reviews left for legends of great liter- snobbery, and realise that every author ature on well-known sales platforms should be judged on their own merit, provides ample evidence that read- whatever their style or genre, and that ers aren’t backward in making their the ability to entertain should be rec- views known. Artist Vasily Kandin- ognised as a rare skill. Whether you’re sky viewed artistic popularity as an reading the latest murder mystery top- inverse pyramid, in which familiarity ping the sales charts, or a classic by allows a greater number of people to George Orwell or Umberto Eco, you appreciate and enjoy an artist’s work. may find yourself transported through As a book, or artistic work, grows in the realm of fiction, to a greater under- popularity, it trends to an ever-wider standing of the human condition. audience. Bob Dylan received the Nobel Through storytelling, authors Prize for Literature, demonstrating have the ability to transport the read- that words can speak to us from the er, taking them on a cathartic journey, most unexpected places. revealing eternal truths. However, we Literary critics bewail that our de- can all think of ‘bestsellers’ that seem sire for pulp fiction is actually shap- to do no more than entertain, how- ing the market, governing the direc- ever cleverly they are crafted. Plot tion taken by new authors, who wish may follow the same arc as we see in to make money from their writing. television drama, with cliff-hangers One bestseller begets a thousand imi- dominating, and the reader expecting tations, as we know. However, perhaps a ‘happy’ resolution to the end of the we should remember that art mirrors tale. its time, and the trends of its age. To- In similar style, autobiographies day’s ‘engineers of human souls’ are do well with readers, being written doing no more than feeding the appe- almost in imitation of ‘soap opera’, tite we display as a society. featuring real life professionals from One of hardest things for today’s interesting walks of life. I recently writers is the obligation to be un- read a book by Saturnina Gallardo, der the public eye. With the Internet a Spanish nurse and blogger. Entitled leaving no doors closed, anyone who Between Procedures, it has sold over gains fame comes under scrutiny, and 100,000 copies, detailing her work- the online community is not always Readers looking on writers’ creations with disdain ing day, in Spain. “I’d like to share kind. Readers don’t hold back in leav- with you each of my days spent in the rusian word for radio), and Roman While serious writers, such as ing crushing reviews when they feel hospital, bringing you a broad smile,” Svechnikov’s travelogue, Roma is Argentine novelist, short story writer disappointed, and the media are quick she writes, adding that she’s so hap- Going, are also good examples. The and essayist Julio Cortázar and Ser- to gossip about authors who fail to fit py with her author success that ‘if I book’s success at the crowdfunding bian novelist, poet, short story writer some ‘ideal’ mould. In this age of In- sneeze, confetti’s likely to fly out of venue also demonstrates its public and literary historian Milorad Pavić stagram, authors are under the heel of me’. appeal (however, it should be noted oblige readers to strain in understand- their readers. Belarusian downshifter Andrus that the greatest crowdfunding event ing their dense writings, graphic nov- We may lament the lack of literary Gorvat’s diary, published as Radziva in Belarus so far was to raise money els provide accessible storytelling greats, but perhaps we’re failing to see Prudok (‘radziva’ is a dialect Bela- for a potato salad). entertainment for all. That’s not to what’s actually in front of us.

BELARUS BELARUS WORLD & Co-operation unites people and communities March 24th is World Tuber- the detection and chemopreven- councils on multidrug-resistant culosis Day, as decreed by tion of tuberculosis in children, tuberculosis are operating effi- the World Health Organisa- while offering state funded so- ciently and, owing to their work, tion, marking German mi- cial support to outpatients. all patients receive adequate crobiologist Robert Koch’s The TB situation is under the chemotherapy treatments. Such discovery of a causative control of the Government of actions have reduced morbidity agent of tuberculosis, in the Republic of Belarus and the and mortality from tuberculo- 1882. In 1993, tuberculosis Ministry of Health. A new state sis. The TB incidence rate fell was declared a national programme — Tuberculosis 4.6 percent from 2014 to 2016, disaster and March 24th — has been developed and ap- while TB mortality dropped became World TB Day. proved for 2016-2020, helping by 12.8 percent (from 4.7 per Belarus has been working prevent the spread of resistant 100,000 people in 2014 to 4.1 to control the spread of tuber- forms of tuberculosis, while in- per 100,000 in 2015). culosis via regulatory, organi- creasing the scale of treatment. The Republican Scientific sational and methodical meth- A new grant for 2016-2018 and Practical Centre of Pulmo- The Minsk Times ods. Its health facilities provide has allocated $11.8 million, and nology and Tuberculosis is the Thursday public TB care, using the latest a programme of international services, under the Ministry of tibility of the TB mycobacte- country’s major establishment March 1 modern, efficient and economi- technical assistance has been Internal Affairs, and Ministry rium. Experience in using rapid coordinating the fight against 2018 cally justified technologies. Two successfully completed in Bela- of Health organisations, which methods of genetic diagnostics tuberculosis, developing new years ago, broad clinical use of rus, promoting anti-tuberculosis render anti-TB assistance. All are proving highly efficient, en- technologies and testing an ad- new TB drugs launched in Be- measures to battle the multid- penitentiary establishments are abling speedy treatment at spe- vanced international approach larus: bedaquiline, delamanid, rug-resistant disease, funded by controlled by curators from anti- cialised hospitals. All anti-TB to diagnosing and treating TB. and clofazimine. There is also the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB organisations. organisations are implementing A free hotline on TB issues op- a new scheme of treatment for Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bela- Belarus has reorganised its infection control plans, includ- erates daily: 88011001313. patients with extensively drug- rus ensures constant interaction bacteriological service, intro- ing the purchase of personal By Tatiana Zhukova, resistant pathogens. Belarus has between the Department of Ex- ducing molecular genetic rapid protective equipment. doctor of highest category, Candidate of Medical 6 introduced new approaches for ecution of Judgements’ medical diagnostics on the drug suscep- Republican and regional Sciences Focus on agro services By Kristina Khilko of large cities would like a rest from the Powerful impetus to the development concrete jungle in the countryside. Many

Revival of the ‘unpromising’ visit us several times and we have already INSIDE In 2006, there were just three dozen of new leisure area in Belarus given acquired regular clients. Agro-tourism agro-estates in Belarus while now their by Presidential Decree rests on three major aspects: hospitality of number exceeds two thousand — a huge the hosts, originality of the estate and its jump over a decade. Moreover, Belaru- location. We’re located one hour’s drive sian agro-ecotourism continues to develop from the Belovezhskaya Pushcha or an- by leaps and bounds, with the benefit of cient Brest. Prices are moderate: a house ‘charitable’ taxes. will cost about $40 per day.” The conditions are almost unbeliev- able: paying just one base rate per year, Under the wings of the green cock- taking a loan on privileged terms and erels launching one’s own business. Signing Hotels are usually given stars while the Decree, Alexander Lukashenko was in Belarusian estates are given ‘green roost- no doubt that agro-ecotourism will help re- ers’. Four birds are a sign of the highest vive abandoned villages and preserve folk quality. This is an international trend: Lith- traditions and way of life. The advantages uanians mark their best estates with storks, are apparent: new jobs appear, the infra- Spaniards — with olives, Latvians — with structure improves and additional money butterflies. is directed to the regions for development. Estates and their services are assessed An important aspect is that the hosts by experts from the Country Escape public need not simply rent accommodation for association which is already 14 years old. tourists but introduce them to local sites, “We read comments on forums and talk to culture and traditions. This is the require- hosts. It sometimes happens that a house ment of the law. There are those however, is ordinary, without any sophistication, but who try to violate the rules, turning au- there’s no end of guests. The secret is in thentic rural houses into the usual cafes benevolence and hospitality of the hosts,” for corporate parties. This practice has explains Valeria Klitsounova, the Chair of forced the Ministry of Sports and Tourism the Country Escape Belarusian Associa- to submit a new draft decree for consid- tion of Rural and Ecotourism. eration, “If a host lives in the village, does Agro-estates aren’t an easy business

the housekeeping and rents out up to ten BELTA and special seminars are conducted by rooms nothing will change for them, they Hostess of ‘Over the Nieman’ agro-eco-estate, specialists from the public association for will continue paying one base amount and Oksana Salkovskaya, invites guests those wishing to start their business. They will be able to take privileged loans,” ex- ists can make pots from clay, create talis- The businessman admits that foreign- describe how to develop the concept of plains Mikhail Portnoy, Deputy Minister mans in the form of dolls from straw and ers are among his guests but they are most- the agro-estate and to organise everything. for Sports and Tourism. “Sly owners of weave belts. More and more guests from ly Belarusians and Russians. Experience shows that if a correct ap- restaurants and hotel businesses will have abroad are attracted by folk holidays or- “We often welcome families from proach is taken, rural and ecological tour- to tighten their belts; they have disguised ganised in each village together with the Minsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Residents ism is fashionable and profitable. their businesses as agro-ecotourism.” traditional festivals: Kupalie, Calling of Spring and Maslenitsa. ‘Cups’ and ‘sizzles’ Previously agro-estates were a place Last year, according to the National of rest just for a weekend but now they are Tourist choices Geographic magazine, Belarus won in often booked for a longer period, from a ‘Nanosy-Novoselie’ ethno-cultural and prepare healing herbs while water the ‘Agrotourism’ category, followed by week or more. complex (Myadel District’s Nanosy therapy will help cure some disorders. Italy and France, while Russia was placed “Many are fed up with the tradition- village in the Minsk Region). Guests fourth. al beach holiday,” Georgy Gribov, the are offered to heat a Russian stove, ‘Krolava Khata’ estate (Rossony cook food in it and sleep in the District’s Zaborie village in the Vitebsk What do Belarusian villages and Chairman of the public council on agro- hayloft. A wind and water mill is Region). A one-storey house stands homesteads offer to tourists? Renovated ecotourism of the Brest Region and host of located near the house, as well as on the bank of the picturesque Lake houses boast ancient interiors and mod- the Mlynok agro-estate, says confidently. museums of samovars, coins and Neshcherdo, with an air-rifle shooting ern conveniences. The more original and “Many would like to have simple joys of Soviet automobiles. Moreover, there’s a range and a sports ground nearby. The diverse the site is, the more guests there picking mushrooms, fishing, natural prod- brandy kitchen. hosts of the estate are experienced tourist instructors, offering hikes, trips are. Tourists are delighted by mini-zoos — ucts and rural quiet. We have a sweet- ‘Veres’ estate (Zelva District’s and rafting events. live corners where one can feed peacocks, smelling hayloft for sleeping, picnic Kozlovichi village in the Grodno geese and pheasants, to milk a goat and places and campfires, as well as Region). It was recognised best agro- ‘Khata pod Klenami’ estate (Postavy stroke a lamb. Original cuisine with cycle rides and extreme rafting, estate in 2006. The inn in the national District’s Noviki village in the Vitebsk national flavours also attracts custom. so places are often booked style cooks original dishes. A dendro- Region). Last year, the estate was park with two hundred trees and recognised best in the ‘Preservation of An interactive map, ‘Gastsinia’ was until the end of sum- bushes is located nearby. Children Belarusian Traditions’ category. Guests invented for tourists, gathering dishes mer.” are greatly delighted with swans, can bake fresh fish caught in the from various regions of the country. One peacocks and pheasants. lake or bake a cake from mushrooms just needs to click an interesting name and gathered in the neighbouring forest. see the agro-estates which offer ancient ‘U Rysya’ Homestead (Svisloch Hosts offer their guests home-made District’s Korevichi village in the cheese and cottage cheese while Belarusian dishes of peasant or ‘noble’ Grodno Region). The agro-estate a wedding in line with ancient cuisine. conducts master-classes on creating Belarusian traditions can be organised Meanwhile, as men don’t live by straw dolls, moulding clay for newly-weds: with a round loaf, bread alone, in some villages tour- pots and weaving medovukha (an alcoholic traditional belts. drink made of water, honey The local healer and yeast), ‘bride price’ and will tell her guests circle dances. how to collect

The Minsk Times Thursday March 1 2018

Ethnocultural complex in Myadel District’s village of Nanosy BELTA 7 Theresa May’s post-Brexit wish

The UK Prime Minister says she wants all EU citizens lawfully living in Britain to remain after Brexit in 2019 Theresa May is also prom- ising a streamlined system for them to register to be able to stay. “They have made a huge contribution to our country, that’s why we want them and their fam- ilies to stay. I am absolutely clear that EU citizens living lawfully in the UK today will be able to stay,” May said in Parliament. “It is going to be a digital sys- tem, it will be streamlined, it will be user-friendly and it will ensure that this is as simple and as easy a process for people as we can provide.” EU moves to tackle terror WORLD REUTERS financing The EU’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has backed moves to cut off sources of Rare snowfall blankets terrorism financing It comes amid a push to pre- vent attacks and stem the flow of cash, honing in on money laun- dering and organised crime. A Rome, closing schools European Parliament vote is ex- pected next month. “What we want is to create Romans have awoken to a rare snowfall, after an means, with the actual bodies and institutions in order to give them Arctic storm passing over much of Europe dumped facilities to investigate and to fol- low what could be the channels enough snow to force schools to close and public of financing micro terrorism,” ex- plained Spanish MEP Javier Nart, transport to reduce services from the Group of the Alliance of Rome’s Mediterranean open even through the coldest Romans out for a rare snow- many private ones followed Liberals and Democrats for Eu- climate and proximity to the months of the year. As a result, ball fight or walk in the slush. suit. Elsewhere in much of rope. “There is a major point is sea usually result in mild the Monday morning snow- Mayor Virginia Raggi signed northern and central Italy, the to create a platform where intelli- winters, such that restaurants fall, though not huge in quan- an ordinance closing public storm also closed schools and gent services of Europe will find, often keep outdoor seating tity, brought excited young schools as a precaution, and disrupted transport. and share knowledge and data.” The European Counter Ter- rorism Centre is already up and Creepy dog robots running, to strengthen the EU’s response. It uses two arms — a tracking programme and intel- cannot be stopped ligence units — to share intel- ligence and knowledge on fi- from opening doors nancing In one of the scari- est moments in British the movie Jurassic American sales, Park, a pair of intel- ligent Velocirap- profit helped by tors, brought back to Earth by man’s Reynolds deal Space station builder hubris, defy an British American Tobacco assumption about reported higher full-year Bigelow Aerospace their limitations: sales and profits, helped by they open a kitchen the acquisition of Reynolds door American and market share forms new company Now imagine that gains Bigelow Aerospace has spun The International Space the raptors are real, The maker of Dunhill and off a new commercial space Station may be winding down, transformed into head- Lucky Strike cigarettes said rev- company called Bigelow but when it finally ceases opera- less robot dogs that can enue rose 37.6 percent to 20.29 The Minsk Times Space Operations, which tions sometime between 2025 negotiate stairs, fling billion pounds. Adjusted organic Thursday will act as the sales, opera- and 2028, low Earth orbit may open doors with their ro- revenue rose 2.9 percent. March 1 tions, and customer service be set for a population boom. botic claws and general- Adjusted earnings per share 2018 provider for the inflatable For some years now, Bigelow ly overcome the puny obstacles 2½-foot-tall robot is controlled rose about 10 percent to 284.4 space stations that Bigelow Aerospace has made no secret offered up by the human techni- by an unseen human driver pence, excluding the impact of a Aerospace is developing. The about its ambitions to develop cians at Boston Dynamics. who directs the robot claw to gain related to the deal and a de- fledgling company has few inflatable, multipurpose habi- The robotics company the door handle and issues a ferred tax credit. employees at the moment, tat modules that could one day posted a video, showing two of ‘Go’ command. From then on, Global cigarette sales vol- but CEO Robert Bigelow dwarf today’s orbital laboratory. their yellow SpotMini robots the SpotMini’s camera-guided, umes are in decline as more peo- expects BSO to employ up to Currently, Bigelow is testing an helping each other enter a door. autonomous programming ple cut back or quit smoking. 500 people when its first sta- experimental inflatable module Now the company has released kicks in to fulfill its mission to Materials prepared with aid 8 tions are launched in 2021. on the ISS. a sequel in which a single open the door. of information agencies Falsity in creativity isn’t peculiar for true painter CULTURE National Art Museum of Belarus hosts Between the Word and the Image exhibition, by outstanding graphical painter Anatoly Alexandrovich

By Veniamin Mikheev

The exhibition showcases drawings and etchings from the collections of the National Art Museum, Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum, and Yakub Kolas State Literary- Memorial Museum, as well as from the collection of the artist’s family. Anatoly Alex- androvich’s mastery is clear, across all types of graphic art: from canvases to book illustra- tions. His interest in the latter was especially widespread, for literary works and more popu- lar books. Meanwhile, the art of words and the art of drawings have been inseparably con- nected since ancient times, since graphical signs — ele- ments of any alphabet — re- cord the cultural code of the nation, creating a definite im- age system. Then the interac- tion between words and im- ages enters a Anatoly Al- new level with exandrovich’s the appear- experimental ance of printed works are also books. Mean- on display, while, book combining var- engraving has ious engraving been one of the techniques most popular in new ways, and significant such as etching forms of art for and lino-print. centuries. Anatoly The word Alexandrovich ‘illustration’ was versatile is translated and innovative, from Latin as the exhibi- as ‘to cover, tion demon- or to reveal’. strates, show- We may sup- ing his diverse pose that this techniques and careful eye, his is the meaning meticulous work, and beautiful of a true art use of delicate watercolour. His of illustration. ability to portray the nuances of Beyond addition or decora- Crowds gather literary works through illustra- for opening of tion, illustrations penetrate the exhibition of Anatoly tion is unmatched. ‘soul’ of a work, revealing and Alexandrovich’s With a zest for life and embodying its essence, ideas works​ humour, he was a perfect il- and mood, visually. The abil- Director of National lustrator of children’s litera- ity to interpret literature is also Art Museum, ture and for several satirical an art form. Vladimir Prokoptsov, works. Mr. Alexandrovich’s shares warm words Undoubtedly, Anatoly Al- about the artist latest large-scale work is a exandrovich possessed this collection of works by Bela- special talent: of interpreting Artist’s works arouse rusian literary classic Kon- contemplation on art words, creating images which of words and art of drat Krapiva: On the Cutting- stood as art of high class in drawings Edge (2016). At the same their own right. time, the exhibition displays It’s no accident that most Bryusov and F. Garcia Lorca. warm touch, set the mood for tention to the image of the leg- dramatic, emotional pieces of his creativity was connect- A series of ink drawings the Belarusian folktale of The endary personality — a person connected to the topic of the ed with print editions while his for the poems of Yanka Ku- Cunny Fox, from the 1995 who founded Belarusian print- Great Patriotic War. The Minsk Times best works were inspired by pala presents Anatoly Alexan- collection for children. Mean- ing five hundred years ago. Anatoly Alexandrovich was Thursday bright creativity of outstand- drovich as a prominent painter while, his ink drawings bring One of the pieces dedicated to successful in all his endeav- March 1 ing representatives of Bela- whose delicate and skilful to life scenes of ancient Bela- Francysk Skaryna is a classical ours. Sadly, his illustration of 2018 rusian and world literature: work creates expressive imag- rusian history, in K. Tarasov’s portrait inspired by the famous My Belarus series of graphical Yanka Kupala, Yakub Kolas, es which seem to come alive: a Memory of Legends (1990). self-portrait engravings of the pieces was never completed. Maxim Tank, Ivan Shemyakin, perfect match for the genius of The reserved exoticism of first printer. Meanwhile, Fran- Undoubtedly, had he finished Nil Gilevich, Yanka Bryl, Ivan Belarusian poetry. his engravings suits Tobacco cysk Skaryna. Prague presents his work on the book, it would Chigrinov, Mikhas Charot, On show are illustrations Flower (1986), an anthology the would-be famous Belaru- have been one of his greatest Ivan Naumenko, Vasil Vitka, on various themes, and in of Cuban poetry. sian printer and publisher as a accomplishments. However, Ivan Karizna, Konstantin Tara- various media. His soft water- His special love for book young enthusiast yet to find his his legacy sets the creative bar sov, Adam Mickiewicz, Valery colours, created with a light, illustrations made his pay at- role in the history of the state. for all artists. 9 10 The Minsk TimesMinsk The Thursday March 1 2018 ing range, hittingallher targets, and showed nofearatthe shoot- of nerves.She skiedsteadily, willed, with steel cables instead chain butprovedherselfiron- potentially ourweak link in the Dahlmeier tocatchher. or Laura by her teeth, refusing to allow to secondplaceinthemassstart Cup roundin Annecy, sheclung tion’ thisseason.Inthe World why she’s beencalleda‘revela- the leaders’ reach,showingus Krivko’s within speedtookus liably. With fire in her belly, Irina skiing steadily, andshootingre- gan withNadezhdaSkardino By IgorGrishin spirit inhardtimes. our souls and raising our fighting and spoken of proudly, warming feat willbelongremembered, tory isincredible. The brilliant in mind,thePyeongChangvic- women’s teamtowin. With this ers gaveoddsof30:1forour stunning results. our determinationpaidoff, with when PyeongChang, differentwas in However, everything finished thirteenth. In ,we lapped frombehind. race, having been our teamtoleavethe penalty laps, forcing imbekova tookthree Dinara Al- Oberhof, filzen. Moreover, in - enth placeinHoch resulted onlyinsev- in theCupstandings son, three relay races sea- This in Antholz. the World Cupround result, lastJanuary, at place being its best sixth with and last, success thisseason The presentline-uphaslacked have several times come close. medal asateam,thoughthey en’s squad wonan Olympic among suchstiff competition. hardly havepredictedthewin, prise everyonebutwecould lieve thatourteamcouldsur Of course, we’d wanted to be- still wantto pinch ourselves. tory seemsincredible,andwe syour goalclearly. Their vic- you believeinyourselfandsee en thatnothingisimpossibleif not simplywonbuthaveprov- p and DaryaDomrachevahave Dinara Alimbekova Krivko, ort surprised thewholeworld Dinara Alimbekova, 22,was The breath-taking race be Before thestart,bookmak- Never beforehasourwom- Skardino,Irina Nadezhda favourites finishedbehindourBelarusianquartet,whoappearedas PyeongChang, followinganincrediblewinningrace! All the a coordinatedteamwithsingleheartandcommondream - - BELTA historical andunforgettable. nessed our undeniable victory, in thequarter-final. Korea wit smashed the powerful Swedes, in SaltLakeCity, when ourteam haps, byouricehockeymiracle in Sochi).It’s onlymatched,per Domracheva’s threegoldmedals tory to date (putting aside Darya greatest Olympicwintervic - gardless ofthe cause, it’s our round in the ski acrobatics. Re final the enter to enough highly failing toscore Anton Kushnir for the judges’ poordecision in making upmerang ofjustice, plete surprise.Itmaybeaboo- or bronze butgold was a com might haveconceivedofsilver porters. the deafeningcheersofhersup- to place, first in finish confident tonishing speed took her to a three targets. However, heras initially scaringusbymissing Domracheva taketothetrack, and thesnowcoveringhereyes. hands her from rifle the blowing despite thestrongwindalmost Belarusian women’s relayteamwinsOlympicgoldin Our wildestpredictions The fourthlegsawDarya Nadezhda Skardino wasfirst tocoverthedistance How our biathletes Dinara Alimbekovaattheshootingrange - - - - - decided to goalong.” ing to theamateurclub, andI took agirlwho was greatatski- day, aphysicalculture teacher had noplanstojointhem.One training. Iwatchedforayearbut complex wherebiathleteswere hostel, notfarfromthesports down and wehad to move to a plains, “Myfamilyhouseburnt brought Irinatobiathlon.Sheex- their level,Iwantedtobeatit.” and, then,whenIapproached to become as good as they were tres. However, Iwasmotivated used tofalldowneverytenme- I while then, by confidence with all thegirlsofmyagecouldski uncomfortable aboutthat,since late, at the age of12, and felt said, “I joined this sport rather lay stagewithpanache. As she last season,andcoveredherre- progressed wonderfullysince more successes.Krivkohas though wehopetohearofmany being newnamesinbiathlon,al- imbekova deservespecialpraise, Dinara Alimbekova also Dinara Alimbekova A randomtwistoffate Irina KrivkoandDinara Al-

BELTA REUTERS BELTA giving upsport. However, ex- and that Ihadtomakea choice, with everythingsimultaneously er realisedthatI couldn’t keepup training rather than lessons. I lat- asking mymothertoletmego school somuchthatIevencried, everything. Iliked thesporting but it was impossible to combine ano atartschool,workinghard, studied danceandplayedthepi- very difficult,” sherecalls.“I 11 and living in Chausy. “It was her intobiathlonwhenshewas physical culture teacher guided stan whenshewasthree.Her moved to Belarus from Kazakh- has aremarkablestory, having ’svictoriousfinish Irina Krivkosupportsherteammates gold! (more thananyother biath- just won herfourthOlympic Domracheva will agree, having anything ispossible, asDarya spire others. With determination, ries ofourwomen’s teamwillin- never easybutwehopethesto - rival.” pass anexaminmusicuponar music sheets —to immediately competitions withmedalsand sometimes returning home from in Russia.Itriedhardtokeepup, tions and our first ‘snow’ events, competi- first my in part taking to thesportsschoolandbegan actly oneyearlater, Ireturned The road to the Olympics is The roadtotheOlympicsis - Welcome home! Minsk National Airport meets our freestylers with bouquets of confectionary, streamers, balloons, singing and other festive proclamations S P ORT lete in history, since Anastasiya country on the eve of the Day Kuzmina and Kati Wilhelm of the Defenders of the Fa- only have three gold medals therland. You have realised each). Bravo, Darya! our life-long dreams by win- The Chairman of the ning Belarus’ first Olympic National Olympic Commit- gold in the most prestigious tee, President Alexander Lu- race’. kashenko, sent greetings to The Head of State also the national biathlon team congratulated the team, with of Nadezhda Skardino, Irina Orders for Personal Courage Krivko, Dinara Alimbekova and titles of Honored Master and Darya Domracheva, of Sport of Belarus bestowed congratulating them on win- upon Nadezhda Skardino, Irina ning the women’s relay gold Krivko and Dinara Alimbe- BELTA at the 2018 Olympic Games kova. Mr. Lukashenko thanked Belarus’ national freestyle team greeted with excitement at Minsk airport in PyeongChang. His greet- the coaching staff and wished By Vladimir Altov and recover, to move on. Overall, ing; just because you’ve won an ing reads: ‘Thank you for everyone strong health and new I’m pleased with the Olympics. Olympic gold, doesn’t mean you this great present to the entire successes. Because of poor refereeing See how we’re being welcomed! should stop. On the contrary: it’s (which might be viewed as a stab There are so many young people! important to work twice as hard.” in the back) Nikolay Kozeko’s This means we aren’t working in Stanislav Gladchenko, who DIRECT SPEECH team has brought home only vain: people know about us.” was the only man representing Darya Domracheva: If you remember how the Games one medal but even this is more People certainly do know Belarus in a men’s final, voiced began for us, then this is a reward for all our efforts and patience. We finally made friends with PyeongChang. When than many teams dream of. What about the Olympic team. The VIP his pleasure, but also his dis- Dinara Alimbekova completed the first shooting range, my other team has continuously won hall at the airport was crowded, comfort in what had happened to emotions were overwhelming. Maybe I haven’t yet fully Olympic medals for the past including not only sports offi- Kushnir. realised the extent of our success. We thought that a medal twenty years? Does anyone dare cials, friends and family mem- Speaking of the complexity was possible but none of us expected gold. I’m incredibly to reproach Anton Kushnir, who bers but fans, children from of his final Olympic jump, the happy that we’re standing on the top level of the medals podium and I thank the girls for their work. This is incredible! was meanly thrown from the final sports schools and journalists. sportsman admitted that he’d When Dinara departed the first shooting range, I felt shivers qualification stage? Or Alla Tsu- Emotions ran high, and only a only performed such a jump on over my skin. When I had just three bullets for three targets per who finished fourth? few team members managed snow three times previously, but at my last shooting range, it was a test of my biathlon Head coach Kozeko stressed to slip quietly away. Olympic felt obliged to take the risk. “I professionalism. Fortunately, I was able to hold my nerve, at the airport, once more, that he’s champion Anna Guskova was could have performed an easier bringing joy to fans. annoyed on Anton’s behalf. How- surrounded by a crowd, telling jump and, even if I’d not jumped Nadezhda Skardino: I’ve been working towards this ever, he admits to being satisfied us, “I’m shocked, feeling lost perfectly, would have reached at medal for many years. I’ve dreamt of gold and believed it with the Olympics overall, say- and confused, with so many fans least fourth place,” he asserts. would happen one day. Winning the relay is symbolic and ing, “I think Anton will be upset and reporters surrounding me. Mr. Kozeko’s team is en- enjoyable for the whole team. The past three years have for a long time. He’s not yet fully This is unusual and exciting. It’s deavouring to rise above the been challenging for us; we’ve had to adapt a great deal, trying to finally prove our strength. I’m especially happy for recovered, like all of us. Conclu- also morally difficult. I’ve not yet disappointment and to focus on our young girls — Irina Krivko and Dinara Alimbekova. They sions can be drawn and we’re fully processed what happened its achievements, having been covered their stages confidently, enabling us to win. going to submit an appeal for in South Korea. I don’t know winning winter Olympic medals investigation. However, it’s im- whether I’ll take a holiday in the since 1998. As fans at the airport Irina Krivko: Before the second firing range, a strong wind possible to speak about this with coming month. However, I know chanted loudly: ‘Best in free- blew, but I tried not to hurry. In the end, everything was a success — though it’s still difficult for me to compete with Anton; we must gain strength for sure that I’ll continue train- style! Belarus has no equal!’ the leaders in terms of speed. Happily, Dinara Alimbekova was great in covering her stage. Personal record Dinara Alimbekova: We’re all very excited. After realising that we’d won, I asked journalists where I should go and set in lowland what I should do. I couldn’t quite grasp what was going on! I want to thank the team for believing we could do well, and skating rinks our coaches, too. We’d trained for this relay race and have Ice skater Ignat Golovatyuk now proven we’re the best. sets personal record over 500m, on lowland rink, in Alfred Eder, women’s team coach: We pinned great hopes on this race, but the Belarusian women’s PyeongChang performance will go down in history. It’s a victory for these “I fulfilled the coaching experienced and younger sportswomen. The most difficult staff’s target, covering 500m thing for a coach is to avoid making a mistake in choosing confidently, without any mis- the quartet. We made the right choice, and I’m so happy takes. As a result, I’ve set a per- for the younger girls, Irina and Dinara. They’ve proven that BELTA sonal record for myself on low- they’re worthy of being Olympic champions. Vladimir Chepelin land rinks — of 35.23 seconds Ole Einar Bjoerndalen: This is one of the best days of (against 35.33 seconds previous- my life. I’m happy for Dasha and all the Belarusian team: ly). I wanted to accelerate but, for they’re my heroes! I’m extremely happy! I didn’t think Fifth place is a this, I needed to set off among the she’d pull it off, as only three or four percent of sportsmen manage to hit all three targets with three bullets at the last leaders,” noted the sportsman, af- shooting range. This is very impressive. This is a great day ter the competition. for Belarus. It’s the most marvellous thing that could have worthy accolade happened. Winning a relay is complete madness. By Timur Svitov Chepelin — who was oppos- ing French Martin Fourcade and Belarusian biathletes fail to Norwegian Emil Hegle Svend- capture medal in mixed relay sen during the last stage — also race but inspire our hopes performed moderately well. For Belarus’ national team came speed of skiing, the Belarusian fifth in the mixed relay at the team came sixth, and was fourth REUTERS The Minsk Times Ignat Golovatyuk Olympics in PyeongChang: a far fastest at the shooting ranges, Thursday better result than many hoped for, ahead of Austria, Sweden and Golovatyuk noted stiff com- March 1 following the World Cup stages, Ukraine. petition but hopes to be ranked 2018 in which the men lost time care- It seems that our men can above 22nd place in the final fully accumulated during early rise to ski worthily beside our standings. The 500m speed- stages. The guys still have work women. Darya Domracheva and skating was won by Norwegian to do in this sphere, but the final Nadezhda Skardino complained Havard Lorentzen, who set an lag was not so critical. of fatigue on finishing, but team Olympic record, while second Sergey Bocharnikov man- spirits were high, resulting in place went to Cha Min-kyu, from BELTA aged to remain among the top the decision to participate in the South Korea, and Chinese Gao Flag of Belarus at Games’ closing ceremony carried by Darya Domracheva three until the last lap. Vladimir mixed-race finals. Tingyu (34.65) took bronze. 11 The Minsk Times AGENDA Thursday, March 1, 2018 Show of the week BELTA Spectacular tractor biathlon held in Grodno Region’s Smorgon District, with display in giant sand pit

Exhibitions Theatres NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF YANKA KUPALA STATE NATIONAL ACADEMIC BOLSHOI YANKA KUPALA NATIONAL BELARUS LITERARY MUSEUM OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE ACADEMIC THEATRE 20 Lenin Street 4 Yanka Kupala Street 1 Parizhskoy Kommuny Street 7 Engels Street Until 11th March. Between the Word and Until 16th April. Awaken Zhaleika 01.03. La Traviata 02.03. Giselle, ou 03.03. Paulinka 04.03. Kolyady Night the Image Until 15th May. Serving to the MIKHAIL SAVITSKY ART Les Wilis 03.03. Turandot 04.03. The Homeland GALLERY Fountain of Bakhchisaray; Songs from THEATRE-STUDIO OF FILM 15 Svobody Square Soviet Films 06.03. Festive Concert ACTORS NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM Until 4th March. Yan Rozental’s Artistic 07.03. Romeo and Juliet 13 Pobediteley Avenue 12 Karl Marx Street School 01 and 02.03. #13 03.03. The Battlefield th Until 30 March. My Ikigai BELARUSIAN STATE ACADEMIC 04.03. Pygmalion 06.03. Forgetting LEONID SHCHEMELEV CITY MUSICAL THEATRE Herostartos! 07.03. P. Chekhov’s Night GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR ART GALLERY 44 Myasnikov Street of Miniatures. Proposal. Jubilee HISTORY MUSEUM 10 Revolyutsionnaya Street 01.03. Without a Dowry 02 and 8 Pobediteley Avenue Until 11th March. Familia 04.03. Tours of Kaliningrad’s Regional REPUBLICAN THEATRE OF Until 13th August. Piotr Masherov: His Musical Theatre: Joaquín 03.03. Vivat, BELARUSIAN DRAMA Heart Beats for People MINSK GALLERY Munchhausen; Men’s Tango 04.03. 44 Kropotkin Street Miraculous Ring 05.03. Cleopatra 9 Pobediteley Avenue 01.03. This Is All She 02.03. Suffering NATIONAL LIBRARY OF 06.03. Mister X 07.03. Musical Cocktail Until 4th March. 13th Wonder of the World from Common Sense 03.03. Two BELARUS for Fair Ladies Miraculous Umbrellas 04.03. Three 116 Nezavisimosti Avenue Giselles 06.03. Adam’s Jokes Until 15th April. Fiodor Yastreb’s Poetic MUSEUM OF NATURE AND MAXIM GORKY NATIONAL ECOLOGY Palette ACADEMIC DRAMA THEATRE YOUTH THEATRE 117 Kazinets Street 5 Volodarsky Street 17 Kozlov Street Until 25th March. Water Residents STATE MUSEUM OF 01.03. Tricks of Khanuma 02.03. Viva 01.03. Bankrupt 02.03. Vanyushin’s BELARUSIAN LITERATURE Commedia! 03.03. Lady for a Day Children 03.03. New Affair of My HISTORY CENTRAL BOTANICAL GARDEN 04.03. Innkeeper 06.03. Private Lives Husband 04.03. Celestino’s Career 13 Maxim Bogdanovich Street OF BELARUS’ NATIONAL 07.03. Russian-Style Cabbage for Ladies 07.03. The Fool 08.03. Curtains Open: Until 16th April. Timkovichi: Treasury of ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Only! For You, Ladies! Inspiration Kalinin Lane CHELYUSKINTSEV PARK OF Until 11th March. From Winter to Spring BELARUSIAN STATE PUPPET YOUNG SPECTATORS’ THEATRE CULTURE AND REST THEATRE 26 Engels Street 84/1 Nezavisimosti Avenue TSENTRALNY 20 Engels Street 01.03. Savage Hunt of King Stakh Until 30th June. Legacy of Belarus: 13 Nezavisimosti Avenue 02.03. Belvedere 03.03. Little Red Riding 02.03. Wings of My Youth 03.03. Wolf Dedicated to Minsk’s 950th Anniversary Until 4th March. My Dear Native Land Hood 04.03. Aladdin and His Magic Lamp and Seven Goats 04.03. Thumbelina

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