MINSK, 8 February (BelTA) – Belarus’ budget was executed with a 3% surplus in 2011, Deputy Finance Minister Maxim Yermolovich told reporters. “In terms of fiscal policy, we did good last year. In 2011, we were planning to execute the budget with a deficit of 1.5% of GDP. Actually we did it with a surplus of 3% of GDP. This is quite a good result. The lending for government programs was provided in the volumes we projected. more >>

MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus has sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment of Lithuania inviting to discuss issues related to the construction of the Visaginas NPP and the Belarusian NPP in the near future, chief for information and public relations -spokesperson for the ministry Yelena Penyaz told BelTA. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus has suggested holding bilateral consultations on issues concerning the construction of the nuclear power plants, including a draft bilateral agreement on observing the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo). more >>

MINSK, 6 February (BelTA) – Belarus is working to abolish visa requirements with Argentina and Brazil, the chief of the consular office of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Alexander Ostrovsky said in an interview to the STV TV channel. “We are actually ready to sign the agreement with Turkey on short-term (maximum 30 days) visa-free trips of citizens. Everything is ready. We have the authority to conduct negotiations and sign the agreement,” he said. more >>