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.

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).

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.

MINSK, 2 February (BelTA) – The Trade Ministry of Belarus will promote the development of convenience stores in the country this year, First Deputy Trade Minister Alexander Zabello said at the ministerial meeting on 1 February to review the performance of the sector in 2011 and outline tasks for 2012. According to the official, the state supports so-called neighborhood retailers. Such stores are very popular in other CIS countries.

MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) – The results of the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) program in Belarus will be presented at the 3rd Operational Committee of the ENPI FLEG Program in Brussels, Belgium, on 31 January, BelTA learnt from spokeswoman for the Forestry Ministry Ruzhena Novitskaya. First Deputy Forestry Minister of Belarus Fyodor Lisitsa is expected to present a report on FLEG contribution to sustainable national forestry development, enhancement of transparency and public awareness.

MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – The fifth session of the Belarus-India intergovernmental commission for cooperation in economy, trade, industry, science, technology and culture will be held in Minsk on 30-31 January, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Belarus Andrei Savinykh told a briefing on 26 January, BelTA has learnt. The parties will discuss ways to step up the bilateral cooperation, including cooperation in industry, power engineering, healthcare and education.

MINSK, 23 December (BelTA) – President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is confident that Belarus will handle new challenges of today. The President made this statement at a press conference for Belarusian and foreign mass media on 23 December, BelTA has learnt. As he opened the press conference, the head of state said that the very status of a President, the most public politician in the country, envisages active communication with mass media.

MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) - Belarusian MPs ratified the intergovernmental Belarusian-Chinese agreement on the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park on 14 December. The park will be unmatched in Belarus. It will be located in Smolevichi District, Minsk Oblast, and will gradually spread over 80 square kilometers. The park will house new major plants to produce household appliances and electronics, engineering and biomedicine facilities.

MOGILEV, 7 December (BelTA) – Textile industry leaders from 10 countries will take part in a business forum organized by the Mogotex Company on 9 December, BelTA learnt from the company’s Director General Viktor Matiyevich. The event will focus on textile innovations. Partaking in the forum will be leaders of the textile industry of Belarus (Mogotex), Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.

YEREVAN, 5 December (BelTA) – Lidia Zablontsaya of Belarus scored 99 points to make it into top three at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011, BelTA has learnt. Her composition Angels of the Good was praised by the European audience. Lidia was accompanied at the stage by young violinists Filipp Salata and Nastya Malevannaya. Belarus received 12 points from Russia, Moldova and Ukraine. Eight points were given by Armenia, Lithuania and Georgia.

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