The list of the countries whose citizens are eligible to enter Belarus visa-free for a period of up to five days may be extended, Igor Fisenko, Head of the Central Consular Office of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing at BelTA's press center on 10 January. The list currently features 80 countries, and so far there are no plans to extend it. Still, Igor Fisenko noted that the practice may be further developed based on the results of the implementation of the...

Another year of the 3rd millennium passes into history. The year was complicated, bright and eventful. For some people 2016 was a sad and sorrowful year because of the loss of a family member or a friend, some people might have failed to achieve their goals. Others had to deal with family or professional issues. But I am convinced that 2016 was a joyful and happy year for the majority of people. It was a good year because they loved, had fun at weddings starting a new life, smiled...

The main idea of the Year of Culture in the outgoing 2016 was the promotion of culture in the broadest sense. A number of new projects and initiatives in the field of culture were characterized by an innovative approach. Let's recall some of them. 1. Launch of several contests The contest "Man of the Year of Culture" will determine the best professionals in the field of culture. The Bela-thon competition is aimed at developing and popularizing the best traditions of the Belarusian...

The Christmas Charity Book Ball has become a good tradition, Belarus' Information Minister Lilia Ananich said at the opening of the book auction on 21 December, BelTA has learned. According to the minister, the project is an integral part of the nationwide charity campaign Our Children, which is held every year in the run-up to the New Year. The Christmas book ball traditionally features the best samples of the national publishing industry. It is all the more important to see Belarusian...

The plan to guide the operation of the Council of Ministers and the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of Belarus in H1 2017 has been adopted, BelTA learned from the website of the Belarusian government. The decision is laid down by the Council of Ministers' executive order No. 1010 of 9 December 2016. In particular, sessions of the Council of Ministers will be held to review results of Belarus' social and economic development in 2016 and in January-March 2017. Sessions of the...

The Belarusian Interior Ministry intends to start working out a national migration policy concept in 2017, BelTA learned from the Ministry's website. An international meeting of experts is scheduled to take place in Minsk on 7-8 December to discuss migration and shelter matters. As the agency in charge of coordinating the operation of government agencies in migration affairs the Belarusian Interior Ministry intends to start working out the concept of the national migration policy in...