A new year doesn’t necessary means the counting of new matters. Though, of course, they also appear. But more often smooth transition takes place, when the work continues, which had already had its beginning. Usually, such a situation is more natural. For example, a conveyer at the tractor plant in Minsk doesn’t stop, in order the calculation of vehicles, which are to come out of the production this year, would begin anew. The fact, that this year the plant managed to produce sixty thousand of tractors, will be not only comparative, but rather a stimulating impetus for one more business year in the working biography of the collective.
Moral values don’t have peculiar size in the equivalent of time. They are either present, or absent. These values can be directed to the most painful points of the problems, which worry the society. This is why in the magazine we speak about the fact, that four Christian confessions in Belarus signed the Declaration of social partnership in order to combat AIDS. A conviction, existing among believers, arises respect, that nothing would stop the wave of a horrible disease of the century, if there are no traditional values on its way of a healthy life-style and mercy to the persons, suffering from AIDS.
Yes, we should combat the problems together. Moreover, when they are really global. Chernobyl is in the chain of such problems. In one of the materials of this issue under the name of “For the sake of life on the earth” the author brings forward colourful facts about national benefits, which continue now and will continue not only this year. So, for realization of the regular National program on overcoming the consequences of disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power plant for 2006–2010 the assets have been allocated from the national budget of Belarus in the amount of 1 billion and 600 millions of US Dollars. Simple calculation shows, that the state daily directs nearly 1 million of US Dollars for overcoming of consequences of Chernobyl disaster. As well as neighbouring Russian Federation and Ukraine, during two decades already Belarus has to combat the consequences of disaster at Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which affected all the spheres of life activity of a person — production, culture, science, economy, demographic situation. By the way, more than 1 million and 300 thousand people live on the territory, contaminated with radionuclides, which comprises one fifth of Belarus.
So, we realize, that, as earlier, we will have to make many attempts in order to minimize (the term is a little bit outdated, but, on the matter of fact, it is still topical) the consequences of Chernobyl. The priorities slowly change: acute questions of help turned away, the life in contaminated regions is being organized, however, now it is important to restore their economical potential, to establish proper conditions for the life of people, to produce ecologically clean production, to provide health protection. All these require essential expenses, which the state takes into account and will make. Nevertheless, support and solidarity of the international community is still important for us. And the fact, that this support will be — is a good mark of time. For the benefit of such a conclusion there is also a decision of the UNO General Assembly on acknowledgment of the third decade after Chernobyl the decade of rehabilitation and sustained development of the regions. And this means, that the national programs of the countries, which suffered a lot because of the disaster, will be supported by certain world resources.
Of course, we usually speak about something, which seems to be the most essential. This is why we touch upon many topical matters in the publications of this issue. We can’t describe everything in one article. However, let me make an accent on one fact. From 2008 the magazine “Беларусь. Belarus” is issued in five languages: Belarusian, English, German, Spanish and Polish. And this is means, that our communication with you will become wider.
Victor Kharkov
Editor of “Беларусь.Belarus”
Beginning as continuation
A new year doesn’t necessary means the counting of new matters. Though, of course, they also appear. But more often smooth transition takes place, when the work continues, which had already had its beginning. Usually, such a situation is more natural. For example, a conveyer at the tractor plant in Minsk doesn’t stop, in order the calculation of vehicles, which are to come out of the production this year, would begin anew. The fact, that this year the plant managed to produce sixty thousand of tractors, will be not only comparative, but rather a stimulating impetus for one more business year in the working biography of the collective
