Held on October 11th, they resulted in Alexander Lukashenko being re-elected as Head of State. Recently, the inauguration ceremony followed. Some may think this a mere formality but the ceremony has great significance.
Everyone is aware of the political credo of our newly-elected President, Mr. Alexander Lukashenko: his priority is the stability and prosperity of the country. At the inauguration ceremony, words of vivid solemnity are spoken. Moreover, the President makes a speech voicing the targets for the next five years: these embody a vision. To look behind the horizon of today, and foresee tomorrow as a place of success and striving is the substance of a true phenomenon.
We already know that much work lies ahead if we are to expect results. No acute changes are likely but sensible and well-considered reforms will have their place.
The details of the speech made by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at the inauguration ceremony on November 6th, are given in this issue of our magazine.
Also discussed is the forthcoming denomination of the Belarusian Rouble: an action technical in nature, explains the National Bank, and creating no impact on the Belarusian Rouble’s purchasing capacity, the currency exchange rate or inflation. The new banknotes, coming into circulation from mid-2016, were created back in 2008, upon the order of the National Bank, but were held back due to the world economic crisis and worsening economic situation. All these years, the banknotes and coins have been kept at the Central Depositary of the National Bank.
Read Banknotes to Have Four Zeros Fewer... And Will Become More Convenient for more information.
To celebrate the United Nations’ 70th anniversary and the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015, the UN in Belarus has liaised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus to launch a special train. It set off on 23rd October, from Minsk Railway Station, visiting seven cities in eight days. Read more about the campaign to promote the SDGs in Dreams Can Change the World.
Much time has passed since Minsk could claim to be the only place in Belarus boasting the latest medical technologies. For several years, hi-tech surgeries have been successful across the regions, and the range of their scope is ever growing: especially important for patients with critical heart problems. Previously, patients from Grodno Region suffering from a dissected thoracic aorta were obliged to rush to the capital. Unfortunately, not all survived the long trip. Now, these and many other surgeries are held at the Grodno Regional Clinical Heart Centre, saving people’s lives.
Grodno Regional Clinical Heart Centre is a modern medical institution equipped with the latest technologies, and conducting almost all types of cardiac surgery, including cardiovalvulotomy, and surgeries on coronary arteries and greater vessels.
Its doctors are a unique combination of youth and experience. Of its 10 surgeons, four are studying for the second year, having graduated from the medical university. They are entering the highest caste of their sphere, becoming cardiac surgeons. The others are professionals who have years of training behind them at leading clinics in Europe.
The region’s cardiology has acquired a new round of development with the introduction of a new сardio-surgical building, funded by a regional investment programme. It’s also a platform for active co-operation with foreign colleagues: surgeons from the Netherlands have come on a work-exchange programme, sharing their experience of hi-tech surgeries to treat arrhythmias.
Symbolic events can be viewed as phenomena when they have far-reaching consequences. Who knows how far the ripples will travel?
By Victor Kharkov
