Mr. Svetlov has told journalists that his Ministry supports this idea and has sent the necessary applications to corresponding government agencies. “This is not the first time that this initiative has been announced; it originated several years ago but its realisation in the Year of Culture would be symbolic,” notes Mr. Svetlov.
Frantsisk Skorina
Previously, the Director General of the National Art Museum of Belarus, Vladimir Prokoptsov, put forward the idea of naming Minsk National Airport after Frantsisk Skorina and naming aircraft after prominent art figures. Mr. Prokoptsov believes that such a step would promote awareness of national culture, and would be fitting in this Year of Culture. Moreover, in 2017, Belarus and other states will be celebrating the 500th anniversary of Frantsisk Skorina’s publishing of The Psalter.
The practice of naming airports after famous artistic figures is popular worldwide. The international airport in Polish Warsaw bears the name of one of the world’s greatest composers, Frederic Chopin, while that in Hungarian Budapest is named after one of the greatest 19th century piano virtuosos and composers, Franz Liszt.
