MINSK, 1 December (BelTA) – The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus has transferred the $2.5 billion that the sale of 50% of OAO Beltransgaz has generated into the national gold and forex reserves, representatives of the NBRB information office told BelTA. The previous day the National Bank received $2.5 billion earned by selling 50% of Beltransgaz shares. As a result, according to preliminary calculations in November Belarus’ gold and forex reserves went up by $2.74 billion to...

VITBESK, 1 December (BelTA) - Belarus and Latvia completed the internal state procedures necessary for entry into force of the intergovernmental agreement on facilitation of mutual travel by residents of border territories of 23 August 2010. A ceremony of the exchange of the written notices was held in the Hall of Delegations at the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee on 1 December 2011. “Opening the small-scale cross-border traffic with Latvia will give impetus to the development of bigger...

MINSK, 30 November (BelTA) - Real cash incomes of people will not fall in 2011 as compared with 2010, Vice Premier of Belarus Sergei Rumas said at a joint meeting of the two chambers of the National Assembly. “Real cash incomes of people in 2011 will make up not less than 100% of cash incomes in 2010,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. Sergei Rumas acknowledged that in the current economic environment "there are some objective adverse phenomena, the most painful of them is the worsening...

MOSCOW, 25 November (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia will have equal-income gas prices by 2014, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in a meeting of the Presidium of the Cabinet of Ministers, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Russian Government. “Belarus will receive the so-called integration discount and in the next several years will reach the equal-income prices 2014,” Vladimir Putin said. According to the Russian Premier, today the gas price for Belarus is $244 per 1,000 cubic...

MINSK, 25 November (BelTA) – Belarus will adopt a social security program, Vice Premier of Belarus Anatoly Kalinin told reporters as he met with employees of Stroitrest No. 7 on 24 November, BelTA has learnt. The program will be adopted by a resolution of the government. It is aimed to support pensioners, students, children, low-income households, people will disabilities and other groups of population. The program envisages efforts to help people “make more money”, Anatoly Kalinin...

MINSK, 22 November (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko thinks that it is unacceptable to make the same mistake again and resort to the shock therapy used in the 1990s. The head of state made this statement at a session on 22 November to discuss Belarus’ economic targets, budget and monetary policy for 2012, BelTA has learnt. “We are set to discuss extremely important issues that will determine the country’s development in the forthcoming year,” the President said as he...