In the Sky and on the Earth

The programme for the first day of an already traditional press tour for Russian journalists around Belarus included two main areas of Belarusian-Russian cooperation: security and economics. But first things first.

The programme for the first day of an already traditional press tour for Russian journalists around Belarus included two main areas of Belarusian-Russian cooperation: security and economics. But first things first.

Over several years in a row, in autumn, the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, President of the Republic of Belarus meets with the representatives of Russian regional and metropolitan mass media. Traditionally, journalists have the opportunity to ask A.Lukashenko relevant questions. In order to make the dialogue serious, meaningful and constructive, the representatives of Russian mass media preliminarily visit agricultural and industrial enterprises of the republic, defence facilities as well as familiarize themselves with the development of social sphere. For instance, as a “highlight” of last year's press tour, the journalists attended the final phase of Russian-Belarusian joint manoeuvres “Zapad-2009”.

Current press tour began with a visit to the Center of Northwestern Strategical Headquarters (CNWSH) of Air Forces and Air Defense Forces in Machulishchy. Today it's the “eyes" of the Joint Air Defense System of the Union State in the west direction. In practice this means that the information about the aircraft that are in the sky over Belarus and adjacent territories is available to the Russian military on a real-time basis. In return, Belarusian sky guardians can quickly access the information regarding the situation in Russian airspace.

Besides that, the legendary 50^th mixed airbase that was formed on the basis of the 50^th regiment is stationed in Machulishchy. It is another renowned page of the common military history of Russia and Belarus. The 50^th regiment was formed in 1980. It was armed with various materiel: helicopters MI-8, MI-24 aircraft AN-26, AN-12, as well as superheavy aircraft for fuel supplies. In 1994 the regiment acquired its current place of residence - Machulishchy. After reorganization the unit got a new name – 50^th mixed airbase.

The next item on the programme for the first day of the tour was familiarization with the produce of food enterprises based in Minsk region. Besides traditional tasting of meat and dairy products (that invariably enraptures Russian journalists), the representatives of Russian mass media were able to try watermelons grown in Belarus. A few months of heat wave and painstaking work of agrotechnicians made it possible to receive excellent results – the berries have grown remarkably juicy and sweet.

The visit to agro-industrial complex “Dzerzhinski” has become a key point of the familiarization with the achievements of our food industry. At present this enterprise is one of the leaders in Belarus in production of chicken and eggs. However, this agricultural complex is not just a poultry farm. It is a compound closed-circuit production complex which consists of both producing and processing enterprises and has its own distribution network. The goods that are manufactured by this agricultural complex are well known in many Russian regions as a substantial part of its produce is exported to Russia.

But man shall not live by bread alone. The cultural and final part of the first day of the press tour was a visit that Russian journalists paid to the palace and park complex in ancient Belarusian town Nesvizh – the ancient residence of the magnate family Radzivilly.