Economic and Financial Reforms, Defensive Military Strategy – Western Press Digest
Belarus's economy continues to shrink, and the government tries to sell proposed reforms for financial support from international organisations. Meanwhile, the IMF notices "considerable progress" in discussing reforms and the World Bank puts forward its vision of the reforms that are necessary to restore growth in Belarus.
Belarus continues to boost its military potential by modernising old weapons while acquiring new ones, but its strategy will remain exclusively defensive. Minsk celebrates the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution and commemorates Czech Jews killed by the Nazis in 1945. All of this and more in the new edition of the Western Press Digest.
Russia’s financial crisis has started to impact Belarus’ economic growth. According to the Financial Times, due to falling level of Russian imports, Belarus’ GDP will most likely shrink to 4% in 2015. Additionally, the Belarusian ruble has decreased by nearly 50% in dollar terms. Any remaining foreign investment has nearly evaporated as a result of the economic downturn. Aliaksandr Čubryk, Director of the IPM Research Centre, remarked that, “the story of this economy is the story of inefficient state-owned enterprises.”
The Finance Ministry and the Central Bank are working with international financial institutions to roll out reforms with the hope of securing financial support from the International Monetary Fund. On 9 November an IMF delegation visited Belarus to discuss a new facility that has an estimated worth of between $2 and $3 billion dollars. The government, in addition, wishes to distribute a Eurobond next year worth €1 billion.
The International Monetary Fund released a statement on the current mission in Belarus – On 20 November the IMF visited Minsk. The purpose of the mission, led by Peter Dohlman, was to evaluate recent economic developments and to begin discussing a new economic program that would potentially receive financial assistance from the IMF. Mr. Dohlman observed that, “the staff team and the Belarusian authorities made considerable progress in discussing a set of policies which could be supported by a three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement.”
World Bank discusses restoring economic growth in Belarus through sequenced reforms – Belarus’ economy, according to the World Bank, requires institutional changes that assist in fostering enterprise performance, innovation, and the diversification and establishment of new markets for Belarusian products. Such reforms include managerial incentives, job skills development and overall improvement in Belarus’ business climate. Weak foreign and domestic demand will cause the economy to contract by 3.5% in 2015 and by 0.5% in 2016.
Mr. Young Chul Kim, the World Bank’s country manager for Belarus, stated that, “The purpose of a comprehensive reform is to remove structural constraints which have prevented the Belarusian economy from realising its maximum potential.” In addition to sequenced reforms, potential membership accession into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) could help stimulate substantial income growth.
Fitch rating for the Belarusian National Reinsurance Organisation (Belarus Re) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) received a B minus – Belarus Re functions as the national monopoly reinsurer. This monopoly has grown to 100% in 2014 from 10% in 2006. The rating received is a reflection of 100% state ownership of Belarus Re. Although there is no direct agreement between the company and the government, various capital injections at its inception have occurred over the recent years.
In Fitch’s view Belarus Re’s investment portfolio is of lower quality due to the constraints of sovereign risk, the presence of issuer concentration and the quality of local investment instruments. Belarus Re’s has limited options to diversify due to a limited investment market and strict insurer’s investment policy regulation.
Belarus military strategy is exclusively defensive – Polish Rzeczpospolita quotes Lukashenka, as he visited the military industry plant in Dziaržynsk district. Belarus will cause unrecoverable loss to those who dare to attack it, and the development of rocket forces is a major goal in this strategy, Lukashenka said. Belarus has been boosting its military potential in recent months, receiving four Jak-130 jets. By 2020 it will have replaced its MiG-29 with Su-30SM jets and have purchased new Jak-152 training planes from Russia. Also, Belarus will receive four surface-to-air missile systems, the S-300, and it is currently in negotiations with Russia to acquire the more modern S-400 systems.
In 2015 Belarus strongman Lukashenka repeatedly said that his country will not give any land to an aggressor. According to him, Belarus became one of the most militarily powerful counties in Eastern Europe after the considerable modernisation of existing forces and the development of its own weapons.
Minsk celebrates the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution – In celebration of the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution a new Soviet-themed shopping mall has been opened in Minsk. The Leningrad Mall, a four-floor glass building, is decorated with Soviet memorabilia and propaganda paraphernalia. The shopping centre is a growing reminder of Lukashenka’s Soviet nostalgia and ritualistic opening of shops and centres during the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Unveiling of a memorial for Czech Jews killed in Belarus – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty covered the ceremonial unveiling of a memorial for 6,000 Czech Jews who were deported from Czechoslovakia and then killed in Minsk in 1945. The ceremony was held on 23 November on the 70th anniversary of the first groups deportation from Czechoslovakia to Belarus. The Minsk Educational Centre of Johannes Rau established the memorial. Milan Ekert, the Czech Ambassador to Belarus, was in attendance.
Man is sentenced to death in Belarus – On 20 November a Hrodna court in western Belarus found Ivan Kulish guilty of murdering three female salesclerks during two separate store robberies. Mr. Kulish has been sentenced to death. Belarus remains the only country in Europe that still utilises capital punishment. Since Belarus’ independence in 1991, roughly 400 felons have been sentenced to death.
Aaron Ostrovsky