Press releases

Andrei Kobyakov said: “Today we witness and participate in a long-awaited event — the opening of the business and cultural complex of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko often repeats that Moscow is not a foreign city while Russia is not only a brotherly state but a most important strategic ally. I am not going to hide the fact that we’ve managed to overcome all difficulties and finish the construction of the complex thanks to dedicated support and personal attention of the head of state to the project.”

Andrei Kobyakov noted that the idea to create another foothold for Belarus in Russia, a venue for presenting Belarusian culture, traditions, scientific and economic potentials had been under consideration for a long time. Ambassador Vladimir Grigoryev was the one to come up with the idea and enable the conditions for the project’s implementation. The project took the final shape in the time of ambassador Vasily Dolgolev. The construction process was finished in the time of Igor Petrishenko, the current head of the diplomatic mission.

Andrei Kobyakov said that the new facility is destined to become the state-of-the-art venue for presenting Belarus’ investment and export potential, a traditional place for meetings of Belarusian and Russian business circles, a place where interests of Belarusian-Russian interaction in various areas will converge. The business and cultural complex has impressive functionality. It is suited for hosting a wide choice of events ranging from state receptions, business consultations and negotiations to first-night performances, concerts of classic music and pop music stars, international expos, symposiums, briefings, and press conferences. The Prime Minister of Belarus thanked Russia’s leadership — President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev — for supporting the project. He also thanked the Moscow government for the invaluable aid rendered in the course of dealing with all the difficulties and formalities.

In turn, Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergei Naryshkin said he was confident that the business and cultural complex of the embassy will be popular and will become a favorite venue for meetings of friends and businessmen. “I would like to underline that effective strategic partnership between our countries successfully develops along all the avenues. The sincere respect and friendship between the peoples of Belarus and Russia represent the foundation of cooperation,” he said.

First Vice Premier of Russia Igor Shuvalov, Vice Premier of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich, State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha, ministers of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia Vladimir Churov, Russian MPs, diplomats, and representatives of the Belarusian diaspora also took part in the opening ceremony.

The total area of the business and cultural complex of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia exceeds 15,000m2. The complex comprises a multifunctional conference hall with 240 seats, a multimedia press center, a musical and literature drawing room, a library, a Belarusian cuisine restaurant, and other premises. The complex has cutting-edge equipment and infrastructure.