In the modern world, there are many factors that adversely affect human health and the environment: exhaust gases in the air, preservatives in food, household chemicals dissolved in wastewater entering water bodies, and low-quality dyes for fabrics or toys often cause allergic reactions. Under these conditions, people increasingly prefer maximally natural products and natural materials that do not harm the body.

The exhibition features about 40 works by Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Polish artists working in various techniques, including naive folk art and abstractionism. The exhibition presents a part of the creative results of master classes by painters who continue the traditions of icon painting in contemporary art.

The Minister for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, Lieutenant General of the Internal Service, Vladimir Alexandrovich Vashchenko, met with the personnel of the emergency bodies and units of the Vitebsk region and announced the order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations dated 18.08.2015 No. 60 l/s on appointment to managerial positions within the department as a result of career advancement.

December 11, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Environmental protection issues will be discussed by participants of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference "Protected Natural Areas and Objects of Belarusian Poozerye: Current State, Development Prospects", which will be held on December 16-17 at the Vitebsk State University named after P. Masherov. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the head of the university's Department of Botany, Leonard Merzhvinsky. About 100 scientists, teachers, and specialists from environmental agencies and institutions from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Latvia have shown interest in the event. At the conference, specialists will consider a wide range of issues related to the formation of a national ecological network and the optimization of specially protected natural areas, as well as objects that have the status of key botanical and ornithological territories. The participants of the forum will be presented with the topic of conserving specific species of animals and plants in specially protected areas, and specialists will discuss the situation with peat deposits and their place in the regional ecological network. A separate topic of the conference will be the discussion of the prospects for the development of ecotourism and ecologically compatible nature management, as well as the improvement of educational work among the population on environmental and nature protection issues. The international conference is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Vitebsk State University, which will be celebrated in 2010. The organizer of the scientific forum is Vitebsk State University and the regional committee for natural resources and environmental protection.-0-

33 SEZ resident enterprises are registered with the Ministry of Taxes and Duties inspectorates. The largest taxpayers include the foreign enterprise "CHESS-BEL", OJSC "Vityaz", SOOO "Okna-Invest", SOOO "Forteks-vodnye tekhnologii", RUP "Design Bureau "Display", which account for over 83% of the total tax payments of SEZ residents.