During a meeting of the Committee for Religions and Nationalities of the Council of Ministers of Belarus, the new head of this department mentions an increased level of trust believers place with governmental controlling authorities as a guarantor of stability in the country and protection of their constitutional rights.

24.01.2006.

In Minsk a meeting of the Committee for Religions and Nationalities of the Council of Ministers of Belarus, chaired by the new head of this department Lieanid Huliaka appointed to this position by the head of state on 29 December 2005. The session participants discussed the cross-denominational situation in the republic, the prospects of the national public associations and collaboration with Belarusian Diasporas abroad. Representatives of the legislative and executive authorities took part in the event.
When assessing the cross-denominational situation in the country, Lieanid Huliaka, the chair of the Committee for Religions and Nationalities of the Council of Ministers of Belarus produced the following information: 2886 communities and 25 denominations and religious groups operate today in Belarus, including 144 all-denominational organizations.
He notes that in 2005 the level of trust from the believers for governmental controlling authorities as a guarantor of stability in the community and protection of their constitutional rights increased. The important achievement, in the opinion of Lieanid Huliaka, was signing by the head of state of the decree, which released religious organizations from the need to pay a land and real estate tax.
The state re-registration of the religious organizations conducted in 2004 had a good impact on their operations and cross-denominational processes in the country. At the same time, Lieanid Huliaka emphasized that last year "the attention paid by the governmental authorities to the solution of problems facing religious organizations significantly increased".
The republican and local authorities paid great attention to the implementation of 13 cooperation programs, concluded by the ministries, departments and executive committees with the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
“The religious and moral guiding lines are taking an increasingly important place in the spiritual revival of the Belarusian nations, in the formation of their high spirituality, civil position and patriotic awareness”, said the chair.
34 new Orthodox parishes were registered last year. Also, the 11th eparchy of the Belarusian Exarchate – Babruisk-Asipovichy. The construction of 188 Orthodox temples continues, 26 churches and cathedrals have been started. 86% of the parishes have places for cult rites.
The committee chair noted that before September 1, 2006, the restoration of the Zhyrovichy Saint Uspenski Monastery. They are conducted at the commission of the head of state.
The Brest Regional Executive Committee and Minsk City Executive Committee provide considerable help to the Belarusian Orthodox Church with the restoration of the culture monuments and construction of cult buildings.
“The governmental authorities and the eparchies of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus maintain constructive and open relations”, said Lieanid Huliaka.
For some reason, the head of the department did not say a word about the real problems in the country, did not mention liquidation of protestant communities, misunderstanding with the Church “New Life” which has continued for several years now, etc.