VORONEZH, 31 August (BelTA) - A new school for 520 laces built by Belarusian specialists in the village of Strelitsa, Semiluki District of Voronezh Oblast was inaugurated on 31 August, BelTA learned.
The opening ceremony became a landmark event. It was attended by Vice Speaker of the Russian State Duma Aleksei Gordeev, Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko, Voronezh Oblast Governor Aleksandr Gusev. "This school is a gift from the Belarusian people, the president and the government of Belarus," Vice Speaker Aleksei Gordeev said. “We used the Belarusian loan and Belarusian capacities and built a really beautiful school right right on time – 1 September.”
On behalf of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Mikhail Rusy, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, donated the school a Belarus tractor equipped with all necessary utility attachments to make sure the school grounds are always be well-groomed and well-maintained.
“This is an excellent facility. Everything is of high quality. The school will soon arrange a museum of Belarusian-Russian friendship. No hardships will be able to destroy this friendship,” the governor said.
Ambassador Vladimir Semashko congratulated the local residents on the new school, noting that it was built within a record short time of less than a year. He promised that Belarus will build more facilities of the kind in the region. His words were confirmed by another ceremony held on the same day. Members of the Belarusian delegation laid a commemorative sign at the construction site of a future school in Semiluki District.
The educational institution has been built by Belarusians and also financed with a loan from the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus. Such a scheme is beneficial to both sides. Russian partners receive stable financing and a two-year deferral of payments and also high-quality construction work at acceptable costs. The loan is tied to a number of conditions: mandatory involvement of Belarusian companies and use of Belarusian building materials and equipment. Plans are in place to use a similar scheme in the construction of other social facilities in Voronezh District with Belarusian participation.
