In April for the first time in 20 years of existence of the Union state there were checkpoints on the border of Russia and Belarus. What was your reaction?
Sergey Krivko: Difficulties were only the beginning, because the posts put up suddenly. But all who work, whatever. Now equipment, freight, delivery drivers crossing the border in Smolensk region without any problems. For family reasons to get to Belarus, we can only list (for example, a funeral). But unhappy there. Neither the blogs nor the forums, this topic is not raised. The agenda is dominated by economic issues. Social interaction, especially in the form of people’s diplomacy can resolve the crisis.
Many events had to be postponed?
Sergey Krivko: Yes, plans had to change. Many programs with the participation of the Belarusian Diaspora, we “taken out to peak” by may, the anniversary of the Victory. A series of motor rally “Roads of war. Roads of the world. The road of memory” and the project “Atlas of memory” we started in June of 2016 – the 75th anniversary of the great Patriotic war. The results wanted to present to the 75-th anniversary of Victory. Routes were laid along the places of the most fierce battles at the line where the hero cities of Moscow, Smolensk and Minsk, hero-fortress Brest, city of military glory Vyazma and Mozhaysk.
the Essence of the rally is not just to visit the battlefields, but also cause the information on the navigation map. We choose the memorials and the mass graves, located no farther than a kilometer from the road. On each card there is: photo, short text, the address and GPS coordinates. “Atlas of memory” exist in electronic form (on the basis of the group of “Countrymen” in the network “Vkontakte”), there are three paper release (in addition to coordinates, there are fragments of road maps).
We agreed with “Yandex.Maps” and other navigation services to add to their GPS data for these sites. Imagine a person goes and hears: “after 500 metres – grave of the hero of so-and-so who died in the battle for Moscow…”
this year’s planned fifth run in the direction of Volgograd. Well, take it in September, the anniversary of the liberation of Smolensk. In the fall transferred the action “Victory Gardens”: plant Smolensk seedlings of Apple and pear trees in six Belarusian cities and trees from Belarus to Smolensk six sister cities.
Postponed to November and the seventh Congress of Belarusians of Russia…
Sergey Krivko: it will Show the results of our work in the field of cooperation of twin towns. Three years we were supported by the presidential grants projects “Sister stories” and “Brothers without borders”. During this time between the cities Smolensk and Vitebsk regions signed 11 new agreements on twinning.
It’s a bit “hard”, but strategically important work to strengthen the friendship. We actively meet with the heads of cities, find out what are the opportunities and plans of our cooperation is not restricted to the congratulations on Victory Day. A good example of Orsha and Vyazma, who have been friends for twenty years. Holds joint conferences on health and education, councils of veterans, cooperating, pioneering change visit each other. And, of course, improve economic ties.
Stop our work together, no coronavirus, of course, could not and can not. So, on may 29, we signed a cooperation agreement with the Belarusians of Lithuania in the videoconference. But direct communication is indispensable, looking forward to lifting the restrictive measures.
