19 June 2003
Lukashenko orders renovation of Brest Fortress Memorial completed by 2004
The renovation of the Brest Fortress Memorial should be completed by 2004, when the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders will be observed, Aleksandr Lukashenko said on June 19, while inspecting the World War II memorial.
However, it is still unclear where the necessary $2 million will be received from. A total of $2 million has been provided by Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Moldova for the renovation since 1996. The money allowed the administration to mothball the monument "Zhazhda"
(Thirst), renovate the Square of Ceremonials and the Bayonet Obelisk, build three boiler stations, clean a bypass, and turn barracks into an art museum. However, funds so far have not been made available for the renovation of the monument "Muzhestvo" (Courage) and the fortress' gate, the ruins of the White Palace, the Brest Fortress Defense Museum, and bridges. The four million Russian rubles that has been earmarked in the Belarusian-Russian Union State's 2003 budget, is not enough, the memorial's director says.
The Belarusian leader stressed that the renovation of the memorial hould be a "common cause" not only a Belarusian-Russian affair. The head of state laid flowers at the Eternal Fire and visited an art museum housed by military barracks.
The Brest region's top officials reported to Mr. Lukashenko on their effort to raise the population's living standards and on the results of research into the housing needs of the Great Patriotic War veterans.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news424.html