First Belarusian Expedition Starts off for Antarctica

The first Belarusian expedition started off for Antarctica on 7 February.

The expedition includes deputy chair of the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament Nikolai Dubovik and sector chief of the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Tyshkevich.

During the seeing off ceremony chairman of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Konoplev noted special importance of “the research in Antarctica given the climate change”. The speaker handed the polar researchers a Belarusian flag to be raised at the South Pole.

Participation of Belarusians in scientific investigations will enhance the prestige and status of Belarus in the international arena. “The program has a great state importance. It is implemented jointly with Russians who will take the Belarusians onboard their vessel”, said Vladimir Konoplev.

Director of the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Loginov called the event as very special. “Time will pass and the fact that a citizen of independent Belarus set his foot in Antarctica will become a historic achievement. It will bring political, scientific and economic benefits as Antarctica will become one of the continents providing mineral raw material resources in the future”, noted Vladimir Loginov.

Nikolai Dubovik said that this is not his first experience. He had taken part in an expedition “investigating the territory from the Kuril Islands to the Bering Strait”. He also informed that the expedition is supposed to last till April. However, everything will depend on the weather.