Most notable among Bosnia and Herzegovina's charms is its lush, mountainous landscape, best seen from the vantage point of one of the national parks. To some, the country remains synonymous with the Yugoslav wars that ravaged the Balkan region in the 1990s; it still bears the legacy of this, having a fractured infrastructure and a countryside that remains littered with mines in some regions.
However, there are plenty of positives to take from Bosnia and Herzegovina's urban centres, especially the cosmopolitan capital of Sarajevo with its Turkish heritage and lively cafe scene. Elsewhere there are historic fortresses, splendid old mosques, monasteries and Catholic shrines to enjoy. But perhaps above all else, it is the reconstructed Ottoman bridge at Mostar that symbolises both the past and a positive new beginning for the country.
History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the time of the Roman Empire, modern-day Bosnia was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Then, after brief occupation by the Goths, the territory was ruled for the next six centuries as a semi-autonomous outpost of the Byzantine Empire. From 1180, when Byzantine rule came to an end, and by 1463, when the Ottoman Turks took control, Bosnia was more or less an independent state under a succession of strong rulers who expanded the territory southwards to take in the province of Hum (now Herzegovina). As a province of the Ottoman Empire, Bosnia & Herzegovina had two distinguishing characteristics: firstly, much of the population converted to Islam; secondly, as a frontier province, it was the first line of defence against incursions into the Ottoman sphere of influence. Consequently, the country suffered from repeated invasions, resulting in destruction and dislocation. Bosnia & Herzegovina also became susceptible to Turkish efforts to expand northwards (for example, the 16th-century Hungarian campaigns of Suleyman the Magnificent).
Under pressure from Austria, Ottoman rule began to weaken during the 18th and 19th centuries, until the Turks were finally expelled following the Russo/Serbian-Turkish war of 1876; Bosnia was assigned to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the Congress of Berlin. An influx of non-Muslims from the north around this time brought Bosnia to something close to its present-day ethnic mix. The decision by Vienna to annex Bosnia fully in 1908 produced a destabilising chain of events contributing to the First Balkan war of 1912–13, then to the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, by a Serb revolutionary, Gavrilo Princip, in June 1914. This single event led directly to the outbreak of World War I. At the end of the war, with the approval of the victorious Great Powers, Serbia annexed Bosnia as part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes', which was renamed 'Yugoslavia' in 1929.
After Yugoslavia's dismemberment by the Axis powers during World War II, the area was incorporated into a so-called 'Independent State of Croatia', ruled by the fascist Ustasa movement, under the joint sponsorship of both Nazi Germany and its ally Italy, with the Vatican also giving its support. Among other things, this resulted in an Ustasa policy of genocide against the local Serbs (henceforth a numerical minority as a result), often supported and aided by the Slavic Muslims, who had strongly resented Serb rule before the war. Concomitantly, the area was also the major battleground of the Yugoslav civil war proper, between royalist Chetnik forces loyal to the exiled King Peter II and his government in London, and Partisans under the control of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, led by Josip Broz Tito. Following the Communist take-over in 1945, Bosnia & Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the new Yugoslav federation.
The ethnic rivalries characteristic of the region's politics were largely suppressed during Communist rule. However, they resurfaced once the Yugoslav federation began to unravel, from 1990 onwards. At the November 1990 elections, extreme nationalists were voted into power by each of the republic's three constituencies and, the following year, Bosnia & Herzegovina effectively fell apart as a functioning and recognisable polity. At the time, this was one aspect of the wider disintegration of the Yugoslav federation, as civil war took hold, first in Slovenia, then Croatia and, finally, in Bosnia.
With a population split almost equally three ways between Serbs, Croats and Muslims, Bosnia was always likely to be the centrepiece of the struggle for influence in former Yugoslavia between the two most powerful republics – Serbia and Croatia. In the initial stages, the Serbs were dominant, with their military forces taking control of two-thirds of the territory, as part of a wider plan to establish a 'Greater Serbia'. This essentially racial project started to go wrong when the United Nations imposed sanctions on Serbia, as evidence mounted of atrocities inflicted upon the civilian population. In the summer of 1995, NATO forces intervened, allowing the Croat and Muslim armies, discreetly armed and trained by Germany and the USA, to retake much of the Serb-occupied territory in Bosnia. Robust American diplomacy then produced a deal under which Bosnia was split almost equally between Serbs and a Muslim-Croat federation. This brought the war to an end, at an estimated cost of 200,000 lives. The long-besieged capital of Sarajevo became the seat of a new central government protected by a multinational military force, the Stabilisation Force (S-FOR). An international mediator, with wide-ranging powers, was installed to oversee the political process. (This post is currently held by the former British politician, Paddy Ashdown.) The Dayton Accord – named after the American city where the bulk of the pre-settlement negotiations took place – has been reasonably successful in returning Bosnia to normality; a number of war criminals on the Serb and Croat sides have been captured prior to trial before an international court in The Hague.
The first set of post-war elections under the terms of the Dayton Accord took place in October 1996. These brought victories for the main nationalist parties representing each of the three communities – the Party of Democratic Action (KCD) for the Muslims, the Croat Democratic Party (HDZ) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). These have since remained the dominant political forces in their respective territories, despite none-too-subtle efforts by the international community to promote more moderate political forces, which it is hoped will eventually guide the country towards reunification and ultimately NATO and EU membership. At the 2000 polls, effective opposition parties did emerge for the first time on both sides – Sloga on the Serb side mounted a serious challenge to the SDS, while in the Muslim-Croat Federation, the Croat Social Democratic Party did likewise to the Croat HDZ. The KCD remained pre-eminent as the main representative party of the Muslim population. However, the most recent polls, in October 2002, reaffirmed the dominant position of the three main nationalist parties – the SDS governs Republika Srpska while the KCD is the largest single party in the Muslim-Croat Federation. There has been some friction within the Federation but so far it has held together as a political entity. The 2002 elections were also notable for the fact that they were the first to have been organised domestically; previous polls had been administered and supervised by the international community. There was evidence of possible corruption from the Croat member of presidency, Covic, but he was promptly sacked by High Representative Paddy Ashdown in 2005 and replaced by Ivo Miro Jovic.
Unfortunately, the complexity of the Dayton arrangements and the bitter legacy of the war has created both a suspicion of change and widespread political apathy in both parts of the country. It could be some time before Bosnia's ethnic chasm can be overcome; in the meantime, the country faces economic stagnation and an isolated international position. Tens of thousands are still displaced and living in temporary shelter; many others are reluctant to return from exile.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Culture
Religion:
45% Muslim, 36% Orthodox, 15% Roman Catholic, 4% Protestant, Jews and other denominations.
Social conventions:
Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterised by its ethnic and religious diversity and visitors should respect the customs and traditions of the various ethnic and religious groups. The main ethnic groups are the Bosniaks (48%, also sometimes referred to as Bosnian Muslims), the Serbs (37.1%) and the Croats (14.3%). Visitors should be aware that drinking alcohol in public may be considered offensive by more orthodox Muslims. Visitors should avoid expressing opinions about the war or other sensitive issues.
Language in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latin alphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic.
31 Mayıs 2013 Cuma
Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel Guide
Most notable among Bosnia and Herzegovina's charms is its lush, mountainous landscape, best seen from the vantage point of one of the national parks. To some, the country remains synonymous with the Yugoslav wars that ravaged the Balkan region in the 1990s; it still bears the legacy of this, having a fractured infrastructure and a countryside that remains littered with mines in some regions.
However, there are plenty of positives to take from Bosnia and Herzegovina's urban centres, especially the cosmopolitan capital of Sarajevo with its Turkish heritage and lively cafe scene. Elsewhere there are historic fortresses, splendid old mosques, monasteries and Catholic shrines to enjoy. But perhaps above all else, it is the reconstructed Ottoman bridge at Mostar that symbolises both the past and a positive new beginning for the country.
History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the time of the Roman Empire, modern-day Bosnia was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Then, after brief occupation by the Goths, the territory was ruled for the next six centuries as a semi-autonomous outpost of the Byzantine Empire. From 1180, when Byzantine rule came to an end, and by 1463, when the Ottoman Turks took control, Bosnia was more or less an independent state under a succession of strong rulers who expanded the territory southwards to take in the province of Hum (now Herzegovina). As a province of the Ottoman Empire, Bosnia & Herzegovina had two distinguishing characteristics: firstly, much of the population converted to Islam; secondly, as a frontier province, it was the first line of defence against incursions into the Ottoman sphere of influence. Consequently, the country suffered from repeated invasions, resulting in destruction and dislocation. Bosnia & Herzegovina also became susceptible to Turkish efforts to expand northwards (for example, the 16th-century Hungarian campaigns of Suleyman the Magnificent).
Under pressure from Austria, Ottoman rule began to weaken during the 18th and 19th centuries, until the Turks were finally expelled following the Russo/Serbian-Turkish war of 1876; Bosnia was assigned to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the Congress of Berlin. An influx of non-Muslims from the north around this time brought Bosnia to something close to its present-day ethnic mix. The decision by Vienna to annex Bosnia fully in 1908 produced a destabilising chain of events contributing to the First Balkan war of 1912–13, then to the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, by a Serb revolutionary, Gavrilo Princip, in June 1914. This single event led directly to the outbreak of World War I. At the end of the war, with the approval of the victorious Great Powers, Serbia annexed Bosnia as part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes', which was renamed 'Yugoslavia' in 1929.
After Yugoslavia's dismemberment by the Axis powers during World War II, the area was incorporated into a so-called 'Independent State of Croatia', ruled by the fascist Ustasa movement, under the joint sponsorship of both Nazi Germany and its ally Italy, with the Vatican also giving its support. Among other things, this resulted in an Ustasa policy of genocide against the local Serbs (henceforth a numerical minority as a result), often supported and aided by the Slavic Muslims, who had strongly resented Serb rule before the war. Concomitantly, the area was also the major battleground of the Yugoslav civil war proper, between royalist Chetnik forces loyal to the exiled King Peter II and his government in London, and Partisans under the control of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, led by Josip Broz Tito. Following the Communist take-over in 1945, Bosnia & Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the new Yugoslav federation.
The ethnic rivalries characteristic of the region's politics were largely suppressed during Communist rule. However, they resurfaced once the Yugoslav federation began to unravel, from 1990 onwards. At the November 1990 elections, extreme nationalists were voted into power by each of the republic's three constituencies and, the following year, Bosnia & Herzegovina effectively fell apart as a functioning and recognisable polity. At the time, this was one aspect of the wider disintegration of the Yugoslav federation, as civil war took hold, first in Slovenia, then Croatia and, finally, in Bosnia.
With a population split almost equally three ways between Serbs, Croats and Muslims, Bosnia was always likely to be the centrepiece of the struggle for influence in former Yugoslavia between the two most powerful republics – Serbia and Croatia. In the initial stages, the Serbs were dominant, with their military forces taking control of two-thirds of the territory, as part of a wider plan to establish a 'Greater Serbia'. This essentially racial project started to go wrong when the United Nations imposed sanctions on Serbia, as evidence mounted of atrocities inflicted upon the civilian population. In the summer of 1995, NATO forces intervened, allowing the Croat and Muslim armies, discreetly armed and trained by Germany and the USA, to retake much of the Serb-occupied territory in Bosnia. Robust American diplomacy then produced a deal under which Bosnia was split almost equally between Serbs and a Muslim-Croat federation. This brought the war to an end, at an estimated cost of 200,000 lives. The long-besieged capital of Sarajevo became the seat of a new central government protected by a multinational military force, the Stabilisation Force (S-FOR). An international mediator, with wide-ranging powers, was installed to oversee the political process. (This post is currently held by the former British politician, Paddy Ashdown.) The Dayton Accord – named after the American city where the bulk of the pre-settlement negotiations took place – has been reasonably successful in returning Bosnia to normality; a number of war criminals on the Serb and Croat sides have been captured prior to trial before an international court in The Hague.
The first set of post-war elections under the terms of the Dayton Accord took place in October 1996. These brought victories for the main nationalist parties representing each of the three communities – the Party of Democratic Action (KCD) for the Muslims, the Croat Democratic Party (HDZ) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). These have since remained the dominant political forces in their respective territories, despite none-too-subtle efforts by the international community to promote more moderate political forces, which it is hoped will eventually guide the country towards reunification and ultimately NATO and EU membership. At the 2000 polls, effective opposition parties did emerge for the first time on both sides – Sloga on the Serb side mounted a serious challenge to the SDS, while in the Muslim-Croat Federation, the Croat Social Democratic Party did likewise to the Croat HDZ. The KCD remained pre-eminent as the main representative party of the Muslim population. However, the most recent polls, in October 2002, reaffirmed the dominant position of the three main nationalist parties – the SDS governs Republika Srpska while the KCD is the largest single party in the Muslim-Croat Federation. There has been some friction within the Federation but so far it has held together as a political entity. The 2002 elections were also notable for the fact that they were the first to have been organised domestically; previous polls had been administered and supervised by the international community. There was evidence of possible corruption from the Croat member of presidency, Covic, but he was promptly sacked by High Representative Paddy Ashdown in 2005 and replaced by Ivo Miro Jovic.
Unfortunately, the complexity of the Dayton arrangements and the bitter legacy of the war has created both a suspicion of change and widespread political apathy in both parts of the country. It could be some time before Bosnia's ethnic chasm can be overcome; in the meantime, the country faces economic stagnation and an isolated international position. Tens of thousands are still displaced and living in temporary shelter; many others are reluctant to return from exile.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Culture
Religion:
45% Muslim, 36% Orthodox, 15% Roman Catholic, 4% Protestant, Jews and other denominations.
Social conventions:
Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterised by its ethnic and religious diversity and visitors should respect the customs and traditions of the various ethnic and religious groups. The main ethnic groups are the Bosniaks (48%, also sometimes referred to as Bosnian Muslims), the Serbs (37.1%) and the Croats (14.3%). Visitors should be aware that drinking alcohol in public may be considered offensive by more orthodox Muslims. Visitors should avoid expressing opinions about the war or other sensitive issues.
Language in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latin alphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic.
However, there are plenty of positives to take from Bosnia and Herzegovina's urban centres, especially the cosmopolitan capital of Sarajevo with its Turkish heritage and lively cafe scene. Elsewhere there are historic fortresses, splendid old mosques, monasteries and Catholic shrines to enjoy. But perhaps above all else, it is the reconstructed Ottoman bridge at Mostar that symbolises both the past and a positive new beginning for the country.
History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the time of the Roman Empire, modern-day Bosnia was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Then, after brief occupation by the Goths, the territory was ruled for the next six centuries as a semi-autonomous outpost of the Byzantine Empire. From 1180, when Byzantine rule came to an end, and by 1463, when the Ottoman Turks took control, Bosnia was more or less an independent state under a succession of strong rulers who expanded the territory southwards to take in the province of Hum (now Herzegovina). As a province of the Ottoman Empire, Bosnia & Herzegovina had two distinguishing characteristics: firstly, much of the population converted to Islam; secondly, as a frontier province, it was the first line of defence against incursions into the Ottoman sphere of influence. Consequently, the country suffered from repeated invasions, resulting in destruction and dislocation. Bosnia & Herzegovina also became susceptible to Turkish efforts to expand northwards (for example, the 16th-century Hungarian campaigns of Suleyman the Magnificent).
Under pressure from Austria, Ottoman rule began to weaken during the 18th and 19th centuries, until the Turks were finally expelled following the Russo/Serbian-Turkish war of 1876; Bosnia was assigned to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the Congress of Berlin. An influx of non-Muslims from the north around this time brought Bosnia to something close to its present-day ethnic mix. The decision by Vienna to annex Bosnia fully in 1908 produced a destabilising chain of events contributing to the First Balkan war of 1912–13, then to the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, by a Serb revolutionary, Gavrilo Princip, in June 1914. This single event led directly to the outbreak of World War I. At the end of the war, with the approval of the victorious Great Powers, Serbia annexed Bosnia as part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes', which was renamed 'Yugoslavia' in 1929.
After Yugoslavia's dismemberment by the Axis powers during World War II, the area was incorporated into a so-called 'Independent State of Croatia', ruled by the fascist Ustasa movement, under the joint sponsorship of both Nazi Germany and its ally Italy, with the Vatican also giving its support. Among other things, this resulted in an Ustasa policy of genocide against the local Serbs (henceforth a numerical minority as a result), often supported and aided by the Slavic Muslims, who had strongly resented Serb rule before the war. Concomitantly, the area was also the major battleground of the Yugoslav civil war proper, between royalist Chetnik forces loyal to the exiled King Peter II and his government in London, and Partisans under the control of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, led by Josip Broz Tito. Following the Communist take-over in 1945, Bosnia & Herzegovina became a constituent republic of the new Yugoslav federation.
The ethnic rivalries characteristic of the region's politics were largely suppressed during Communist rule. However, they resurfaced once the Yugoslav federation began to unravel, from 1990 onwards. At the November 1990 elections, extreme nationalists were voted into power by each of the republic's three constituencies and, the following year, Bosnia & Herzegovina effectively fell apart as a functioning and recognisable polity. At the time, this was one aspect of the wider disintegration of the Yugoslav federation, as civil war took hold, first in Slovenia, then Croatia and, finally, in Bosnia.
With a population split almost equally three ways between Serbs, Croats and Muslims, Bosnia was always likely to be the centrepiece of the struggle for influence in former Yugoslavia between the two most powerful republics – Serbia and Croatia. In the initial stages, the Serbs were dominant, with their military forces taking control of two-thirds of the territory, as part of a wider plan to establish a 'Greater Serbia'. This essentially racial project started to go wrong when the United Nations imposed sanctions on Serbia, as evidence mounted of atrocities inflicted upon the civilian population. In the summer of 1995, NATO forces intervened, allowing the Croat and Muslim armies, discreetly armed and trained by Germany and the USA, to retake much of the Serb-occupied territory in Bosnia. Robust American diplomacy then produced a deal under which Bosnia was split almost equally between Serbs and a Muslim-Croat federation. This brought the war to an end, at an estimated cost of 200,000 lives. The long-besieged capital of Sarajevo became the seat of a new central government protected by a multinational military force, the Stabilisation Force (S-FOR). An international mediator, with wide-ranging powers, was installed to oversee the political process. (This post is currently held by the former British politician, Paddy Ashdown.) The Dayton Accord – named after the American city where the bulk of the pre-settlement negotiations took place – has been reasonably successful in returning Bosnia to normality; a number of war criminals on the Serb and Croat sides have been captured prior to trial before an international court in The Hague.
The first set of post-war elections under the terms of the Dayton Accord took place in October 1996. These brought victories for the main nationalist parties representing each of the three communities – the Party of Democratic Action (KCD) for the Muslims, the Croat Democratic Party (HDZ) and the Serb Democratic Party (SDS). These have since remained the dominant political forces in their respective territories, despite none-too-subtle efforts by the international community to promote more moderate political forces, which it is hoped will eventually guide the country towards reunification and ultimately NATO and EU membership. At the 2000 polls, effective opposition parties did emerge for the first time on both sides – Sloga on the Serb side mounted a serious challenge to the SDS, while in the Muslim-Croat Federation, the Croat Social Democratic Party did likewise to the Croat HDZ. The KCD remained pre-eminent as the main representative party of the Muslim population. However, the most recent polls, in October 2002, reaffirmed the dominant position of the three main nationalist parties – the SDS governs Republika Srpska while the KCD is the largest single party in the Muslim-Croat Federation. There has been some friction within the Federation but so far it has held together as a political entity. The 2002 elections were also notable for the fact that they were the first to have been organised domestically; previous polls had been administered and supervised by the international community. There was evidence of possible corruption from the Croat member of presidency, Covic, but he was promptly sacked by High Representative Paddy Ashdown in 2005 and replaced by Ivo Miro Jovic.
Unfortunately, the complexity of the Dayton arrangements and the bitter legacy of the war has created both a suspicion of change and widespread political apathy in both parts of the country. It could be some time before Bosnia's ethnic chasm can be overcome; in the meantime, the country faces economic stagnation and an isolated international position. Tens of thousands are still displaced and living in temporary shelter; many others are reluctant to return from exile.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Culture
Religion:
45% Muslim, 36% Orthodox, 15% Roman Catholic, 4% Protestant, Jews and other denominations.
Social conventions:
Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterised by its ethnic and religious diversity and visitors should respect the customs and traditions of the various ethnic and religious groups. The main ethnic groups are the Bosniaks (48%, also sometimes referred to as Bosnian Muslims), the Serbs (37.1%) and the Croats (14.3%). Visitors should be aware that drinking alcohol in public may be considered offensive by more orthodox Muslims. Visitors should avoid expressing opinions about the war or other sensitive issues.
Language in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The official languages are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. The Croats and Bosniaks use the Latin alphabet, whereas the Serbs use the Cyrillic.
Belgium Travel Guide
Compact enough to be covered in a week and spirited enough to count as one of Europe's most under-rated destinations, Belgium does many things well, not least winning over sceptical visitors. If all that comes to mind is waffles and EU bureaucracy, then the reality - with its frothing beer, medieval steeples and simmering cultural mix - will be a pleasant wake-up call.
True, Brussels has more than its share of faceless political buildings, but take a closer look and you'll find a dynamic city big on café living and Art Nouveau, while Antwerp and (particularly) Bruges are both custom-made for picture postcards, the pair of them rich with finely crafted Middle Ages architecture. The country itself is split into two sections - Flanders (the predominantly Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the predominantly French-speaking south) - which, when taken together, add up to a visitor package far greater in scope than Belgium is generally given credit for.
History of Belgium
Belgium as a nation only came into being in 1831, after France helped it wrest its independence from the Netherlands and Leopold I was inaugurated as the country’s first king. Over the next century it evolved into a parliamentary democracy with French as the official language of government. French influences also dominated the mainstream culture, making the friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia at times very pronounced. The era was also marked by the rise of Belgium as a colonial power, and is remembered for the brutal treatment of King Leopold II (son of Leopold I) in the Congo Free State.
The country suffered four years of German occupation during World War I, seeing some of the most intense conflicts of the entire campaign and emerging in ruinous condition, something repeated when it again fell into German hands over World War II. It experienced good post-war economic growth, however, and state reforms helped it to recover stability, although there remain tensions between Flanders and Wallonia. The current prime minister, Yves Leterme, took office for the second time in November 2009.
Belgium Culture
Religion:
Mainly Roman Catholic (75%, although few attend regular mass), with small Protestant and Jewish communities.
Social conventions:
Flemish Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor's French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal. Dress is similar to other Western nations, depending on the formality of the occasion. If black tie/evening dress is to be worn, this is always mentioned on the invitation. Smoking is banned in venues where food is served.
Language in Belgium
The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. English is widely spoken in the Flemish region.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Belgium is a small country with little climatic variation, although the area around the Ardennes is more prone to continental weather than the area around Brussels, which conforms more to a temperate European climate. Throughout the country, warm weather can reasonably be expected from May to September and snow is likely during the winter months - temperatures, however, are rarely extreme. As elsewhere in Europe, the major historical sights draw particularly large crowds over summer. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Required clothing:
Due to the aforementioned rainfall, waterproofs are advisable at all times of year. Otherwise, pack light clothing for summer and something warmer for winter months.
Geography
Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe, bordered by France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the Netherlands to the north. There is 60km (37 miles) of coastline to the northwest, on the North Sea. The national landscape is varied, with the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the northern and western countryside. The country's two contingent parts - French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders - are roughly the same size. Capital city Brussels sits close to the centre of the country.
True, Brussels has more than its share of faceless political buildings, but take a closer look and you'll find a dynamic city big on café living and Art Nouveau, while Antwerp and (particularly) Bruges are both custom-made for picture postcards, the pair of them rich with finely crafted Middle Ages architecture. The country itself is split into two sections - Flanders (the predominantly Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the predominantly French-speaking south) - which, when taken together, add up to a visitor package far greater in scope than Belgium is generally given credit for.
History of Belgium
Belgium as a nation only came into being in 1831, after France helped it wrest its independence from the Netherlands and Leopold I was inaugurated as the country’s first king. Over the next century it evolved into a parliamentary democracy with French as the official language of government. French influences also dominated the mainstream culture, making the friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia at times very pronounced. The era was also marked by the rise of Belgium as a colonial power, and is remembered for the brutal treatment of King Leopold II (son of Leopold I) in the Congo Free State.
The country suffered four years of German occupation during World War I, seeing some of the most intense conflicts of the entire campaign and emerging in ruinous condition, something repeated when it again fell into German hands over World War II. It experienced good post-war economic growth, however, and state reforms helped it to recover stability, although there remain tensions between Flanders and Wallonia. The current prime minister, Yves Leterme, took office for the second time in November 2009.
Belgium Culture
Religion:
Mainly Roman Catholic (75%, although few attend regular mass), with small Protestant and Jewish communities.
Social conventions:
Flemish Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor's French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal. Dress is similar to other Western nations, depending on the formality of the occasion. If black tie/evening dress is to be worn, this is always mentioned on the invitation. Smoking is banned in venues where food is served.
Language in Belgium
The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. English is widely spoken in the Flemish region.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Belgium is a small country with little climatic variation, although the area around the Ardennes is more prone to continental weather than the area around Brussels, which conforms more to a temperate European climate. Throughout the country, warm weather can reasonably be expected from May to September and snow is likely during the winter months - temperatures, however, are rarely extreme. As elsewhere in Europe, the major historical sights draw particularly large crowds over summer. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Required clothing:
Due to the aforementioned rainfall, waterproofs are advisable at all times of year. Otherwise, pack light clothing for summer and something warmer for winter months.
Geography
Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe, bordered by France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the Netherlands to the north. There is 60km (37 miles) of coastline to the northwest, on the North Sea. The national landscape is varied, with the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the northern and western countryside. The country's two contingent parts - French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders - are roughly the same size. Capital city Brussels sits close to the centre of the country.
Belgium Travel Guide
Compact enough to be covered in a week and spirited enough to count as one of Europe's most under-rated destinations, Belgium does many things well, not least winning over sceptical visitors. If all that comes to mind is waffles and EU bureaucracy, then the reality - with its frothing beer, medieval steeples and simmering cultural mix - will be a pleasant wake-up call.
True, Brussels has more than its share of faceless political buildings, but take a closer look and you'll find a dynamic city big on café living and Art Nouveau, while Antwerp and (particularly) Bruges are both custom-made for picture postcards, the pair of them rich with finely crafted Middle Ages architecture. The country itself is split into two sections - Flanders (the predominantly Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the predominantly French-speaking south) - which, when taken together, add up to a visitor package far greater in scope than Belgium is generally given credit for.
History of Belgium
Belgium as a nation only came into being in 1831, after France helped it wrest its independence from the Netherlands and Leopold I was inaugurated as the country’s first king. Over the next century it evolved into a parliamentary democracy with French as the official language of government. French influences also dominated the mainstream culture, making the friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia at times very pronounced. The era was also marked by the rise of Belgium as a colonial power, and is remembered for the brutal treatment of King Leopold II (son of Leopold I) in the Congo Free State.
The country suffered four years of German occupation during World War I, seeing some of the most intense conflicts of the entire campaign and emerging in ruinous condition, something repeated when it again fell into German hands over World War II. It experienced good post-war economic growth, however, and state reforms helped it to recover stability, although there remain tensions between Flanders and Wallonia. The current prime minister, Yves Leterme, took office for the second time in November 2009.
Belgium Culture
Religion:
Mainly Roman Catholic (75%, although few attend regular mass), with small Protestant and Jewish communities.
Social conventions:
Flemish Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor's French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal. Dress is similar to other Western nations, depending on the formality of the occasion. If black tie/evening dress is to be worn, this is always mentioned on the invitation. Smoking is banned in venues where food is served.
Language in Belgium
The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. English is widely spoken in the Flemish region.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Belgium is a small country with little climatic variation, although the area around the Ardennes is more prone to continental weather than the area around Brussels, which conforms more to a temperate European climate. Throughout the country, warm weather can reasonably be expected from May to September and snow is likely during the winter months - temperatures, however, are rarely extreme. As elsewhere in Europe, the major historical sights draw particularly large crowds over summer. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Required clothing:
Due to the aforementioned rainfall, waterproofs are advisable at all times of year. Otherwise, pack light clothing for summer and something warmer for winter months.
Geography
Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe, bordered by France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the Netherlands to the north. There is 60km (37 miles) of coastline to the northwest, on the North Sea. The national landscape is varied, with the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the northern and western countryside. The country's two contingent parts - French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders - are roughly the same size. Capital city Brussels sits close to the centre of the country.
True, Brussels has more than its share of faceless political buildings, but take a closer look and you'll find a dynamic city big on café living and Art Nouveau, while Antwerp and (particularly) Bruges are both custom-made for picture postcards, the pair of them rich with finely crafted Middle Ages architecture. The country itself is split into two sections - Flanders (the predominantly Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the predominantly French-speaking south) - which, when taken together, add up to a visitor package far greater in scope than Belgium is generally given credit for.
History of Belgium
Belgium as a nation only came into being in 1831, after France helped it wrest its independence from the Netherlands and Leopold I was inaugurated as the country’s first king. Over the next century it evolved into a parliamentary democracy with French as the official language of government. French influences also dominated the mainstream culture, making the friction between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia at times very pronounced. The era was also marked by the rise of Belgium as a colonial power, and is remembered for the brutal treatment of King Leopold II (son of Leopold I) in the Congo Free State.
The country suffered four years of German occupation during World War I, seeing some of the most intense conflicts of the entire campaign and emerging in ruinous condition, something repeated when it again fell into German hands over World War II. It experienced good post-war economic growth, however, and state reforms helped it to recover stability, although there remain tensions between Flanders and Wallonia. The current prime minister, Yves Leterme, took office for the second time in November 2009.
Belgium Culture
Religion:
Mainly Roman Catholic (75%, although few attend regular mass), with small Protestant and Jewish communities.
Social conventions:
Flemish Belgians will often prefer to answer visitors in English rather than French, even if the visitor's French is good. It is customary to bring flowers or a small present for the hostess, especially if invited for a meal. Dress is similar to other Western nations, depending on the formality of the occasion. If black tie/evening dress is to be worn, this is always mentioned on the invitation. Smoking is banned in venues where food is served.
Language in Belgium
The official languages are Dutch, French and German. Dutch is slightly more widely spoken than French, and German is spoken the least. English is widely spoken in the Flemish region.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Belgium is a small country with little climatic variation, although the area around the Ardennes is more prone to continental weather than the area around Brussels, which conforms more to a temperate European climate. Throughout the country, warm weather can reasonably be expected from May to September and snow is likely during the winter months - temperatures, however, are rarely extreme. As elsewhere in Europe, the major historical sights draw particularly large crowds over summer. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Required clothing:
Due to the aforementioned rainfall, waterproofs are advisable at all times of year. Otherwise, pack light clothing for summer and something warmer for winter months.
Geography
Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe, bordered by France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the Netherlands to the north. There is 60km (37 miles) of coastline to the northwest, on the North Sea. The national landscape is varied, with the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the northern and western countryside. The country's two contingent parts - French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders - are roughly the same size. Capital city Brussels sits close to the centre of the country.
Belarus Travel Guide
Previously known by the name Belorussia (White Russia), the name Belarus was adopted when the country became independent from the Soviet Union as the USSR disintegrated in 1991.
The post-independence leadership was keen to maintain political and economic links with Moscow and was a leading proponent of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States - a loose alliance of ex-Soviet republics that came into being shortly afterwards and whose headquarters were in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
Belarus's close links with Russia has led the country into deeper international isolation. Today, the majority of all industry remains under the control of the state and is heavily regulated. Foreign investment has been limited due to an unfriendly business environment. Belarus's human rights record since President Lukashenko came to power in 1994 has been poor.
Despite this, Belarus does not deserve its reputation as a transit area on the way to or from Russia. Wide plains, picturesque villages, ancient castles and monasteries, deep forests, scenic landscapes, and thousands of lakes await nature-lovers, culture fans and sport enthusiasts. One-third of the Belarusian territory is covered with forests where birches, oaks, maple and pine trees dominate with a rich and diverse fauna: here one can find European bison, elk and deer, wild boar and wolf, bear and fox, beaver and lynx — not to mention myriad birds. Belarus also has a unique history and a rich cultural heritage, with hundreds of architectural monuments dating back to the 12th century.
History of Belarus
Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the 13th and 14th centuries. The Grand Duchy was united with Poland in the 1500s. Belarus then became part of the Russian Empire, following the dismemberment of Poland at the end of the 18th century.
The Republic became part of the Soviet Union, after the Russo-German treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, which ended World War I in Eastern Europe.
Between 1941 and 1944, Belarus was occupied by German forces invading Russia, and an estimated two million people were murdered during this period.
Post-war, Belarus returned to its former status as a Soviet republic, but was granted membership of the United Nations in its own right as a concession to Soviet requests for greater voting power at the assembly.
Lacking the specific grievances that affected other Soviet areas, such as the Baltic republics, there was less pressure for reform during the Gorbachev era. The principal opposition formation, the Belarusian Popular Front, was formed in 1988, achieving some success at the elections to the Congress of People's Deputies in Moscow.
As the USSR disintegrated in 1991, the Republic's Communist Party (CPB) moved quickly to reassert itself as the dominant political force. The post-independence leadership was keen to maintain links with Moscow, and was a leading proponent of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States - a loose alliance of ex-Soviet republics that came into being shortly afterwards.
Alexander Lukashenka came to power in 1994, promising to end corruption. But Lukashenka's rule became characterised by ever greater corruption, nepotism, censorship and arbitrary decision-making; it has since deteriorated further, with restrictions on religious and political assembly and, in the worst cases, the disappearance and death of prominent critics.
In 1996, a dubious referendum had endorsed Lukashenka's intention to extend both his powers and his term of office to 2001. The former trade union leader, Vladimir Goncharik, stood against Lukashenka at the September 2001 presidential poll. However, despite extensive support from the USA, Goncharik suffered a heavy defeat.
In early 2005, Belarus was listed by the US as Europe's only remaining outpost of tyranny.
Belarus Culture
Religion:
Christian, mainly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic with small Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities.
Social conventions:
Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Hospitality is part of the tradition and people are welcoming and friendly. Company or business gifts are well received. Avoid taking photographs of military or government installations.
Language in Belarus
The official languages are Belarusian and Russian.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Temperate continental climate.
Required clothing:
Medium- to heavyweights in winter. Waterproofs are advisable throughout the year.
Geography
Belarus is bordered by Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. It is covered largely by forests and lakes, which are rich in wildlife, and is crossed by major rivers such as the Dnieper.
Doing business in Belarus
For business meetings, visitors should dress smartly. English is widely used in management circles and knowledge of German might also be useful. Appointments should be made well in advance and should be confirmed nearer the time. Business cards should have a Russian translation on the back. Business transactions are likely to take quite a long time.
Office hours:
Mon-Fri 0900-1800.
Economy:
Despite a paucity of natural resources, Belarus enjoyed a relatively high level of prosperity during the Soviet era compared to other ex-Soviet republics. However, the economy has slowed in recent years.
The main agriculture crops are sugar beet, grain and potatoes; livestock breeding is also substantial. The manufacturing industry is focused on the production of agricultural machinery vehicles and chemicals, most of which have been exported in the past. Apart from a few oil and gas deposits, Belarus has no energy reserves and relies on imports, most of which come from the Russian Federation.
Like other Soviet republics, Belarus suffered a sharp decline in output and a variety of other problems following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; this was then followed by a period of stabilisation, which took hold during the mid 1990s as the government and people adjusted to new economic circumstances. The economy recorded GDP growth of 9.2% in 2005 and inflation of 10.3%.
Reluctance to implement measures recommended by the IMF, World Bank and the EBRD (which Belarus joined in 1992) has limited access to these sources of finance. The government has since been engaged in a tentative programme of privatisation. In 2002, 200 state-owned enterprises in the Minsk area were privatised; the government has (under Russian pressure) committed itself to selling major national enterprises.
Belarus' trade is largely conducted with the countries of the former Soviet Union. In 2002, these accounted for two-thirds of Belarusian trade (nearly 80% of that was with Russia). Belarus has been trying to develop its trade links with the Arab world, especially Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, with limited results.
The 3-star Hotel Yubileynaya offers conference facilities for up to 250 persons, including simultaneous translation services. This facility is operated by Belintourist (see Contact Addresses).
GDP:
US$29.6 billion (2005).
Main exports:
Machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals and textiles.
Main imports:
Energy, mineral products and foodstuffs.
Main trading partners:
Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, UK, The Netherlands and Italy.
Keeping in Touch in Belarus
Telephone:
To make international calls it is necessary to dial 8, wait for a tone, then dial 10. Calls from Belarus to some countries must be booked through the international operator. Public telephones take cards. Grey booths are for internal calls and blue ones for international calls.
Mobile phone:
Coverage is limited to main towns. Handsets can be hired at the airport (Belcel office) and in Minsk.
Internet:
There are a few Internet cafes in Minsk. Access is also available at some post offices.
Post:
Airmail to Western Europe takes a minimum of 10 days. The Central Post Office (Minsk, near the railway station) and the Yubileynaya and Planeta hotels in Minsk offer express mail services. DHL Worldwide Express and Federal Express also have branches in Minsk.
Post office hours:
0800-2000 (central office in Minsk).
Media:
The Belarusian authorities have been heavily criticised by human rights and media organisations for suppressing freedom of speech, muzzling the independent press and denying the opposition access to state owned media. The president's administration controls decisions on content and the appointment of senior editors of state media.
Government-controlled newspapers enjoy considerable state subsidies and financial privileges, while many of the opposition print media have faced increased charges, been forced to close down, change name or publish abroad. But some leading privately-owned newspapers survive thanks to popular demand.
The Belarusian National State Teleradio Company operates domestic radio and TV channels and an external radio service. Some radio stations target Belarusian listeners from outside the country.
Press:
The English-language paper Belarus Today is published weekly. The principal dailies are Narodnaya Hazeta and Respublika, all printed in Belarusian and Russian. Sovetskaya Beloroussiya is printed in Russian. Zvyazda is printed in Belarusian. Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, which temporarily closed in 2003, has since resumed publication and is the main private daily paper. Belorusskaya Gazeta is a weekly private publication.
Television:
• Belarusian TV, which is state-run, operates three channels, including satellite station Belarus-TV.
Radio:
• Belarusian Radio, which is state-run, operates three national networks and an external service.
• Radio Baltic Waves brodcasts from Lithuania while Radio Ratsyya is based in Poland.
http://www.worldtravelguide.net
Belarus Travel Guide
Previously known by the name Belorussia (White Russia), the name Belarus was adopted when the country became independent from the Soviet Union as the USSR disintegrated in 1991.
The post-independence leadership was keen to maintain political and economic links with Moscow and was a leading proponent of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States - a loose alliance of ex-Soviet republics that came into being shortly afterwards and whose headquarters were in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
Belarus's close links with Russia has led the country into deeper international isolation. Today, the majority of all industry remains under the control of the state and is heavily regulated. Foreign investment has been limited due to an unfriendly business environment. Belarus's human rights record since President Lukashenko came to power in 1994 has been poor.
Despite this, Belarus does not deserve its reputation as a transit area on the way to or from Russia. Wide plains, picturesque villages, ancient castles and monasteries, deep forests, scenic landscapes, and thousands of lakes await nature-lovers, culture fans and sport enthusiasts. One-third of the Belarusian territory is covered with forests where birches, oaks, maple and pine trees dominate with a rich and diverse fauna: here one can find European bison, elk and deer, wild boar and wolf, bear and fox, beaver and lynx — not to mention myriad birds. Belarus also has a unique history and a rich cultural heritage, with hundreds of architectural monuments dating back to the 12th century.
History of Belarus
Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the 13th and 14th centuries. The Grand Duchy was united with Poland in the 1500s. Belarus then became part of the Russian Empire, following the dismemberment of Poland at the end of the 18th century.
The Republic became part of the Soviet Union, after the Russo-German treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, which ended World War I in Eastern Europe.
Between 1941 and 1944, Belarus was occupied by German forces invading Russia, and an estimated two million people were murdered during this period.
Post-war, Belarus returned to its former status as a Soviet republic, but was granted membership of the United Nations in its own right as a concession to Soviet requests for greater voting power at the assembly.
Lacking the specific grievances that affected other Soviet areas, such as the Baltic republics, there was less pressure for reform during the Gorbachev era. The principal opposition formation, the Belarusian Popular Front, was formed in 1988, achieving some success at the elections to the Congress of People's Deputies in Moscow.
As the USSR disintegrated in 1991, the Republic's Communist Party (CPB) moved quickly to reassert itself as the dominant political force. The post-independence leadership was keen to maintain links with Moscow, and was a leading proponent of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States - a loose alliance of ex-Soviet republics that came into being shortly afterwards.
Alexander Lukashenka came to power in 1994, promising to end corruption. But Lukashenka's rule became characterised by ever greater corruption, nepotism, censorship and arbitrary decision-making; it has since deteriorated further, with restrictions on religious and political assembly and, in the worst cases, the disappearance and death of prominent critics.
In 1996, a dubious referendum had endorsed Lukashenka's intention to extend both his powers and his term of office to 2001. The former trade union leader, Vladimir Goncharik, stood against Lukashenka at the September 2001 presidential poll. However, despite extensive support from the USA, Goncharik suffered a heavy defeat.
In early 2005, Belarus was listed by the US as Europe's only remaining outpost of tyranny.
Belarus Culture
Religion:
Christian, mainly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic with small Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities.
Social conventions:
Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Hospitality is part of the tradition and people are welcoming and friendly. Company or business gifts are well received. Avoid taking photographs of military or government installations.
Language in Belarus
The official languages are Belarusian and Russian.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
Temperate continental climate.
Required clothing:
Medium- to heavyweights in winter. Waterproofs are advisable throughout the year.
Geography
Belarus is bordered by Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. It is covered largely by forests and lakes, which are rich in wildlife, and is crossed by major rivers such as the Dnieper.
Doing business in Belarus
For business meetings, visitors should dress smartly. English is widely used in management circles and knowledge of German might also be useful. Appointments should be made well in advance and should be confirmed nearer the time. Business cards should have a Russian translation on the back. Business transactions are likely to take quite a long time.
Office hours:
Mon-Fri 0900-1800.
Economy:
Despite a paucity of natural resources, Belarus enjoyed a relatively high level of prosperity during the Soviet era compared to other ex-Soviet republics. However, the economy has slowed in recent years.
The main agriculture crops are sugar beet, grain and potatoes; livestock breeding is also substantial. The manufacturing industry is focused on the production of agricultural machinery vehicles and chemicals, most of which have been exported in the past. Apart from a few oil and gas deposits, Belarus has no energy reserves and relies on imports, most of which come from the Russian Federation.
Like other Soviet republics, Belarus suffered a sharp decline in output and a variety of other problems following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; this was then followed by a period of stabilisation, which took hold during the mid 1990s as the government and people adjusted to new economic circumstances. The economy recorded GDP growth of 9.2% in 2005 and inflation of 10.3%.
Reluctance to implement measures recommended by the IMF, World Bank and the EBRD (which Belarus joined in 1992) has limited access to these sources of finance. The government has since been engaged in a tentative programme of privatisation. In 2002, 200 state-owned enterprises in the Minsk area were privatised; the government has (under Russian pressure) committed itself to selling major national enterprises.
Belarus' trade is largely conducted with the countries of the former Soviet Union. In 2002, these accounted for two-thirds of Belarusian trade (nearly 80% of that was with Russia). Belarus has been trying to develop its trade links with the Arab world, especially Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, with limited results.
The 3-star Hotel Yubileynaya offers conference facilities for up to 250 persons, including simultaneous translation services. This facility is operated by Belintourist (see Contact Addresses).
GDP:
US$29.6 billion (2005).
Main exports:
Machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals and textiles.
Main imports:
Energy, mineral products and foodstuffs.
Main trading partners:
Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, UK, The Netherlands and Italy.
Keeping in Touch in Belarus
Telephone:
To make international calls it is necessary to dial 8, wait for a tone, then dial 10. Calls from Belarus to some countries must be booked through the international operator. Public telephones take cards. Grey booths are for internal calls and blue ones for international calls.
Mobile phone:
Coverage is limited to main towns. Handsets can be hired at the airport (Belcel office) and in Minsk.
Internet:
There are a few Internet cafes in Minsk. Access is also available at some post offices.
Post:
Airmail to Western Europe takes a minimum of 10 days. The Central Post Office (Minsk, near the railway station) and the Yubileynaya and Planeta hotels in Minsk offer express mail services. DHL Worldwide Express and Federal Express also have branches in Minsk.
Post office hours:
0800-2000 (central office in Minsk).
Media:
The Belarusian authorities have been heavily criticised by human rights and media organisations for suppressing freedom of speech, muzzling the independent press and denying the opposition access to state owned media. The president's administration controls decisions on content and the appointment of senior editors of state media.
Government-controlled newspapers enjoy considerable state subsidies and financial privileges, while many of the opposition print media have faced increased charges, been forced to close down, change name or publish abroad. But some leading privately-owned newspapers survive thanks to popular demand.
The Belarusian National State Teleradio Company operates domestic radio and TV channels and an external radio service. Some radio stations target Belarusian listeners from outside the country.
Press:
The English-language paper Belarus Today is published weekly. The principal dailies are Narodnaya Hazeta and Respublika, all printed in Belarusian and Russian. Sovetskaya Beloroussiya is printed in Russian. Zvyazda is printed in Belarusian. Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, which temporarily closed in 2003, has since resumed publication and is the main private daily paper. Belorusskaya Gazeta is a weekly private publication.
Television:
• Belarusian TV, which is state-run, operates three channels, including satellite station Belarus-TV.
Radio:
• Belarusian Radio, which is state-run, operates three national networks and an external service.
• Radio Baltic Waves brodcasts from Lithuania while Radio Ratsyya is based in Poland.
http://www.worldtravelguide.net
Balearic Islands Travel Guide
Sun-soaked and skirted by golden sands, the Balearic Islands are one of Europe’s prime island getaways. This Mediterranean archipelago, leisurely sat off the coast of mainland Spain, is awash with leafy terraces, crumbling heritage sites, secluded coves and rolling hills.
Mallorca - the largest of the three – has, over the last few decades, become the archetypal sun-sea-and-sangria island adored by package tourists. Recently, the island has been given something of a facelift, with rundown resorts replaced with shiny modern facilities; Mallorca’s capital, Palma, is now one of Spain's most beguiling and trendiest small cities.
Party-hard Ibiza has long been famous for its club scene, concentrated in the charming hippy-chic capital of Ibiza Town, the high-rise canyons of San António, and in the resort of Playa d'en Bossa. Away from here, however, the island is remarkably rural. Both Ibiza and Mallorca offer excellent beaches, but it is the Balearic Island of Menorca that is renowned for its picture-postcard coves.
Weather & climate
Best time to visit:
The islands enjoy a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The maximum temperatures are not excessive, even in high summer, owing to the cooling influence of the sea. The climate during the winter is generally mild and dry with occasional showers.
Required clothing:
Lightweight cottons for much of the year with shower protection and warmer wear in winter.
Geography
The landscape of these islands is characterised by woodlands, almond trees, fertile plains and often dramatic coastlines with sandy coves separated by craggy cliffs. Mallorca has the most varied landscape featuring mountains and valleys, rocky coves and sandy beaches. The main geographical feature is the Sierra del Norte, a mountain range running along the northern coast. The island is covered with lush pine forest, and with olive and almond trees, which blanket the countryside with blossoms in springtime. Menorca is less impressive, though the two main towns, Mahón and Ciutadella, sited at either end of the island, sit above deep inlets forming natural harbours. There are many bays and cove beaches on the island. Ibiza has a rugged coastline with many fruit orchards and woods.
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