Belarus; an independent Republic in Eastern Europe. The land covers 207 595 square kilometers. The capital and biggest city is Minsk (1.74 million inhabitants).

In Belarus there are numerous rivers and lakes. More than 80% of the entire population of 9.85 million people (2004) are Belarussians. At 11 percent, the Russians are the largest ethnic minority, and apart from them Ukranians, Jews, Poles and Lithuanians also live in Belarus. 73% of the population live in cities (1998).

Following the nuclear reactor disaster in 1986, the health service has been under a lot of strain. The radioactive fallout, which was more severe in Belarus than in any other former Soviet Republic, still poses a threat to the health of the population.

Agriculturally, more than half of the trade is based on animal breeding and dairy. 30% of the land is used as farm land. Through the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in 1986, Belarussian agriculture suffered a serious blow. Nearly 70% of the entire fallout came down on Belarussian territory. Of the 96 000 square kilometers of arable land, nearly 18% was so heavily radiated that here only limited, or indeed no agricultural use is possible any longer.