CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December 7, 2001
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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HOW SUPERPOWER COLLAPSED
The first head of state who learnt about the breakdown of the USSR wasnt the
Soviet but rather American president, claims Egor GAIDAR: That was a juridical
dissolution of the nuclear super-state, long considered the archenemy of the
USA, while we, in our turn, considered them to be our main foes. Relations between
these two countries were vital to determine whether the world will be in existence
or will come to demolition. Therefore, signing the agreement, Eltsin and other
leaders bound themselves with a responsibility to preserve nuclear safety. So
it is quite natural that the fist call was made to a person, who had been most
interested in the harmless nature of the process, whereas we needed their quiet
reaction,  said Egor Gaidar in an interview to the Russian newspaper. Read
the full text of the interview below.
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BELARUSIAN REGIME STAYS AWAY FROM ANTI TERRORIST OPERATION
An actual contribution of Belarus to the antiterrorist operation cannot be named
significant. This conclusion can be drawn from the answer of the State Secretary
of the Belarusian Security Council Genadz Nevyglas to the BelaPAN agency at a
press conference on December 7. The press conference was held on the results
of the Conference of the Security Council Secretaries of the Security Pact member
countries. TH equestion was: Is there an actual contribution to the anti-terrorist
operation? If yes, which one: financial, material or humanitarian?
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ACCUMULATED SALARY ARREARS SOARED 25 TIMES AFTER SEPTEMBER 9
For a third month in a row there increases the number of people, who cannot receive
their wages in due time. Following the presidential elections, the debts rose
by 25 times. According to the Federation of trade unions of Belarus, by November
30 there havent been paid 51bln 290mln rubles, which constitutes 11,8% of the
total salary budget. Last month this figure equaled only to 9,6%. The largest
indebtedness has been recorded in Gomel and Mogilev regions, while the Minsk
region comes up third. Trade unions report that in comparison with October, the
November debts rose by 10bln rubles. Meantime, ahead of the presidential elections
they only amounted to some 2bln rubles. Under such circumstances the authorities
have to urgently look for funding. The financial deficit forces Lukashenko to
unleash repressions against the directorate of states biggest companies and
bankers.
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POLES FROM VOLKOVYSK BARRED TO TRAVEL TO POLAND
BARCNEWS
The department of education of the Volkovysk district (Grodno region) passed
a ruling, according to which the pupils, teachers and employees of the Polish
school #8 of Volkovysk are forbidden to travel to Poland without the preliminary
consent of the local authorities. A letter, signed by the head of the department
of education Mikhail Matveichik, forwarded to the schools headmaster Richard
Khudyako, reads: The department for education of the Volkovysk district council
would like to inform you that any contacts with the Republic of Poland, aimed
at the experience exchange, have to be first coordinated with the regional and
district educational departments, as well as with the district executive committee.
From December 1, 2001 teachers, pupils and administrative personnel are prohibited
to leave for Poland without the official permission.
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INVESTORS COMPLAIN OVER LACK OF STABILITY
As mentioned at the Minsk press-conference by the Vice-President of the Italian
concern Iveco Franko Fenolio, Belarusian number one economy problem is the
lack of long-term stability. The man arrived in Minsk in a company of Ivecos
bosses, reports BelaPAN. The company is one of the worlds leading car manufacturers.
The purpose of their visit was to familiarize themselves with the local market,
learn about its possibilities and those of an official dealer and define their
future strategy in Belarus.
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ARRESTED DIRECTOR OF ZHDANOVICHI CAR SALE MARKET
In Minsk police arrested director of the popular car market Zhdanovichi A.Serebryannikov.
As Interfax was told in city police, Serebryannikov was captured red-handed
while getting a bribe from a mediator for providing someone with trading places
at the market. Police representatives added that yesterday they instituted another
4 criminal proceedings on bribery matters. Moreover, the countrys law-enforcement
bodies detained two officials, in charge of supplying materials for the Belarusian
railway. Belarusian media claim that the investigators are also targeting a few
more heads of companies, who supplied energy resources to the Belarusian railway.
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CHAIN OF THOSE WHO CARE STRETCHES IN BELARUS, EUROPE
A Chain of those who care action, organized by the United Civil Party within
the framework of the Want to know the truth! campaign will be held on December
9 in Minsk and 50 Belarusian regions. In course of this campaign the society
and the authorities will be faced with a problem of the disappeared, deceased
and arrested Belarusian politicians, entrepreneurs and journalists. In Minsk
the action will take place at 3-4p.m. along the Skarina prospect  stretching
all the way from the Oktyabrskaya to the Independence square. The minimum expected
number of participants, according to the organizers, will be at least 1000 people.
Invitations to take part in the event had been passed out to all leading democratic
parties and public associations, human rights organizations and trade unions.
The UCP action will be actively supported by the ZUBR resistance movement.
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BHC PROTESTS AGAINST GROWING AUTHORITIES PRESSURE ON NGOS
Belrusian Helsinki Committee expresses concern about growing pressure on non-governmental
organizations and activists exercised by authorities, which has become massive
in the pre-election period and is not subsiding with the course of the time.
According to the BHC, monitors at the vote experienced repressions in the form
of the fines, deprivation of bonuses, dismissals. Pressure on professors of higher
education institutions started.
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OPPOSITION DENIED ACCESS TO STATE MEDIA
Another attempt of the United Civil Party leadership to present their program
to the Belarusian state TV viewers failed again, said at the Dec.6 press-conference
in Minsk UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko. Recently, if you remember, UCP came up with
a series of proposals, targeted at overcoming an economic crisis in Belarus.
In particular, the government was offered a UCP Program of social-economic reforms
for Belarus.
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WORLD BANK CRITICAL OF BELARUSIAN CASHLESS PAYMENT SYSTEM
In March 2002 the World Banks directorate will be given for consideration a
new strategy of cooperation between the bank and Belarus. Before that happens,
however, the Belarusian government first needs to step up significant measures,
aimed at liberalizing economy and improving the entrepreneurship conditions,
the journalists were told at the Dec.6 Minsk press-conference by the WB director
for Belarus and Ukraine Luka Barbone. WBs representative called the governments
plans to introduce the new cashless payment system on all purchases worth $200
and over unwise measures. WB person also stressed that such administrative
tools undermine confidence in the Belarusian authorities. Wed like the government
to concentrate on reforms rather than on some periphery issues,  he added.
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TRADE UNION FEDERATION PLENUM UPHOLDS ITS LEADERSHIPS POLICY
3rd plenum of the Federation of trade unions of Belarus, which took place in
Minsk on December 6, supported the policy of the FTU leadership. On the daily
agenda of the plenum, held behind closed doors, there stood only one issue 
the further development of the trade union movement in light of the decisions
of the 3rd FTU congress. Leaders of some trade unions up to the last moment insisted
on the inclusion into the agenda of an issue to convene the extracurricular FTU
session, which would hold a no confidence vote against the FTU leadership and
its chair Vladimir Goncharik.
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FINE FOR MEETING-REQUIEM IN REMEMBRANCE OF CATHEDRAL BLASTED BY COMMUNISTS
Painter Zmitser Ivanousky was fined a million and a half roubles, as the court
found him an arranger of the unsanctioned meeting in Hrodna, which took place
on November 29. The citizens assembled at a place where a medieval the Grand
Duchy of Lithuanias grand prince Vitaut s Cathedral was demolished forty years
ago by the Communist authorities. The city executive committee banned the meeting.
Zmitser Ivanousky informed the people about this ruling and voiced his opinion
about the prohibition. At the court he asked Judge Syargei Jarashevich to sentence
him to imprisonment instead of a fine. The painter has no permanent job, and
he has two children.
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MEDICAL PLANT ON THE VERGE OF CLOSURE
Ekzon company from Drogichin, specializing in producing medications, is rapidly
losing its Russian market. Experts believe that next year this will lead to a
mass personnel redundancy. One can hardly hope to find a new job in a small town,
located in the Brest region.
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MAZ LEADERSHIP STATES ITS LACK OF RIGHTS
Potential transformation of the Minsk car-building plant (MAZ) into a joint-stock
venture is completely out of competence of the companys leadership. MAZs director
general and his deputies are running the companys activities, but dont deal
with the problems of its ownership. Such a press-release was disseminated by
the center for public relations of the Minsk car plant in connection with the
presss increasingly high interest in the destiny of the countrys number one
industrial giant.
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SALARY ARREARS IN NOVOPOLOTSK
According to the department for economy and market relations of the Novopolotsk
town hall the salary indebtedness in one of the towns most well-off towns by
November 28 amounted to 616mln rubles. Specialists link the delays in payments
with the general payments crisis, which is picking up speed now throughout the
country.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December 7, 2001
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml