CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 1, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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ANDREI SANNIKOV: SANCTIONS CAN BE IMPOSED ON BELARUS
The introduction of US sanctions against Belarus is totally realistic. The USA
have all the necessary means of pressure  both political and economic. In the
event they impose sanctions America will demand from her allies, especially NATO
member-states to uphold the practice, said in an interview to Radio Ratsya Charter97
international coordinator, former countrys deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Sannikov.
The diplomat states that the Belarusian authorities continue to conceal data
on arms sale, which is an additional irritant to the Americans.
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BELARUS BROKERS RUSSIAS ARMS DEALS SAYS STANISLAV SHUSHKEVICH
Former head of the Belarusian Parliament, leader of the Belarusian social-democratic
party Stanislav Shushkevich said Russia is using Belarus as a channel for shipping
her arms to Iraq, Iran and Libya.
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ALYAXANDAR CHIGIR PLEADS NOT GUILTY
Alyaxandar Chigir, son of the former countrys Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir,
doesnt confess his guilt in alleged selling of stolen car parts. The man said
this on Friday, delivering his last speech during the session of the Leninsky
court of Minsk.
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FM RECALLS BELARUS AMBASSADOR IN USA
Belarusian ambassador in USA and Mexico Valery Tsepkalo will return on March
2 to Belarus. He used to represent our countrys interests in America since 1997.
According to the official information, the diplomat is being recalled due to
the personnel rotations, as the definition puts it. The name of the successor
at the post is still to be confirmed. The Foreign Ministry declines to comment
on this information, only saying that following Tsepkalos departure, his duties
will be temporarily executed by the counselor of the diplomatic representation
on political issues Sergei Rachkov. In this connection, various structures are
spreading rumors that Belarus, due to deteriorating relations with the US, may
not send its ambassador there at all, reducing his status to that of the charge
daffaires.
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CORRUPTION FLOURISHING IN BELARUS
Washington ProFile
According to the research, conducted by the international organization Transparency
International, Belarus is the country with high corruption level. The researchers
divided all East European and former USSR countries into three categories: with
low, middle and high levels of corruption. The first one includes Estonia (also
Slovenia and Hungary), Lithuania enjoys an intermediate position between the
first and second categories (Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic). Latvia and Moldova
are placed in-between group two (middle level of corruption) and three (high
level). The third group embraces Romania and the former USSR republics  Russia,
Ukraine, Belarus, Caucasus and Middle Asia states.
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BELGOSPISCHEPROM ROCKED BY SCANDAL
Son of the concerns president Viktor Kazeka was arrested for bribery. Andrei
Kazeka used to work under his fathers leadership and occupied quite a high post
 he headed the sales department of the Kryshtal alcohol company, which, along
with other liqueurs factories is subordinate to the Belgospischeprom. According
to the police reports, on August 21-24 last year Andrei Kazeka received from
the Avganvet joint stock representatives a bribe worth $102thsd628.
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ABOUT 80% OF UKRAINIAN VOTERS SUPPORT AUTHORITIES TRANSFORMATION
An overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian citizens are for renovation of the
power, prove the results of the national opinion poll carried out by the Center
of political and electoral research SOCIS from February 10 to 18. The results
were publicized on Friday at the press conference in Kyiv. Four thousand people
older 18 year were questioned. The may be 1.8%. According to the results of the
survey, 78% respondents share the opinion that the government should be transformed.
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BELARUS LOSES WORLD MARKETS
Fall in the Belarusian products competitiveness in Russian Federation seriously
troubles the countrys manufacturers and leadership. According to the FM press-service,
such situation is mostly caused by the reduction of prices at the Russian market
owing to the decrease of taxation against Russian firms.
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BELARUS TOPS CIS INFLATION LIST
Index of consumer goods in January 2002, as compared to January 2001 (December
2001), rose in Azerbaijan by 1,7% (0,6%), Armenia  0,5% (2,2%), Belarus  48,0%
(6,1%), Georgia  4,7% (2,0%), Kazakhstan  6,0% (0,7%), Kirgyzia  3,5% (0,7%),
Moldova  6,0% (1,3%), Russia  18,6% (3,1%), Tajikistan  9,4% (1,6%), Ukraine
 5,6% (1,0%). No data on Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has been provided, reports
CIS committee for statistics.
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MORE THAN 100 THOUSANDS UNEMPLOYED IN BELARUS
The recent figures of the Statistics and Analysis Ministry show that now in Belarus
there are more than 109.3 thousands unemployed. The employment service of Belarus
has registered a rise of unemployment by 6.2 percent in January as compared with
December 2001, when there were 102.9 thousand jobless citizens. The Eastern regions
bordering on Russia are leading in the unemployment rate. As the experts believe,
it can be explained by the economical state of the Eastern regions, which is
less developed than in the Western Belarus.
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VERDICT AGAINST ALYAXANDAR CHIGIR TO BE VOICED MARCH 1
Sentence announcement on Alyaxandar Chigirs case  junior son of the former
Belarusian Premier  charged with selling stolen car spare parts, may take place
on Friday. Interfax quotes suspects father Mikhail Chigir as claiming that
his sons guilt proofs are built on the documents that were obtained as a result
of exerting psychological and physical pressure on other defendants  Anton Yashin
and Dmitry Yutskevich.
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TRIAL OVER ZUBRS TO CONTINUE ON MARCH 14
The trial over the five Zubr members, accused of insulting Alyaxandar Lukashenka,
was rescheduled for March 14. At the yesterdays hearing of the court two witnesses
of the defense and the investigator were interrogated. The two witnesses, women
born in 1920 and 1917, could not give comprehensible evidence. The investigator
of the case of Lukashenkas insult said at the trial that the masks worn by the
Zubr activists, represent the face of our president, that caused a burst of
laughter in the audience. After the dinner break the attorney of Mikhail Kisialou,
Maxim Patupchyk, Ales Paulovich, Dzianis Senakosau and Zmitser Shalashkou appealed
to order a complex examination of all things confiscated after arrest on August
14 by experts in psychiatry and art. But judge Kholadava rejected the appeal
saying that it is not necessary. After that the break in hearings until March
14 was announced.
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SEIZURES GO ON
Voice of America
The experts continue to discuss the motivation of the extensive anti- directorship
campaign of the Belarusian government that is aimed for intimidation of the leaders
of the industry and, they say, for receiving full control of the industry by
the authorities. The campaign is not ending. The Public Prosecutor General Viktar
Sheiman named the figures for the last year. More than 20 thousands people were
made answerable, among them about 400 executives. The prosecutors office sent
to court 44 thousands cases, two times as much as in 2000. Meanwhile Mr.Sheiman
stated that powers of procurator should be more attacking, to disclose the shortcomings
of the enterprises actively and determinedly take steps necessary for legal activities
of the state institutions and private enterprises.
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TRADE UNIONS TO PROTEST ON MARCH 28
The national trade union protest will take place on March 28  such a decision
was passed by the presidium of the Federation of trade unions of Belarus. The
action is dedicated to the deterioration of social-economic condition of workers
and the authorities unwillingness to enter into the dialogue with the trade
unions. Originally, they planned to strike on March 5, but failed to get the
event ready by then. The forms and places of the protest assembly will be shortly
set by the industrial trade unions and the FTU itself.
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FINANCIAL POLICE ROBS KUTSEINA
Orsha newspaper Kutseina cannot get back its equipment. The Orsha court ruled
to return the seized printing machine, leaving the PCs in states possession.
However, the Interdistrict department for financial research refused to return
even this piece of equipment, claiming that they dont consent with such courts
ruling and intend to petition the procuracy. Kutseinas representative, lawyer
Oleg Grablevsky claims that under the existing legislation, the equipment must
be returned to the newspaper before the procuracy ever starts to even consider
the issue.
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CHINESE DELEGATION COMES TO MINSK
A working visit to Belarus of the deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the
Chinese People Republic Li Jiaosing is scheduled for March 1-2. The main aim
of the visit is consultations between the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and the
Foreign Ministry of China. The issues of the bilateral cooperation in the spheres
of economy, trade, science and technology are to be discussed at the consultations.
Special attention is to be devoted to the keeping to the agreements achieved
at the highest level of the leaders of China and Belarus. Exchange of opinions
on terrorism fight, anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan and post-conflict
settlement of the situation in this country, as well as coordination of common
actions at the international arena, is to take place.
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MINIMAL WAGE INCREASE ON MARCH 1
On March 1Belarus will see a rise in the minimal salary from 10 to 17 thousand
rubles. The concomitant decision was passed by the Cabinet of Ministers. The
document also establishes an hourly minimal wage  101 rubles.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 1, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml