CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 19, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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MARCH 19  ON-LINE CONFERENCE WITH A PROTEST MARCH ORGANIZER, FILMMAKER YURI
KHASCHEVATSKY
One month prior to the Protest March CANT LIVE LIKE THAT!, due to take place
in Minsk on April 19, the Charter97 press-center will run on its web-site a
press-conference with one of the Protest March organizers Yuri Khaschevatsky.
The famous filmmaker, author of the movies Krylov was here, Everythings alright,
Russian happiness, Oasis, Ordinary president, Gods of sickle and hammer,
academic of the Eurasian TV academy, laureate of the cinema prize of the Berlin
festival, of the Russian Union of writers award and winner of the grand-prix
of the universal cinema festival Human Rights Watch in New York. The conference
will take place on Tuesday March 19 at 4p.m.-8p.m. Minsk time. Languages  Belarusian,
Russian, English.
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BELARUSIAN DICTATOR CONFIRMS HIS SUPPORT OF IRAQ
Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus always protested and will protest against
sanctions applied against Iraq, which badly affect the population and will lead
to negative healthcare consequences. During todays Minsk meeting with the Vice-Premier,
the Minister of finance of Iraq Al-Azavi the Belarusian leader also underscored
that we categorically oppose the exercise of military pressure against Iraq,
let alone the military strikes - the plans that are being harbored by certain
countries.
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PRIVATIZATION AFTER LUKASHENKO
Vremya Novostei
Having announced the start of the joint stock transformation of the petroleum
complex the government of Belarus faced the first difficulties. There hasnt
been defined yet the balance cost of six enterprises, whose stocks are to be
put for sale in late May. This procedure was due to get accomplished by March
16 under the state-set agenda.
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MTS ABOUT TO LOSE $10M IN BELARUS
For some unclear reasons the government of Belarus doesnt give consent to the
registration of the joint venture of Mobile TeleSystems and the Intercity
communications. According to Vedomosti, MTS faces the danger of wasting $10mln
in vain.
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BALTIKA TO TAKE OVER KRYNITSA ON LUKASHENKOS TERMS
The government of Belarus plans to pass over to the Baltika brewery 50% plus
one share of the Krynitsa beer plant. The control stocks takeover process
will proceed in three stages, the PRIME-TASS quotes the source in the countrys
government as saying.
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TARIFFS RISE BY 20%
Water supplies and sewerage service costs rose for the Belarusian population
by 20% by March 15. The Ministry of housing reports that at the moment the tenants
cover only 35% of state expenditures on this type of services. By the end of
this quarter this figure will reach the level of at least 40%.
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ANDREI SANNIKOV VIEWS BELARUS-IRAQ MEETING AS PROVOCATION
The final protocol of the joint Belarusian-Iraqi intergovernmental commission
on trade-economic cooperation will be signed in Minsk later in the day. The Iraqi
delegation is headed by the Vice-Premier  the Minister of Finance Al-Azavi.
Today the delegates will meet with Alexander Lukashenko despite the alarming
news that Iraq may become target of the US next anti-terrorist strike. The international
pundits believe that the campaign will start within a couple of weeks. Charter97
international coordinator Andrei Sannikov calls the top-level meetings between
Belarus and Iraq leaderships under the existing circumstances provocation.
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USA URGE BELARUS TO HALT CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL SOCIETY
Citing a report on an incident March 8 on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border as
"clear evidence of harassment and intimidation" of Belarusian civil society,
U.S. diplomat Douglas A. Davidson, addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna,
urged Belarus to end such harassment and to cooperate fully with the OSCE. Following
is the transcript of his statement:
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AUTHORITIES LINGER OVER KLIMOVS RELEASE
Over 50 convicts are awaiting preliminary release in the Minsk colony. Nonetheless,
their liberation is being put off over and over again. According to the Radio
Svaboda sources, the unprecedented delay is linked to the prisons most famous
personality  13th Supreme Soviet deputy Andrei Klimov.
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USA CALL BELARUS SITUATION OVER FREEDOM OF SPEECH DESPERATE
Freedom of expression is an integral component of the OSCE commitments and ensures
the foundation for both the democratic growth and economic success,  said during
the March 14 session of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna the US diplomat
Douglas Davidson. Commenting on the rapport of the OSCE representative for the
freedom of media Freimut Duve, Davidson said the following: As concerns Belarus,
we share Mr.Duves evaluation of the situation their as desperate and problematic.
Legal actions, opened against Mr.Seredich, Markevich and Mozheiko one more time
confirm this tendency. The fact that their coverage of the September presidential
elections was used as an impetus to start criminal proceedings against them on
libel charges, raises additional questions as to what extent we and others can
trust the outcomes of these elections.
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STRIFE OVER MINI-MARKETS UNDERWAY IN NOVOPOLOTSK
The Independent entrepreneurial trade union of Novopolotsk commenced its action
of protest. The Izvetsia correspondent reports that the businessmen are unfolding
the campaign on canceling the decisions of the local authorities, which are set
to shut the towns mini-markets all at once.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 19, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml