CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
January 24, 2003
www.charter97.org
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ANDREI SANNIKOV: ACKNOWLEDGING RESPONSIBILITY
16:55 24/01/2003

"Someone may harbor illusions that intensification of contacts with the "parliament"
or administration may bring about positive changes. No, this isn't going to happen.
That's a too short-sighted policy. They sought to do that many times back in
the past but always to no avail. Belarus is governed by a system, where everything
is in one man's control,"  said former deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, current
Charter'97 international coordinator Andrei Sannikov in his January 22 interview
to "Radio Svaboda". "We must realize that we are wasting time in vain and may
fail to become a European country in future. The acknowledgement of this danger
may lead to a situation when changes will start real quick and then we will see
other approaches, used by our friends, democratic countries and international
organizations. Right now we find ourselves on such a historic crossways, where
we have to realize all responsibility for the destiny of our people and the country
in general". Read below the text of the interview with Andrei Sannikov.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/sannikov

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PENALTIES APPLIED FOR HOLDING RELIGIOUS MINISTRIES
11:36 24/01/2003, Informational center "Freedom of conscience"

On December 12, 2002 the deacon of the Baptist church Alexander Miholenkov faced
police administrative protocol for the alleged violation of the established order
of organizing and holding religious ministries. Believers, according to the law-enforcers,
had no right to hold meetings as 10-12a.m. in the place, which wasn't designed
for the purpose. The protocol was sent to the Zavodskoi district court of Minsk,
after which the priest will face administrative responsibility under article
167/1 of the Administrative code, envisaging reprimand, fine or 3-15 days of
imprisonment.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/faith

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ENTREPRENEURS READYING FOR MASSIVE PROTESTS
16:51 24/01/2003

The Striking committee of the Belarusian entrepreneurs passed a decision on halting
the actions of protest in Grodno and postponing the national limitless strike
from February 1 till an indefinite time. Meantime, the Striking committee points
out that they are readying for more massive protests in protection of businessmen's
legitimate rights and interests. They negotiate on the joint implementation of
such actions. "We got to accumulate power and funds. The effect from the action
will be way greater than from the unlimited strike,"  reads the statement of
the Striking committee.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/strike

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FINANCE MINISTRY SATISFIES LUKASHENKO'S WISHES
16:50 24/01/2003

The Ministry of finances of Belarus prepared draft amendments into the general
part of the Tax code, bringing this document into conformity with Alexander Lukashenko's
remarks. Director of the department of tax policy and budget incomes of the Ministry
of finance Alexander Kozlyakov said that at the meeting of the permanent commission
of the "house of representatives" on budget, finances and taxation policy.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/minfin

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THE UNION OF STATE AND ORTHODOX CHURCH
16:49 24/01/2003

Draft agreement between the ruling state bodies of Belarus and Orthodox Church
must be worked out by January 30, 2003. Chairman of the Belarusian committee
for religions and nationalities Stanislav Buko said that they got involved 17
state institutions, which are to come up with the cooperation plan with the church.
The agreement with the Belarusian eparchy will be signed by the Ministry of education,
healthcare, labor and social protection, frontier troops, police etc, reports
Belarusian TV.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/state

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EUROPEAN POLITICIANS' COURT OF HONOR
16:48 24/01/2003

Famous Russian human rights defenders came up today with an initiative to set
up the "Court of honor of the European politicians"  a public organization,
which would raise before the EU countries an issue on visa denial to the politicians,
who incite xenophobia, national intolerance and human rights abuses. According
to the author of the idea, biologist Nikolai Formozov, human rights defenders
recall the incident with Alexander Lukashenko, on whom they imposed travel ban
for political motives.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/court

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BIASED COURT OVER ALEKSEI SHYDLOVSKY
15:04 24/01/2003, ZUBR

Consideration of Aleksei Shydlovsky's court appeal took place on January 23 in
the Minsk city court. Shydlovsky demanded cancellation of the Central district
court's decision, which declined his lawsuit on the protection of his honor and
dignity, filed against "Sovetskaya Belorussiya" newspaper and its editor Pavel
Yakubovich. ZUBR coordinator claims that in May the newspaper published an article,
which defamed him by saying that he had served his prison term not for political
graffiti, but for refusal to pay alimonies. However, in October 2002, the court
turned down his complaint, although the plaintiff had never been married, while
the defendant never denied his guilt.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/shidl

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"TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL": BELARUSIAN REGIME'S CORRUPT
11:48 24/01/2003

International non-governmental organization "Transparency International" presented
in London its report on corruption worldwide. The text of the document states
that the general level of corruption in the globe has significantly fallen. However,
"Deutsche Welle" in Ukraine was told by the organization's representative Jeremi
Pope that the situation with corruption in Ukraine hasn't gone any better. He
went on to compare it to the analogous situation in Belarus.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/ti

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BELARUS SET TO DEVELOP RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM
11:46 24/01/2003

Belarus is ready to further render support to the Vietnamese nation, RIA "Novosti"
quotes Alexander Lukashenko as saying on Thursday at his meeting with the chairman
of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguen Van An. In his turn the parliamentarian
thanked the head of Belarus, saying that mutual visits of the leaderships of
both states formed a good basis for the development of relations in all spheres,
especially in the political one.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/vi

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DELEGATION OF BELARUSIAN EXPERTS PAYS VISIT TO KUWAIT
11:43 24/01/2003

Under the preliminary agreement, the delegation of Belarusian experts will pay
visit to Kuwait on January 23-27, said at the yesterday's briefing deputy head
of the information department of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/mid

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BELARUS INTENSIFIES TIES WITH LEBANON
11:40 24/01/2003

First deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Vassily Pugachev visited on January
20-21 the Lebanese Republic. As mentioned at the briefing by deputy head of the
FM's information department Andrei Savinykh, Vasily Pugachev was welcomed by
the president of Lebanon Emil Lahud. In course of the meeting Vassily Pugachev
passed over to the head of the Lebanese Republic a personal missive and greetings
from Alexander Lukashenko. The president of Lebanon expressed interest in the
development of the Belarusian-Lebanese cooperation and confirmed his invitation
to Alexander Lukashenko to pay personal official visit to Lebanon.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/01/24/libanon
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
January 24, 2003
www.charter97.org