The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE February 05, 2003 www.charter97.org --------------------------------------------------------- ELECTIONS IN TOLOCHIN ARE FALSIFIED BEFORE ELECTIONS 16:26 05/02/2003, Narodnaya Volia After publishing preliminary data about registration of candidates to local sovets it became clear that we will have elections but we will not have choice. Almost in all election districts there are non-alternative candidates from power. Political parties suffered especially serious loses. Power gloats over and hints on weakness of political parties and public organizations. This is right. But it means that political system of the country is weak. First of all citizens will lose, because political parties express will of people. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/tolochin --------------------------------------------------------- WORKERS OF MOGILEV METAL PLANT EXPRESSED MISTRUST TO THEIR ADMINISTRATION 13:17 05/02/2003 On February, 4 workers of Mogilev metal plant expressed mistrust to administration of enterprise. About 150 workers, most of them are shareholders, gathered together near building of administration with placards "Where is our money?", "Power, protect us!", "Shame on Ministry of industry!" http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/work --------------------------------------------------------- UTA ZAPF: "POSITION OF OSCE HAS NOT CHANGED" 11:29 05/02/2003 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly official delegation, headed by the chair of the special OSCE PA group for Belarus Uta Zapf, will come in Minsk on February, 5 and stay in Minsk for two days. Among those delegated to Minsk are Urban Alin (Sweden), Fred Ponsombi (Great Britain), Gabor Hars (Hungary) and program employee of OSCE PA Paul Legendre. As radio "Liberty" informed before, in spite of certain actions of Belarusan side for opening new OSCE office demands of European politicians has not changed. Four conditions of OSCE will not be changed: authority of parliament, discrimination of political opposition and independent media, access of opposition to state media will be discussed during this visit. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/zapf --------------------------------------------------------- NEW LAW ON RELIGION MADE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFICULT THE ACTIVITIES OF KRISHNA FOLLOWERS 16:41 05/02/2003 When the new law "On freedom of religions and religion organizations" came into forth "all the activities according to Statute of the Krishna followers of the Republic of Belarus became illegal". This information is included in an appeal to the Administration of Lukashenko, the governemt, and the parliament of Belarus. Besides, the appeal was distributed among human rights organizations and diplomatic missions that accredited in Belarus. The appeal was signed by Sergey Malakhovskiy, Alexander Karzov, and Andrey Zubko, representatives of the Krishna communities. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/krishna --------------------------------------------------------- OFFICIAL MINSK IS AFRAID OF USA RETURN TO UNESCO 16:19 05/02/2003 Chair of National commission of Republic of Belarus for UNESCO Vladimir Schastny is worried by possible return of USA to this international organization. He told of it of February, 4 in Information and documentation center of UNESCO and other international organizations. As diplomat marked present period is very productive because there is no total politization in activity of the organization, -- informs BelaPan. But situation can change once USA return to UNESCO", -- said V. Schastny. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/usa --------------------------------------------------------- BELARUS REDUCED DEBT FOR RUSSIAN POWER RESOURCES 14:57 05/02/2003 In 2002 Belarus for the first time provided hundred per cent payment for importing Russian power resources and reduced debt for previous years on 87,6 million dollars. Minister of energy Vladimir Semashko told it. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/dolg --------------------------------------------------------- POPULATION OF MINSK REGION REDUCED ON 12,2 THOUSAND PEOPLE 14:53 05/02/2003 During January November of 2002 population reduced on 12,2 thousand people. 1515,1 thousand people live in Minsk region now, -- as informs department of statistics of Minsk region executive committee. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/minsk --------------------------------------------------------- USA DIDNT INCLUDE BELARUS TO PROGRAM OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CIS STATES 11:39 05/02/2003 George Bush administration planned to spend 36,4 million dollars on military assistance to states of Community of Independent States. This project is in bill that was headed to US Congress on Monday. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/05/arms --------------------------------------------------------- CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE February 05, 2003 www.charter97.org -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=media.charter97 http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com