CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 06, 2003
www.charter97.org
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UTA ZAPF DIDN'T NOTICE PROGRESS IN BELARUS
16:54 06/02/2003

Head of special group of Parliament Assemble of OSCE for Belarus Uta Zapf stated
some remarks about processes in Belarus to administration of Belarusan parliament.
As she said, most of all her group is interested by state of independent media,
by situation with local elections, and by the state of trade unions.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/zapf

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RUSSIA ENTERS MIGRATORY RESTRICTIONS FOR BELARUS
15:57 06/02/2003

Russian authorities will give migration cards to those who enters to the country
on all borders including border with Belarus. It will begin in one week  on
February, 14. Minister of inner affairs of Russia Boris Gryzlov  said about it
in Moscow.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/migraz

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BELARUS IS BECOMING COUNTRY OF PENSIONERS
13:53 06/02/2003

In year 2002 gain of number of pensioners in comparison with previous year was
24%. As it was told to BELTA correspondent in Ministry of labor and social defense,
this year gain of number of pensioners will be 37% in comparison with 2002. At
that very time quantity of those who become able-bodied is reducing. This crisis
tendency will continue till 2020.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/pensia

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MOST OF CANDIDATES FROM PARTIES WERE NOT REGISTERED
11:35 06/02/2003

On Wenesday head of Central election commission Lidia Yermoshina published results
of registration of candidates to local sovets. On press-conference she informed
that 26 thousand candidates. About 800 were not registered. Maximal quantity
of denies  46 % was among candidates to Minsk city sovet. As Ermoshina said
most of candidates were not registered because of presenting doubtful declarations
of income and property. One third of candidates from political parties were not
registered.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/thimbles

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CONGRESS OF BELARUSAN INTELLIGENTSIA WAS POSTPONED ON MARCH
16:13 06/02/2003

Administration of Palace of Republic refused to give hall to organizers of Congress
of Belarusan intelligentsia that was planned on February, 16. Because of this
reason organizers decided to postpone the Congress on March. It has already been
proposed 300 delegates on Congress.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/intel

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BELARUSAN PART OF GAS MAIN YAMAL-EUROPE IS READY TO START
13:55 06/02/2003, Neftegaz.ru

Special commission of Belarusan enterprise "Beltransgas" signed act of finishing
of construction of gas main Yamal  Europe on Belarusan territory. As they said
in "Beltransgas", length of Belarusan piece of gas main is 575 kilometers.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/gazoprovod

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IN 2002 INFLATION IN BELARUS WAS 34,8%
13:54 06/02/2003, IMA-press

During first three weeks of January of 2003 prices in Belarus have risen on 2,6%
(4,2% for the same period of the previous year). Till the end of this year government
and National bank of Belarus predict increase of prices on 18-24%.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/inf

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PRESIDENT OF IRAN WILL VISIT BELARUS IN SPRING
12:54 06/02/2003, Georgy ASTAS, RR

Ambasador of Iran in Belarus Mohammad Hashemy Golpaegany informed that visit
of Iranian leader to Minsk is planned on spring. It will be reciprocal visit
on Lukashenko's visit to Tegeran in 1997. Ambasador of Iran declared that his
country is worried by possibility of using weapon of mass defeat by Iraq. But
representative of Iran is also against USA attack on Iraq.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/iran

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OSCE MONITORS WERE NOT INVITED ON LOCAL ELECTIONS
12:12 06/02/2003

OSCE is worried that Belarusan authorities haven't invited international monitors
on elections to local sovets yet. Uta Zapf  head of OSCE delegation, that is
in Minsk now, said that it can cause to violation of democratic principles during
elections on March, 2.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/osce

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POLISH CONSIDER BELARUS TO BE THEIR ENEMY
12:10 06/02/2003

Belarus took the third place in list of countries that residents of Poland consider
to be their enemies. Half of respondents said that that they consider Russia
to be their enemies, 40% -- Germany, 17 % -- Belarus, 7% -- Iraq. 45% said that
Poland has no enemies, 27% didn't answer.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/poland

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"BELAGROPROMBANK" DEMANDS 1 MILLION DOLLARS FROM CHIGIR
12:09 06/02/2003

"Belagroprombank" wants to get one million dollars from ex-chief of the bank
Mihail Chigir. This sum was transferred to Canada 8 years ago. Radio Racia says
that this case is continue of two criminal cases against ex-prime-minister Chigir.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/06/chigir
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 06, 2003
www.charter97.org