CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 14, 2003
www.charter97.org
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SPECIAL SERVICES TAKE INTEREST IN PEOPLE'S MARCH "FOR BETTER LIFE!"
16:07 14/02/2003, ZUBR

ZUBR movement's activist Denis Chikalev was detained and interrogated by plain-clothed
agents.Chikalev tells that on February 10, when he was strolling down the Lenin's
prospect in Gomel, a black vehicle with dark window-shields pulled over near
him. A few big men in civilian jumped out of it. They twisted the guy's arms
behind his back and threw into the rear seat of the car. Some cabbies tried to
protect the young fellow but one of the attackers flashed some documents and
the tax drivers no longer interfered. ZUBR activist said he has no idea as to
where they drove him, but in 10-15 minutes time he heard how someone opened iron
gates. Denis was taken out of the car and brought to the third floor of some
building.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/nm

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TROUBLES OF PENSION AGE
11:30 14/02/2003, Ludmila Maslukova, Sovetskaya Belorussiya

Every forth person in the country is a retired pensioner, while the state economy
now owes 80% of monthly expenses to the elderly people. Over the year the number
of nominees for pension allowance will augment by more than a third.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/sb

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BELARUSIAN JOURNALISTS PROPOSED TO BECOME A "LIVING SHIELD"
11:21 14/02/2003, Roman Yakovlevsky, Nezavisimaya Gazeta

The Iraqi embassy, headquartered in Minsk, disseminated among local editorial
boards an invitation to visit the pre-war Baghdad. The charter flight is scheduled
for March 7. Not only journalists, but ordinary citizens as well  especially
youth and students  are offered to pay free visit to Middle East. They invite
anyone, willing to express their solidarity to the Iraqi nation, which is readying
to confront the US aggression. All expenditures on that will be covered, of course,
by the host side. "NG" correspondent was told in the embassy that the action
has been worked out in great detail. They even received a concomitant UN permission
for organizing the flight. However, not so many are eager to share their solidarity
with the Iraqis, every centimeter of whose territory is targeted by the American
military machine.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/iraq

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FREE PRESS EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS SEEK JUSTICE
16:10 14/02/2003

Editors and publishers of the Belarusian independent newspapers, exposed to harassment
on part of the official Belarus, addressed the Belarusian public with an open
letter, demanding restoration of justice and lawfulness towards them and the
readers and also called on the government to comply with the Constitution and
the Law "On press and other mass media outlets". Following comes transcript from
their address:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/red

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USA CALLS ON BELARUS TO FOLLOW PATH OF DEMOCRATIZATION
15:30 14/02/2003

US ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the OSCE Permanent Council delivered his
speech before the organization's assembly, concentrating on the state of affairs
in Belarus in pre-election period. Following you may read the full transcript
of his speech.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/usa

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YOUNG FRONT FACES RED LIGHT
11:28 14/02/2003

Prior to the mass rally, scheduled by the Young Front for Feb.14 Saint Valentine's
Day, the Minsk authorities once and for all denied the organizers the right to
hold the action. BelaPAN reports that February 13 will see negotiations between
the YF leader Pavel Severinets and head of the department for mass events of
the Minsk city hall Petr Vorobiev. The organizers were told that the city authorities
aren't going to review the previously imposed ban on the action.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/mf

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UCP CANDIDATE DENIED MEETING WITH VOTERS
11:26 14/02/2003, UCP press-service

An incident, typical for the election campaign and involving the UCP candidate
for the local council, occurred on February in the village of Vornyany of the
Ostrovetsky district.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/ucpb

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BELARUS REBUKES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OVER DOUBLE STANDARDS
11:25 14/02/2003

Belarusian Foreign Ministry decries alleged application of double standards by
the European Parliament, which has recently passed resolution on investigation
into trade unions' rights in Belarus, reports RIA "Novosti".
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/europe

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FOREIGN MINISTER RENDEZVOUS WITH OSCE MISSION'S HEAD
11:23 14/02/2003

On February 13 the Foreign Minister of Belarus Mikhail Khvostov met with the
head of the OSCE office in Minsk Eberhard Haiken, reports the FM press-service.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/02/14/osce
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 14, 2003
www.charter97.org