CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March, 03, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/
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YOUTH RIOT IN BARANAVICHY
17:13 03/03/2004

Baranavichy branch of the pro-state youth organization the Belarusian Republican
Youth Union with its full complement joined the oppositional movement Zubr. The
decision was made at the general meeting of the BRYU members of the Baranavichy
state college of light industry on March 2. This BRYU branch is one of the largest
in the town, it consists of more than 100 members. The extraordinary incident
has a national importance. To say that you are leaving the BRYU and joining Zubr
is something like leaving the Young Communist league (Komsomol) because of ideological
disagreement with guiding and determinant course of the Communist Party in the
70ies. By the evening of Wednesday, 3, the information was received about a planned
joint emergency meeting of the college administration and the BRYU, where the
mutinous youth are to be summoned.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/bunt

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MADELEINE ALBRIGHT: DEMOCRACIES SHOULD HELP EACH OTHER
15:13 03/03/2004

We hope that Russia is to understand soon that to have dictatorship in the neighborhood
is far from an ideal situation, in this way former US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright answered the question of a reporter of Russian newspaper Vedomosti about
situation in Belarus. Besides, Madeleine Albright thinks that at present moment
it is necessary that the world knew about the Belarusian opposition, was interested
its actions  in this way democracies support each other. According to the former
Secretary of State, in Belarus there are people who want free elections, but
world community should pay more attention to them. The full text of the interview
follows:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/usa

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RUSSIA TO SUPPLY GAS TO BELARUS UNTIL END OF WEEK
11:57 03/03/2004, Itar-Tass

Russia will supply gas to Belarus until the end of this week. A new contract
on gas exports to Belarus, signed by Trans Nafta and Beltransgaz envisions the
delivery to the republic of 200 million cubic meters of gas at the February price
of 46.68 dollars for 1,000 cubic meters. The contract helped avoid termination
of gas exports which would have occurred at 10:00, Moscow time, on Wednesday.
These supplies will be sufficient for Belarus for three to four days," head of
Trans Nafta gas department Denis Vinogradov told Itar-Tass.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/gas

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120 BRUY MEMBERS TURNED INTO ZUBR MEMBERS
11:37 03/03/2004

One of the official youth organizations branches  the Belarusian Republican
Youth Union  in Baranavichy joined the Zubr movement. The decision was passed
at the general meeting of the BRYU members of Chernyshow Baranavichy state college
of light industry. This organization is one of the largest in the town; it consists
of more than one hundred members.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/zubr

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BELARUSIAN DEMOCRATIC LEADERS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH ZUBR ACTIVISTS
17:23 03/03/2004

Leader of Belarusian social-democratic party Narodnaya Gramada, coordinator
of European coalition Free Belarus Mikola Statkevitch, leader of United Civil
party, one of leaders of Peoples coalition 5+ Anatoly Lebedko and representative
of deputy group Republic Vladimir Parfenovich expressed solidarity with young
people from official youth organization BRYU from Baranavichi town that joined
Zubr movement. Politicians support youth that decided to struggle for democratic
future of Belarus and left BRYU for oppositional movement Zubr.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/lider

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CONTROL OVER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TOUGHENS
17:20 03/03/2004, www.religare.ru

In the country a document was published recommending local authorities to toughen
control over activities of religious organizations, Forum-18 agency informs.
The document was signed by deputy head of the State committee On Affairs of Religions
and Nationalities Vladimir Lameko.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/relig

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ITALIAN INVESTMENT INFLUX TO BELARUS LIMITED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS  ITALIAN
AMBASSADOR
12:26 03/03/2004

Attraction of Italian investments to Belarusian economy is restrained by a number
of macro economical and structural factors, typical for Belarus. This opinion
was expressed by Italian Ambassador in Belarus Guillermo Ardiccone. It is very
difficult for Italian businessmen to make up their minds to invest in Belarusian
economy,  G. Ardiccone established, referring to the view of Italian business
representatives. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/inv

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VNG HOPES THAT GAZPROM WILL NOT HALT SUPPLIES THROUGH BELARUS AGAIN
12:03 03/03/2004, Interfax

East German gas company Verbundnetz Gas has expressed the hope that the halt
in supplies of Russian gas through Belarus and Poland will not be repeated, company
Director for Gas Purchases in Russia Toni Philipp said in Moscow Tuesday. "We
look with optimism on the continuing supplies through the Belarussian corridor,"
he said. He said that this issue was discussed during a meeting in Moscow between
VNG CEO Klaus-Ewald Holst and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/gazprom

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BELARUS DEBT TO GAZPROM  ABOUT $130,000,000
12:00 03/03/2004

At the yesterdays press conference of the deputy Gazprom head Alexander Ryazanov
he said that restructured indebtedness of the Belarusian consumers of Russian
gas amounts to $78.5 million. Adding fines, amounting to $50 million, the debt
of Belarus is almost $130 million. According Russian gas suppliers, Beltransgaz
is to pay it off in 2004-2006.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/dolg

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AUTHORITIES GATHER DATA ON NEWSPAPERS TRADERS
11:55 03/03/2004

Local authorities in Brest and Hrodna regions started to gather information about
trader of regional newspapers. Several non-state newspapers received inquiries
of the regional executive committees requesting to provide information about
legal entities and owners of small businesses who sell newspapers, about their
addresses and document entries which allow them to sell printed materials, press
service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists informs.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/03/03/smi

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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March, 03, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/