CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 13, 2007
http://charter97.org/eng/news/
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IS DIALOGUE BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND AUTHORITIES FEASIBLE?
18:18 13/02/2007
A range of issues on feasibility of joint actions with the authorities has challenged the opposition lately. Firstly, it was a declaration of Zmitser Bandarenka, coordinator of the Charter'97. Then the letter to Lukashenka with proposition of the joint celebration of the Belarusian People's Republic anniversary was written by the organizing committee of the 25 March action headed by Vintsuk Vyachorka, leader of the BPF and, finally, an open letter of leader of democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich to Lukashenka
appeared. What do these step mean? What are they aimed at? Is it just PR or is it an attempt aimed at maintaining an actual dialogue with the authorities? These questions were addressed to Zmitser Bandarenka, coordinator of the Charter'97 and Igar Rinkevich, Alyaksandr Kazulin's lawyer, by Valer Karbalevich, leader of the "Expertise of Freedom" program on the Radio"Svaboda".
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/dialog
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VIKA MAROZ FUTURE TO BECOME TOPIC OF OPEN DEBATE IN ITALY
14:47 13/02/2007
Italian human rights association "Children's Friends" has invited the citizens of the country to the first open debate dedicated to the topic "Maria and children of discord". The discussion would concern the conflict between the approach of the state and human approach to the problem of orphans, and particularly about the future of 11-year-old Vika Maroz (Moroz), Radio Svaboda informs. Vika Maroz, a former pupil of Vilejka boarding school, which is better known in Italy as Maria.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/moroz
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LUKASHENKA READY TO USE A CHANCE TO MEND RELATIONS WITH MINSK
12:17 13/02/2007
"We are to use any chance to mend relations with the West now. Why should we be railing at each other?" Alyaksandr Lukashenka told in ain interview to the editor-in-chief of Russian ultra-nationalist newspaper "Zavtra" (Tomorrow) Alexander Prokhanov. The conversation has been recorded in Minsk in February and was aired at Ekho Moskvy radio. "We have chosen a correct strategy of foreign policy, a multi-vector one. We are in the center of Europe, and we should live in peace with all neighbours," Lukashenka said.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/gotov
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BELARUS: THE LONELY LIFE OF EUROPES LAST DICTATOR
18:35 13/02/2007, By Heather Maher, RFE/RL
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in recent weeks has alternately defied Russia, flirted with Europe, and stressed his determination to go it alone. Some prognosticators may be predicting the imminent demise of Belaruss beleagured leader. But Alyaksandr Lukashenka begs to differ. In an interview this week, he suggested rumors of the death of his political career have been greatly exaggerated.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/last
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TRANSNEFT HEAD SAYS NEW OIL PIPELINE COULD BYPASS BELARUS
18:21 13/02/2007
Semyon Vainshtok, the head of Russias state pipeline monopoly Transneft, says it could take Russia less than 18 months to build a new oil pipeline bypassing Belarus.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/transneft
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ZMITSER KHVEDARUK: RALLY ON FEBRUARY 14 TO TAKE PLACE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS
18:02 13/02/2007
Activists of the Young Front organization have stated that they would mark St. Valentine's Day under the theme "Love! Freedom! Changes!" It is the tenth annual rally of the Young Front. Activists hope that passers-by are to see several theatrical performances. The first of them is to take place at 6 p.m. on Freedom Square in Minsk.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/day
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SVETLANA KALINKINA: LUKASHENKA SHOULD GET A SPARRING PARTNER
17:30 13/02/2007
A well-known Belarusian journalist Svyatlana Kalinkina has commented the address of the united democratic forces leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich to Alyaksandr Lukashenka with an appeal to start a dialogue with the Belarusian opposition, and consequently improve relations with the West. As said by Kalinkina, more and more often voices in Brussels are heard that say that it would be not expedient to forgive Lukashenka's sins only because his relations with Moscow had deteriorated. "A very simple move could stop
the machine of negotiations which is running at idling speed now. Lukashenka should get a sparring partner. And Alyaksandr Milinkevich has appeared as one. In case Alyaksandr Milinkevich would articulate his idea more precisely, he simply wouldn't leave chances for Lukashenka to fool European officials", the journalist believes.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/kalinkina
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UNITED CIVIL PARTY DISCUSSES POSSIBILITY OF DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES
16:08 13/02/2007
A possibility of a dialogue with the regime was one of the main topics of the session of the Political council of the United Civil party held in Minsk on February 10. The Political Council of the UCP has evaluated the preset situation as a promising one, however noted that the new opportunities are not used by reform supporters.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/ogp
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RALLY ON ST. VALENTINE'S DAY NOT SANCTIONED IN MINSK
15:15 13/02/2007
Minsk city executive committee has denied sanctioning a traditional rally on St. Valentine's Day to the Young Front organization. The BelaPAN has been informed about that by one of the activists of the youth democratic movement Nasta Palazhanka.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/action
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COURT CEASED LAWSUIT AGAINST OPPOSITIONAL COMMUNISTS
13:32 13/02/2007
12 February court of the Savetski district of Minsk ceased the lawsuit of the civil claim to leader of the Party of Communists Belarusian (PCB) Syargei Kalyakin and editorial staff of the "Tovarisch" newspaper on protection of honor and dignity, as it was reported by member of the central committee board of the PCB and chief editor of the Tovarisch Syargei Vaznyak.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/sud
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KAZULIN MAY BE RELEASED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, MAY HE NOT?
13:31 13/02/2007
Chairman of the Supreme Court Valyantsin Sukala summed up last year's activities of general courts at the today's press conference in Minsk. When answering journalists' questions on a probable release of political prisoners ahead of schedule and of Kazulin in particular, the chairman of the Supreme Court declared that everything might happen. An appeal to the court for ahead of schedule release is demanded in this case.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/kozulin
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YOUNG ACTIVIST TO STAY AT WORK IN SCHOOL
13:17 13/02/2007
Today the regional court in Minsk has ruled that a decision to reinstate an activist from Kletsk region Ina Kebikava in a job was legal, Radio Svaboda informs. A complaint of Hrytsevichy secondary school which demanded to discharge the young teacher, has been dismissed. Last year Ina Kebikava was taking part in protest rally on October Square in Minsk after the presidential election.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/13/aktivistka
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 13, 2007
http://charter97.org/eng/news/