17:46 The Slovak Republic took over the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe

On 12 of November 2007 the Slovak Republic took over the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe for the next six months. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ján Kubiš presented the programme of the Slovak Chairmanship.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka demanded to optimise and simplify tax policy in the sphere of business activity. According to the official sources, 13 November during the meeting on forecast projects of social and economic development, budget and main directions of monetary policy for 2008 and on the results of the social and economic development for 9 months of 2007, Lukashenka declared:

16:27 Schengen visa is 35 Euro for Ukrainians, 60 Euro for Belarusians

The European Parliament has given consent to entry into legal force of agreements with Ukraine on simplification of visa regime and readmission. These agreements are to be submitted for consideration of the EU Council for their final approval.

15:22 Andrei Klimau given back … spoiled products

Political prisoner Andrei Klimau only now has received the foodstuffs, which were taken away yet in early October, in other words, as soon as he was guarded to Mozyr colony. It was said by Yury Barankau, acting head of the Department of serving punishment.

14:33 Political Prisoner’s Kazulin’s Case sent to PACE

On November 13, in the framework of the international campaign of solidarity with Alyaksandr Kazulin, a political prisoner, an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was sent. As said by the former lawyer of the convicted politician, Ihar Rynkevich, the document had been prepared by the public commission “Free Kazulin!” to the benefit of all Belarusian political prisoners.

14:29 Viktar Ivashkevich: «European flag helps us to solve problems with authorities»

Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) received permission for holding a party congress in culture center of the Minsk Automobile Plant. It should be reminded that the politician declared earlier, if the authorities wouldn’t provide them with a space, the BPF congress would take place on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

Belarus is preparing a competition for holding a tender for choosing a general partner for the power station construction, Piotr Vitiaz, first deputy head of the National Academy of Sciences’ Presidium, said on press conference on Tuesday in Minsk.

12:23 List of those prohibited from leaving Belarus is ready

The authorities assure the “parliament” will manage to abolish the permission stamp before the end of the current parliamentary session, but officials don’t know whether the money paid for the stamp will be returned.

12:11 Slovakia set to help Belarus on its way to democracy

One of the priorities of the new chairman of the Council of Europe, the Slovakian Republic, will be giving support to efforts which could change attitude of Belarus to criterions necessary for joining the Council. It is stated in the document published on the official internet-page of the Council of Europe. Since November 12 Slovakia heads the main regulatory body of this organization, the Committee of Ministers.

12:05 Lukashenka: «Negative balance threatens our economy»

“If next year the negative balance is increasing at such rate as it is doing today, all our achievements will turn to be under threat”, declared Aliaksandr Lukashenka at the meeting on problems of social and economic country development and of forecast projects of social and economic development, budget and main directions of monetary policy for 2008.

12:04 Entrepreneurs don’t want be unitary private enterprises

10 November was the deadline for the entrepreneurs who wanted to re-register as juridical persons on privileged conditions. The Ministry of Economy of Belarus informed that more than 9.000 people have sent documents for re-registration as unitary private enterprises. However, there are more than 200.000 of individual entrepreneurs. So, less than 5 per cent of them have yielded to the organized by the authorities mass propaganda campaign on re-registration from individual entrepreneurs into unitary private enterprises.

10:52 Workers laugh at official statistics

The state’s desire to socially protect pensioners and public sector employees can be welcomed. But the question is whether the growth of pensions and salaries could compensate the losses of the population from consumer prices’ growth? Basic consumer goods and services have become considerably more expensive.

10:07 Friendship with a sight

Can there be anything in common between small Belarus and ambitious China? As a matter of fact, China seeks an access to the military technologies in exchange for investments into the Belarusian economy.

9:06 Radioactive slabs remain on Independence Square

Victory Square is the forth place in Minsk where granite paving slabs have high radiation background – 44 μR/h. But the MInsk Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology doesn’t think it is a problem and doesn’t consider it necessary to replace radioactive slabs on Independence Square.

8:51 Homel foremen can be sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for slave trade

The first case of human trafficking in Belarus is tried. The case has been brought up against those who were bringing workers to Moscow. Three men invited people in regions to work as façade workers. They are charged with participation in an organized criminal group. The prosecutor has proposed a punishment of 15 and 12 years in prison for the foremen.

8:37 Lukashenka launched nuclear power station construction

On November 12 Aliaksandar Lukashenka signed decree # 565 “On certain measures on nuclear power station construction.” According to the presidential press-service, the paper was issued in order to start preparation works for the construction of a nuclear power station in Belarus and maintenance of nuclear and radiation security in compliance with the IAEA recommendations.