News on 20.03.2008

20.03.2008

ILO: Belarus wont’ be returned EU preferences 2

17:21, — Politics

Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) calls on the Belarusian government to guarantee freedom of organisations of workers and employers. BelaPAN learnt it from Kari Tapiola, ILO Executive Director responsible for Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, who summarised the considering of the Belarusian issue at 301th ILO Governing Body session in Geneva on 19 March.

GAZ and KAMAZ to buy MAZ 15

17:11, — Economics

Belarusian Government will discuss the corporization of the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) with GAZ Group and KAMAZ in the nearest time.

Russia to increase oil export tax 2

16:39, — Economics

Russia will increase oil export tax up to USD 340.1 per ton from 1 April. This decision was approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Yarmoshyna: “Lukashenka will take part in elections as long as he has force” 38

16:22, — Politics

The chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Lidziya Yarmoshyna is inclined to think that Alyaksandr Lukashenka will exercise the “right” to run in the presidential election in 2011.

Plans on Freedom Day celebration remain the same 12

15:21, — Politics

The Minsk city executive committee permitted to hold the demonstration dedicated to 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic 25 March on the route Academy of Science - Banhalor Square. Organisers of the Freedom Day celebration don’t agree with it. They disclaimed all responsibility for holding of the action and said that “plans remain the same” – participants of the action Freedom Day are to come to Yakub Kolas Square at 6.00pm.

Zmitser Kaspyarovich has hypertensive crisis 1

15:02, — Politics

Sentenced to 12 days of arrest democratic activist Zmitser Kaspyarovich was diagnosed with hypertensive crisis.

Minsk indignant at Moscow’s decision to ban grain delivery 25

13:56, — Economics

A temporal ban on grain delivery to the Customs Union countries has come in force. Russia has imposed this ban bewaring of re-export in conditions of low grain reserves in the country. Belarus was the first to react to this decision.

Lukashenka: “Democracies in Belarus and in Austria are the same” 78

13:43, — Politics

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has stated that the situation with democratic freedom and values in Belarus is the same as in Austria.

Charhinets: “US Embassy has too many officials who have nothing to do here”

13:20, — Politics

The suggestion of the Belarusian side to reduce staff of the US Embassy in Minsk is absolutely motivated, the “parliament” of Belarus thinks.

Entrepreneurs join relay hunger strike 3

12:52, — Politics

Today leaders of the movement of entrepreneurs Viktar Harbachou (Barysau), Anatol Zmitrovich (Salihorsk) and Ales Makaeu (Minsk) has stated their intention to join the hunger strike for Alyaksandr Kazulin’s release.

Military enlistment office wants to spend Freedom day together with Vyachorka 11

12:43, — Politics

A military enlistment office of Savetski district of Minsk has sent an invitation for a meeting to the former student of the Belarusian State University. Officers of the military enlistment office want to see the young activist exactly on March 25 at 6 p.m., right on Freedom Day.

Belarusian Foreign Ministry tried to talk to US by ultimatums 20

12:19, — Politics

The future of the Belarusian-American dialogue depends on complete lifting of economic sanctions against Belarus. It has been stated today by the press-secretary of Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Papou at the briefing in Minsk.

National and European Flags in Minsk center (Photo) 13

11:35, — Politics

On March 19 the Young Front has reminded Minks dwellers about the events that took place two years ago on October Square in Minsk, when thousands of people took to the streets to express protest against rigged election results in 2006.

Belarus’ foreign debt grown almost twofold 13

10:47, — Economics

Joint foreign debt of Belarus for January 1, 2008 was $12.719 billion dollars. It has grown by 87.4% ($5.932 billion) over 2007, the statistic report of the National bank of Belarus informs.

Lord Bell devises plan for changing image of Belarus 14

9:47, — Politics

An agreement with the British PR expert is to be signed in two weeks. “Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that he hadn’t turned to anybody to create his image abroad. And now such a desire has appeared. That is why we are writing a provisional action plan. I am to show my proposals for Lukashenka in the next two weeks,” Timothy Bell said.

Participants of hunger strike to gather on October Square 5

9:34, — Politics

On March 20 at 6 p.m. democratic activists who had announced a hunger strike will gather on October Square.

Kommersant: Former Lawyer of Berezovsky suspected of document forgery 5

9:10, — Politics

A former lawyer of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, a US citizen Emanuel Zeltser, and his secretary, a citizen of Russia Vladlena Funk, have been placed to the pretrial detention centre of the KGB (State Security Committee) of Belarus. They are suspected of document forgery, Kommersant writes with a reference to unofficial sources.

Andrei Kim to Stand Trial on April 1 3

8:51, — Politics

The trial in the case of the young activist Andrei Kim is to start on April 1 in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk.

Dialog with west depends on authorities actions on Freedom Day 2

8:36, — Politics

Lyavon Barshcheuski, head of the Belarusian Popular Front party, thinks possibility of dialog with the West depends on how the Belarusian authorities will behave on Freedom Day 25 March. The main condition for establishing ties between the Belarusian authorities and the West is problem of political prisoners.