Alexander Lukashenko urged Belarusian intelligentsia to heighten the quality of their work, to actively oppose the propaganda of violence, cruelty and pornography. Speaking February 1 in the Palace of the Republic before the country`s intelligentsia, the leader of the country said: "Active performance of humanitarian science will help us resist the destructive processes of imposing universal standards of ersatz-culture, leveling, degradation and dying out of art, it`ll help us protect out cultural heritage and contemporary spiritual wealth of all the Slavic civilization from the aggressive impact of globalization, or, in other words, Americanization."

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International Helsinki Federation forwarded January 31, 2001 its open address to the president of Russia and the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation. Following is its full text:

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Alexander Lukashenko announced that Belarus would trade with Iran in any stuff the sides are interested in. RIA "Novosti" reports that hosting the Iran`s FM delegation, headed by Minister Kharrazi, Lukashenko emphasized that nobody "is allowed to interfere" in the issues of bilateral cooperation.

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Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was placed under 24-hours surveillance, report BBC News. Serbian officials underline that it`s all about protection, rather than home arrest. This protection will ensure his safety from the assaults of the man-hunters, attracted by the declared US reward of $5 mln.

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Agents of Gomel regional procuracy and Mozyr economic police arrested February 1 deputy executive director of Mozyr`s oil-refinery Leonid Alkhimovich. During the police raid at his house, of which BelaPAN had already reported, the law-enforcers discovered banking documentation, testifying that the detainee had some 1,85 million French francs, placed at his overseas accounts.

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Two thirds of district communication facilities suffered financial losses in 2000. This was announced at the Feb.1 press-conference by the Minister for communications Nikolai Krukovsky. "The situation in the industry is critical. Communication services are considered among the most socially valuable, so the existing tariffs are way down the cost. Telegraph services, for instance, cover the expenses by 14,2%, radio - 49,6%, long-distance calls within the country - 67.3%, city calls - 83,5%," - said Krukovsky.

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Chinese authorities declared that some of the Internet crimes would result in death punishment. In case you stole away some secret computer data or distributed them on-line, you bet they shoot your mind out of you. However, in the event of any extenuating circumstances the sentence may be changed into a lifelong jail term. In the mildest of cases the person will serve only ten years. So if they lock you up for some twenty years or so - lucky you!

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The European Union has taken note of the interview with President Lukashenka which Belarusian television broadcast on 27 January and of the statement by foreign minister Khvostov on 31 January.

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Leader of the Advisory-Monitoring OSCE Group in Minsk ambassador Hans-Georg Wiecj deems that the international community may well deny recognition to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus as free and democratic. "One can never be sure that conditions under which the elections will take place will satisfy the international organizations. Alexander Lukashenko insists that the reform of the electoral legislation, which they carried out, fully meets the international requirements. But where`s the confirmation by the international community in this regard?" - asked Mr.Wieck in an interview to "Delovaya Gazeta".

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Two activists of the "Young Gromada" - underage brothers Dmitry and Mikhail Kuznetsovs - joined the list of the ones, facing defamation lawsuits for alleged verbal abuse of president`s honor and dignity. This information was received by the Charter`97 press-center on February 1 from another suspect on the case - social-democrat from Borisov Alexander Abramovich. Two other accused ones are Ales Yasuk and Nadezhda Grechukha. Thus, there are already 5 individuals to be tried in Borisov for their defaming statements.

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An "Orthodox atheist", as Alexander Lukashenko calls himself, decided to sacrifice to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior $100.000 before the presidential elections. That was his response to the request by the Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia Alexii-2. It is known that the money came from the notorious "presidential fund" and will cover expenses for the production of huge solemn standards, which used to be placed in the Cathedral earlier right by the side of the main altar.

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Yesterday Lukashenko declared that he knows for sure that opposition was provided with $70,8 mln from abroad to overtake him in the presidential race. He even added that they are believed to attract a total $108 mln. So far that`s the biggest sum, which the man made public. One can expect that with time the figure will grow further.

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Minsk law-enforcers arrested over the past five days 26 Belarusian nationals, suspected of having committed crimes, using computer technology. The hackers now face 28 criminal actions and were released till the trial upon written pledge to stay in the country.

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