Alexander Lukashenko once again spoke critically of the OSCE AMG during the government’s assembly, that took place in Minsk. “What does the OSCE want from us? Why do they remove the same group from the Baltic region, where they indeed violate rights and mock over Russians and Slavs, but leave it here? What should it regulate? This is a clear interference into internal affairs. If we behaved in a likewise manner somewhere in USA, Germany or France they would kick us out in no time,” – commented emotionally the OSCE AMG policy Alexander Lukashenko.

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Speaking at the seminar of governing officials, Alexander Lukashenko expressed indignation over the media-spread information about his holidays: “Is this what they call the freedom of speech? The president for the very first time in his life left for vacation. The first report was that they operated me on my stomach and got half of it removed. Then they thought over it and said: no way, otherwise he wouldn’t be skiing. And they call it democracy and freedom of speech!”

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The criminal action that was brought up against Mikalai Markevich, the editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper “Pahonya” shut down by the authiries, and a journalist of this newspaper Pavel Mazheika, who are charged with libeling A. Lukashenka, is to be considered in the court of the Lenin district of Hrodna presided by Mikalai Syarheika.

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Exhibition “Adradjenne-2002” by the arts association “Pagonya” of the Belarusian arts union, which opened on March 21 in the Minsk palace of art, has been recently severely censored. BelaPAN quotes famous Belarusian painter Aleksei Marochkin as saying that the leadership of the Belarusian union of painters and the capital’s authorities removed the works, which they consider seditious.

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At the seminar of the top officials of the republican and local agencies Lukashenka hold forth a speech relating his favorite topics. As the BDG informs, speaking of the problems of the agriculture reforming, Lukashenka declared that the optimal form of agricultural enterprise is kolkhoz, or large collective farm. The head of state demanded to take all necessary measures for increasing discipline in kolkhozes and eliminating thefts.

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Real salary, earned by the Belarusian workers and civil servants, decreased by 13,3%. According to the Ministry of statistics and analysis, in February, as compared to January, the accumulated salary of workers and civil servants rose by 1,4% (from 166.821 to 169.128 rubles), while the consumer prices increased by 3,6%.

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Chair of the trade union committee of the Novopolotsk plant “Izmeritel” Olga Dmitrichenko lost her working place. Her cabinet, where she stored numerous methodical literature, will now be leased by the company’s administration to some commercial firm. Apart from the involuntary eviction, Dmitrichenko will be made redundant on April 1. Same destiny will befall deputy chair of this trade union, reports “Nasha Svaboda”.

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Homel city executive committee is set to decrease the shortage of the budget money by the taxation of the citizens who lend apartments. The city authorities has made certain steps to find people who lend apartments secretly.

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The Belarusian authorities still demand alteration of the AG OSCE mandate, the Foreign Minister Mikhail Khvastou declared. He has made an assumption that the new head of the Advisory and Monitoring group would be appointed without the mandate’s alternation. The head of the Belarusian FM said informed that for four months the Ministry had not received an answer from the OSCE Permanent Committee for its demands to change the mandate.

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In his speech at the seminar for the top officials, A. Lukashenka stated that the Russian brewery concern “Baltika” tried to infringe the conditions of the Belarus’ leader by issuing shares of “Krynitsa”. As Radio Svaboda informs, Lukashenka said that he had 12 requirements, including construction of the skating ring. Lukashenka said that Baltika together with the former prime minister of Belarus Yarmoshyn tried to disobey them. The head of the state informed that now “Baltika” presses upon him thought Russian president Putin.

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The Trade Union Federation has received an official denial of the Minsk city executive committee to carry out a mass protest against the impoverishment of the population. The authorities denied the request of the Federation to authorize mass protest actions in the busy spots of Minsk. Instead of that the trade unions were suggested to carry out a picket by the Bangalor Square. The Presidium of the Federation at their yesterday’s session refused to follow the advice of the city authorities, but gave up their intentions as well. On March 28 it is decided to carry out an assembly in the building of the Federation.

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On March 30-31, 2002 the Minister of foreign affairs of Belarus Mikhail Khvostov upon the invitation of the Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi will pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In course of his visit Mikhail Khvostov will be welcomed by the president of Iran Mohammad Khatami. Khvostov will hand in to him personal greetings from Alexander Lukashenko.

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Operation on preventing the thefts in the agricultural industrial complex “Agrarnik” got underway in the Brest region.

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Belarusian pensioners encountered financial difficulties, caused by the violation of the established dates of pension payments. Delays in 1-7 days happen in all country’s regions, except Minsk. Most acutely the problems, associated with the violation of calendar dates, stand in the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions.

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Last year 14,270 Belarusian nationals changed their permanent place of residence, reports the Ministry for statistics and analysis. The greatest number of migrants left for Russia – 6808, Israel – 1700, USA – 1316, Germany – 1306. Others immigrated to Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Poland, Lithuania and even Kyrgyzstan.

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