“Belneftehim” concern approved by its June 17, 2002 order #285 new wholesale prices on petroleum goods, sold by the “Belneftehim” concern and retail prices on fuel, supplied via the company’s gas stations network. From now on the cost of 1 liter of fuel will constitute accordingly: A-76 – 570 rubles per liter, AI-92 – 725, AI-95 – 830, diesel fuel – 555.

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Prosecutor demanded that the jury sentence “Pagonya” journalist Pavel Mozheiko to two years of hard labor colony. Radio Ratsya reports that after the state prosecutor voiced his demand, those present in the courtroom unfurled their banners and started shouting “Shame!”. The judge had to call a break and the prosecutor failed to finish his speech. The process will resume tomorrow at 10a.m. Then we will learn what punishment the prosecutor will require for the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Nikolai Markevich.

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The German periodical «Frankfurter Allgemeine» writes that up until present the Kremlin was supportive of the Belarusian leadership, which made Washington call into question genuineness of Russia’s democratic aspirations. Putin’s recent criticism of Alexander Lukashenko’s unification policy was an unprecedented step so far. Having finally articulated her position towards the Russia-Belarus integration, Moscow finally put an end to Lukashenko’s illusions.

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Speaker of the upper chamber of the Belarusian “parliament” Voitovich cancelled his trip to Saint-Petersburg where he planned to engage in the economic forum. According to the parliamentary sources, they also called off a visit to Petersburg on June 19-20 by the lower chamber’s speaker Vadim Popov.

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The official visit to Belarus by the parliamentary Iranian delegation, headed by chairman of the Council of Islamic Union of Iran Mehdi Kyarrubi is scheduled for June 19-21. It is planned that the high Iranian guest will be welcomed personally by Alexander Lukashenko. Kyarrubi’s visit to Minsk is yet another preparatory stage to the official visit to Minsk by the Iranian president Mohammad Khatami.

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Coordination Council of the Canadian Belarusians shared its solidarity with the Union of Belarusian writers, chaired by Olga Ipatova. In an address on behalf of the Coordination Council of Canadian Belarusians doctor Raisa Zhouk-Grishkevich called on the government of Belarus “to support the national literature and by so doing to contribute to its development.” “Persecution of writers is a shameful phenomenon for any country,” – reads the statement. The author of the statement urged all Belarusians in exile to “uphold the Belarusian writers in the protection of their rights”.

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Svetlogorsk chemical company “Himvolokno” in order to reconstruct its manufacture facilities is earmarked the necessary funds by the Kuwait foundation of Arabic economic development. The size of the means allocated for the purpose equals to 5,100,000 Kuwait dinars (which is an equivalent of around $16,5mln). The concomitant order on that operation had been passed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Belarus. The deal is brokered by the joint stock company “Belvneshekonombank”.

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Russian soldiers took part in the maneuvers of the 11th army mechanized brigade of the Belarusian Defense Ministry. The military exercises were held on the Obuz-Lesnovsky shooting ground in the Brest region. The trainings attracted 2,5 GIs and around 350 machinery units and armored personnel carriers. Russians brought with them an infantry company from the Kantemirovsky division of Moscow. The armies were schooled how to fight the potential invasion of a conditional enemy and inflict maximum human losses to the attacker.

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Bundestag deputy, chairman of the special PACE Commission for Belarus Wolfgang Berendt disseminated among the German media a statement, concerning the recent visit to Minsk by the delegates of this European organization. According to the European parliamentarian, Europe must use with regard for Belarus both dialogue and pressure simultaneously. Otherwise any hopes for the positive changes in Belarus in the near future are futile.

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Hearings on the criminal case of the former editor-in-chief of the closed Grodno newspaper “Pagonya” Nikolai Markevich and journalist Pavel Mozheiko over libel charges will resume today on June 18 in the Leninsky district court of Grodno.

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A group of employees of the Committee for application of ILO conventions passed a statement in which it shares alarm over the situation in Belarus and the attitude of the government, which didn’t submit to the 90th ILO session the report on the fulfillment of ILO recommendations, which followed the country’s being blacklisted in a special paragraph of trade unionists’ rights violators. This news was announced by the chairman of the Federation of the Belarusian trade unions Frants Vitko, who engaged in the ILO session.

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Session of the “parliamentary” commission for human rights, dedicated to the draft law “On introducing changes and amendments into the law “On the freedom of faith and religious organizations”, passed in the first reading by the “house of representatives”, will be held today in Minsk. The session will attract representatives of the public initiative “For the freedom of faith”, consisting of members of public organizations and believers.

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Alexander Lukashenko urged the Cabinet to regulate in principle the problem with the Ukrainian debt. In the solution of this issue Belarus’ interests must be “strictly observed”, said Lukashenko during his Monday meeting with the Premier Gennady Novitsky. As you remember, during the June 13 meeting between the Prime Ministers of Belarus and Ukraine Gennady Novitsky and Anatoly Kinach, the sides discussed the Ukrainian debt before Belarus, but to no avail for the Belarusians.

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