Editors and publishers of the Belarusian independent newspapers, exposed to harassment on part of the official Belarus, addressed the Belarusian public with an open letter, demanding restoration of justice and lawfulness towards them and the readers and also called on the government to comply with the Constitution and the Law “On press and other mass media outlets”. Following comes transcript from their address:

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US ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the OSCE Permanent Council delivered his speech before the organization’s assembly, concentrating on the state of affairs in Belarus in pre-election period. Following you may read the full transcript of his speech.

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Prior to the mass rally, scheduled by the Young Front for Feb.14 Saint Valentine’s Day, the Minsk authorities once and for all denied the organizers the right to hold the action. BelaPAN reports that February 13 will see negotiations between the YF leader Pavel Severinets and head of the department for mass events of the Minsk city hall Petr Vorobiev. The organizers were told that the city authorities aren’t going to review the previously imposed ban on the action.

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An incident, typical for the election campaign and involving the UCP candidate for the local council, occurred on February in the village of Vornyany of the Ostrovetsky district.

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Belarusian Foreign Ministry decries alleged application of double standards by the European Parliament, which has recently passed resolution on investigation into trade unions’ rights in Belarus, reports RIA “Novosti”.

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On February 13 the Foreign Minister of Belarus Mikhail Khvostov met with the head of the OSCE office in Minsk Eberhard Haiken, reports the FM press-service.

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The Iraqi embassy, headquartered in Minsk, disseminated among local editorial boards an invitation to visit the pre-war Baghdad. The charter flight is scheduled for March 7. Not only journalists, but ordinary citizens as well – especially youth and students – are offered to pay free visit to Middle East. They invite anyone, willing to express their solidarity to the Iraqi nation, which is readying to confront the US aggression. All expenditures on that will be covered, of course, by the host side. “NG” correspondent was told in the embassy that the action has been worked out in great detail. They even received a concomitant UN permission for organizing the flight. However, not so many are eager to share their solidarity with the Iraqis, every centimeter of whose territory is targeted by the American military machine.

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