The course of ideology was introduced to the set of courses for retraining/skill conversion of the unemployed, who cannot find a working place for a long time. The new course of lectures would prolong the term of retraining for at least two weeks. For instance, those who are trained to be PC console operators with skills of computer making-up, are to study ideology for 50 hours. “People are indignant, as they need to learn new skills as soon as possible and find job”, say experts of the skill conversion in employment centers of Minsk, informs www.praca-by.info .

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Belarus gave consent to prolonging OSCE mission head Ebergard Heiken`s contract until June 30, 2004, the Belarussian Foreign Ministry reported. "The Belarussian side`s decision is based on a positive assessment of the constructive cooperation with the OSCE office in 2003 and the need to continue it in all spheres in 2004," the ministry said.

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Only 27.3 per cent of the people evaluate the activities of Lukashenka positively and believe that he should be elected to presidency again. 60.4% think that ‘somebody else’ should be elected as a president. These figures were publicized at the meeting of the public association “Belarusian think tank” by the head of the Independent Institute of social, economical and political research (IISEPR) Aleh Manayew, the BelaPAN agency informs. IISEPR and Gallup-Baltic Surveys of Lithuania received these results during the nation-wide survey in December 2003. 1494 people aged from 18 and older took part in it. As said by Manayew, the poll demonstrated that the majority of Belarusians look forward to changes in the country and are ready to vote for them at the parliamentary and presidential elections.

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23 businessmen from Vitsebsk gathered in the premises of the covered market “Michel” on February 2 and announced the beginning of the termless hunger strike. All businessmen are members of the independent trade union “Perspektiva”, besides, the majority of those who had the courage to go on hunger strike are women. Businessmen demand to revoke the decree of the oblast executive committee and city council on mandatory use of cash registers, required 70 per cent of Belarusian produce in the range of goods, and claim to annul the status of trade centers given to the covered markets of the city. Besides, they demand punishment for the officials who interfere with development of private entrepreneurship in Vitsebsk, Radio Svaboda informs.

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