The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has decided not to monitor the constitutional referendum to be held in Belarus simultaneously with parliamentary elections on October 17, the ODIHR press office in Warsaw told Interfax.

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As many as 359 people were granted access to the parliamentary ballot as a result of the candidate registration process that was wrapped up on September 16, Nikolai Lozovik, secretary of the central election commission, told BelaPAN.

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Vol.7, No. 34
September 13-20, 2004
Edited by Nate Young
International League for Human Rights

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Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party (UCP), has appealed to Justice Minister Viktor Golovanov to issue warnings to the organizations and political parties affiliated to the unregistered "National Coordinating Council" (NCC). As Mr. Lebedko told BelaPAN, his move was prompted by short coverage of the NCC run by Belarusian Television and the ONT, Lad and STV channels. In particular, it was said that more than 40 political parties and non-governmental organizations affiliated to the NCC had welcomed the Belarusian leader`s decision to call the referendum.

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On 18 September in Banhalor Square there took a meeting of protest that was organized by the regious association of churches of Full Gospel Christians. Believers from Hrodna, Lida, Barysaw, Vileyka, Mazyr, Asipovichy, Dziarzynsk and other towns and cities of Belarus took part in the action. They protested against the "Law on freedom of conscience" that was adopted by the Chamber of Representatives in June 2002. The believers consider this law discriminative, because it considerably limits the right of citizens to confess any religious views in Belarus. The action participants held the following slogans: "Constitution is the main law!", "The halls we`ve Been Expelled from are still empty!", "Official is not law, but a people`s servant", "Yes to Constitution, no to lawlessness!".

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The nomination process in the formation of a new upper parliamentary chamber (Council of the Republic) started in Belarus on September 20, Nikolai Lozovik, the secretary of the central election commission, told BelaPAN.

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In his words, the international group of companies “Itera” also proposed to supply gas to Belarus in 2005, however “there is no confirmation yet” and “Itera” has not solved the issues on access to the pipe”.

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Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Fradkov, on Tuesday, while in Moscow to participate in the meeting of the Interstate Council of Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) to be held on the same day.

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Pope John Paul II on September 15 appointed Martin Vidovic as apostolic nuncio to Belarus, raising him at the same time to the dignity of archbishop. Mr. Vidovic is expected to arrive in Belarus during the next three months, Henryk Jagodinski, secretary of the apostolic nunciature, told BelaPAN.

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