The head of the Commission on International Affairs and National Security of the “camber of representatives” of the “National assembly” of Belarus, Nikolay Cherginets, took part in the observation of presidential elections in the USA as part of the mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. During the visit of Nikolay Cherginets delivered a speech at the General Assembly of the UN and called to lift economic and political blockade of Cuba. Besides, in the interview to Radio Svaboda Nikolay Cherginets said that the Belarusian delegation carried on negotiations with the American party on this question, and on the problem of improving relations with Belarus. “We would like the USA to understand that their party is doing many mistakes, as well as in relations with Belarus. All the OSCE members have noticed that, but I fear that when they are to speak officially, they would be afraid and won’t say it. But all the OSCE members, representatives of Germany, Turkey, Romania and Albania met our visit with understanding. And we were told: “We won’t let you come”.

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Representative of Vawkavysk human rights organization “Aslona” Mikola Aksamit was placed to hospital and stops his participation in the protest against rigged results of the elections and referendum, Radio Svaboda informs. Mikola Aksamit, who participated in the hunger strike for two weeks, called for ambulance because he had problems with blood pressure and heart. He was placed to hospital. Doctors injected glucose and recommended to stop the hunger strike, as it becomes life-threatening.

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U.S. diplomat Paul Jones told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) November 4 that the U.S government facilitated cooperation between international observers of the November 2 U.S. presidential election and state and local election officials and also provided assistance to the OSCE observation mission.

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[Presenter] Several dozen people took part in a demonstration in front of the Belarusian consulate in Bialystok in solidarity with the persecuted activists in the Belarusian opposition.

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Josep Borrell, president of the European Parliament. in his address to Polish Sejm expressed his vision of the Europe’s future, informs the internet-project “Pro-Europa”. He underlined that the EU is not entering a new stage. Josep Borrell reminded in this connection, that “the union has enlarged from 15 to 25 countries, and soon there will be 27 of them, and consequently, we have come from common interests to one policy”. In this situation, according to Borrell, the EU countries are to turn their regard to the East and possible new members – Ukraine and Belarus. “Ukraine and Belarus are the part of this area, and we will have to make decision about them. They are either to become a part of the EU, or to remain under the influence of Russia,” “Gazeta Wyborcza” cites the words of the head of the European Parliament.

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One of the leaders of Zubr movement Mikita Sasim arrested in Baranavichy. Now he is placed to Baranavichy police department. As Mikita Sasim told to the Zubr press service, he was detained on grounds of the court decision of the Central district of Minsk, according to which he had already served 15 days in the special pre-trial detention center in the Akrestsin Street.

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A judge of the Svisloch District Court on Thursday imposed fines of almost $800 on two opposition activists, finding them guilty of displaying unregistered emblems and taking part in an unauthorized demonstration, human rights activist Nikolai Lemenovsky told BelaPAN.

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Ongoing state obstruction of the worship services of the charismatic Full Gospel Association appears to make the concept of state registration under the repressive religion law meaningless. The deadline for the compulsory re-registration of all religious organisations is 17 November 2004. In Minsk for example, Forum 18 News Service has learnt that Pastor Andrei Sidor has been fined more than the average monthly salary for "violating regulations on holding religious events," by holding a service in his own home. Even though Pastor Sidor`s congregation has state registration, the fine could still be upheld, as the authorities have not given him the approval from fire safety and sanitation officers which the religion law requires. Pastor Boris Chernoglaz of the Church of Jesus Christ told Forum 18 that "The authorities know that it is a serious trial for a church not to be able to gather together, that`s why they do this." Many members of Belarus` religious minorities fear the consequences of the government implementing the repressive 2002 religion law.

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Yesterday deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, plenipotentiary representative of the President of Belarus in Russia and CIS countries Vasily Dalhalyow (Vasiliy Dolgoliov). He met the leadership of the region, visited a number of plant facilities, and held a press conference for journalists.

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The investigation authorities of the KGB have brought final accusation to Mikhail Marynich, one of the leaders of Belarusian opposition. Former Minister of Foreign Economic Ties, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador was charged with violation of four articles of the Criminal Code: Article 295 Part 2 (illegal keeping of firearms, ammunition and explosives); Article 377 Part 2 (embezzlement of or damage to documents, stamps, seals); Article 210 Part 4 (embezzlement by abuse of one’s position, performed by an organized group or at a large scale); Article 377 Part 1 (concealment of official documents and seals). On Monday, November 8, the defense of Mikhail Marynich will be acquainted with the materials of the case.

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Belarus` further course of development depends on whether the nation finds out the actual results of the recent national referendum, said Oleg Manayev, head of the Minsk-based Independent Institute for Social, Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), while meeting with reporters on Wednesday.

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Russia and Belarus have settled all problems related to gas supplies till 2005, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told journalists in Minsk. "We have agreed with Russia on prices for supplied gas and terms of gas transportations via Belarus," he emphasized. Lukashenko also stressed his confidence that rows over gas supplies would not occur once again. Not only Belarus, but also Russia have learnt a lot from this conflict, he added. Lukashenko pointed out to a careful approach shown by Russian and Belarusian leaders.

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The first month of work of the German embassy`s visa department on new premises yielded positive results, German Ambassador Martin Hecker told reporters in Minsk on November 3. According to him, the department`s head, Peter Eck, had served for a long time with a similar office in Moscow. In this regard, the ambassador expressed hope that Mr. Eck`s experience would help improve the operation of the Minsk department.

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Today international forum under the aegis of Friedrich Ebert Foundation “Belarus Between Influence of Russia and Attraction to Europe” has started in Minsk. As the press center of the Charter’97 has found out, yesterday border inspection have not admitted to the country the organizer of the forum, head of regional office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus Helmut Kurt. Despite of the efforts of the German Embassy in Minsk, and personally Ambassador Martin Hecker, Kurt was not allowed to enter the country, and he is still in one of Minsk airports. It is known that Martin Hecker was included to the so-called “black list’ of foreigners, whom the Belarusian authorities do not recommend to let into the country.

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