A delegation of the Belarusian Government met Thursday in Caracas-based military base Fuerte Tiuna, with the Venezuelan Minister of Defense General in Chief Raúl Isaías Baduel and the President of the Venezuelan Military Industry Company (Cavim), Major General Gustavo Ochoa, in order to assess the scope of the bilateral military cooperation agreement both countries initialed in July 2006.

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One year ago, on March 23, 2006, the Belarusian people were still standing on the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk. Young beautiful people, tents, flags, music… “We Have Faith! We Can Win! We Will Win!” - this slogan could be seen from far away from the square.

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A book “Belarus: potato and jeans”, edited in the Warsaw publishing house “Znak” on March 22, now can be found in Polish book stores. The authors of the book - the journalists of the Polish magazine “Tygodnik Powszechny” Malgarzata Nocun and Andrzei Brzeziecki - have interviewed the Belarusian opposition politicians. The interview grew into an interesting novel about a “state in the reconstruction period” that longs for great changes. The destinies of a dozen of the heroes of the modern Belarusian history reflect the destiny of the whole nation.

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Extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Germany in Belarus Martin Hekker is to watch the events of 25 March in Minsk “ I know that for many citizens of your country this day symbolizes hope for the democratic Belarus”, Hekker said at the online tut.by conference 21 March. It is to be mentioned, that presently Germany presides over the European Union.

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“In the today’s situation the powers are forced to follow the society. Let’s consider the independence issue, for instance. Lukashenka made his first statements supporting the independence of Belarus when he couldn’t ignore the question of the future of Belarus as a state any longer, after the corresponding changes had taken place in the people’s sentiments. As for now, Lukashenka is strong; he possesses all the means necessary to control the situation, to flow against the stream. But every new day brings the need for more and more resources,” - leader of the democratic forces Aliaksandar Milinkevich said at an online-conference on the web-site of the newspaper “Nasha Niva”.

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The ballet “Swan Lake” will be held in the Palace of Republic on Kastrychnitskaya Square on March 25, 11.30 and 17.30, as Charter’97 press center was told in the ticket office of the Palace of Republic.

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Joint venture of “Gazprom” and “Beltransgaz” is to be established before July 1, 2007, even in case the Belarusian party keeps the charge for gas for the interior consumers at $18K cubic meters, as Andrei Kruglov, the “Gazprom” assistant president said. “We asked for getting the charge back after we had learnt that the Belarusian party was going to lift it,” - he remarked. He emphasized the solution for the problem is to be elaborated at the oncoming talks.

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As Charter’97 press center found out, all state organizations of Minsk were ordered to send 2 employees to the actions “For Independent Belarus!” scheduled for March 25. The participants of the actions should have “feasting trappings” - flags, transparencies, posters.

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23 March Oke Peterson succeeded in his third attempt of visiting Artur Finkevich in Mogilyou prison #43 where the youth leader is serving out his 2 years’ term of imprisonment, the Radio Ratsia reported. A day before administration of the prison closed the prison’s gates when Oke Peterson was approaching the entrance stairs.

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An exhibition of political posters has been opened today in Minsk in the BNF office, as the third exhibition of the cycle “the Belarusian Protest”. Earlier the exhibitions of Ales Tsyrkunou and Aliaksiei Marachkin had been held there. All these events are dedicated to the Day of Will.

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The Minsk Soviet district court postponed the case of chairperson of the BNF Party Vintsuk Viachorka and opposition activist Viachaslau Siuchyk till April 4.

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Head of the Minsk Chief Interior Department general Kulashou allowed the participants of the action of the Day of Will to gather on March 25 on Kalinouski (Kastrychnitskaya) Square of Minsk, as Charter’97 press center was told by one of the action organizers, vice chairperson of the United Civil Party Igar Shynkaryk.

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25 March Belarus is celebrating the National Holiday - the 89th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic foundation. It is for the first time that the authorities have acknowledged the holiday and are going to arrange several festival actions. The major celebrations this day will be held in the center of the city in Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk. Now many of us are making decision on how to mark the most outstanding holiday in the history of our country. Follow below the opinions of the Belarusians expressed at the most popular Belarusian internet forums.

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The United Civic Party (UCP) has denounced the Belarusian authorities` crackdown on opposition activists ahead of a demonstration that opposition forces plan to stage on Kastrychnitskaya Square in downtown Minsk on March 25.

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Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov is leaving for Belarus on Friday to chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Allied State of Russia and Belarus, and observers believe he would focus on trade and economic contradictions between the two countries.

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Cultural functions dedicated to the anniversary of the March events in the center of Minsk have started in Brussels on 21 March, Radio Svaboda reports.

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“We made the authorities admit that 25 March is the National Holiday”, Academician Alyaksandr Vaitovich commented on the authorities decision on arranging the people’s outdoor entertainment in Minsk on Sunday 25 March.

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